USS Mobile Bay was built in Pascagoula, MS, by Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries. The cruiser was commissioned on February 21, 1987 at the Alabama State Docks in Mobile, Ala.

After commissioning, Mobile Bay joined the U. S. Atlantic Fleet, arriving at its Mayport, FL, homeport in March 1987. Following a year of crew qualifications, tests and systems trials, USS Mobile Bay embarked on its maiden deployment on May 11, 1989. During this cruise, she earned its first two awards: the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Armed Services Expeditionary Medal, for operations conducted in the Gulf of Oman.

In June of 1990, Mobile Bay shifted homeports from Mayport, FL, to Yokosuka, Japan. Shortly thereafter, Mobile Bay deployed in August 1990 in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, becoming the first Aegis cruiser to circumnavigate the globe. In the Arabian Gulf, the ship distinguished itself by becoming the first Battle Force Anti-Air Warfare Commander to control a four-carrier Task Force. USS Mobile Bay launched 22 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile strikes, and controlling carrier-launched attack aircraft that contributed to the complete destruction of the Iraqi Navy.

In May of 1991, CG 53 was ordered to Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, to participate in Operation Fiery Vigil, the evacuation of thousands of people displaced by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. In December 1991, Mobile Bay began work-ups for a spring 1992 Arabian Gulf deployment.

April 15, 1992 USS Mobile Bay once again set sail for the Arabian Gulf. En route, the ship and crew visited Sydney, Australia, to represent the U.S. Navy at the 50th Anniversary celebration of the Battle of Coral Sea. Sailing through the Straits of Hormuz in late May 1992, the ship began duties as the Arabian Gulf Anti-Air Warfare Commander. She also played a vital role in Operation Southern Watch, the enforcement of the U.N.-mandated "No Fly Zone" over southern Iraq. Returning to Japan in October, Mobile Bay participated in ANNUALEX '92, a major naval exercise involving units of the U.S. Navy and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force. The guided-missile cruiser served as the Anti-Air Warfare Commander for a joint U.S-Japanese flotilla.

In May 1993, CG 53 steamed to western Australia for Spring Training '93, a multi-national exercise involving units of the U.S., Royal Australian, and Singaporean Navies. In September of 1993, she made an historic visit to the Russian seaport of Vladivostok. Departing Russia, Mobile Bay participated in ANNUALEX '93 before returning to Yokosuka to finish preparations for an upcoming Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf deployment.

November 17, 1993 USS Mobile Bay departed Yokosuka for a third deployment in three years. Arriving in the Arabian Gulf a month later, Mobile Bay immediately assumed duties as Anti-Air Warfare Commander for naval forces in the Gulf. Remaining on station until February 1994, she helped to maintain stability in the region. Mobile Bay completed this deployment on March 17, 1994, returning to Yokosuka.

In May of 1994, the guided-missile cruiser left home waters to participate in RIMPAC-94, a month-long exercise in the mid-Pacific involving over 50 warships from five Pacific Rim nations.

In spring 1999, the Mobile Bay sailed three times through the Taiwan Straits during a period of tension between Taiwan and China, and in June 1999 it was dispatched to Korea during the "Crab Wars" over fishing rights between North and South Korea. In early May 1999, the cruiser deployed to Singapore to participate in the 1999 International Maritime Defense Exhibition (IMDEX) Asia, there.

In mid-1999, USS Mobile Bay deployed to serve U.S. forces supporting INTERFET operations off the coast of East Timor. Sailing south on August 23, 1999, for a series of routine Australian port visits and Exercise Crocodile 99, she was redirected by Commander, 7th Fleet, and told to sail for the waters of East Timor. As the first U.S. forces on the scene, Mobile Bay was designated as Commander, Joint Task Force Timor Sea Operations (CJTF TSO). During Timor Sea operations, she performed many missions including guard ship; U.S. armed forces sanctuary; air surveillance; intelligence gathering; Timor ground operations repair efforts; link manager; (which provided primary air tracking in support of aircraft into and out of East Timor carrying supplies and troops); and ship escort. Following the East Timor operation, CG 53 visited Singapore; Pattaya, Thailand; Kagoshima and Sasebo, Japan. After the Sasebo port visit, the ship participated in early November in the joint exercise Annualex, with the Japanese navy.

July 2000, USS Mobile Bay changed homeport from Yokosuka, Japan, to San Diego, Ca., ending 10 years of 7th Fleet service.

December 21, 2001 U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (CGLED), operating from the Mobile Bay, seized 10.5 metric tons of cocaine approximately 800 miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico.

July 20, 2002 CG 53 departed, as part of USS Abraham Lincoln Battle Group, on a scheduled deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

September 6, While flying in support of maritime interdiction operations one of Mobile Bay's SH-60 helicopters crashed in the Arabian Gulf. A civilian television cameraman was killed and four U.S. Navy sailors were injured. The cameraman, from KCBS-TV Los Angeles, was filming a news story on the US Navy. The helicopter had been hovering over a Syrian-flagged vessel to observe a maritime health inspection boarding when its rotor blades hit the ship's mast.

March 21, 2003 Thirty U.S. Navy and coalition warships, including USS Mobile Bay, currently assigned to Naval Forces Central Command launched Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs) during military operations to disarm Iraq.

April 25, USS Mobile Bay returned to San Diego after record nine-month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this underway period, she was also the first ship to be a part of Optimal Manning, a directive that was introduced by the Chief of Naval Operations, where the crew was reduced by 17 percent.

October 11, CG 53 arrived in San Francisco for the Parade of Ships during San Francisco Fleet Week. This marks the 22nd year of Navy participation.

June 17, 2004 Almost 700 Sailors aboard USS Mobile Bay and USS Preble (DDG 88) deployed to the western Pacific and Central Command area of responsibility (AOR) in support of the Global War on Terrorism. The ships left Naval Station San Diego to join up with the USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) that departed San Diego May 27.

December ?, USS Mobile Bay returned to San Diego after a six-month deployment, in North Persian Gulf, in support of the Maritime Security Operations and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

October 12, 2005 Residents of the San Francisco Bay Area welcomed the men and women of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Canadian navy during the famous Parade of Ships Oct. 8, the official start of the 25th annual San Francisco Fleet Week. More than 2,000 Sailors and Marines from USS Boxer (LHD 4), USS Dubuque (LPD 8), USS Hopper (DDG 70), and USS Mobile Bay, as well as one U.S. Coast Guard cutter and four Canadian ships took part in the parade of ships. Civilian boats escorted the ships as they passed under the Golden Gate Bridge and moored along the city's historic Embarcadero.

March 3, 2006 USS Mobile Bay departed San Diego for a scheduled deployment, with the Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Carrier Strike Group, in support of the Global War On Terrorism and Maritime Security Operations (MSO).

April 6, Personnel and units of the U.S. military and Republic of Korea (ROK) Combined Forces Command (CFC) conducted their annual combined and joint exercise, Reception, Staging, Onward-movement, & Integration and Foal Eagle 2006 (RSOI/Foal Eagle 06) March 24-31. RSOI and Foal Eagle are Korean-theaterwide computer-simulated and field exercises designed to evaluate and improve the U.S. and ROK forces' ability to coordinate the procedures, plans and systems necessary to defend the ROK in a contingency. It focuses on ground maneuver, air, naval, expeditionary, and special operations, as well as command and control training. Foal Eagle involved more than 70 U.S., including CG 53, and ROK Navy ships and more than 100 aircraft from all services of both the U.S. and ROK armed forces.

April 10, The guided-missile cruiser participated in flight operations with the Hong Kong Governmental Flight Service (HKGFS) in the western Pacific Ocean. The HKGFS consists of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, and its primary mission is to provide emergency airlift and search and rescue in local and coastal waters of Hong Kong.

June 20, USS Mobile Bay is currently participating in Exercise Valiant Shield '06 off the coast of Guam June 19-23. The exercise will involve more than 20,000 Sailors, Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Coast Guardsmen. Valiant Shield 2006 will also see more than 300 aircraft and 28 ships from the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Carrier Strike Groups, as well as the Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard.

July 5, CG 53 departed Pearl Harbor to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2006. Eight nations are participating in RIMPAC 2006, the world's largest biennial maritime exercise. Conducted in the waters off Hawaii, RIMPAC 2006 brings together military forces from Australia, Canada, Chile, Peru, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States.

August 4, USS Mobile Bay returned to Naval Base San Diego after a five-month deployment to the western Pacific.

June 7, 2007 The guided-missile cruiser, commanded by Capt. Thomas Carney, arrived in Portland, Ore., to participate in the Fleet Week festivities June 7 - 10 during the 100th annual Portland Rose Festival.

November 12, USS Mobile Bay is currently underway off the coast of southern California, participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX), as part of USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group.

January 23, 2008 CG 53 is currently off the western coast participating in a Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) in preparation for the upcoming deployment.

March 17, USS Mobile Bay departed homeport for a seven-month underway period.

October 8, The Mobile Bay returned to San Diego after a scheduled deployment with the Lincoln CSG.

February 3, 2009 USS Mobile Bay, commanded by Capt. Denny Wetherlad, is currently off the West Coast conducting routine trainings as part of the Carrier Strike Group Nine.

April 19, 2010 The guided-missile cruiser completed its 10-month shipyard modernization availability at BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair facility.

July 17, USS Mobile Bay, commanded by Capt. James J. Housinger, anchored in Monterey Harbor, California, to support the Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program established by the Department of Defense (DoD) and administered by the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and the Naval Postgraduate School. The ship returned to Naval Base San Diego July 18.