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USS Yorktown (CG 48)

USS YORKTOWN was the second ship in the TICONDEROGA - class of guided missile cruisers and the fifth ship in the Navy to bear this historic name. USS YORKTOWN was the Navy's test platform for the Smart Ship Project. Decommissioned in Dececmber 2004, YORKTOWN was subsequently laid up at the Naval Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility, Philadelphia, Penn. In September 2022, the former USS YORKTOWN was removed from the inactive fleet berthing area at Philadelphia and began her final voyage under tow to Texas. On November 29, 2022, YORKTOWN arrived at Brownsville for recycling.

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS YORKTOWN. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

• Click here to view the list.

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• Click here to see which USS YORKTOWN memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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USS YORKTOWN Cruise Books:

• Commissioning Cruise Book 1984-85
• STANAVFORLANT Cruise Book 1994-95

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Accidents of USS YORKTOWN:

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History of USS YORKTOWN:

Built by Ingalls Shipbuilding at Pascagoula, Mississippi, USS YORKTOWN was among the first warships designed around the AEGIS combat system, which integrated the AN/SPY-1A phased-array radar, advanced tactical computers and guided missile weapons into a coordinated air defense system. Originally ordered as DDG 48 on April 28, 1980, she was reclassified as a guided missile cruiser before construction began. Her keel was laid on October 19, 1981, and she was launched on January 17, 1983. The christening ceremony took place on April 16, 1983, with Mrs. Mary Mathews of Yorktown, Virginia, serving as sponsor. Construction and outfitting continued through 1983 and the early months of 1984, followed by builder's trials, weapons testing and acceptance evaluations. Unlike later ships of the class, beginning with USS BUNKER HILL (CG 52), YORKTOWN was equipped with two Mk 26 twin-arm missile launchers rather than the Mk 41 Vertical Launching System. Her original aviation facilities were configured for LAMPS I helicopters, although she was subsequently modified to operate SH-60B Seahawk helicopters.

USS YORKTOWN was commissioned at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Virginia, on July 4, 1984, with Capt. Carl A. Anderson as her first commanding officer. Following commissioning, she conducted initial training, machinery evaluations, combat systems testing and operational certification exercises in the Atlantic and Caribbean. The ship's early operations were intended to demonstrate the capabilities of the AEGIS system under realistic fleet conditions, including the simultaneous tracking and engagement of multiple aircraft and missile targets. Her shakedown period also included shock trials designed to evaluate the resistance of the hull, machinery and electronic equipment to the effects of nearby underwater explosions. Following the completion of these evaluations and associated maintenance, YORKTOWN resumed training in preparation for her first extended overseas deployment. The ship was initially homeported at Norfolk, Virginia, and assigned to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet.

In August 1985, USS YORKTOWN departed for her first Mediterranean deployment, operating with the U.S. Sixth Fleet and the battle group centered on the aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA (CV 60). The deployment took place during a period of continued instability in the Middle East and increasing tension between the United States and Libya. YORKTOWN conducted air defense operations, maritime surveillance and tactical exercises with American and allied naval forces. Her principal role was to provide air defense coordination for the carrier battle group using the AEGIS system, while also maintaining the capability to engage hostile surface vessels and support other fleet operations.

During October 1985, the deployment was affected by the hijacking of the Italian passenger ship ACHILLE LAURO by members of the Palestine Liberation Front. After the hijackers left the vessel and boarded an Egyptian aircraft, U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat fighters from USS SARATOGA intercepted the aircraft on October 10 and directed it to Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily. YORKTOWN was operating as part of the American naval force in the Mediterranean during the crisis. Following the incident, the cruiser continued air defense and maritime security duties with the Sixth Fleet.

During the winter of 1985-1986, USS YORKTOWN operated in the central Mediterranean and Gulf of Sidra as relations between the United States and Libya deteriorated. The Libyan government claimed sovereignty over the entire Gulf of Sidra, a position rejected by the United States, which maintained that waters beyond the internationally recognized territorial sea remained open to international navigation. American naval forces conducted a series of freedom-of-navigation operations known as Attain Document. YORKTOWN participated in these activities while providing surveillance and air defense support for the participating warships and aircraft. She operated with other American units, including the destroyer USS CARON (DD 970), during exercises designed to demonstrate the ability of American warships to operate in waters disputed by Libya.

In March 1986, USS YORKTOWN and USS CARON entered the Black Sea through the Turkish Straits for a freedom-of-navigation operation directed at Soviet restrictions on innocent passage through territorial waters. On March 13, the two American warships proceeded through Soviet territorial waters off the Crimean Peninsula, passing within approximately six nautical miles of the coast. The Soviet Navy monitored the ships closely, and the Soviet frigate LADNYY demanded that they leave the area. Soviet aircraft also conducted surveillance of the American vessels. YORKTOWN and USS CARON continued their passage for more than two hours before returning to international waters. The operation was conducted to challenge the Soviet interpretation of the right of innocent passage under international maritime law. It resulted in diplomatic protests but no physical confrontation between the participating warships.

After returning to the Mediterranean, USS YORKTOWN resumed operations associated with the American naval presence off Libya. On March 23, 1986, American carrier battle groups began the final phase of Operation Attain Document, involving surface ships and aircraft operating in the Gulf of Sidra. During the confrontation on March 24, Libyan forces launched surface-to-air missiles against American aircraft. U.S. Navy aircraft responded with attacks against Libyan radar installations, missile positions and naval vessels. YORKTOWN, operating in support of the American task force, launched two Harpoon antiship missiles against a Libyan patrol vessel during the engagement. Initial American reports described the target as destroyed, although subsequent assessments left some uncertainty regarding the precise effects of the missile attack. The confrontation also involved aircraft from USS SARATOGA and USS AMERICA (CV 66). YORKTOWN continued air defense and surveillance operations during the remainder of the confrontation.

The fighting in the Gulf of Sidra was followed by another major American operation against Libya in April 1986. During Operation El Dorado Canyon on April 14-15, aircraft from American carriers and U.S. Air Force units conducted strikes against Libyan military targets in response to terrorist attacks attributed to the Libyan government. YORKTOWN continued to support the naval forces operating in the Mediterranean through surveillance, communications and air defense activities. One U.S. Air Force F-111F aircraft was lost during the operation, and search and rescue efforts failed to recover its two crew members alive. Following the Libyan operations, YORKTOWN resumed routine Sixth Fleet activities, including exercises, readiness inspections and port visits. She completed her first Mediterranean deployment and returned to the United States in April 1986.

Following the deployment, USS YORKTOWN underwent post-deployment maintenance and resumed exercises in the western Atlantic and Caribbean. On June 27, 1986, Capt. Philip A. Dur III relieved Capt. Carl A. Anderson as commanding officer. During the remainder of 1986, the cruiser continued weapons evaluations, air defense exercises and training with other Atlantic Fleet units. Her AEGIS system was employed during exercises involving simulated missile attacks, aircraft interceptions and coordination with other surface combatants. The ship also carried out naval gunfire support training, aviation operations and engineering readiness assessments in preparation for further overseas assignments.

During 1987, USS YORKTOWN continued Atlantic Fleet training and participated in naval gunfire support exercises. Her performance during the year resulted in the Atlantic Fleet's Top Gun award for naval gunfire support. In the latter part of the year, YORKTOWN departed Norfolk for her second Mediterranean deployment, which lasted from September 1987 until March 1988. During this deployment, the cruiser operated with American and NATO forces throughout the Mediterranean, participating in exercises involving ships and aircraft from Morocco, France, West Germany, Tunisia and Turkey. Her assignments included air defense coordination, antisubmarine warfare training, tactical maneuvering and exercises intended to improve interoperability between the participating navies. The deployment took place during a period in which relations between the United States and the Soviet Union were beginning to change, although significant disagreements over military operations and maritime rights remained unresolved.

In February 1988, USS YORKTOWN and USS CARON were again assigned to conduct a freedom-of-navigation operation in the Black Sea. The two ships entered the Black Sea through the Turkish Straits on February 10 and proceeded toward the southern coast of the Crimean Peninsula. On February 12, they entered Soviet territorial waters while asserting the right of innocent passage under international law. The Soviet government disputed the American interpretation and ordered naval vessels to prevent the two ships from continuing their passage.

As USS YORKTOWN proceeded through the disputed waters on February 12, 1988, the Soviet KRIVAK I-class frigate BEZZAVETNYY maneuvered alongside her and deliberately struck the American cruiser's port side. The collision caused damage to the hull and fittings, including equipment in the vicinity of the Harpoon missile launchers. At approximately the same time, the Soviet MIRKA-class frigate SKR-6 deliberately collided with USS CARON. The Soviet vessels attempted to force the American ships away from the area, but YORKTOWN and USS CARON maintained their course and continued the passage. Although the collisions caused damage, neither American warship suffered casualties or damage that prevented it from continuing operations. The incident was subsequently the subject of diplomatic exchanges between Washington and Moscow. It became one of the most widely documented naval confrontations of the final years of the Cold War. Following the operation, YORKTOWN returned to the Mediterranean and subsequently completed her deployment, arriving back in the United States in March 1988.

On April 13, 1988, Capt. Peter E. O'Connor relieved Capt. Philip A. Dur III as commanding officer. During the remainder of the year, USS YORKTOWN resumed operations from Norfolk, conducting maintenance, readiness inspections and training with Atlantic Fleet units. The ship's exercises included air defense coordination, antisubmarine warfare, surface warfare and navigation training. The crew also participated in combat systems evaluations intended to maintain proficiency with the AEGIS system and its associated radar, missile and command and control equipment. These activities formed part of the regular operating cycle for a guided missile cruiser assigned to carrier battle group and independent surface force missions.

In October 1989, USS YORKTOWN departed for her third Mediterranean deployment. The cruise took place during the final months of the Cold War, when the Soviet Union was undergoing significant political changes and relations between NATO and Warsaw Pact countries were beginning to improve. YORKTOWN operated with the U.S. Sixth Fleet and participated in multinational exercises throughout the Mediterranean. Her duties included air defense coordination, maritime surveillance, tactical training and cooperation with allied naval forces. The deployment also provided opportunities for professional exchanges and port visits within the Mediterranean region. During this period, the ship continued to maintain readiness for operations involving Soviet naval units operating in the Mediterranean, although the strategic environment differed considerably from that of her previous deployments. YORKTOWN completed the deployment in the spring of 1990 and returned to Norfolk.

On March 7, 1990, Capt. Robert L. Richardson relieved Capt. Peter E. O'Connor as commanding officer. During the remainder of the year, USS YORKTOWN continued readiness training, inspections and exercises in the Atlantic and Caribbean. The Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990, resulted in a major increase in American naval deployments to the Middle East. Although YORKTOWN was not among the surface combatants conducting the initial Persian Gulf operations of August 1990, the crisis influenced Atlantic Fleet training and deployment preparations. The cruiser continued to maintain her air defense capabilities and underwent training associated with the changing operational requirements of the fleet.

During 1991, USS YORKTOWN deployed once more to the Mediterranean, where American naval forces were supporting operations associated with the aftermath of the Persian Gulf War and the conflict in northern Iraq. Following the coalition victory in Operation Desert Storm, large numbers of Kurdish civilians fled their homes in northern Iraq. Operation Provide Comfort was established to deliver humanitarian assistance and provide security for displaced civilians. YORKTOWN operated with American and allied naval forces supporting these activities, conducting air defense surveillance, maritime security and coordination duties. During the deployment, she also participated in multinational naval exercises with European and regional partners, including some of the first military cooperation activities involving American, Romanian and Bulgarian naval forces after the political changes in Eastern Europe.

During July 1991, USS YORKTOWN operated in the eastern Mediterranean with the aircraft carrier USS FORRESTAL (CV 59) and other American naval units. On July 19, an A-6E Intruder assigned to USS FORRESTAL crashed into the sea during a training flight near the Greek island of Avgo Nisi, northwest of Crete. Both crew members ejected. The bombardier/navigator was rescued, but the pilot remained missing. YORKTOWN joined USS FORRESTAL, the guided missile frigate USS DE WERT (FFG 45), the replenishment oiler USS MILWAUKEE (AOR 2) and Greek forces in a search covering approximately 1,600 square miles of sea. Despite an extensive search lasting almost two days, the missing pilot was not recovered. Following the operation, YORKTOWN continued her Mediterranean deployment. During the year, she was also recognized with the Old Crows Award for excellence in electronic warfare.

USS YORKTOWN completed her fourth Mediterranean deployment in late 1991 and returned to the United States for maintenance and training. During the first months of 1992, she conducted operational readiness exercises, weapons evaluations and preparations for deployment to northern European waters. On April 24, 1992, Capt. Michael G. Mullen relieved Capt. Robert L. Richardson as commanding officer. Later in the year, YORKTOWN participated in BALTOPS 92, a multinational maritime exercise conducted in the Baltic Sea. The exercise involved American and allied naval forces operating in confined waters and included tactical training, communications exercises, surveillance operations and cooperation with Baltic and northern European maritime forces. The deployment took place shortly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, when the United States and Russia were beginning to establish new forms of military contact.

During BALTOPS 92, USS YORKTOWN and the destroyer USS O'BANNON (DD 987) were selected for a visit to the Russian Northern Fleet's headquarters at Severomorsk, near Murmansk. The two American warships arrived on July 1, 1992. The visit was one of the first by American naval vessels to the Russian Northern Fleet's principal base since the Second World War and represented a significant change from the confrontational naval relationship of the preceding decades. American and Russian naval officers conducted meetings, professional exchanges and tours of the participating ships. On July 5, the ships took part in Exercise Northern Handshake in the Barents Sea, a combined training event involving American and Russian naval units. The exercise emphasized basic shiphandling, communications and cooperation between forces that had previously operated as potential adversaries. After completing the visit and exercise, YORKTOWN continued her northern European deployment before returning to the United States.

During the remainder of 1992, USS YORKTOWN resumed Atlantic Fleet training, inspections and maintenance. Her operational performance was recognized with the Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award, which was presented for sustained readiness and material condition. The ship continued preparing for future deployments, maintaining her ability to operate as an independent cruiser or as part of a carrier battle group. Her training included air defense, antisubmarine warfare, surface warfare and maritime surveillance operations.

In 1993, USS YORKTOWN increasingly participated in maritime counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean. From May through July, she served as flagship for Commander Task Group 4.1, coordinating surveillance and interdiction activities intended to disrupt maritime drug-trafficking routes between South America, the Caribbean and the United States. The operation involved cooperation with U.S. Coast Guard law-enforcement personnel, maritime patrol aircraft and other American agencies. YORKTOWN's AEGIS radar and command facilities were employed to maintain surveillance of air and surface contacts, while embarked helicopters and boarding teams supported the identification and investigation of suspicious vessels. The ship's activities reflected the growing importance of counter-drug operations for Atlantic Fleet surface combatants following the end of the Cold War.

In August 1993, USS YORKTOWN participated in Exercise Solid Stance in the North Atlantic, a joint military exercise involving American and allied forces. The exercise included tactical maneuvering, communications training and coordination of surface and air operations. Following the exercise, YORKTOWN returned to the western Atlantic and Caribbean, where she supported operations associated with the international embargo imposed on Haiti. During October and November, American naval forces were conducting maritime interception operations to enforce United Nations sanctions following the political crisis in Haiti. YORKTOWN contributed surveillance and command capabilities to these operations. During the year, the cruiser received the Commander Naval Surface Forces Atlantic Ship Safety Award in recognition of her safety record.

On January 21, 1994, Capt. David R. Ellison relieved Capt. Michael G. Mullen as commanding officer. During the early months of the year, USS YORKTOWN conducted readiness training and preparations for another deployment. In April and May, she participated in Exercise Agile Provider in the Caribbean, serving as Force Air Warfare Commander. The exercise included American naval and joint forces operating in a simulated maritime threat environment. During the same period, YORKTOWN served as flagship for Commander Destroyer Squadron Six and coordinated a six-ship missile exercise involving the firing of 26 missiles. The event demonstrated the ability of the participating ships to conduct coordinated engagements while sharing surveillance and tactical information. The cruiser also conducted naval gunfire support training during the summer, receiving a high qualification score during her evaluation.

In August 1994, USS YORKTOWN departed Norfolk for a six-month deployment as flagship for Commander Standing Naval Force Atlantic, NATO's permanent multinational Atlantic naval formation. During the deployment, YORKTOWN operated in the Mediterranean and Adriatic with warships from the United States and eight European countries. The mission included enforcement of United Nations sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the conflicts resulting from the breakup of Yugoslavia. The NATO and Western European Union maritime operation, known as Sharp Guard, involved monitoring merchant shipping and intercepting vessels suspected of violating the embargo. YORKTOWN served as Air Warfare Commander for the force operating in the Adriatic, coordinating surveillance and air defense information among the participating ships and aircraft.

During the deployment of 1994-1995, USS YORKTOWN conducted multinational tactical exercises, maritime interception training and operational patrols with NATO naval forces. The cruiser provided the command facilities and air defense capabilities required to coordinate a multinational force operating in a region affected by continuing conflict. The deployment included cooperation with European warships, visits to Mediterranean ports and exercises intended to improve interoperability between the participating navies. The work involved the integration of different communications systems, tactical procedures and national rules of engagement. After approximately six months of operations, YORKTOWN completed the deployment and returned to Norfolk in early 1995.

Following her return, USS YORKTOWN underwent post-deployment maintenance and resumed operations from Norfolk. In May and June 1995, she deployed to the Caribbean to participate in counter-narcotics operations, serving as Air Warfare Commander for the maritime surveillance force. The assignment involved coordination between naval radar systems, maritime patrol aircraft and law-enforcement agencies attempting to identify and intercept suspected drug-trafficking aircraft and vessels. On July 26, Cmdr. Richard T. Rushton relieved Capt. David R. Ellison as commanding officer. During the remainder of the year, YORKTOWN continued training, inspections and preparations for a major modernization program.

In December 1995, the Navy formally established the Smart Ship Project Office, and USS YORKTOWN was selected as the prototype vessel for the program. The project was intended to evaluate whether increased automation and computerized shipboard management could reduce crew workload and operating costs while maintaining operational readiness. The ship was equipped with an integrated network of computers and electronic control systems that provided centralized monitoring of machinery, navigation, engineering and damage control functions. The principal technologies included an Integrated Bridge System, Voyage Management System, Damage Control System, Integrated Condition Assessment System, Standard Machinery Control System and HYDRA wireless internal communications system. Information from these systems was distributed through a fiber-optic local area network, allowing operators to monitor and control functions that had previously required personnel at several separate stations aboard the ship.

During 1996, USS YORKTOWN underwent installation, testing and evaluation of the Smart Ship equipment while continuing operational training. The modernization included changes to bridge watchstanding, engineering control procedures, communications and maintenance management. A principal objective was to determine whether automation would permit a reduction in crew size without diminishing the ship's combat capabilities or readiness. The project also required extensive crew training, as personnel became familiar with new computer interfaces and procedures for monitoring and controlling shipboard equipment. In September 1996, YORKTOWN shifted her homeport from Norfolk, Virginia, to Pascagoula, Mississippi. The move reflected her increasing assignment to operations in the Caribbean and Latin American region, including counter-narcotics surveillance and maritime security missions.

During the opening months of 1997, USS YORKTOWN conducted counter-narcotics operations in the Caribbean with a reduced crew as part of the continuing Smart Ship evaluation. The deployment provided an opportunity to assess the ship's operational performance under normal fleet conditions after the installation of the new systems. In May, YORKTOWN completed approximately five months of counter-drug operations and subsequently participated in test exercises with the carrier battle group centered on USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73). Personnel from the Navy Manpower Analysis Center and the Operational Test and Evaluation Force evaluated the effects of reduced manning and automation on the ship's ability to perform its assigned missions. The tests examined operational readiness, crew workload, engineering procedures and the integration of the computerized control systems with the ship's combat capabilities.

On June 19, 1997, Cmdr. Eric L. Sweigard relieved Cmdr. Richard T. Rushton as commanding officer. During the following months, USS YORKTOWN continued engineering evaluations and trials of the Smart Ship systems. On September 19, she departed Newport, Rhode Island, after a scheduled port visit and proceeded toward the Virginia Capes operating area. Two days later, on September 21, 1997, the cruiser experienced a major failure of the computerized machinery control system while conducting operations off the Virginia coast.

The September 21 incident began when an incorrect zero value was entered into the Remote Database Manager associated with YORKTOWN's Standard Machinery Control System. The software attempted to perform a division by zero, resulting in a buffer overflow that caused computers and remote terminals on the ship's local area network to fail. The failure propagated through interconnected systems and temporarily deprived the crew of normal propulsion control. YORKTOWN remained without normal propulsion control for approximately two hours and forty-five minutes while the crew worked to restore the affected systems. Subsequent reports differed regarding the precise circumstances of her return to port. Navy officials maintained that YORKTOWN was not towed and that the ship returned using emergency control arrangements, including equipment derived from the OLIVER HAZARD PERRY-class frigate program. The incident prompted further examination of the Smart Ship program's software reliability, system redundancy and operating procedures. It also drew attention to the potential consequences of integrating essential shipboard functions into interconnected computer systems.

Following the incident, USS YORKTOWN continued testing and refinement of the Smart Ship equipment. The Navy examined the causes of the failure and considered additional safeguards intended to prevent erroneous data from disrupting critical control systems. The program continued to be evaluated as a possible model for future reductions in manning and the greater use of automated engineering and navigation systems throughout the surface fleet. YORKTOWN resumed training and other operational assignments after the affected systems were restored.

During 1998, USS YORKTOWN continued operating from Pascagoula, conducting maintenance, readiness training and maritime surveillance missions. The ship remained involved in the Smart Ship evaluation program while participating in Atlantic Fleet exercises and regional operations. Her engineering and combat systems underwent continued assessments intended to determine the effects of automation on operational reliability and crew workload. The program's findings contributed to discussions within the Navy concerning the use of commercial computer technology, integrated bridge systems and reduced manning aboard surface combatants.

On February 19, 1999, Cmdr. Jeffrey C. Johnstone relieved Cmdr. Eric L. Sweigard as commanding officer. During the year, USS YORKTOWN conducted further training and preparations for a counter-narcotics deployment. On September 25, 1999, she departed Pascagoula for an approximately four-month deployment to the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Before beginning the principal patrol phase, the cruiser embarked personnel from Commander Second Fleet. With support from the ship's helicopter detachment, the embarked staff conducted reconnaissance and photographic surveys of an island being considered as a possible alternative location for Navy training exercises if access to the Vieques training range in Puerto Rico became unavailable. Following this assignment, YORKTOWN continued maritime interdiction patrols in support of U.S. counter-drug operations.

During the 1999 deployment, USS YORKTOWN conducted surveillance and interdiction operations along maritime smuggling routes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. The ship's operating schedule included port visits in Jamaica, Aruba, Cartagena, Colombia, Rodman, Panama, Manta, Ecuador, and Cozumel, Mexico. The deployment required repeated coordination with American law-enforcement agencies and regional authorities involved in combating narcotics trafficking. YORKTOWN also transited the Panama Canal during the final months of American administration of the canal, which was formally transferred to Panama on December 31, 1999. After completing the deployment, the cruiser returned to Pascagoula in early 2000. The deployment was part of the growing emphasis placed on maritime drug interdiction during the later years of her service.

During 2000, USS YORKTOWN underwent a dry-docking maintenance availability at Mobile, Alabama. The shipyard period included hull inspections, machinery maintenance and repairs necessary to sustain the aging cruiser's operational readiness. After completing the availability, YORKTOWN resumed sea trials, engineering evaluations and training. On August 17, 2000, Cmdr. Robert S. Kerno Jr. assumed command. The ship continued operating under Atlantic Fleet command while supporting training and maritime security requirements in the western Atlantic and Caribbean. Her missions during this period continued to make use of the Smart Ship equipment installed during the preceding years.

During 2001, USS YORKTOWN continued training, maintenance and operations from Pascagoula. Her principal assignments included maritime surveillance, counter-narcotics operations and readiness training with American and regional naval forces. Following the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001, the Navy increased its emphasis on maritime security, force protection and the defense of critical infrastructure. YORKTOWN's operating procedures and training reflected these changing requirements, including greater attention to the identification of suspicious vessels, protection of naval installations and coordination with other maritime security organizations.

On February 10, 2002, Cmdr. Steven E. Sloan relieved Cmdr. Robert S. Kerno Jr. as commanding officer. Later that month, USS YORKTOWN deployed to the Caribbean as flagship for the Caribbean phase of UNITAS 43-02, the annual multinational naval exercise series conducted with Latin American and Caribbean naval forces. Commander Destroyer Squadron Six and his staff embarked aboard YORKTOWN to direct the participating task group. Other American units included the guided missile frigate USS DOYLE (FFG 39), the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS PROVIDENCE (SSN 719), the Coast Guard cutter USCGC THETIS (WMEC 910) and the Military Sealift Command ocean surveillance ship USNS PREVAIL (T-AGOS 8).

The Caribbean phase of UNITAS 43-02 began on February 22, 2002, and involved naval forces from several countries operating off the northern coast of South America. The participating ships conducted tactical maneuvering, communications exercises, live-fire gunnery training, air defense exercises, maritime interdiction procedures and simulated surface warfare operations. On February 25, USS YORKTOWN conducted personnel transfer operations with USS DOYLE, using a rigid-hull inflatable boat to transfer personnel between the ships while underway. On February 27, YORKTOWN fired her 5-inch gun during a live-fire exercise involving aerial targets. The exercises also included operations with maritime patrol aircraft and embarked SH-60 Seahawk helicopters. The Caribbean phase concluded on March 8, 2002, when the multinational task group arrived at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. YORKTOWN subsequently resumed operations and training under Atlantic Fleet command.

During the remainder of 2002 and throughout 2003, USS YORKTOWN continued maritime security training, maintenance and readiness evaluations from Pascagoula. The cruiser participated in tactical exercises intended to maintain proficiency in air defense, surface warfare, antisubmarine warfare and coordinated operations with other naval forces. Her training also included engineering inspections, combat systems evaluations and preparations for a final overseas deployment. By the end of 2003, YORKTOWN was assigned to Expeditionary Strike Group Two, centered on the amphibious assault ship USS WASP (LHD 1), for a deployment to the Mediterranean and Middle East in support of American and coalition operations.

On February 17, 2004, USS YORKTOWN departed Naval Station Pascagoula for her final operational deployment. Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 42, Detachment 2, embarked aboard the cruiser with an SH-60B Seahawk helicopter. On February 20, YORKTOWN rendezvoused with the other ships of the USS WASP Expeditionary Strike Group off the coast of North Carolina. The group included USS WASP, the amphibious transport dock USS SHREVEPORT (LPD 12), the dock landing ship USS WHIDBEY ISLAND (LSD 41), the guided missile cruiser USS LEYTE GULF (CG 55), the guided missile destroyer USS McFAUL (DDG 74) and the nuclear-powered attack submarine USS CONNECTICUT (SSN 22). The deployment was conducted as part of the expanding Expeditionary Strike Group concept, which combined amphibious forces with surface combatants and submarines capable of providing air defense, surface warfare, antisubmarine warfare and maritime security support.

Following the transatlantic passage, USS YORKTOWN entered the Mediterranean and made a brief port visit to Taranto, Italy. She subsequently proceeded to the eastern Mediterranean and transited the Suez Canal southbound into the Red Sea. This was the first passage through the Suez Canal during YORKTOWN's 20-year commissioned career. After entering the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility, the cruiser proceeded toward the Persian Gulf for maritime security operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. The deployment reflected the continuing coalition commitment to protecting shipping, maintaining maritime security and supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

During the passage through the Arabian Sea, USS YORKTOWN received a distress call from the tanker M/T EVERTON, which had caught fire following a collision with a fishing vessel. YORKTOWN responded to the emergency and coordinated the efforts of nearby ships providing assistance. The cruiser conducted search and rescue operations and helped arrange the evacuation of the tanker's crew. After the survivors had been rescued, YORKTOWN dispatched firefighting personnel in small boats to assist in extinguishing the fire aboard the damaged vessel. The operation contributed to the successful rescue of the crew and the subsequent salvage of the tanker. Following the emergency response, YORKTOWN resumed her transit toward the Persian Gulf.

During the spring of 2004, USS YORKTOWN operated in the northern Persian Gulf as an on-scene commander for maritime security operations. Her principal assignment was the protection of the Iraqi offshore oil terminals at Al Basra and Khawr Al Amaya, which were essential to the country's petroleum exports. Coalition naval forces were responsible for preventing attacks against the terminals while allowing commercial tankers to continue loading oil. YORKTOWN coordinated maritime surveillance, patrols and the activities of American and coalition vessels operating near the installations. Her embarked helicopter detachment conducted reconnaissance and surveillance flights in support of these operations.

On April 24, 2004, the maritime security force came under attack when explosive-laden boats attempted to strike the Iraqi oil terminals. During the coordinated attacks, three American sailors serving with the patrol coastal ship USS FIREBOLT (PC 10) were killed while attempting to intercept a suspicious vessel. The attacks caused limited damage to the oil installations but demonstrated the threat posed by small boats carrying explosives. USS YORKTOWN was operating nearby when the attacks occurred and responded by coordinating the defensive activities of available coalition naval units. The incident resulted in additional force-protection measures around the terminals, including permanent Marine security detachments assigned to the facilities.

Following the attacks, USS YORKTOWN continued protecting the oil terminals through the end of May 2004. Capt. Kurt Tidd, Commander Middle East Force, and his staff embarked aboard YORKTOWN to direct the maritime security task force. The cruiser served as a command platform for operations in the area, coordinating patrols, communications and surveillance. In addition to its security duties, the ship provided logistical support to Marines stationed on the offshore terminals, including daily deliveries of food and water and other services needed to sustain the detachments. YORKTOWN's SH-60B Seahawk helicopter continued surveillance flights and supported communications and personnel movements associated with the security operation. These activities formed part of Operation Market Time II, the coalition maritime security effort conducted in the northern Persian Gulf.

At the beginning of June 2004, USS YORKTOWN completed the principal oil terminal protection phase of her deployment and began a series of multinational naval exercises in the Middle East. The exercises involved cooperation with the navies of Oman, Egypt, the United Kingdom, France and Jordan and continued through the middle of July. Their purpose was to improve tactical communications, shiphandling, maritime security procedures and interoperability between American and regional naval forces. The operations included combined surface maneuvers, maritime surveillance training, boarding procedures and exercises designed to improve coordination in the protection of commercial shipping and maritime infrastructure.

During the multinational exercise period, USS YORKTOWN visited Muscat, Oman, Safaga, Egypt, and Aqaba, Jordan. The port visits included meetings between American and host-nation naval personnel, professional exchanges and official receptions aboard the cruiser. The visits formed part of the Fifth Fleet's efforts to develop maritime security cooperation with countries bordering the Arabian Sea, Red Sea and eastern Mediterranean. YORKTOWN subsequently completed her exercise commitments and began preparations for the return voyage to the United States.

In late July 2004, USS YORKTOWN departed the Fifth Fleet area of responsibility and proceeded northward through the Red Sea and Suez Canal into the Mediterranean. During the westbound passage, she visited Souda Bay, Crete, Valletta, Malta, and Rota, Spain. These visits provided opportunities for maintenance, logistical support and crew rest following several months of operations in the Middle East. After leaving the Mediterranean, YORKTOWN crossed the Atlantic and made a brief stop at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, Virginia, where she offloaded ammunition in preparation for decommissioning. Family members and friends subsequently embarked for a tiger cruise during the final passage to her homeport.

On August 17, 2004, USS YORKTOWN returned to Naval Station Pascagoula, completing her final six-month operational deployment. Following her return, YORKTOWN entered the final phase of preparations for decommissioning. Equipment and ammunition were removed, maintenance and administrative requirements were completed, and the crew prepared the ship for transfer to inactive status.

On December 3, 2004, USS YORKTOWN held her decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Pascagoula, Mississippi. Former commanding officers, Navy officials, members of the crew and invited guests attended the event. Among the speakers were Dr. Philip A. Dur III, the ship's second commanding officer, and Adm. Michael G. Mullen, who had served as her fifth commanding officer. Cmdr. Steven E. Sloan was YORKTOWN's final commanding officer. The ceremony marked the end of more than twenty years of operational service. The Navy's historical records identify December 10, 2004, as the formal date of decommissioning and removal from the Naval Vessel Register, although the public ceremony and contemporary Navy announcements used December 3.

Following her decommissioning, the former USS YORKTOWN was towed from Pascagoula to the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility at the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania. There she remained laid up with other decommissioned American warships. During the following years, the former cruiser was periodically moved within the inactive fleet berthing area while the Navy considered possible disposal arrangements. Her preservation as a museum ship was discussed, but no permanent museum project was established. An official historical evaluation completed in November 2010 determined that YORKTOWN was not eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places under the applicable Navy historic-vessel criteria. The ship consequently remained in inactive storage pending final disposal.

In September 2022, the former USS YORKTOWN was removed from the inactive fleet berthing area at Philadelphia and began her final voyage under tow to Texas. The tow proceeded along the Atlantic coast and through the Gulf of Mexico toward Brownsville, Texas, where the former cruiser was to be dismantled. On November 29, 2022, ex-YORKTOWN arrived at Brownsville for recycling.

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About the Ship's Name, about the Battle of Yorktown:

The siege of Yorktown is the term for two different military actions. The first had been situated at the end of the war of Independence and the second during the Civil war. The city of Yorktown, VA, had been the location for both battles.

The first siege ended as the last big conflict in the War of Independence on October 19, 1781, with the capitulation of the British troops. At the same time the US and French ground troops under G. Washington after merging with the French fleet under Francois Joseph Paul, Comte de Grasse, looked up the British under Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis. The siege lasted 20 days. The capitulation was the reason for the resignation of the British Prime Minister Lord Frederick North. He gave the power to politicians ready for reconciliation. On September 3, 1783, the British accepted the conditions of the Peace of Paris. This was the end of the War of Independence.

In 1862, during the Civil War, the second siege of Yorktown took place. On April 5, 1862, the bigger union troops under General George B. McClellan locked up the town. It was kept by 13,000 soldiers from the Confederate troops under General Major John B. Magruder. The siege nearly lasted one month. On May 3, the leader of the Confederates, General Joseph E. Johnston, withdrew the federation to Richmond.

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USS YORKTOWN Patch Gallery:

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USS YORKTOWN Image Gallery:

The photos below were taken by Brian Barton on October 13, 2008, and show the YORKTOWN laid up at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

The photos below were taken by me on November 7, 2008, and show the YORKTOWN laid up at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

			Click here to view more photos.

The photos below were taken by me on October 26, 2010, and show the YORKTOWN still laid up at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

			Click here to view more photos.

The photos below were taken by me on May 4, 2012, and show the YORKTOWN still laid up at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. However, she has been moved out of the shipyard's basin.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the YORKTOWN laid up at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard on October 7, 2018.

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