CLASS - TICONDEROGA (Flight II)
Displacement 9,589 (FL) Tons, Dimensions, 565' 10" (oa) x 55' x 31' 6" (Max)
Armament 2 x 5"/54RF, 2 VLS, (122 Missiles)
2 x 20mm Phalanx CIWS, 2 x 25mm Bushmaster mg. 6 x12.75" TT. 2 LAMPS Helos.
Machinery, 80,000 SHP; G.E. Gas Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 30+ Knots, Crew 370.
Operational and Building Data
Keel laid on 24 AUG 1989 by Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, MS
Launched 02 NOV 1990
Christened 10 NOV 1990
Commissioned 02 MAY 1992
SLEP Induction 12 MAY 2017
Projected Inactivation Date 31 MAR 2022
Decommissioned 22 SEP 2022

After initial success, the Allies were pinned down on the beachhead by a vastly superior German force. The Germans eventually committed 80,000 additional troops to the Italian campaign to “push the Allies back into the sea.” Through sheer bravery and heroism, the Allies held the beachhead. Finally, with long awaited reinforcements, the Allies broke out in late May and ultimately marched victoriously into Rome, in June 1944.

The strategic importance of the Battle of Anzio in the liberation of Italy is well documented. The campaign’s contribution to the overall Allied effort in Europe, however, is often underestimated. The two German corps engaged on the Anzio front were originally destined for Normandy. The success of the Allied landings on the beaches in France in June 1944 were due largely to the tenacity of the Allied forces at Anzio.

But the price of this crucial victory was high. Allied forces suffered nearly 28,000 casualties. In one measure of the courage and sacrifice of those who fought there, 23 Americans were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the most of any single battle of World War II.

USS ANZIO (CG 68) is the second US naval ship to be named in honor of the men and women who served at Anzio. She will sail the seas dedicated to preserving the freedom won on the Anzio beachhead while keeping alive the legacy of the boundless bravery and fighting spirit of each Anzio veteran.

Bow-on view of the christening of the Anzio (CG 68) by Mrs. Lee Baggett, Jr.

Ingalls photo

Starboard bow view, date unknown.

© Atlantic Fleet Sales by Nobe Smith

4 September 1996 - View from within the Combat Information Center on board the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68), during a live missile shoot off the coast of Wallops Island, Virginia. The live missile firing is the final segment of the exercise which began off the coast of Gulfport, Mississippi. Anzio is participating in the All Services Combat Identification Evaluation Team (ASCIET '96).

U.S. Navy photo #DN-SD-01-09940 by: PH1 Gregory S. McCreash.

The Mediterranean Sea, 1 August 2000 - Sailors aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) gather on the flight deck to spell out "IKE 2000" referring to their successful deployment to the Mediterranean Sea in the new millennium. Deployed with Dwight D. Eisenhower were the guided missile cruisers USS Cape St. George (CG 71) (top) and USS Anzio (CG 68).

U.S. Navy photo #000801-N-7750C-003 by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class David E. Carter II.

6 February 2001 - From front: The guided missile cruisers USS Vicksburg (CG 69), USS Anzio (CG 68), USS Cape St. George (CG 71), USS Hue City (CG 66) and the guided missile destroyers
USS The Sullivans (DDG 68) and USS Carney (DDG 64) participate in a Coordinated Engagement Capability (CEC) Exercise off the coast of Florida.

U.S. Navy photo #010206-N-2101W-002 by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Alan Warner.

The guided missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) leads a formation of ships in the Baltic Sea after departing the Polish port of Gdynia on 5 June 2001, during Exercise Baltic Operations 2001.

DoD photo #010605-N-6967M-501 by Petty Officer 2nd Class Shane McCoy.

3 July 2003 -- The guided missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) approaches the pier at its homeport at Norfolk Naval Base, Norfolk Va., after a six-month deployment to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

U.S. Navy photo #030703-N-7097H-001 by Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Sondra Howett.

26 May 2004 -- The guided missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) sails past the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor during the parade of ships at the beginning of the 17th annual Fleet Week in New York City. Over 4,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen on twelve ships are participating in this year's event held from 26 May to 2 June.

U.S Navy photo #040526-N-6371Q-049 by Photographer's Mate Airman Orlando Quintero.

Atlantic Ocean, 26 July 2006 - The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) pulls alongside the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) for a fueling at sea. Anzio is underway participating in Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) 06-02 “Operation Bold Step”, an exercise involving more the 16,000 service members from five countries.

U.S. Navy photo #060726-N-1063M-045 by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Dale Miller.

Mediterranean Sea, 21 October 2006 - The Ticonderoga-class guided–missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) gets underway after a four day port visit to Naples, Italy, along with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Elements of the Dwight D. Eisenhower, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8, departed their homeports on 3 October, for a regularly scheduled deployed in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). Embarked aboard IKE are aircraft assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7.

U.S. Navy photo #061021-N-0490C-003 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Miguel Angel Contreras.

Mediterranean Sea, 21 October 2006 - A HH-60H Seahawk assigned to the Nightdippers of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron Five (HS-5), conducts a vertical replenishment (VERTREP) at sea with the Ticonderoga-class guided–missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68). HS-5 is embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), part of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7. Elements of the Dwight D. Eisenhower, Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 8, departed their homeports on 3 October, for a regularly scheduled deployed in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). HS-5 is based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.

U.S. Navy Photo #061021-N-0490C-005 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Miguel Angel Contreras.

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) transits in the Arabian Sea, 20 November 2006, in formation with USS Anzio (CG 68), top, and USS Saipan (LHA 2), bottom, during a photographic exercise (PHOTOEX). The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier and embarked Carrier Air Wing 7 (CVW-7) were on a regularly scheduled deployment in support of Maritime Security Operations.

U.S. Navy photo #061120-N-8547M-335 by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Patrick W. Mullen III.

Arabian Sea, 22 November 2006 - Japanese fast combat support ship JDS Mashu (AOE 425) conducts a replenishment at sea (RAS) with the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68). Mashu is conducting the replenishment of fuel and ammunition for ships in order to conduct long-range fleet operations. U.S. Navy photo by Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 3rd Class Shawn Cossins.

United States Navy News Stand. Photo ID: 061122-N-8036C-215.

PERSIAN GULF, 7 April 2007 - Guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) conducts normal underway operations as part of Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group. Anzio is on a scheduled deployment in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment, as well as complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations.

U.S. Navy photo #070407-N-0490C-001 by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Angel Contreras.

MEDITERRANEAN SEA, 5 May 2007 - Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) conducts a fueling at sea with Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Eisenhower and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7 are on deployment in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO).

U.S. Navy photo #070505-N-6854D-003 by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Jon Dasbach.

ATLANTIC OCEAN, 15 April 2008 - USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198) and the guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) steam side-by-side during a replenishment-at-sea. Anzio and Big Horn are en-route to participate in Joint Warrior 081, a United Kingdom-led, multinational exercise in the North Atlantic designed to improve interoperability between allied navies as well as to prepare for a role in combined operations during upcoming deployments.

US Navy photo #080415-N-2953W-009 by MC3 Adrian T. White

SOUDA BAY, GREECE, 4 June 2009 - The Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Klakring (FFG 42) arrives alongside the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) at Souda Bay. Klakring and Anzio are both conducting routine port visits.

U.S. Navy Photo #090604-N-9063M-001 by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class John Martinez

CARIBEEAN SEA, 27 September 2012 - The Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dauntless (D 33), left, is underway in formation with the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) during UNITAS Atlantic 2012. UNITAS is an annual multi-national exercise that involves naval forces from 13 partner nations to promote interoperability and cooperation with each other and is hosted by Fourth Fleet.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Frank J. Pikul. United States Navy News Stand. Photo ID: 120927-N-ZE938-393.

ATLANTIC OCEAN, 30 March 2015 - The guided missile-cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68) is en route to Scotland to participate in exercise Joint Warrior, a United Kingdom-led semi-annual multinational cooperative training exercise.

U.S. Navy photo #150330-N-UY653-002 by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Ryan U. Kledzik

USS Anzio (CG 68) pier-side at Naval Station Norfolk, VA, on 7 April 2022. She looks in worse shape than the old Tico's at NISMF in Philly.