Aegis Cruiser Sunk as Target

Bort · 11-17-06, 09:52 PM

This seems stupid and wasteful to me:
USS Valley Forge Sunk off Hawaii
The four Aegis cruisers decommisioned in the last few years, largely because they have Mk.26 Missile launchers and not VLS, still have plenty of life left in them and are some of the worlds most fearsome surface combatants. If the US doesn't want them, they would make a great flagship for a smaller allied Navy, not to mention their value as reserve assets for the USN. What a waste.

This sort of thing has been happening alot more of late, and it is getting really disturbing.

sonar732 · 11-17-06, 10:36 PM

I think it would be better to see them as a museum w/o all the AEGIS stuff on them. That way, the groups who take a ship under their umbrella don't have to spend so much on makin' them look pretty.

Perilscope · 11-18-06, 03:48 AM

LOL, we need more corals nowadays!

Kapitan · 11-18-06, 04:24 AM

Each year america's buget keeps getting smaller and smaller so far alot of 688's have been decomissioned early simply because the navy cant afford to refuel them.

Sea Demon · 11-18-06, 05:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kapitan

Each year america's buget keeps getting smaller and smaller so far alot of 688's have been decomissioned early simply because the navy cant afford to refuel them.

What kind of trash talk is this? Can you provide a link or source to prove your assertions?

Takeda Shingen · 11-18-06, 05:54 AM

It seems silly to use a Tico for very, very expensive target practice. The Valley Forge was still a very capable ship with a very specific and relevant mission.

wound · 04-13-07, 12:52 AM

heh I know this is an old old thread, but I just happened to run into it googleing my ships name and thought I'd throw a reply out there to you all.

I served aboard the valley forge from 94 to 98.

I'm pretty amazed at some of the commments in this thread as some of them are spot on, almost too spot on haha.

The lack of a VLS system was the real nail in the coffin for the valley girl. As was also mentioned her spy and sonar arrays were early models and not up to date.

She would have been relegated to crack pacs and UN sanctions bording duties if she was kept in commission. Her ability to act in her original capacity as an anti-air platform was still somewhat viable but because she lacked the latest spy and VLS systems it pretty much put her miles behind the capabilities of the latest tyco's. The lack of flexiblity and the cost of operations (at least in my opinion) justified taking her off line.

The way they did it though seems like a waste to me. I put a lot of blood in to that hunk of steel and to think it was used as target practice makes me snicker and cry at the same time.

4 years of your life tied to a ship tends to create a bond that never quite leaves you no matter how old you get hehe.

11-17-06, 09:52 PM	#1
Bort Grey Wolf Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Studying in Atlanta Posts: 919 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 0	Aegis Cruiser Sunk as Target This seems stupid and wasteful to me: USS Valley Forge Sunk off Hawaii The four Aegis cruisers decommisioned in the last few years, largely because they have Mk.26 Missile launchers and not VLS, still have plenty of life left in them and are some of the worlds most fearsome surface combatants. If the US doesn't want them, they would make a great flagship for a smaller allied Navy, not to mention their value as reserve assets for the USN. What a waste. This sort of thing has been happening alot more of late, and it is getting really disturbing. __________________ GT Aerospace

11-18-06, 04:24 AM	#4
Kapitan Sub Test Pilot Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK + Canada Posts: 7,130 Downloads: 77 Uploads: 7	Each year america's buget keeps getting smaller and smaller so far alot of 688's have been decomissioned early simply because the navy cant afford to refuel them. __________________ DONT FORGET if you like a post to nominate it by using the blue diamond Find out about Museum Ships here: https://www.museumships.us/ Flickr for all my pictures: https://www.flickr.com/photos/131313936@N03/ Navy general board articles: https://www.navygeneralboard.com/author/aegis/

11-17-06, 10:36 PM	#2
sonar732 The Old Man Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Central MO Posts: 1,562 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	I think it would be better to see them as a museum w/o all the AEGIS stuff on them. That way, the groups who take a ship under their umbrella don't have to spend so much on makin' them look pretty.

11-18-06, 03:48 AM	#3
Perilscope Sonar Guy Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Montréal Posts: 399 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	LOL, we need more corals nowadays!

11-18-06, 05:54 AM	#6
Takeda Shingen Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2000 Posts: 8,643 Downloads: 19 Uploads: 0	It seems silly to use a Tico for very, very expensive target practice. The Valley Forge was still a very capable ship with a very specific and relevant mission.

04-13-07, 12:52 AM	#7
wound Nub Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	heh I know this is an old old thread, but I just happened to run into it googleing my ships name and thought I'd throw a reply out there to you all. I served aboard the valley forge from 94 to 98. I'm pretty amazed at some of the commments in this thread as some of them are spot on, almost too spot on haha. The lack of a VLS system was the real nail in the coffin for the valley girl. As was also mentioned her spy and sonar arrays were early models and not up to date. She would have been relegated to crack pacs and UN sanctions bording duties if she was kept in commission. Her ability to act in her original capacity as an anti-air platform was still somewhat viable but because she lacked the latest spy and VLS systems it pretty much put her miles behind the capabilities of the latest tyco's. The lack of flexiblity and the cost of operations (at least in my opinion) justified taking her off line. The way they did it though seems like a waste to me. I put a lot of blood in to that hunk of steel and to think it was used as target practice makes me snicker and cry at the same time. 4 years of your life tied to a ship tends to create a bond that never quite leaves you no matter how old you get hehe.