The USS Wainwright (CG-28) was a Belknap-class guided missile cruiser of the United States Navy, notable for its extensive service during the Cold War and the Vietnam War. Laid down on 2 July 1962 at Bath, Maine, by Bath Iron Works, and launched on 25 April 1965, she was commissioned on 8 January 1966. As a Belknap-class ship, she was originally designated DLG-28 before being reclassified as a guided missile cruiser (CG-28). Constructed with a displacement typical of cruisers of her class, Wainwright featured a sleek hull designed for high-speed operations and advanced radar and missile systems for air and surface warfare. Her primary mission involved air defense, surface combat, and carrier strike support, equipped with Terrier missiles and sophisticated radar systems. Throughout her service, Wainwright participated in numerous operations, including her first deployment to the western Pacific in 1967, where she served on PIRAZ (Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone) duties in the Tonkin Gulf during the Vietnam War. She acted as a key radar and air surveillance platform, guiding strike aircraft and serving as a command ship for anti-aircraft warfare. She completed multiple tours in Vietnamese waters, earning four battle stars for her Vietnam service. Wainwright was also active in Mediterranean deployments, conducting ASW and AAW exercises, port visits, and notably becoming the first U.S. Navy ship to visit Romania in 49 years in 1976. She underwent several overhauls and modernization efforts, including the installation of the Light Airborne Multi-Purpose System (LAMPS) helicopter, enhancing her anti-submarine capabilities. Her operational history includes participation in Operation Praying Mantis in 1988, where she engaged Iranian naval forces in the Persian Gulf, marking the largest surface engagement since World War II and the first U.S. Navy surface-to-surface missile attack. Wainwright’s career concluded with decommissioning on 10 November 1993. She was ultimately used as a target in 2002 and was sunk after being struck by missiles and a torpedo, symbolizing her long and active service record in U.S. naval history.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.