USS Cape St George

The USS Cape St. George (CG-71) is a Ticonderoga-class cruiser commissioned on June 12, 1993, and homeported in San Diego, California. Named after the World War II Battle of Cape St. George, it honors a U.S. naval victory over Japanese forces. The ship played a key role in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, firing cruise missiles from both the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf, making it the first to operate in two theaters simultaneously. In May 2005, it became the first surface warship certified to use digital nautical charts, replacing paper charts with computer discs.

On March 18, 2006, Cape St. George engaged suspected pirates off Somalia, resulting in casualties and minor damage to the ship. In July 2007, it relocated to San Diego following a naval realignment after the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review. It supported coalition operations off Pakistan in October 2010 and rescued Iranian fishermen from a sinking dhow in January 2011.

In 2012, during a port visit in Thailand, services provided by Glenn Defense Marine Asia led to overbilling charges in 2013. The ship has received numerous awards, including multiple Navy Unit Commendations and the James F. Chezek Memorial Gunnery Award. In August 2020, it arrived in Seattle for a Depot Level Modernization Period at Vigor Marine's facility.