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Homeports of USS Chosin

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USS Chosin (CG 65)

USS CHOSIN is the 19^th ship in the TICONDEROGA - class of guided missile cruisers and the first ship in the Navy to bear the name. At the moment, the CHOSIN is laid up at San Diego, Calif., as part of the Navy's Cruiser Phased Modernization Program. The ship will later undergo modernization and return to service by 2021, replacing an older sistership. The program follows a 2-4-6 plan meaning that each year no more than two cruisers will be placed in phased modernization; no cruiser will remain in phased modernization for more than 4 years; and no more than six cruisers may be in phased modernization at the same time. During the lay up, the ship is maintained by a small 45-sailor crew.

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS CHOSIN. 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 CHOSIN memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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About the Ship's Coat of Arms:

The Shield:

On the shield, the conflict between invading Communist forces from the North and the UN offensive from the south, is symbolized by the interaction of red and light blue on the shield. Red also stands for courage and bloodshed; the gold denotes excellence and high ideals. The Marine Corps and United States Armyare represented by the swords, raised at the ready. The rays symbolize the flame of combat and the frigid environment in the area of the Chosin Reservoir, from which the ship takes its name.

The Crest:

The crest's demi-dragon, breathing fire, represents the threat from China. The demi-trident symbolizes Naval Power; gold represents excellence and courage in battle.

The Motto:

The ship's motto is INVICTUS is Latin for "invincible" or "unconquered".

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USS CHOSIN Patch Gallery:

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About the Ship's Name:

USS CHOSIN is named in commemoration of the First Marine Division s breakout from a Chinese Communist encirclement at the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War in the bitter winter of 1950. Historians term the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir as the most savage battle of modern warfare. It is compared to Tarawa, the bloodiest battle of World War II.

The battle of Chosin was fought in the mountains of North Korea, near Manchuria. It pitted about 15,000 allied ground troops, mostly elements of the U.S. First Marine Division, a regimental combat team of the U.S. Army s Seventh infantry Division, and elements of the British Royal Marines against 120,000 Chinese Communists in 10 Divisions who had been ordered to annihilate them to the last man. Following the landing at Inchon and the seizure of Seoul, Korea, in September 1950, the First Marine Division reembarked on amphibious ships and transferred to the east coast of Korea. Landing at Wonson, the Fifth and Seventh Marines were sent to Hamhung to prepare for the advance on the Yalu. The First Marines initially remained near Wonson.

In November 1950, eight of those Chinese Communist Divisions struck the First Marine Division. Major General Oliver P. Smith ordered the Marines to reverse direction and overcome the Communist roadblocks. The attack in the new direction - the breakout - continued for 13 days until Marines linked with Army troops in the Hungnam perimeter.

By December, the Division had closed to Hungnam after a deliberate and calculated withdrawal, one that cost the enemy an estimated 25,000 dead as opposed to 730 Marines killed. Skillful troop leadership and stubborn determination enabled the Marines to avert disaster that at first seemed inevitable.

The survivors of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir are known as "The CHOSIN Few".

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History of USS CHOSIN:

The construction of CHOSIN began on August 3, 1987 by Ingalls Shipbuilding division of Litton in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Her keel was laid on July 2, 1988. She was launched on September 1, 1989 and Christened on October 14, 1989.

July 30 marked CHOSIN's first of many underway periods as she sailed into the Gulf of Mexico for her first sea trials. Upon her completion of the sea trials, she was delivered to the Navy on November 5, 1990 in preparation for commissioning in Pascagoula, Mississippi, on January 12, 1991.

After reporting to her new homeport in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, CHOSIN began preparation to become an active fleet asset. Upon completion of Refresher Training in November of 1991, CHOSIN chopped to THIRD fleet for operational duties as part of the RANGER Battle Group.

On August 10, 1992 CHOSIN set sail on her maiden deployment. Most of the Underway time was spent in the Northern Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. CHOSIN's mission was to assist in protecting the southern Iraqi no-fly zones directed by United Nations Security Council resolutions. Upon Completion of that deployment, CHOSIN returned to homeport on February 10, 1993.

CHOSIN embarked on her second six month deployment to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf on November 15, 1994. Operating as part of the CONSTELLATION Battle Group, she carried out various assignments in support of Operations Desert Storm and Southern Watch. CHOSIN conducted port visits in Yokosuka, Japan; Pusan, Korea; Hong Kong; Singapore; Dubai and Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates; as will as Perth, Sydney, and Newcastle, Australia. While in the Gulf, the War Dragon's primary mission was that of Air Warfare Commander. In this role, CHOSIN was responsible for the air defense of the Battle Group. CHOSIN's versatility and that of her crew ensured the successful completion of all assigned duties. The ship returned to its homeport in May 1995.

USS CHOSIN took part in Pacific Joint Task Force Exercise (PACJTFEX) 97-1, from February 10 through 21, 1997 off the Southern California coast. PAC JTFEX 97-1 was part of a series of exercises previously named "FLEETEX". The name reflected the increasing focus on preparing naval forces for joint operations with other U.S. military services.

In April 1997, CHOSIN got underway for her next deployment. As the CONSTELLATION (CV 64) Battle Group entered the Arabian Gulf on May 16, 1997, USS CHOSIN turned over the duties of being regional Air Defense Commander to USS LAKE ERIE (CG 70) and reported for maritime interception duties in the far northern Arabian Gulf. While patrolling off the coast of Iraq, CHOSIN was supporting the UN resolutions that prohibit the import or export of materials with Iraq, except for food and medicine. Within three days, CHOSIN intercepted and boarded five vessels, including three large cargo carriers.

In August 1997, USS CHOSIN completed two major Theater Ballistic Missile Defense (TBMD) exercises in the Arabian Gulf. The exercises, named ARABIAN SKIES, were directed by Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group 1 and involved Army Patriot missile batteries, Air Force data relay stations, CHOSIN, USS LAKE ERIE (CG 70), USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG 53) and Carrier Air Wing 2 operating from USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64). During the exercises, the CONSTELLATION Battle Group demonstrated a viable TBMD capability using the existing command and control architecture while CHOSIN provided advance notification to other battle group assets and to an in-theater Army Patriot missile battery. This advance notice enabled the Patriot battery to bring their weapons system online quicker, and focus their search efforts toward simulated incoming missiles. The exercises used Tactical Data Link-A (TADIL- A) for most data exchange. CHOSIN was a prototype for the future technology exchange, termed TADIL-J, is also known as the Joint Tactical Information Data System (JTIDS). One important feature TADIL-J will provide is the ability to pass projected impact point for theater ballistic missiles. This capability will dovetail into the existing TBMD architecture and improve its flexibility, while providing the civilian populace quicker accress to vital information.

CHOSIN, with the CONSTELLATION, departed the Gulf on August 17, 1997, on schedule to continue its routine six-month deployment in the waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

USS CHOSIN left Pearl Harbor in mid-June 1999 for a routinely scheduled deployment with the USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64) Battle Group and the USS PELELIU (LHA 5) Amphibious Ready Group, to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf. During that six-month deployment, the crew of the "War Dragons" was the Air Defense Commander for the USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64) Battle Group, supported the enforcement of oil sanctions against Iraq, traveled more than 44,000 miles, saw operations around Japan, Korea, the South China Sea, Indian Ocean, and Arabian Gulf, and visited ten ports in seven different countries.

CHOSIN made port visits to Pusan, Korea; Yokosuka, Japan; Singapore; Phuket, Thailand; Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates; and Bahrain. The end of CHOSIN s deployment included three port visits in Australia to the cities of Albany, Melbourne and Sydney. Chosin s last stop was in Pago Pago, American Samoa. It returned to its homeport on December 17, 1999.

During this deployment, while conducting Maritime Interception Operations in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq, USS CHOSIN was able to uphold a time-honored code of 'Assisting fellow sailors in peril at sea' by rescueing eight stranded Iraqi fishermen.

With their dhow boat s rudder broken and unable to steer, the Iraqi fishermen had been stranded for six days in the Northern Arabian Gulf more than 25 miles from the nearest land. With only three days of food and water remaining, and no radio, the fishermen frantically waved red rags as the Pearl Harbor-based cruiser CHOSIN passed by.

Upon spotting the distressed vessel, CHOSIN s Officer of the Deck, Lt. Joshua Brooks, immediately dispatched the ship s inflatable lifeboat to investigate. The fishermen at first appeared to be frightened by the presence of American Sailors. "As we made our approach, they realized we were an American ship and they began waving for us to go away", said Brooks.

GSM3 Mohammad Betemour, who spoke fluent Arabic, was able to act as interpreter. "We were the first Americans they had ever met", said Betemour, a native of Jordan. "They had been told that Americans were violent, seven feet tall and full of muscles."

While at first apprehensive, the fishermen soon realized they had nothing to be afraid of. According to the fishermen, during the time they were stranded, two other ships had passed by them and had not stopped to render aid. They were surprised that an American warship, a country they had been led to believe hated them, would stop and take the time to help. Once the nature of the casualty had been determined, a repair team was dispatched to examine the dhow boat and come up with a plan for repairing it so the fishermen could safely make their way home.

USS CHOSIN assumed duties as the air defense commander for the joint Japanese and American Bi-lateral Force (BIF) in support of Rim Of the Pacific Exercise 2000.

In May 2000, two weeks following a Ship s Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) that saw significant modifications to USS CHOSIN s AEGIS Combat System, Communications suite and Electronic Warfare Systems, the crew of CHOSIN underwent a Comprehensive Assessment of Readiness and Training (CART). Following this, CHOSIN embarked a cadre of air defense experts from AEGIS Training and Readiness Command (ATRC), Pearl Harbor, to provide Force Air Defense and Undersea Warfare training to CHOSIN s Air Defense and Undersea Warfare watch standers. It then made a port visit to Acapulco, Mexico.

USS CHOSIN deployed on March 16, 2001, for a six-month Western Pacific deployment, as part of the CONSTELLATION Battle Group. The entire battle group trained for six months in preparation for this deployment through a series of increasingly exercises and operations. Those pre-deployment exercises culminated in February 2001 with the successful completion of Joint Task Force Exercise 01-1. CHOSIN operated in support of Operation Southern Watch in the Arabian Gulf region for 14-weeks and made visits to Australia, United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Hong Kong. In August 2001, CHOSIN arrived in Dili, East Timor to assist the United States Support Group East Timor (USGET) with humanitarian and civic action assistance projects. USS CHOSIN returned home to Pearl Harbor on September 14, 2001.

After concluding an extended maintenance period at Pearl Harbor, CHOSIN returned to sea trials on June 19, 2002, validating upgrades completed during an approximately eight-month yard period that began the previous November. Through the remainder of 2002, she operated primarily from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, completing basic phase events and local training as the Pacific Fleet shaped deployment cycles for the post-9/11 operational tempo.

In early 2003, the cruiser joined CARRIER STRIKE GROUP 11 built around USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) and USS PRINCETON (CG 59), departing Hawaii in spring for a seven-month Western Pacific deployment that included air-defense commander duties in the strike group and transits to the North Arabian Sea/Arabian Gulf during the early phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom's aftermath. CHOSIN returned to Pearl Harbor on November 2, 2003, ending the deployment with a homecoming following extended time at sea.

In 2004, the ship executed work-ups and fleet exercises in the Eastern Pacific and made a public-outreach port call during San Francisco Fleet Week in mid-October while aligning to expeditionary strike group training constructs that were then being introduced across the fleet. These events set conditions for subsequent deployments alongside amphibious forces.

From mid-July 2005, CHOSIN deployed with EXPEDITIONARY STRIKE GROUP ONE led by USS TARAWA (LHA 1) for a Western Pacific and Middle East cruise. During September-October 2005, she supported Exercise Bright Star in Egypt and related theater security cooperation in U.S. 5th Fleet. As the Pakistan earthquake struck that autumn, forces from the strike group were tasked to humanitarian operations. CHOSIN remained assigned to Gulf maritime security, including oil-terminal and sea-lane protection. Departing 5th Fleet on January 12, 2006, the ship crossed into 7th Fleet and visited Singapore January 18-21, 2006, before returning across the Pacific to Hawaii to reset.

After integrated training in early 2007, CHOSIN and USS CHUNG-HOON (DDG 93) deployed on April 16, 2007, with the BONHOMME RICHARD (LHD 6) EXPEDITIONARY STRIKE GROUP for Western Pacific and 5th Fleet operations focused on maritime security and presence in the North Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. The group reentered Pearl Harbor on September 28, 2007, concluding the deployment.

In March-April 2008, CHOSIN underwent a Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) that identified significant material deficiencies. The ship was judged “unfit for sustained combat operations” until corrective work could be completed. Over the ensuing months the crew and maintenance teams executed corrective actions, including ordnance-system refurbishment and other repairs to restore warfighting readiness.

By late 2009, CHOSIN had returned to full operations and on November 6, 2009, assumed flagship duties for COMBINED TASK FORCE 151, the multinational counter-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden and western Indian Ocean. During this period the ship's VBSS teams conducted compliant and non-compliant boardings in coordination with coalition partners (e.g., the Italian frigate ITS LIBECCIO on November 12, 2009) and, on November 17, 2009, rescued three Yemeni fishermen who had been forced overboard by pirates. CHOSIN completed the counter-piracy patrol later that winter and rotated back to 7th Fleet transit operations.

In June-July 2010 the cruiser took part in RIMPAC 2010, conducting air-defense shoots and a Harpoon anti-surface missile firing during live-fire events off Hawaii. Following RIMPAC, CHOSIN began a maintenance availability that extended across late 2010 into spring 2011, including a docking period in Dry Dock 4 at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard for mid-life modernization tasks.

Resuming at-sea training, CHOSIN spent 2011 and early 2012 in basic and integrated phases and then participated in RIMPAC 2012 (June 29-August 3, 2012), conducting multinational air-defense and VBSS training around the Hawaiian Islands. These events framed a return to forward operations the following year.

After passing INSURV in April, CHOSIN departed Pearl Harbor on April 30, 2013, for a Western Pacific deployment with CSG-11 (NIMITZ, PRINCETON, PREBLE (DDG 88)). The group entered Busan, Republic of Korea, on May 11, 2013, marking the 60th anniversary of the U.S.-ROK alliance. In early autumn the cruiser made regional port calls - including Hong Kong (September 8, 2013) and Apra Harbor, Guam (September 17-18, 2013) - en route to Sydney, Australia, where she anchored on October 4, 2013, to join the International Fleet Review 2013 commemorations through October 5-6 before resuming operations in company with allied participants. She completed the deployment in late fall and returned to Hawaii.

On February 27-March 2, 2014, while operating in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area, CHOSIN assisted the Canadian oiler HMCS PROTECTEUR (AOR 509) after an engine-room fire disabled the ship roughly 340 nautical miles from Hawaii. CHOSIN delivered supplies by helicopter and took PROTECTEUR under tow until USNS SIOUX (T-ATF 171) arrived to complete the tow into Pearl Harbor on March 6, 2014. Canada later recognized CHOSIN's crew for the assistance during Fleet Week Portland June 2015.

In 2016, the Navy directed a homeport shift to San Diego to align CHOSIN with upcoming modernization. She executed local training and maintenance while the surface enterprise sequenced cruiser life-extension work.

From late 2019 into 2020, the ship began a deep modernization under the Cruiser Mod/Phased Modernization effort at Vigor's Harbor Island facility in Seattle, Washington, with extensive hull, mechanical, electrical, and combat-systems overhauls executed by PSNS & IMF and industry partners.

Modernization reached a major milestone on March 1, 2023, when CHOSIN got underway for the first time in years to conduct sea trials off Southern California, then returned to the fleet and rejoined Surface Force Pacific operations later that spring. She subsequently operated from San Diego for post-availability training and certifications.

In July 2024, Navy warfare centers used CHOSIN for the first full land-based demonstrations of the Transferable Rearming Mechanism (TRAM) concept, and on October 11, 2024, the ship conducted the Navy's first at-sea demonstration of reloading a MK 41 VLS cell alongside USNS WASHINGTON CHAMBERS (T-AKE 11) off San Diego - an experiment aimed at restoring an underway missile-rearm capability for surface combatants. Through 2025, the fleet has continued to refine the method in additional trials while CHOSIN remains active from San Diego.

CHOSIN's awards include: the Battle Efficiency Award for Excellence, National Defense Service Medal, the Southeast Asia Service Medal, and the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

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Homeports of USS CHOSIN:

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USS CHOSIN Image Gallery:

The photo below was taken by me and shows the CHOSIN at Pearl Harbor, Hi., on March 14, 2008. Note the two gun mounts installed aboard next to the helo deck.

The photo below was taken by Shiu On Yee and shows the CHOSIN anchored at Hong Kong. CHOSIN and other units of the NIMITZ (CVN 68) Strike Group visited Hong Kong from February 17-20, 2010, during their WestPac Cruise.

The photo below was taken by me and shows the CHOSIN at Pearl Harbor, Hi., on March 8, 2012.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning on October 12, 2014, during an open house aboard USS Chosin (CG 65) as part of Fleet Week San Francisco.

			Click here for more Photos.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the CHOSIN at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on April 18, 2016. The photos were taken just a few days after CHOSIN entered the Navy's Cruiser Phased Modernization Program. The ship will later undergo modernization and return to service by 2021, replacing an older sistership. The program follows a 2-4-6 plan meaning that each year no more than two cruisers will be placed in phased modernization; no cruiser will remain in phased modernization for more than 4 years; and no more than six cruisers may be in phased modernization at the same time. During the lay up, the ship is maintained by a small 45-sailor crew.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the CHOSIN laid up at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on October 6, 2016.

The photo below was taken by Sebastian Thoma and shows the CHOSIN laid up at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on December 20, 2016.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the CHOSIN undergoing her special Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at the Continental Maritime Shipyard in San Diego, Calif., on October 11, 2017.

The photo below was taken by Sebastian Thoma and shows the CHOSIN undergoing her special Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at the Continental Maritime Shipyard in San Diego, Calif., on November 10, 2017.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the CHOSIN undergoing her special Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at the Continental Maritime Shipyard in San Diego, Calif., on December 29, 2017.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the CHOSIN still undergoing her special Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at the Continental Maritime Shipyard in San Diego, Calif., on September 28, 2018.

The photo below was taken by Michael Jenning and shows the CHOSIN still undergoing her special Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) at the Continental Maritime Shipyard in San Diego, Calif., on March 2, 2019.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the CHOSIN undergoing an Extended Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (E-DSRA) at Vigor Shipyards, Seattle, Wash., on June 12, 2022. CHOSIN arrived under tow from San Diego, Calif., at Seattle in February 2020.

The photos below were taken by me and show USS CHOSIN - now fully operational again - at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on July 26, 2024.

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