CPS Noticias and Tribuna de Los Cabos had the opportunity to visit the USS Lake Champlain (CG-57), as part of the celebration of 200 years of diplomatic relations between Mexico and the United States.
This ship belongs to the United States Navy and is assigned to the Pacific Fleet, its station is the naval base in San Diego, California.
The ship USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) anchored last weekend on the shores of the Cabo San Lucas Bay; Her visit to this important tourist port is due to the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mexico and the United States.
During the tour, the CPS News team had the opportunity to learn in detail about the history of this ship, especially the important role it has within the US Navy.
The name, USS Lake Champlain, honors the Battle of Lake Champlain, which occurred in 1814, during the American Civil War. This is a Ticonderoga-class cruiser, that is, it belongs to a series of missile-launching ships. Dan Gutiérrez, senior petty officer of the United States Navy, was the one who gave the details of the boat, he explained that it has two missile launchers, one in the front and another in the back of the boat.
In total, the USS Lake Champlain has 122 weapons cells, plus two large-caliber guns that come into support when the missile launchers fail to respond adequately to an air attack.
“When we arrived, we secured the lines and anchored in the bay. We had not been anchored in a port outside the United States for many years. Getting to Cabo San Lucas is not common, especially when it is a United States Navy ship. The ship is equipped for missiles, both in the front and rear; We have a total of 122 weapons cells inside the ship. We have two guns to defend ourselves.”
Dan Gutiérrez explained that the visit of the ship is somewhat unusual, because it is rare for a missile launcher to anchor in a foreign port, especially when one of its main functions is to defend the aircraft carriers of the United States Navy, which do not have weapons. to respond to an attack.
“We always accompany the aircraft carriers because they have no way to defend themselves, this ship is the most important in the United States.”
During the visit of the US sailors in Cabo San Lucas, they attended a commemorative event that took place at the Amelia Wilkes Ceseña Elementary School, where support was provided to improve the facilities of the educational establishment.
In December 2022, the United States ambassador in Mexico, Ken Salazar, visited San José del Cabo to address issues of interest to both countries, including clean energy. In that meeting with the governor of Baja California Sur, Víctor Castro Cosío, the ambassador announced that Los Cabos would be the place chosen for the celebration of bilateral relations, which was fulfilled with the arrival of the USS Lake Champlain.
Source: Tribuna de los Cabos
