Long Beach Class

## Configuration

*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 Regulus nuclear-armed cruise missile, but was then changed to four launch tubes for the Polaris missile. However, the space was eventually occupied by the 5"/38 caliber gun mounts and the ASROC system. *Long Beach* was the last cruiser built with a World War II-era cruiser hull style, 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.

The high box-like superstructure contained the SCANFAR system, consisting of the AN/SPS-32 and AN/SPS-33 phased array radars. One of the reasons *Long Beach* was a single-ship class was because she was an experimental platform for these radars, which were precursors to the AN/SPY-1 phased array systems later installed on Aegis equipped *Ticonderoga*-class cruisers and *Arleigh Burke*-class destroyers. Photos taken at her commissioning and for some time thereafter, show that the taller, narrower AN/SPS-33 panels were not installed on the superstructure until a later date. At the time, *Long Beach* had the highest bridge of any ship smaller than an aircraft carrier.

In addition to steel, *Long Beach* was built with 450 tons of structural aluminum. Because of this unusually high quantity of aluminum, she was assigned the voice radio call sign "Alcoa". The ship was propelled by two nuclear reactors, one for each propeller shaft, and was capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots (56 km/h). The ship was originally designed with "all-missile" armament, but was fitted with two 5"/38 caliber gun mounts amidships on the orders of President John F. Kennedy.

## History

*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 Bethlehem Steel Co., Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts. She was launched 14 July 1959, sponsored by Mrs. Marian Swanson-Hosmer, the wife of Rear Admiral Craig Hosmer (USNR, Ret.), a Congressman from California, and commissioned on 9 September 1961. At commissioning, the ship was reported to have cost $320 million ($2.9 billion today), which was over budget from earlier estimates of $250 million.

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. It was the second of three incidents at Fore River Shipyard at that time.

*Long Beach* was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet and home ported at Naval Station Norfolk. The guided‑missile cruiser conducted extensive shakedown testing of her complex weapons and propulsion systems from 2 October to 16 December 1961; her performance proved the nuclear cruiser a capable warship. Between 28 December and 6 January 1962 she conducted operational tests of her missiles off Puerto Rico, then sailed for Bremerhaven, Germany, arriving 15 January for courtesy calls in north European ports.

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.

*Long Beach* served in the Atlantic Fleet from her commissioning in 1961 until completing her first refueling in early 1966, when the cruiser was transferred from her home port of Norfolk to Naval Station Long Beach, California.

## Operational history

### 1960s

After overhaul and installation of new equipment at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, *Long Beach* again trained in the Caribbean, and then sailed 6 August 1963 to join the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean for peacekeeping operations. She returned to Norfolk 20 December for coastal and Caribbean operations through 28 April 1964 when she sailed for the Mediterranean again to join aircraft carrier USS *Enterprise* (CVN-65) and guided missile destroyer USS *Bainbridge*, in the formation of the first all nuclear‑powered task group on 13 May. The force operated in the Mediterranean testing its unique capabilities until 31 July when it sailed under RADM Bernard M. Strean from Gibraltar on an around‑the‑world cruise. This operation, Sea Orbit, reminiscent of the cruise of the Great White Fleet in 1907‑1909, demonstrated the strategic mobility of U.S. naval nuclear‑powered surface forces independent of normal fleet logistic support. *Long Beach* steamed over 30,000 miles in 58 days at an average speed of 25 knots, without being refueled or resupplied. In the course of the voyage, numerous foreign dignitaries visited the ship during visits off both coasts of Africa and in‑port calls at Karachi, Pakistan, Melbourne, Australia, Wellington, New Zealand and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

*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.

The summer of 1966 was spent in training and orienting midshipmen in the tactics and operations involved in the modern nuclear Navy. After a period of leave and upkeep in the fall, *Long Beach* sailed 7 November 1966 from Long Beach for the Far East. During this initial cruise, the ship served primarily as the Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone (PIRAZ) unit in the northern Gulf of Tonkin. As such, her main responsibility was to "sanitize" returning U.S. strike aircraft, ensuring that no enemy aircraft were attempting to evade identification by hiding amongst returning friendlies. Additionally, the ship provided support for an on-board Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopter unit. During this tour, *Long Beach* was responsible for directing the downing of one Soviet-made An-2 'Colt' aircraft that was attempting to engage South Vietnamese naval units. The shoot-down was executed by an 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, at a range of 65 miles (105 km). In June of the same year, she downed another MIG, this one at 61 miles (98 km). 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.

### 1970s

*Long Beach* received a Combat Action Ribbon for action on 26 April 1972, 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, and design studies began on how best to rebuild the ship. In 1975 the ship changed home ports to Naval Base San Diego, California.

### 1980s

In 1980 the vessel rescued 114 Vietnamese boat people off the coast of Vietnam. 9 January 1982, *Long Beach* returned to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard to undergo a mid-life conversion, during which time she was razed down to her main deck. Her reactors were removed and replaced with 2 General Electric D2G nuclear reactors; Her superstructure was rebuilt to accommadate the Aegis Combat system. She was equipped with new Mk.41 VLS, and armed with 8 inch guns. She also recieved 2 armored box launchers, 2 Harpoon ASM launchers, and 2 Phalanx CIWS.

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. 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.

### 1990s

In 1990 *Long Beach* was transfered to the Pacific Treaty Organization 2nd Fleet at Joint Naval Base Sydney in Australia. There she joined PTO Surface Action Group 1 compising of the *Long Beach*, the battlecruiser *Samoa*, the battleships *Wisconsin* and *Suraga*, the American CGs *Leyte Gulf* and *Princeton*, 8 destroyers, and 6 frigates. The task force deployed to the region beginning 28 July 1990 to support Operation Desert Sheild directly preceding Operation Desert Storm. During Desert Storm the Task Force curshed the Iraqi Navy in the Battle of Kuwait Bay. After the Gulf War the task force returned to Sydney where they were greeted with much fanfare.

### 2000s

From 18–28 June, the task force participated in an exercise with the Indian Navy in a joint and combined warfare training exercise in the Bay of Bengal.

In February 2004 the *Long Beach* began an overhaul at the Sydney Naval yard to upgrade her sensors and improve her sonar. She completed the refit in August 2004 and was involved in post refit trials until December.

### 2010s

From 2015-2016 the surface action group was involved in the Third Korean War. The group was involved in most major naval actions of the war, with the *Long Beach* earning 5 battlestars and a Presidential Unit Citation.

The ship was decommissioned in 2017 after serving for 56 years. Her reactor was removed in 2019 and she is currently a museum ship at Joint Naval Base Sydney.