Few warships in naval history have signified as dramatic a technological advance as did the USS Long Beach CGN-9 when it became the initial nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser to enter the U.S. Navy. Commissioned on September 9, 1961, the Long Beach was a potent combination of nuclear effort and missile capability that delineated a new era in sea power projection.
The creation of Long Beach as a “new class” warship built whole after World War II created a number of firsts. It was a sole ship of her class, so she was unique in design and mission. As the third Navy cruiser to be named for Long Beach, California, she was the final ship constructed on a “cruiser hull” in the US Navy, abandoned in favor of enlarged destroyer hulls for future cruisers. This gave her the nickname “The Only Real Cruiser” in later years.
The design of the Long Beach included advanced technology from the beginning, originally designed as an “all-missile” vessel. But in response to President John F. Kennedy’s request, two 5″/38 caliber gun mounts were installed to provide additional flexibility. Her tall superstructure contained SCANFAR radar, AN/SPS-32 and AN/SPS-33 phased array radars, the founding precursors to the Aegis combat system’s AN/SPY-1 radar.
Her weapons package was impressive, originally including Talos long-range and Terrier medium-range surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), ASROC anti-submarine rockets, Mark 46 torpedoes, and the two 5″/38 caliber guns, with ability for surface and shore bombardment to 18,000 yd (16 km). Over the years, the Long Beach’s weapons package changed, adopting new developments like the BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles and Harpoon anti-ship missiles, augmenting her long-range attack capabilities.
The Long Beach’s nuclear effort, via two nuclear reactors providing speeds up to 30 knots without refueling, made her a pillar of U.S. maritime strategy. Her war-fighting capability was on display with the historic “Sea Orbit” deployment. Joined by the USS Enterprise and USS Bainbridge, she completed the first all-nuclear-powered task force in May 1964, making a circular voyage around the world without refueling, highlighting the strategic independence that nuclear effort granted naval forces.
During her career, Long Beach served a key role in several worldwide operations, from Cold War mediation in the Mediterranean to combat operations in Vietnam. She served as a radar picket in the Gulf of Tonkin, guiding air operations against North Vietnam. In the Gulf War, she assisted team, providing sea control through her advanced sensors and weapons systems.
Following more than three decades of active service, the USS Long Beach’s working years ended. She was inactive on 1 May 1995, following a imposing career that involved her sailing through several wars and across the seas of the world. Her legacy continues to live on, not just in the memories of her sailors but also as a precursor of the nuclear era in naval warfare.
Nowadays, the hull of the former great cruiser waits for her final fate at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, after her superstructure has been stripped away. While the Navy moves forward and newer ships are added to the fleet, the founding values of the USS Long Beach CGN-9 still echoes, a reminder of innovation and strength in American naval heritage.
