USNI News Search for: Home » Budget Industry » Cruiser USS Vella Gulf Back on Deployment After Sea Trials, 2 Months of Repairs Cruiser USS Vella Gulf Back on Deployment After Sea Trials, 2 Months of Repairs USS Vella Gulf (CG-72) transits the Atlantic Ocean on Feb. 21, 2021. US Navy Photo A guided-missile cruiser that was sidelined for two months is back on deployment after a brief sea trial period to test repairs to several engineering casualties aboard the ship, U.S. 2nd Fleet officials told USNI News on Monday. USS Vella Gulf (CG-72) left Naval Station Norfolk, Va., last week after being pier-side for repairs since late February – initially for fuel tank leaks and then for the lube oil system of the cruiser’s main reduction gear.