[citation needed], In addition to steel, Long Beach was built with 450 tons of structural aluminum. The cruiser served in the Atlantic Fleet from 1961 to 1966. Note the massive Talos missiles pointing skyward. The monolithic superstructure atop her otherwise graceful 721' cruiser hull makes it impossible to confuse Long Beach with any other ship. Our next port visit after the conclusion of the exercise was Melbourne, Australia. TheLong Beach I returned to wasn't greatly different from the ship I'd left before. 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]. Fortunately, he was over-ruled and we were allowed to leave the operation area after over 100 days continuously at sea. As a result, a different division was assigned this responsibility, one they weren't too thrilled about having. [citation needed]. It takes almost two years of training before a nuclear-trained crew member reports to their first ship. The area around my recruiting station did not have a significant number of Hispanic residents, however, the school district was very good and we were able to get a good number of applicants for the Navy's Nuclear Propulsion program so our lack of Hispanic recruits was usually overlooked. Supposedly when being built, Long Beach was ready before Enterprise and received the 'billboard' arrays intended for the Big E. Besides 400Hz power, the system took a lot of 60Hz power and cooling water as well. USS Long Beach, CGN-9. In fact, it was theUSSLong Beach(CGN-9),a warship that was originally intended to be no larger than a frigate but during the design stage was rapidly increased to thedimensions of a heavy cruiser, which has the distinction of being the first nuclear-powered surface vessel. Your email address will not be published. She was also the last cruiser built for the U.S. Navy as a cruiser design as all subsequent cruiser classes were essentially built on scaled-up destroyer hulls or converted from existing cruisers. 1988. This would have got me in hot water with the Chief Recruiter and the Enlisted Programs Officer at the district headquarters. 6 August 1963 First deployment to the Mediterranean. 1989. [7] The ship was propelled by two nuclear reactors, one for each propeller shaft, and was capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots (56km/h). We were to launch one for some other ships to shoot at but the missiles were quite old at that point. Being a member of the initial crew of any ship is a great experience as you will get to know the ship better than any future crew members can. At Nuclear Power School we learned about the theory of reactor design and operation as well as learning about radiation and rudimentary chemistry. USS Long Beach (CLGN-160/CGN-160/CGN-9) was a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser in the United States Navy. 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. Once the nuclear cruiser USS Bainbridge (CGN-25) was commissioned in 1962, the three ships were almost inseparable. Long Beach was the first "all-new" cruiser designed and constructed after World War II (all others were completions or conversions of cruisers begun or completed during the war). It was a very competitive time for many reasons, not the least being you had to put four people in the Navy each month! Taken from the Niagara Falls by William P. Jones, M.D. He stated "Newport News Shipbuilding used to have 'commitment to quality' on a rock at the entrance to the shipyard but now that rock is in a museum.. Long Beach had six 2500 kW turbine generators and two 1000 kW emergency diesel generators. The only ones who advanced in the first increment were those with many years of Naval service and since I only had seven years of service I was in the last increment. We hadn't yet learned to formalize the mentoring process in the Navy. Additionally, Long Beach seemed to have a constant two to three-degree port list. 4 April 1978 Eighth West Pacific deployment. O USS Long Beach (CLGN-160/CGN-160/CGN-9) foi um cruzador de propulso nuclear da marinha de guerra dos Estados Unidos. She was reviewed by President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson during this time. (Mar. Back then, the crew remained living on the ship or were moved onto a living barge but remained in the industrial area. More A. USS Long Beach (CGN 9) (ex-CGN 160, CLGN 160) USS Long Beach (CGN-9) was the first nuclear powered surface warship in the world and the first large combatant in the US Navy with its main battery consisting of guided missiles. The major difference was the port visits. My partner and I aimed for goal by the 10th of each month so we wouldn't have to work Saturdays unless our applicants couldn't go for a physical and enlistment Mondays through Fridays. We knew it as the AN/SPS-32/33 radar system. The Chief Classifier, who had attended recruiting school with me, called and told me my applicant was not going to enlist for the position he'd offered her. In 1966, the nuclear-powered cruiser was deployed for herfirst tour of duty off Vietnam and was mainly stationed in the northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin, where the U.S. Navy had created its Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone (PIRAZ). My first impression as a crew member was of responsibilities of leadership. Hardbound cover with paper dust-jacket, large 9 x 12 format, 239 pages, group portraits by division, each sailor identified in sub-captions, and many scenes of shipboard life. Bipartisan. former . After a period of leave and upkeep in the fall,USSLong Beach(CGN9)sailed 7 November from Long Beach for the Far East. [Status: Disposed of by Recycling ] Class: CGN 9 - Cruiser, Guided Missile, Nuclear. We had the Commander of the Joint Task Force Middle East embarked. Since we would be in Hawaii for a few extra days, my first wife and our sons came over and stayed with some friends of ours who were stationed there. She was the U.S. Navy's first nuclear-powered surface combatant and was absolutely packed with. The USS Long Beach was decommissioned on May 1, 1995, nearly 36 years after first been launched and over 33 years since she had entered US Naval service. The warship also provided facilities for an onboard search-and-rescue helicopter. First, there's the high cost of training and keeping the crew. It was a self-paced course of 14 modules about electrical components, Ohm's Law and other required knowledge for electricians and electronic technicians. Sept 2002 Removal of superstructure, nuclear fuel removed. En-route, we crossed the international dateline at the equator enabling us 'Pollywogs' (newbies) to become 'Golden Shellbacks'a time-honored tradition. In addition, two Phalanx CIWS close-in weapon systems were installed, along with two Harpoon surface-to-surface missile (SSM) launchers on the fantail. . My first job on Long Beach was to qualify on the reactor plant. The ship would only go to PSNS for nuclear-related work combined with drydocking. Afterward, my company commander wanted to know why I hadn't informed him that my father was a Senior Chief Petty Officer stationed at the NTC. 2 December 1957 Keel laid in Bethlehem Steel Company's Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts. It was the first record use of naval SAMs in combat conditions. I flew across the Pacific on a charter (Flying Tigers) to Travis Air Base near Sacramento, California. She returned to Norfolk 20 December for coastal and Caribbean operations through 28 April when she sailed for the Mediterranean to join attack carrier USSEnterprise(CVA(N)65) and guidedmissile frigate USSBainbridge(DLG(N)-25) in the formation of the first all nuclearpowered task group 13 May. The USS Long Beach (CGN-9) was a ship of firsts and lasts for the US Navy. I submitted my request and it was approved all of the way up the chain. We, Long Beach, offered assistance but were refused. We later rejoined the Kitty Hawk and made a port visit in Yokosuka, Japan. I asked to speak with my applicant and we talked about the position she'd been offered. Long Beach was decommissioned on 1 May 1995 instead of receiving her third nuclear refueling and proposed upgrade. 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. During this deployment, we also visited Subic Bay in the Philippines for a maintenance period, as well as Singapore (one of my favorite cities) and Pearl Harbor on the way home to San Diego. Later that evening, the battlegroup had an exercise planned to try to fool any sub monitoring the group. At the end of Class A school, I was advanced to EM3 (E4). When the lighting shop needed a leading Petty Officer, the E Division Leading Petty Officer looked to the senior Second Class Petty Officers, but none wanted the position. I received orders to a nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) in New London, Connecticut instead. As a side note, the drinking age was 18 at that time. The majority of the cruise was without drama other than the Tu-95 Bear flybys with fighters from Enterprise escorting them off their wingtips. Kitty Hawk went alongside theUSS Wabash for an underway replenishment (UNREP). My two sons made a couple of 'Tiger Cruises' on the ship and enjoyed it, although when we took a big roll they were a bit animated about it. At Nuclear Power Prototype Training, I was assigned to the S5G reactor prototype (designed as the USS Narwhal's power plant) where we learned the 'hands-on' operation of a naval nuclear reactor. $11.66. The Long Beach was. Since there were more in the mess, I felt I had a greater likelihood of finding good and less good examples to model from. [citation needed] My partner at the recruiting station was an Engineman First Class originally from the Philippines. After flight ops, the battle group went up to 30 knots and after a couple of days, the Soviets had a replenishment ship come out and refuel the Kynda. An interesting note is that whenLong Beach pulled out, she left about 375 sailors behind who didn't get back to the ship before it left to avoid the storm. USSLong Beach, which was the third ship to be named after the California city, was laid down in December 1957 and launched in July 1959. 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 September 1989 13th West Pacific deployment/world cruise. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes. That man is Douglas Healey. On September 9, 1961, the ship was commissioned at the Boston Navy Shipyard, From January to October 1985, the TOMAHAWK cruise missile system was installed onboard at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, replacing the previously removed TALOS system. A comparison with the Ticonderoga class. I hit my head while working under the conference table, swore and wondered what kind of idiot wanted so many outlets under the table. Arkansas had a bit less than one-half the number of Long Beach's crew. Enterprise and Long Beach were linked for most of their careers. Long Beach had several very complex systems. After a few days of this, the Soviets left our group. 197x. As one of a couple of 400 Hz maintenance techs onboard, it helped me advance in rate also. In a lot of aspects, the difference between the two is not unlike the difference between a 1960 family sedan and a 1979 model from the same manufacturer. During her service, Long Beachhad thehighest bridge structureof any warship smaller than an aircraft carrier. I mistakenly told him I didn't think it was important. That was a major error in judgment to say the least! Short amateur documentary on the historic naval. Collections; Project #ShowUs; . Considering Arkansas and Long Beach each had essentially the same role in a battle group, I've always felt Long Beach was more capable. USS Long Beach (CLGN-160/CGN-160/CGN-9) was a nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser in the United States Navy and the world's first nuclear-powered surface combatant. The Talos missile system and the SCANFAR radar system were just a couple of them. 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. Some of the protesters told me it wasn't anything against us, our ship or America, they were getting well paid to protest and they'd protest their own mom for the right amount. In 1987 we were returning home to San Diego and because of the prevailing seas and our required course resulted in us taking seas on the port beam. [3] She was the third Navy ship named after the city of Long Beach, California . Amounts shown in italicized text are for items listed in currency other than Canadian dollars and are approximate conversions to Canadian dollars based upon Bloomberg's conversion I believe it was reported by the berthing where the Operations Specialists (formerly called Radarmen) slept. It was the last nuclear-powered surface combatant the Navy built. Initially, a Talos missile launcher was mounted to the stern of the ship, but it was later replaced by two box launchers for BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles, with each launching containing four missiles. Image Credit: Creative Commons. 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 ships high box-like superstructure housed the SCANFAR radar system, which comprised of AN/SPS-32 and AN/SPS-33 phased array radars. I received some extra 'military instruction' that evening. Required fields are marked *. I was an Electrician's Mate-1 (E6) at the time, part of PCU (Pre-commissioning Unit) for USS. We had an impromptu exercise with a Soviet Kynda class cruiser when they took up plane guard during my first deployment. For the longest time, the ship's rumor mill had it that if Long Beach rolled to greater than 45 degrees to either port or starboard, the ship would capsize. A 423 foot section of the hull (propulsion block) remain at PSNS as of May 2018. [citation needed], Long Beach served as an escort for the USSMissouri(BB-63) task force, and provided aircraft carrier escort support after the Gulf War of 1991. He made an announcement on the ship's announcing system which sounded like a slam on Newport News Shipbuilding. Oct 2012 - Auctioned off and sold for scrapping, 1 September 1987 2 September 1987 Persian Gulf, 20 September 1987 26 September 1987 Persian Gulf, 29 September 1987 28 October 1987 Persian Gulf, 30 October 1987 29 November 1987 Persian Gulf, 17 January 1990 31 January 1990 Persian Gulf, This page was last edited on 3 April 2023, at 02:04. 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