USS Mobile Bay ( CG - 53 ) USS " Mobile Bay " ( CG - 53 ) is a " Ticonderoga " class guided - missile cruiser serving in the United States Navy . She is named for the naval Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War in 1864 . She recently returned from a surge deployment to the Persian Gulf , providing Air Defense support for the John C . Stennis Strikegroup . Design and construction . The ship was ordered from Ingalls Shipbuilding on 15 January 1982 . She was laid down on 6 June 1984 , launched on 22 August 1985 , and commissioned on 21 February 1987 . With guided missiles and rapid - fire cannons , " Mobile Bay " is capable of defeating threats in the air , on the sea , on shore , and undersea . She carries the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile which played an integral part in the strikes on Iraqi targets during the opening stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 . She also carries two Seahawk LAMPS multi - purpose helicopters , mainly for anti - submarine warfare ( ASW ) . The ship is capable of conducting Maritime Interdiction Operations , and carries a fully trained boarding team . Operational history . After commissioning , " Mobile Bay " joined the U . S . Atlantic Fleet , arriving at her Mayport , Florida , homeport in March 1987 . Following a year of crew qualifications , tests and systems trials , " Mobile Bay " embarked on her maiden deployment on 11 May 1989 . During this cruise , " Mobile Bay " earned her first two awards : the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Armed Services Expeditionary Medal , for operations conducted in the Gulf of Oman . In June 1990 , " Mobile Bay " shifted homeports from Mayport , Florida to Yokosuka , Japan . Shortly thereafter , she deployed in August 1990 in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm , becoming the first AEGIS cruiser to circumnavigate the globe . In the Persian Gulf , the ship distinguished herself by becoming the first Battle Force Anti - Air Warfare Commander to control a four - carrier Task Force . " Mobile Bay " launched 22 Tomahawk land - attack cruise missile strikes , and controlling carrier - launched attack aircraft that contributed to the complete destruction of the Iraqi Navy . In May 1991 , " Mobile Bay " was ordered to Subic Bay , Republic of the Philippines , to participate in Operation Fiery Vigil , the evacuation of thousands of people displaced by the volcanic eruption of Mt . Pinatubo . In December 1991 , " Mobile Bay " began work - ups for a spring 1992 Persian Gulf deployment . On 15 April 1992 , " Mobile Bay " once again set sail for the Persian Gulf . En route , the ship and crew visited Sydney , Australia , to represent the U . S . Navy at the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Battle of Coral Sea . Sailing through the Straits of Hormuz in late May 1992 , the ship began duties as the Persian Gulf Anti - Air Warfare Commander . " Mobile Bay " also played a vital role in Operation Southern Watch , the enforcement of the U . N . - mandated " No Fly Zone " over Southern Iraq . Returning to Japan in October , " Mobile Bay " participated in ANNUALEX - 92 , a major naval exercise involving units of the U . S . Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force . " Mobile Bay " served as the Anti - Air Warfare Commander for a joint U . S . - Japanese flotilla . After participating in " SPRING TRAINING - 93 " off the coast of Australia , she made an historic visit to the Russian seaport of Vladivostok in September 1993 . Accompanying her was the . " Mobile Bay " was deployed to East Timor as part of the Australian - led INTERFET peacekeeping taskforce from 20 September to 5 October 1999 . As the most capable air defense vessel available , the ship was placed in charge of air defence , although the U . S . requests for screening " Mobile Bay " necessitated a considerable degree of effort by other ships of the force . In March 2003 " Mobile Bay " was assigned to Cruiser - Destroyer Group 5 . " Mobile Bay " operated in support of the U . S . invasion of Iraq from 17 June to 17 December 2004 . The ship was later awarded the Iraq Campaign Medal . In 2006 , the cruiser was deployed to the Western Pacific , where she served as the Air Defense Commander for the Carrier Strike Group . On 16 February 2007 , " Mobile Bay " was awarded the 2006 Battle " E " award . The ship completed a 10 - month overhaul in early 2010 . On 8 April 2011 , the ship was given a failing grade of " unsatisfactory " in her INSURV inspection , mainly for problems with the ship ' s propulsion , operations , aviation , and communications . A remedial inspection was scheduled and passed in June 2011 . The ship recently returned from back to back deployments ( 2011 and 2012 ) as the Air Defense Commander for John C Stennis Strike Group . She was awarded the 2012 Battle E and Spokane Award for her service .