USS Chicago ( CA - 136 ) USS " Chicago " ( CA - 136 ) was a " Baltimore " class heavy cruiser laid down on 28 July 1943 at Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , USA , by the Philadelphia Navy Yard . Launched on 20 August 1944 she was sponsored by Mrs . Edward J . Kelly , wife of the Mayor of Chicago , Illinois , and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 10 January 1945 , Captain Richard R . Hartung , USN , in command . World War II . " Chicago " spent her first six weeks preparing for sea duty before departing on 26 February for Norfolk . After conducting training exercises , and calibrated her compasses in Chesapeake Bay , the cruiser got underway on 12 March for the Gulf of Paria , Trinidad . Arriving on 18 March , the cruiser conducted shakedown training and shore bombardment exercises off Culebra , Puerto Rico , before returning to Norfolk on 11 April . Following inspections and battle problem training , the cruiser sailed to Philadelphia for post - shakedown repair availability on 16 April . In company with , the cruiser departed for the Caribbean on 7 May , en route to the Pacific Ocean . Designed to operate offensively with strike and amphibious forces , " Chicago " spent her transit time conducting various anti - air drills , gunnery exercises , and radar tracking training . After refueling at San Juan , Puerto Rico on 11 May , the ships spent three days conducting gunnery practice before departing for Colon , Canal Zone , on 15 May . With transit complete the next day , the ships arrived at Pearl Harbor on 31 May . Following another period of gunnery , day battle , anti - aircraft , and shore bombardment exercises off Kahoolawe Island , the cruiser departed for Eniwetok , Marshall Islands , on 28 June . In company with , " Chicago " arrived at the atoll on 5 July and immediately refueled from . Underway that same day , with , added for anti - submarine screen , the ships joined Rear Admiral Radford ' s Task Group 38 . 4 north of the Mariana Islands on 8 July . Added to the anti - aircraft screen , " Chicago " guarded the Task Group ' s carriers as they conducted air strikes against the Tokyo Plains area , Honshū , Japan , on 10 July . After refueling on 12 July , the Task Group returned to the Japanese coast and launched air strikes against airfields , shipping , and railways in the northern Honshū and Hokkaidō areas the next day . On 14 July , in company with , , , , and nine destroyers of Rear Admiral Shafroth ' s bombardment unit , " Chicago " closed northern Honshū to bombard the Kamaishi industrial area . At 1212 , the cruiser joined the battleships in firing on the iron works and warehouses . Although heavy smoke obscured the target from the cruiser ' s spotting planes , the combination of pre - plotting the target through photo reconnaissance and radar positioning data allowed " Chicago " s guns to start fires in numerous buildings , several large warehouses , and among nearby oil tanks . At 1251 , the cruiser ' s secondary battery guns began firing on a Japanese destroyer - escort type vessel . The escort was straddled and hit by 5 in shell fire , began smoking , and retired into the harbor . The Task Force retired at 1426 , leaving the port under a pall of black smoke . The following day , " Chicago " operated as " a temporary seaplane carrier " when transferred her SC Seahawk floatplanes to the cruiser . By hanging one plane over the side with the crane the crew was still able to launch a Seahawk from the catapult for spotting services . After replenishment operations on 16 July , the cruiser resumed screening the carriers as they launched air strikes over the Tokyo Plain s , northern Honshū and Hokkaidō , and the Kure - Kobe area over the next two weeks . On 29 July , in company with and several American battleships , " Chicago " participated in a night shore bombardment mission against the port of Hamamatsu . Using radar , and assisted by spotting planes dropping flares and rockets , the ships fired at bridges , factories and the rail yard for about an hour . Rejoining the Task Group five hours later " Chicago " once again screened the carriers as they launched air strikes against the Tokyo - Nagoya area . Operations with the carriers , including a diversion to the south to avoid a typhoon , continued until 9 August when Rear Admiral Shafroth ' s bombardment unit returned to Kamaishi . The battleships , joined by " Chicago " , three more heavy cruisers and a Royal Navy light cruiser detachment , delivered another two - hour bombardment of the town before returning to the carrier task forces . For the next six days , the cruiser screened the carriers as they launched continuous strikes against the Japanese Home Islands , until 15 August and the Japanese armistice . " Chicago " remained with the carriers until 23 August , when she departed for Japan . Anchoring in Sagami Wan on 27 August , and then moving to Tokyo Bay on 3 September , the cruiser supported the unloading of supplies and equipment for Third Fleet occupation forces . Post - War . After transferring 47 men and the Marine Detachment for duty at Yokosuka Naval Base , the cruiser remained in port until 23 October when she got underway for the demilitarization of the Izu Islands . Over the next twelve days , inspection teams helped the Japanese garrison on O Shima and Nii Shima demolish gun emplacements , artillery , ammunition and other military equipment on the islands . Three days later , on 7 November , the cruiser got underway for San Pedro , California . After arrival on 23 November " Chicago " received an overhaul at the San Pedro Naval Shipyard , before returning to the Far East . Underway on 24 January 1946 , the cruiser arrived in Shanghai on 18 February for occupation duty . She remained there until 28 March as flagship of the Yangtze Patrol , and then sailed to Sasebo , Japan , where she became flagship of Naval Support Force , Japanese Empire Waters . The cruiser visited several other ports in Japan before clearing for the west coast on 14 January 1947 . Moved to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard , the heavy cruiser was placed out of commission in reserve on 6 June 1947 . Rebuilt as Missile Cruiser . On 1 November 1958 , " Chicago " was reclassified CG - 11 and towed to San Francisco Naval Shipyard to begin a five - year conversion to a guided missile cruiser . Begun on 1 July 1959 , the entire superstructure was removed and replaced with new aluminum compartments , modernized electronic systems , and an improved Naval Tactical Data System ( NTDS ) equipped combat information center . Representative of the new technological focus on guided missiles , " Chicago " was refitted with Tartar and Talos SAM stowage , loading , launching , and guidance systems . Two triple torpedo tubes , an ASROC launcher , two 5 in / 38 cal guns , and two antisubmarine helicopters rounded out the cruisers ’ modifications . Designed to provide long - range air , surface , and sub - surface defense for task forces , " Chicago " was recommissioned at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard on 2 May 1964 , and was assigned to Cruiser - Destroyer Flotilla Nine , Pacific Fleet . Preliminary acceptance trials were conducted throughout the summer until 2 September , when " Chicago " officially joined the 1st Fleet as an active unit . Following sonar calibration and deperming in Puget Sound the cruiser arrived at her home port of San Diego , California to begin weapons systems qualifications . Examination and evaluation of the new missile systems were completed by 2 December , following successful trials at the Pacific Missile Range off southern California . On 4 January 1965 , the cruiser shifted to Long Beach , California to begin a series of shock tests off San Clemente Island . Equipment tests , as well as damage control exercises , were completed by mid - January . " Chicago " then departed the area for San Francisco for alterations , receiving upgraded Tartar missile systems and improved electronics . The warship returned to San Diego on 17 April . For the next two months , " Chicago " continued shakedown training , engineering , navigation , and seamanship drills as well as missile and electronic exercises . In mid - June , the cruiser began Talos fire control developmental testing with the Naval Electronics Laboratory . This , and later tests , examined guidance improvements and experimented with missile replenishment at sea . During fleet exercise " Hot Stove " in August – September , " Chicago " practiced anti - air and ASW operations , including firing ASROC and tube - launched torpedoes against submerged " enemy " submarines . Following an ECM exercise " Chicago " participated in a competitive missile firing exercise and won a gold Missilery " E " for her Tartar battery . During the first week of October the warship participated in another anti - air exercise , this time shooting down two high - speed , high - altitude drones with Talos and Tartar missiles . After a cruise to Hawaii from 19 October to 3 November , during which the cruiser practiced tactical data sharing training with and , the ship finished out the year conducting tests and exercises in the San Diego area . Local operations continued in the spring , including more missile evaluation tests through February 1966 . Returning to San Diego on 4 March the ship underwent operational readiness , technical proficiency , boiler , electronics , and nuclear warfare acceptance inspections . In April , the warship participated in Exercise " Gray Ghost , " where the cruiser operated as tactical flagship for the anti - air warfare commander , Rear Admiral Elmo R . Zumwalt , Jr . . 1st Vietnam Deployment . On 12 May 1966 , " Chicago " got underway for her first Vietnam deployment . After stopping at Pearl Harbor and Yokosuka , where a new radar antenna was installed , the ship arrived at U . S . Naval Base Subic Bay on 12 June . Picking up her helicopter detachment the cruiser departed the next day for duty with Task Force 77 on Yankee Station in the Tonkin Gulf . On 15 June , " Chicago " began evaluating the concept of radar surveillance of all U . S . Navy air operations over designated areas of the Gulf and North Vietnam . Known as PIRAZ , for " positive identification and radar advisory zone , " the initial duties of tracking friendly aircraft was expanded to include Air Force planes , controlling barrier combat air patrols , advising support aircraft , and coordinating strike information with the Air Force reporting center at Da Nang , South Vietnam . On 5 July a Sikorsky SH - 3 Sea King search and rescue helicopter operating from " Chicago " rescued an A - 4E Skyhawk pilot from who had ejected off the coast of North Vietnam on 4 July . After a port visit to Hong Kong , where the ship had to avoid a typhoon on 17 July , the cruiser returned to Yankee Station on 29 July . On her second PIRAZ tour , in early August , " Chicago " assumed the duties of anti - air warfare commander for short periods of time and demonstrated the ability of a CG to track complex air operations . After a practice Talos missile shot off Okinawa on 27 August , and a short visit to Keelung , Taiwan , the ship returned to her station on 7 September . The cruiser , expanding air duties once again , soon became the primary source for MIG warning information , and assumed surveillance responsibility for the North Vietnamese - Chinese border . On her fourth PIRAZ tour , from 25 October to 12 November , the cruiser helped improve these procedures , particularly in the area of joint Air Force - Navy cooperation . En route to Sasebo , via Subic Bay , the cruiser stopped at the Okinawa Missile Range to fire two more practice missiles on 18 November . Arriving in Japan on 19 November , the ship visited Yokosuka before departing for home on 27 November . Sailing in rough seas , the ship completed the non - stop voyage on 7 December . The cruiser remained at San Diego for the remainder of the year . Starting in January 1967 , the cruiser settled into the busy routine of training , exercises , and inspections . Underway for such widely divergent responsibilities as providing guest cruises for the Secretary of the Navy , serving as First Fleet flagship , and air warfare exercises with USS " Constellation " , the cruiser spent the first five months of the year off California . In both April and May , " Chicago " conducted experimental Talos missile tests against surface targets to demonstrate missile versatility . Following readiness inspections , the cruiser departed 6 June for an Alaskan cruise with Commander First Fleet . Arriving in Juneau , Alaska on 10 June , the ship paid an official visit to that city before returning to San Diego eleven days later . After another fleet exercise in July , where " Chicago " s Talos battery scored a direct hit on a drone at a range of 96 miles , the cruiser spent August conducting official visits to Seattle , Washington , Vancouver , and Esquimalt , British Columbia . 2nd Vietnam Deployment . Assigned to tender availability on 1 September , the ship received boiler and other repairs and inspections from before departing for another WestPac deployment on 11 October 1967 . After departing Pearl Harbor on 18 October , the warship assisted in vectoring aircraft to the site of a Navy F - 8 Crusader crash site , successfully rescuing the pilot . Arriving on station in the Gulf of Tonkin three weeks later , via Yokosuka , Okinawa , and Subic Bay , the ship relieved , beginning PIRAZ duties on 12 November . These responsibilities , improved over the past year , included radar surveillance , coordinating barrier CAP and rescue operations , providing MiG and border warnings , and a wide variety of communication and real - time data sharing services . After a visit to Hong Kong from 16 to 21 December , the cruiser moved to Subic Bay for an import availability period completed on 3 January 1968 . " Chicago " steamed to Singapore , for a short rest period , before returning to the PIRAZ station on 13 January . On 28 January , following the seizure of by North Korea , the cruiser steamed to the Sea of Japan to help coordinate air activities for the carriers of Task Group 70 . 6 . On 7 February , as the crisis eased , " Chicago " departed to resume PIRAZ duties in the Gulf of Tonkin . Following two more PIRAZ cruises , " Chicago " departed Subic Bay on 1 May and arrived in San Diego on 15 May , via Guam and Pearl Harbor . After a brief diversion to the Pacific Missile Range , to conduct experimental aircraft tracking and missile firings , the cruiser entered Long Beach Naval Shipyard on 1 July for a regular repair period followed by machinery and electronics sea trials and inspections for the remainder of 1968 . 3rd Vietnam Deployment . On 31 January 1969 , " Chicago " concluded her missile systems qualifications tests , including a Talos test firing against a missile drone , before departing for her third cruise to the Western Pacific on 13 February . The cruiser underwent ten days of upkeep and type training at Subic Bay before assuming duties as PIRAZ ship on 11 March . Twelve days later , the ship began additional Search and Rescue ( SAR ) duty in the Gulf . This involved maintaining two helicopters on patrol station to provide rescue coverage for Naval aircraft reconnaissance missions . On 17 April , " Chicago " was ordered to proceed to the Sea of Japan , off Korea , for duty with Task Force 71 . In response to the shooting down of an EC - 121 Warning Star by North Korean fighters on 14 April , that killed all 31 personnel on board , the Task Force patrolled the Sea of Japan during the crisis that followed . The cruiser provided PIRAZ and screening duties for the carriers , and their constant air patrols , until 27 April when the ship departed for upkeep at Sasebo , Japan . Following repairs , Talos and Tartar missile tests at the Okinawa missile range , and picking up a group of midshipmen at Da Nang on 23 May , " Chicago " conducted another long PIRAZ / SAR tour from 23 May to 1 July . After upkeep at Yokosuka , a visit to Hong Kong , and a typhoon evasion , the cruiser returned to the Gulf of Tonkin on 1 August to continue radar surveillance , electronic countermeasures , and missile screen duties . Departing 25 August , the cruiser returned , via Subic Bay , Guam , and Pearl Harbor , to San Diego on 17 September . After a leave and upkeep period , followed by a tender availability that installed Zuni chaff dispensers , the cruiser finished out the year conducting routine inspections , local training exercises , and operations at the missile test range . Author T . J . Jackson Lears was a communications officer aboard " Chicago " at this time . " Chicago " , still serving as United States First Fleet flagship for Vice Admiral Isaac C . Kidd , Jr . , began the new year quietly , with team training at the Fleet Anti - Submarine Warfare school in San Diego . Several fleet exercises , two missile firing tests , and inspections filled the months until 12 June 1970 , when the cruiser underwent a two week repair and alteration period . All four Talos fire control systems were upgraded to include anti - ship targeting and an experimental video target tracker was installed . Communications security , nuclear safety , and operational readiness inspections , as well as final engineering checks , were completed by the end of August . 4th Vietnam Deployment . Despite cutbacks that had substantially lowered her crew component , the cruiser sailed for Vietnam on 9 September 1970 . Arriving on station on 3 October , " Chicago " conducted PIRAZ and search coordination duties with evasive maneuvering to avoid super typhoon s Joan and Kate between 14 and 26 October . After a 27 October refueling accident injured several men , " Chicago " left the Gulf of Tonkin on 1 November and arrived in Yokosuka on 7 November . " Chicago " departed Yokosuka on 17 November and resumed PIRAZ station from 20 November to 19 December . " Chicago " spent Christmas 1970 in Hong Kong and celebrated the new year in Subic Bay . " Chicago " left Subic Bay on 11 January and resumed PIRAZ station until 18 February . " Chicago " departed Subic Bay en route to San Diego on 24 February escorted by . " Knox " rescued a " Chicago " sailor who fell overboard on 26 February . After refueling in Guam on 27 February , " Knox " suffering a loss of power due to a JP - 5 fire in engineering on 3 March . " Chicago " took " Knox " in tow until a fleet tug arrived at the scene from Pearl Harbor on 5 March . Upon arrival in San Diego on 11 March , the cruiser began a post - deployment leave and upkeep period . Supply replenishment , inspections , and a midshipmen ' s cruise in June and July , were followed by exercises , inspections , and a dependent - guest cruise into October . 5th Vietnam Deployment . After a final readiness test and embarking five guests of the Secretary of the Navy , Chicago departed for another deployment on 6 November 1971 . After a weekend stop at Pearl Harbor , where the passengers were debarked , the ship stopped at Guam and Subic Bay before arriving in the Gulf of Tonkin PIRAZ station on 6 December . " Chicago " celebrated the new year in Singapore , and briefly crossed the equator on 4 January for a line - crossing ceremony at 105° 30 ′ east . " Chicago " then spent a week in Subic Bay before resuming PIRAZ station on 18 January . " Chicago " launched four RIM - 8H Talos - ARM anti - radar homing missiles against North Vietnamese shore - based radar stations in February and March , but no hits were registered . Radar surveillance and air coordination continued , except for a few days in Subic Bay in late February , until a visit to Hong Kong in late March . The cruiser set course for San Diego before being recalled to PIRAZ station on 3 April 1972 in response to the North Vietnamese Army ' s invasion of the south . The scale of U . S . air operations increased dramatically as strike and interdiction missions , designed to restrict the movement of men and supplies , were conducted throughout North Vietnam . The cruiser monitored all aircraft flying over the gulf , directed friendly CAP , and , despite intense electronic jamming , coordinated fighter escorts during the mid - April B - 52 Stratofortress raids against the North Vietnamese . By maintaining a complete air picture , " Chicago " vectored damaged bombers around enemy missile sites , set up tanker rendezvous points for planes low on fuel , and directed helicopters on rescue operations . The cruiser also directed friendly fighters against North Vietnamese aircraft . In April and May , " Chicago " s air intercept controllers directed Navy and Air Force aircraft on CAP missions that were credited with 14 MiGs shot down . Among these was the second MiG downed by Navy aces Randy Cunningham and William P . Driscoll . " Chicago " s forward Talos battery downed a MiG at long - range during the mining of Hai Phong harbor on 9 May . " Chicago " and USS " Long Beach " were given the unusual assignment of protecting A - 6 Intruder and A - 7 Corsair aircraft mining Hai Phong harbor at low altitude during Operation Pocket Money . To avoid exposing F - 4 Phantom fighters to North Vietnam ese ground - based anti - aircraft defenses , these ships patrolling offshore were given a free - fire zone for Talos missiles to engage defending MiG fighters approaching the coast from Phúc Yên and Kép airfields near Hanoi . " Chicago " came under fire from North Vietnamese coastal artillery batteries , but was able to maintain missile envelope coverage while moving out of gun range before suffering any damage . After a month of surveillance and directing air strikes against Hai Phong harbor traffic , " Chicago " finally departed for San Diego on 21 June 1972 . Post - Vietnam . Arriving home on 8 July , the ship underwent a local availability before entering Long Beach Naval Shipyard on 25 August for a Complex Overhaul . During this refit , " Chicago " received new digital fire control systems , replacing the old analog computers , installed new missile launchers , and expanded her electronics equipment . On 15 May 1973 , " Chicago " began carrying out six months of sea trials , tests , and training evolutions . New equipment and combat coordination procedures were also implemented , extending the cruiser ' s operational readiness date to 14 December . Finally , after refresher training , fleet exercises , and weapons load - out , the cruiser departed for another WestPac deployment on 21 May 1974 . After arrival at Subic Bay on 15 June , the ship prepared for an extended cruise with , , and . Designed to counter the Soviet Navy ' s presence in Somalia and Aden on the Indian Ocean , the low - key port visits were intended to demonstrate that " the Indian Ocean is not a Russian lake " . Departing Subic Bay on 25 June , the squadron passed through the Straits of Molocca on 2 July and arrived at Karachi , Pakistan six days later . Underway on 13 July , " Chicago " and her escorts began a month long at sea period , " showing the flag " in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden , before arriving at Mombassa , Kenya on 9 August . A week later , in an effort to influence Russian negotiations for basing rights in the Mauritius Islands , the squadron conducted a diplomatic port visit to Port Louis . Toward this end , " Chicago " embarked several Mauritian government officials on 21 August for a two - day cruise to Rodrigues Island . Departing on 23 August , the ships returned to Subic Bay , via Singapore , for upkeep on 11 September . Following a visit to Hong Kong in early October , the cruiser spent the next month conducting training and fleet exercises in the Philippines area until getting underway for Guam on 17 November . After a week at Apra Harbor , the ship departed on 29 November for San Diego . Arriving home on 14 December , the ship remained in port for leave , repairs , and upkeep into March 1975 . Technical inspections and equipment modifications , interspersed with a visit by a delegation of French officials , lasted until April when the ship conducted interim refresher training in the southern California operating areas . Following a series of missile tests in late May , and fleet exercises with Pacific naval units , the cruiser visited Seattle for the Fourth of July celebrations . After a visit to Vancouver the following week , " Chicago " returned to San Diego to begin overhaul preparations . From 9 September to 24 October , the cruiser underwent a major restricted availability as repairs were conducted to fuel tanks , boiler casings , and the main propulsion plant . Additional upkeep , tender availability , and type training continued through the new year as the cruiser prepared for another deployment . In February 1976 , personnel in the Operations department underwent extensive team training in anti - air , anti - submarine , and electronic warfare in preparation for a fleet exercise in March . That operation , exercise " Valiant Heritage " , took place from 2 – 11 March with forces from Canada , the United Kingdom , New Zealand , and the United States . Following a month in port , and several service inspections , " Chicago " left San Diego on 13 April to deploy to the Western Pacific . Sailing with an amphibious group the cruiser conducted multi - ship exercises , both before and after Pearl Harbor , and arrived at Yokosuka on 3 May . Task group exercises with , " Multiplex 2 - 76 " from 19 – 25 May and " Multiplex 3 - 76 " in the South China Sea from 4 – 7 June , and port visits to Subic Bay and Keelung , occupied " Chicago " through June . After a midshipmen cruise from Yokosuka to the Philippines in early July , the cruiser began an import period lasting until 2 August . On 4 August , the cruiser participated in " Multiplex 1 - 7T " , followed by a successful missile firing exercise off Poro Point , Luzon on 7 August . Returning to Subic Bay for two weeks of upkeep , the cruiser sailed for Hong Kong on 22 August . Arriving three days later , after avoiding a third typhoon , the ship spent six days in that liberty port . Leaving Hong Kong on 31 August , " Chicago " joined rendezvous with for a war - at - sea exercise lasting until 8 September , before returning to Subic for a lengthy upkeep period . Repainting the exterior , and interior improvements lasted until 27 September , when the cruiser got underway for home . Stopping at Guam on 1 October to refuel , and Pearl Harbor on 9 October for a dependents cruise , the ship finally returned to San Diego on 16 October . The cruiser remained in port , receiving boiler repairs and equipment upgrades , until 23 February when the ship began post - repair sea trials and crew training . Following inspections , and ordnance loadout at Seal Beach on 3 March , " Chicago " began a regular schedule of training operations out of San Diego . These exercises , including helicopter pad training , simulated missile and torpedo attacks , and other similar drills , continued until 6 September , when the ship got underway for her eighth WestPac tour . Chicago arrived in Subic Bay on 30 September , after multi - ship exercises that included four missile shots while underway , to begin a series of operations with the 7th Fleet . Missile shots and convoy exercises off Mindoro , a barrier exercise off Buckner Bay , and visits to Yokosuka , Keelung , and Hong Kong lasted until late November . On 4 December , after a rendezvous with " Kitty Hawk " , the cruiser began operations in the Sea of Japan . Helicopter and underway replenishments were interrupted two days later , when the formation was circled by two Soviet Tupolev Tu - 16 " Badgers " , but exercises continued until 8 December . Departing the area , " Chicago " steamed south to Subic Bay , for sonar exercises with , arriving at Singapore on 23 December . After the holidays , the cruiser moved to Phattaya Bay , Thailand on 30 December . Departing 4 January 1978 , the cruiser visited Subic Bay and Hong Kong before starting a month of exercises in the Philippine Sea . Gunfire exercises , helicopter operations , unreps , and other drills , including a real man overboard rescue on 28 February , lasted until 4 March , when " Chicago " moored at Manila . After repairs and upkeep , the ship steamed for Guam on 16 March , arriving five days later to refuel , before arriving in Pearl Harbor on 31 March . After returning to San Diego on 7 April , the ship remained in upkeep status until 24 July 1978 , when the cruiser moved to Long Beach to start a regular overhaul . Repairs at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard lasted until 18 October , when the cruiser conducted two days of sea trials . Finishing work continued until 25 October , when Chicago departed the shipyard . After two days of operations with and , the cruiser moved back to San Diego to begin a regular schedule of training exercises . These short cruises , concentrating on gunnery and underway training , lasted through February 1979 . A number of propulsion and electronic service inspections were also conducted . On 5 March , during exercises off southern California , the cruiser also earned her eleventh consecutive Missile " E " . After a month long pre - deployment period , the cruiser departed on 30 May for the cruiser ' s final cruise to the Western Pacific . " Chicago " escorted the aircraft carrier and her battle group to Pearl Harbor , conducting exercises with , , and along the way , before steaming on to Subic Bay on 13 June . Fleet exercises off Okinawa , and a port visit to Pusan , South Korea , at the end of July , were followed by refugee surveillance in the South China Sea . There , along with other 7th Fleet ships , she helped rescue Vietnamese refugees fleeing the mainland , picking up five herself . Escort duties for " Kitty Hawk " continued through September when , on 6 October , she sailed for Australia . On 15 October , after memorial services for two cruisers lost in the Solomon Islands battles during World War II , and the earlier , the cruiser began two weeks of exercises in the Coral Sea . After the exercise , involving seven U . S . ships and twenty Australian and New Zealand vessels , the ship visited Sydney , Australia , for a week long port visit . Returning to San Diego on 17 December , via Subic Bay and Pearl Harbor , the cruiser began preparations for inactivation . A pre - decommissioning inspection classified the cruiser as unfit for further economical naval service , due the high cost of modernization required , and on 1 March 1980 , " Chicago " was decommissioned at San Diego . Towed to the Inactive Ship Facility at Bremerton , Washington , the ship was held in reserve until 8 February 1989 . Stripped of equipment by 11 August , the hulk was sold for scrap to Southwest Recycling , Inc . , Terminal Island , California on 9 December 1991 . The anchor was saved and placed on display at Navy Pier on 11 November 1995 .