NORFOLK, Va. — After a quarter-century of worldwide operations, the guided missile cruiser USS Hué City was inducted into the cruiser modernization program on Sept. 30 at Norfolk Naval Base, entering a period of major overhaul, according to a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) release.
The program shifts administrative control from Commander, Naval Surface Forces Atlantic, to the Commander, NAVSEA, allowing the ships to undergo modernization to extend their service lives and air-defense commander capabilities.
The modernization program paces the threat through the installation of the latest technological advances in combat systems and engineering, ensuring these ships remain relevant and viable throughout their entire service lives of 40 operational years. Hué City will undergo extensive structural, mechanical and combat systems upgrades and return to the fleet at peak technical readiness, fully equipped for the Sailors who will take her into harm’s way.
“The induction of Hué City is a major milestone for the CG Mod program,” said Capt. Kevin Byrne, program manager for surface ship modernization. “Her upcoming overhaul will not only extend the life of this critical capability, but will help the Navy on its mission to grow the fleet and expand our warfighting advantage.”
Once a ship is inducted into the modernization program, two smaller maintenance availabilities are performed to remove equipment for replacement and to conduct structural repairs. These availabilities lay the foundation for the ship to receive new and upgraded systems during a longer dry-docking.
“This was a tremendous effort between ship’s force, maintenance team and other stakeholders,” said Lt. Cmdr. Ethan Reber, Hué City’s commanding officer. “From the beginning, lessons learned from ships inducted earlier in the process — Gettysburg, Vicksburg and Anzio — were incorporated effectively into our planning. Our crew is ready to get started and work alongside the maintenance teams to deliver on her next milestone.”
Six of 11 cruisers have been inducted into the modernization program and are in various stages of returning to the fleet with modernized capability. USS Hué City is the seventh cruiser to be inducted and will be equipped with the latest technological advances in combat systems and engineering to ensure she remains warfighting relevant through the 2030s.
