USS Monterey (CG-61)

USS Monterey (CG-61) departs Souda Bay on the island of Crete in Greece
History
United States
Name:	USS Monterey
Namesake:	Battle of Monterrey, Nuevo León
Operator:	United States Navy
Ordered:	26 November 1984
Builder:	Bath Iron Works
Laid down:	19 August 1987
Launched:	23 October 1988
Commissioned:	16 June 1990
Homeport:	Norfolk, Virginia
Motto:	Rough in Battle And Ready in Peace
Status:	{in active service}
Badge:
General characteristics
Class and type:	Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser
Displacement:	Approx. 9,600 long tons (9,800 t) full load
Length:	567 feet (173 m)
Beam:	55 feet (16.8 meters)
Draught:	34 feet (10.2 meters)
Propulsion:	4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbine engines, 80,000 shaft horsepower (60,000 kW) 2 × controllable-reversible pitch propellers 2 × rudders
Speed:	32.5 knots (60 km/h; 37.4 mph)
Complement:	33 officers, 27 Chief Petty Officers, and approx. 340 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems:	AN/SPY-1A/B multi-function radar AN/SPS-49 air search radar AN/SPG-62 fire control radar AN/SPS-73 surface search radar AN/SPQ-9 gun fire control radar AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Warfare Suite AN/SQQ-89(V)1/3 - A(V)15 Sonar suite, consisting of: AN/SQS-53B/C/D active sonar AN/SQR-19 TACTAS, AN/SQR-19B ITASS, & MFTA passive sonar AN/SQQ-28 light airborne multi-purpose system
Armament:	2 × 61 cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems containing 122 × mix of: RIM-66M-5 Standard SM-2MR Block IIIB RIM-156A SM-2ER Block IV RIM-161 SM-3 RIM-162A ESSM RIM-174A Standard ERAM BGM-109 Tomahawk RUM-139A VL-ASROC 8 × RGM-84 Harpoon missiles 2 × Mk 45 Mod 2 5-in/54-cal lightweight gun 2 × 25 mm Mk 38 gun 2–4 × .50 cal (12.7 mm) gun 2 × Phalanx CIWS Block 1B 2 × Mk 32 12.75-in (324 mm) triple torpedo tubes for lightweight torpedoes
Aircraft carried:	2 × Sikorsky SH-60B or MH-60R Seahawk LAMPS III helicopters.

USS Monterey (CG-61) is a Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser in the United States Navy. It is the fourth US Navy vessel named for the Battle of Monterrey at Monterrey, Nuevo León during the Mexican-American War in 1846. It was built at Bath Iron Works in Maine.

In 1992 and 1993, Monterey was part of Carrier Group 6, whose flagship at the time was USS America. On 10–11 January, Monterey was underway from Souda Bay, Crete, to Haifa, Israel. From 12–19 January, it was in port in Haifa. From 20–22 January, it was underway from Haifa, Israel for exercise Noble Dina Seven. On 22–23 January, it was in port in Haifa, Israel for post-exercise debriefs, before leaving for a U.S. Navy/NATO Combined Air Defense Exercise. On 29 March, Vice Admiral W. A. Owens, Commander, Sixth Fleet, embarked with a 28-man Army, Navy, and Air Force Staff including BGEN James Mathers (Commanding General, Provide Comfort) at Haifa for the first Joint Task Force Operation at sea in the European Theater, Exercise Juniper Falconry II. From 1–7 April, it was underway for Juniper Falconry II, with a two-day port visit in Haifa on 3–4 April. From 7–9 April, it visited Haifa again for exercise debriefs and to disembark the Joint Task Force.

From 24–26 April 1993, Monterey participated in ASW Proficiency Training as a part of COMPTUEX, the first major exercise the USS America JTG in preparation for MED 3–93. COMPTUEX lasted from 21 April to 14 May and tested the USS America Joint Task Group in coordinated warfare operations. The exercise was a success and the JTG was certified "ready" for more advanced training. In May and June, Monterey conducted port visits to Nassau, Bahamas and Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. Monterey visited Nassau from 9–12 May as a wrap-up to COMPTUEX and NSRR from 31 May to 3 June prior to a missile exercise with the German Navy.