USS Lake Champlain (CG-57)

USS Lake Champlain (CG-57) is a Ticonderoga-class cruiser in the United States Navy. It is the third ship to be named Lake Champlain, in honor of Battle of Lake Champlain, which took place during the War of 1812.

Ship history
Lake Champlain was laid down 3 March 1986 at Ingalls Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Mississippi, launched 3 April 1987 and commissioned 12 August 1988 at Intrepid Pier at the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City, Captain Ralph K. Martin commanding. She then steamed to her homeport of San Diego, via Cape Horn, South America, losing part of her Hurricane Bow in heavy seas. She has been to the Persian Gulf many times, first as a part of Operation Desert Shield, then later following Desert Storm. She aided in the evacuation of the Philippines during the Mount Pinatubo eruption while transiting to the Persian Gulf.

The Lake Champlain is currently assigned to Carrier Group One.

November 2007 Explosion
On 10 November 2007 an explosion occurred on the ship during routine maintenance in a San Diego dry dock. Six workers were injured, two critically. The explosion was apparently caused when flammable gases, inside the pump room where the workers were working, ignited. On 23 November 2007 the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration announced that it would be conducting an investigation into the explosion.