Decommissioning
While on her last Vietnam cruise some thought and funding was given to overhaul the Boston (and sister ship Canberra) for further service. Her Terrier missile system would have been upgraded to Standard Missile-ER with new radars and equipement need to operate the modern missiles, and her gunnery systems would also see refurbishment. In addition, her hull and electronics would have been overhauled as well, giving the ship another 10 years of life. With the decline in defense spending, funds for this work were reallocated to newer ships and Boston sailed for her namesake city in late 1969 for a last visit and open house prior to her decommissioning. USS Boston began the inactivation process soon finishing her final Vietnam cruise. Decommissioned at the Boston Navy Yard's South Boston Annex in South Boston, Massachusetts, on 5 May 1970, she was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in January 1973 (one source says 1974) and sold for scrapping in March 1975. Scrapping was completed in 1976.
Read more about this topic: USS Boston (CA-69)