USS Long Beach (CGN-9)

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USS Long Beach on 9 May 1973
Class overview
Builders
Preceded byProvidence-class cruiser
Succeeded byAlbany-class cruiser
Built1957–1961
In commission1961–1995
Completed1
Retired1
History
United States
NameLong Beach
NamesakeLong Beach
Ordered15 October 1956
Laid down2 December 1957
Launched14 July 1959
Sponsored byMrs. Marian Swanson-Hosmer
Acquired1 September 1961
Commissioned9 September 1961
Decommissioned
  • 1 May 1995
  • (deactivated on 2 July 1994)
ReclassifiedAs CGN-9 1 July 1958
Stricken1 May 1995
MottoStrike Hard, Strike Home
FateA 423 foot section of the hull (propulsion block) remain at PSNS as of May 2018.
General characteristics
Class and type
Long Beach-class cruiser
Displacement15,540 tons
Length721 ft 3 in (219.84 m)
Beam71 ft 6 in (21.79 m)
Draft30 ft 7 in (9.32 m)
Propulsion2 C1W nuclear reactors; 2 General Electric turbines; 80,000 shp (60 MW); 2 propellers
Speed30 knots (56 km/h)
RangeUnlimited (nuclear)
Complement1,160 officers and men
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
AN/SLQ-32
SRBOC
Armament
Aviation facilitieslanding pad available for one helicopter

USS Long Beach (CLGN-160/CGN-160/CGN-9) was a

guided missile cruiser in the United States Navy and the world's first nuclear-powered surface combatant.[3] She was the third Navy ship named after the city of Long Beach, California
.

She was the sole member of the Long Beach-class, and the last cruiser built for the United States Navy to a cruiser design; all subsequent cruiser classes were built on scaled-up destroyer hulls (and originally classified as destroyer leaders) or, in the case of the Albany-class, converted from already existing cruisers.[citation needed]

Long Beach was laid down 2 December 1957, launched 14 July 1959 and commissioned 9 September 1961 under the command of then-Captain Eugene Parks Wilkinson, who previously served as the first commanding officer of the world's first nuclear-powered vessel, the submarine USS Nautilus (SSN-571). She was deployed to Vietnam during the Vietnam War and served numerous times in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. But by the 1990s, nuclear power was deemed too expensive to use on surface ships smaller than an aircraft carrier in view of defense budget cutbacks after the end of the Cold War. Long Beach was decommissioned on 1 May 1995 instead of receiving her third nuclear refueling and proposed upgrade. After removal of the nuclear fuel, superstructure, and sections of the bow and stern, the hull segment containing the reactor and machinery spaces was moored at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and sold for scrap.

Configuration

Artist's concept of nuclear powered cruiser design from 1956.

Long Beach was originally intended to be a smaller frigate, but was then redesigned and expanded to a cruiser hull, allowing for an open space just aft of the bridge "box". This open space was first planned to accommodate the mounting of a

ASROC system.[4] Long Beach was the last cruiser built with a World War II-era cruiser hull style,[5][6] as later new-build cruisers were built with different hull forms, such as the converted frigates Leahy (DLG-16), Bainbridge (DLGN-25), Belknap (DLG-26), Truxtun (DLGN-35), and the California and Virginia classes, or the Ticonderoga-class cruiser that was built on a Spruance-class destroyer hull.[citation needed
]

The high box-like superstructure contained the

Aegis equipped Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The taller, narrower AN/SPS-33 panels were not installed on the superstructure until some time after her commissioning. At the time, Long Beach had the highest bridge of any ship smaller than an aircraft carrier.[citation needed
]

In addition to steel, Long Beach was built with 450 tons of structural aluminum.

5"/38 caliber gun mounts amidships on the orders of President John F. Kennedy.[citation needed
]

Weapons suite

RIM-8 Talos missile launcher on USS Long Beach, July 1961

The original weapons suite consisted of:[citation needed]

  • One rear Mk-12 launcher for the Talos long range surface-to-air missiles (SAM) with a range in excess of 80 nmi (150 km).
  • Two forward Mk-10 launchers for the Terrier medium range SAMs with a range in excess of 30 miles (48 km).
  • RUR-5 ASROC anti-submarine system capable of delivering a torpedo or depth charge at a range of 10,000 yd (9.1 km).
  • Two triple 12.75 inch torpedo launchers that could fire the Mark 46 torpedo.
  • Two
    5"/38 caliber gun
    , capable of surface and shore bombardment to a range of 18,000 yd (16 km).

The ship went through several modifications by the time she was decommissioned. The final weapons suite consisted of:[citation needed]

  • Two Mk-10 launchers for the Standard extended range missiles. These replaced the Terrier missiles.
  • The rear launcher for the Talos was removed and initially replaced with two quadruple mounts for the RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile.
  • Two Phalanx CIWS were added on the aft side of the aft mast.
  • Two quadruple armored box launchers were added for the
    BGM-109 Tomahawk
    cruise missile. These were installed aft on the fantail, with the Harpoon launchers relocated to the aft mast.

The 5"/38 guns and the ASROC were retained, and several 12.7mm (50-cal) were installed as needed.[citation needed]

History

USS Long Beach, and USS Macdonough (far right), under construction at Fore River Shipyard, July 1959.

Long Beach was originally ordered as CLGN-160. She was reclassified CGN-160 in early 1957, but was again reclassified as CGN-9 on 1 July 1957. Her keel was laid down on 2 December 1957 by

Congressman from California, and commissioned on 9 September 1961.[8] At commissioning, the ship was reported to have cost $320 million ($3.26 billion today),[9] which was over budget from earlier estimates of $250 million.[10]

During construction in January 1960, it was widely reported that Long Beach was sabotaged when anti-mine (degaussing) electrical cables were found to have been intentionally cut in three places.[11] It was the second of three incidents at Fore River Shipyard at that time.[12]

Long Beach was assigned to the

Bremerhaven, Germany, arriving 15 January for courtesy calls in north European ports.[8]

Returning to Norfolk, Virginia 7 February 1962, Long Beach, trained off the east coast and in the Caribbean. On 10 April, she joined Atlantic Fleet as flagship for Admiral Robert L. Dennison, Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet, for exercises off the coasts of U.S. states North Carolina and Virginia. She was reviewed by President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson during this time.[8]

Long Beach served in the Atlantic Fleet from her commissioning in 1961 until completing her first

Naval Station Long Beach, California.[citation needed
]

Operational history

1960s

Operation "Sea Orbit" – USS Bainbridge, Long Beach, and Enterprise.

After overhaul and installation of new equipment at the

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[8]

Long Beach returned to Norfolk from this cruise 3 October 1964 to join in exercises off the east coast and in the Caribbean. On 4 June 1965 she sailed for the Global Strategy Conference at the Naval War College, Newport, where Vice Admiral Kleber S. Masterson, Commander Second Fleet broke his flag on the ship. Back in Norfolk 23 June 1965, Long Beach resumed training and upkeep prior to her transfer to the Pacific Fleet. She sailed 28 February 1966 for her new home port and namesake, Long Beach, California, and arrived 15 March 1966.[8]

RIM-2 Terrier missile launch from USS Long Beach, October 1961

The summer of 1966 was spent in training and orienting

F-4 Phantom II under the control of a Long Beach air intercept controller. The cruiser returned to Long Beach, California, in July 1967. In 1968, the ship was redeployed to the Gulf of Tonkin, shooting down a MiG 21 jet fighter near Vinh, with a RIM-8 Talos missile on 23 May 1968,[13][14] at a range of 65 miles (105 km).[15] In June of the same year, she downed another MIG,[14] this one at 61 miles (98 km).[15] She also directed other MIG kills by American fighters. She was the first ship to down an aircraft using SAMs in the Vietnam war and the incidents were not immediately publicized. Long Beach received a Navy Unit Commendation for the actions.[14]

1970s

Long Beach received a Combat Action Ribbon for action on 26 April 1972,[16] a few days after the Battle of Đồng Hới. After Vietnam, Long Beach performed routine duties in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, performing escort duties for USS Enterprise in 1975, and participated in multi-national naval exercises while deployed in 1976-77. Around this time, Long Beach was identified as being suitable for conversion to accommodate the newly developed Aegis combat system, as part of the plans for a force of nuclear-powered Aegis cruisers, but that plan was not implemented.[17] In 1975 the ship changed home ports to Naval Base San Diego, California.[18]

1980s

USS Long Beach c.1989.

In 1980 the vessel rescued 114

AN/SPS-33 radars, was removed from the forward superstructure and enhanced flagship facilities were installed, along with modern radars like the AN/SPS-48. The Standard SM-2ER missiles and the associated modern electronics replaced the obsolete Terrier system. In addition, two Phalanx CIWS close-in weapon systems were installed, along with two Harpoon surface-to-surface missile (SSM) launchers on the fantail. Beginning 5 January 1985 the BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile system was installed with two 4-cell Armored Box Launchers on the fantail, with the Harpoon launchers resited.[18] On 19 October 1987, she participated in Kuwaiti tanker reflagging and provided anti-aircraft cover during Operation Nimble Archer. Long Beach deployed throughout the 1980s, conducting Tomahawk cruise missile test launches and exercises.[citation needed
]

1990s

Long Beach, viewed from the deck of USS Truxtun (CGN-35), in the Persian Gulf, 1991

Long Beach served as an escort for the

Operation Desert Storm was over and major hostilities had ended in late February 1991.[19] In June, 1991, Long Beach took part in Operation Fiery Vigil, evacuating U.S. military personnel from two bases in the Philippines, Clark Air Base and U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay, during the volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo.[citation needed
]

Decommissioning

Artist's impression of Long Beach following conversion to Aegis cruiser.

There was originally a plan to fully upgrade Long Beach with an Aegis Combat System in the early 1990s, requiring that her superstructure be completely rebuilt. Due to cuts in the defense budget after the 1991 Gulf War, as well as the higher operating costs and number of crew required compared to conventionally powered ships, the decision was made to decommission all

nuclear cruisers from the Navy as their reactor cores ran down. They would be replaced by the Ticonderoga (CG) and Arleigh Burke (DDG) classes, designed from the ground up with Aegis. The Long Beach had been refueled during her 1970, 1980, and 1992 refits. The decision was made to decommission her in 1994.[citation needed
]

A deactivation ceremony occurred on 2 July 1994 at Norfolk Naval Station, and the ship was then towed over to Newport News Shipbuilding where her entire superstructure was removed and her reactors were defueled. After this work was completed in the winter of 1995 the hull was towed through the Panama Canal to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. Long Beach was stricken on 1 May 1995, more than 33 years after she had entered service. On 13 July 2012, Long Beach was sold at auction,[6] for recycling, as prescribed for nuclear-powered vessels by Code 350, at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington. As of May 2018, the inactivated ship's hull and reactor compartments largely remained in long-term storage there.[20]

A crew member aboard the USS Long Beach may have been exposed to abnormal levels of radiation in 1963,[21] and the ship was leaking radioactive coolant in 1991. At that time, four crew members alleged that the ship's reactor was unsafe and that crew working around it had been exposed to unsafe levels of radiation.[22]

Milestones

Aerial view of Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock on the James River in Norfolk, Va. 17 October 1994. In drydock No. 11 is USNS Gilliland (T-AKR-298) prior to roll-on/roll-off ship conversion. In the drydock to the right of AKR-298 is Long Beach undergoing deactivation.
Hull of Long Beach sitting in Puget Sound Naval Shipyard awaiting recycling in March 2011. Picture taken from top of hill in Port Orchard looking north across the water to the shipyard.

Awards

Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Combat Action Ribbon
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
with 1 oak leaf cluster
Navy Unit Commendation Meritorious Unit Commendation
with 1 star
Navy E Ribbon with
wreathed Battle "E" Device
National Defense Service Medal
with 1 star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
with 1 star
Vietnam Service Medal
with 6 stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal
with 1 star
Humanitarian Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
with 8 stars
Special Operations Service Ribbon Vietnam Campaign Medal

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Blackman, Raymond V. B. Jane's Fighting Ships (1970/71) p.425
  2. ^ a b Polmar, Norman "The U.S. Navy: Shipboard Radars" United States Naval Institute Proceedings December 1978 p.144
  3. ^ "USS Long Beach CGN-9". Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Polaris will be carried on "A" ship". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. 1 August 1959. p. 10.
  5. ^ "Historic Navy Cruiser, USS Long Beach, To Be Auctioned As Scrap Metal By Government Liquidation Starting Tuesday, July 10". PR Newswire. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  6. ^ a b Censer, Marjorie (18 September 2012). "Historic nuclear cruiser headed to scrap heap". The Washington Post. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  7. ^ a b USS Long Beach Association. "CGN-9 VITAL STATISTICS". USS Long Beach Association. 2003. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Long Beach III". Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. Navy Department, Naval History and Heritage Command.
  9. ^ "First Nuclear Cruiser Commissioned". The Tuscaloosa News. 10 September 1961. p. 36.
  10. ^ "First Nuclear Cruiser Schedule Lags". Sarasota Journal. UPI. 24 August 1960. p. 16.
  11. ^ "Sabotage Probed on Atom Ship". The Pittsburgh Press. UPI. p. 20.
  12. ^ "Sabotage Hinted on Third Ship". The Miami News. UPI. 11 January 1960.[permanent dead link]
  13. .
  14. ^ a b c Horton, Bob (2 February 1970). "Missile Success Lauded". The Day. Associated Press.
  15. ^
    ISBN 978-0945274827.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain
    .
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an "Navy Unit Award website". awards.navy.mil. Archived from the original on 14 October 2004. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  17. ^ "CGN 9 Long Beach – Program". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "The Ship". USS Long Beach CGN-9 Wesetpac/Indian Ocean Cruise July 25th, 1987 to January 19th, 1988. 1988.
  19. ^ "Ships Participating in Desert Shield / Storm as of 24 April 1991". history.navy.mil. 24 April 1991. (Long Beach is not in the list and did not deploy during Desert Shield / Storm)
  20. ^ "USS Dallas completing 36-year-run in Bremerton".
  21. ^ "DOCKET NO. 07-15 372". VA.gov. VA. 26 March 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2019. Naval Dosimetry Center reported that the average annualized occupational dose for individuals on this ship in 1963 was 2.04 roentgen equivalent units (rem)
  22. ^ "Documents Say Nuclear Ship Leaking Radioactive Coolant". AP. 27 November 1991. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  23. ^ https://lbpost.com/staff-blog/deactivated-uss-long-beach-sold-for-scrap "Deactivated USS Long Beach Sold For Scrap: Buy Your Piece Of the End Of An Era"

External links