USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) is a Ticonderoga class guided-missile cruiser, named for the naval Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War in 1864. Built in Pascagoula, Mississippi, she was launched on August 22, 1985 and commissioned on February 21, 1987. Her primary mission is to operate as part of aircraft carrier battle groups or surface action groups in extreme threat environments. To detect, classify and track hundreds of potential targets simultaneously in the air, on the surface, and under the sea is the Mobile Bay's purpose.

During the cruiser's maiden deployment, she earned her first two awards: the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon and the Armed Services Expeditionary Medal, for operations conducted in the Gulf of Oman. In August 1990 she deployed to support Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. In the Arabian Gulf, she became the first Battle Force Anti-Air Warfare Commander to control a four-carrier Task Force. She launched 22 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile strikes and controlled carrier-launched attack aircraft that contributed to the complete destruction of the Iraqi Navy.

In May 1991, Mobile Bay was ordered to Subic Bay, Philippines, to participate in Operation Fiery Vigil, the evacuation of thousands of people displaced by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. On April 15, 1992, she once again set sail for the Arabian Gulf. En route, the ship and crew visited Sydney, Australia to represent the United States Navy at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Battle of Coral Sea. In late May 1992 the cruiser began duties as the Arabian Gulf Anti-Air Warfare Commander. She also played a vital role in Operation Southern Watch, enforcing the UN-mandated no-fly zone over Southern Iraq.

In spring 1999, Mobile Bay sailed three times through the Taiwan Straits during a period of tension between Taiwan and China. In June she was dispatched to Korea during the “Crab Wars” over fishing rights between North and South Korea. In mid-1999, she deployed to serve US forces supporting INTERFET operations off the coast of East Timor. During Timor Sea operations, she performed many missions including guard ship, air surveillance, intelligence gathering, and ship escort. Mobile Bay received the 2006 Battle “E” on February 16, 2007.

Bring any empty space to life with the USS Mobile Bay wooden ship model. From planning to packaging, each step is performed with utmost care; everything is done by hand. Master craftsmen become magicians as they turn simple pieces of mahogany into ship replicas. After the wood is sanded and puttied, talented artists duplicate every single detail with extraordinary accuracy. Hand-casted resin and handmade metal parts complete the ship. A final coat of clear lacquer provides lasting protection for the product. Each model ship comes on a display base with brass pedestals and a brass name plate, and undergoes various stages of quality control before being put in its protective wood crate. All large models are shipped via FedEx Next Day Air.