Chicago's first Vietnam deployment shows the operational payoff of the conversion more clearly than a weapons list can. Under the Red Crown call sign, the cruiser evaluated radar surveillance and positive identification for U.S. Navy air operations over the Gulf of Tonkin and North Vietnam. The mission expanded to Air Force tracking, combat-air-patrol control, support-aircraft advice, and coordination with the reporting center at Da Nang. A large missile cruiser could therefore serve as an afloat information and command node as well as a shooter.
Chapter · 16:10-16:48
Red Crown turned Chicago into an air-control node
On the first of five Vietnam deployments, Chicago's Red Crown station grew from tracking Navy aircraft into joint strike coordination and air-warfare command.