The USS Cleveland Debuts in Northeast Ohio

May 7 Update: The USS Cleveland's progress can be tracked at this link, https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:8829059/zoom:10

Starting Saturday, a new U.S. Navy combat ship will take up temporary residence in downtown Cleveland.

The USS Cleveland will make its journey across Lake Erie in Northern Ohio on Saturday morning, and will be able to be seen from the shore, with the following approximate schedule:

• 8:30 a.m., Main Street Beach & Park, Vermilion

• 9:45 a.m., Veterans Memorial Park, Avon Lake

• 10 a.m., Huntington Reservation / Huntington Beach, Bay Village

• 10:15 a.m., Bradstreet's Landing, Rocky River

• 10:30 a.m., Lakewood Park, Solstice Steps

• 10:40 a.m., Edgewater Park, Cleveland

• 11 a.m., North Coast Harbor Port of Cleveland Arrival

Sunday will kick-off Commissioning Week, which will feature military ceremonies, educational programs and other public events designed to honor the ship, its sailors, and the city that bears its name.

“As we approach commissioning, I look forward to spending the week in Cleveland alongside the crew, engaging with the community, honoring the city’s legacy, and celebrating this historic moment together," says Cmdr. Bruce D. Hallett, the commanding officer for the USS Cleveland.

The week culminates May 16, with the ship’s commissioning at 10 a.m. The Navy states that it’s the first time in U.S. history that a naval ship has been commissioned in the state of Ohio. Attendance is free, but registration is required.

This is the fourth ship named the USS Cleveland, and each of its previous forebears have had an illustrious history.

The first, which was commissioned in 1903, was a cruiser. It patrolled Mexican waters during the Mexican Revolution and served as the flagship of the Atlantic fleet during World War I before its decommissioning in 1929.

The second USS Cleveland, a light cruiser, was commissioned in 1942 and saw action in the Pacific Theater in World War II at Guadalcanal, Bougainville, the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. It was decommissioned in 1947.

The third USS Cleveland was an amphibious transport dock, commissioned in 1967 and decommissioned in 2011. In its distinguished career, it was stationed in the DMZ during the Vietnam War and a generation later deployed to the Middle East, both for Operation Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Built by Lockheed Martin, this USS Cleveland is a littoral combat ship, meaning it can sail in the ocean as well as in shallower shoreline water. It includes hangar space for helicopters and its hull is 40 percent configurable, meaning it can be modified for a variety of defense purposes and weapons systems.

"USS Cleveland was built to serve our nation, but it was inspired by the spirt of Cleveland itself, resilient, hardworking and proud,” Hallett says. “This ship also stands as a testament to the dedication and craftsmanship of American shipbuilders whose work and commitment made her possible. Our Crew is honored to carry that identity and legacy forward wherever this ship sails.”

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