The third of 11 planned Virginia class nuclear-powered, guided-missile cruisers was ordered from Newport News on 21 January 1972 under the Nixon administration, laid down 22 February 1975, launched as the fourth USS Mississippi (CGN-40) on 31 July 1976, and commissioned 5 August 1978– 45 years ago today.
USS Mississippi (CGN-40) underway in the Atlantic, making a 180-degree turn, August 1978. USN 1172975
“Ole Miss” spent much of her career escorting fast nuclear carriers– her class’s main reason for existing– and saw an NTU upgrade, CIWS and Harpoon fitted, and TLAM armored box launchers installed. The latter proved useful during Desert Storm when Mississippi fired three warshot TLAMs at Iraqi strategic and military targets on 25 January 1991 and two more the following day.
Outclassed by VLS Aegis cruisers despite her long and fast legs, she and the rest of the CGNs were axed early from their designed 38 years of service rather than undergo refueling and conversion to Aegis.
After serving just 18 years in commission, Ole Miss was deactivated on 6 September 1996.
By 1999, all 10 of the Navy’s CGNs (four Virginia class, two California class, two Bainbridge class, Truxtun, and Long Beach) had been retired.
On her way to retirement, Mississippi stopped by Naval Station Pascagoula on Singing River Island in her namesake state for one final time in February 1996.
I visited her then, with my handy little Kodak in my pocket, and grabbed some snaps.
USS Mississippi (CGN-40) at Naval Station Pascagoula, Feb 1996. Note Ingalls West Bank in the background and an NRF FFG-7 short hull on her alongside. Photo by Chris Eger
USS Mississippi (CGN-40) at Naval Station Pascagoula, Feb 1996. She had her glad rags flying. Also, note the big AN/SPS-48 3D radar array whose antenna weighed 4,500 pounds (but had a 200nm range!) Photo by Chris Eger
USS Mississippi (CGN-40) at Naval Station Pascagoula, Feb 1996. How about those giant MK26 GMLS twin launchers? Mississippi was a “double-ended” cruiser, carrying a set of these bad boys both fore and aft, with 26 missiles forward and 44 in the aft magazine, a mix of ASROC and Standard SM-2MR. Photo by Chris Eger
USS Mississippi (CGN-40) at Naval Station Pascagoula, Feb 1996. Note the big blue ASROC drill missile and three more Perry class NRF frigates (FFG-20, FFG-24, FFG-32). With the Mark 26, two missiles could be on the rails and it could sustain a 9-second firing rate with a one-second salvo delay. Photo by Chris Eger
On the other side of the stern MK26, an SM-2MR GMTR (Guided Missile Training Round) drill missile. Photo by Chris Eger
Recycled, in 2003 Ole Miss’s main mast was installed at the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and remains on guard today.
Had she been refueled and refitted in 1996-99 as planned, she would have only retired in 2018.
CGN-40’s mainmast at Ocean Springs. Photo by Chris Eger