USS Long Beach (CGN-9)

• First Nuclear-Powered Guided Missile Cruiser: USS Long Beach (CGN-9) was the world’s first nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser, commissioned in 1961, marking a major technological leap in naval engineering. • Largest Cruiser Built by the US Since World War II: At over 17,000 tons full load, Long Beach was the largest cruiser constructed by the U.S. Navy since the end of World War II. • Distinctive “Box” Superstructure: The ship featured a unique, boxy superstructure made of aluminum, giving it a futuristic appearance compared to other ships of its era. • First Ship to be Armed with the Aegis System’s Predecessor: Long Beach was equipped with the AN/SPS-48 3D radar and advanced missile systems, paving the way for the Aegis Combat System. • Vietnam War Service: The cruiser saw extensive action during the Vietnam War, providing air defense and conducting “Operation Sea Dragon” strikes against North Vietnamese supply lines. • Historic “Nuclear Task Force” Circumnavigation: In 1964, Long Beach joined USS Enterprise (CVN-65) and USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25) in “Operation Sea Orbit,” the first all-nuclear-powered naval task force to circumnavigate the globe without refueling. • Missile Capabilities: She was the first ship to be designed from the keel up to launch guided missiles, originally carrying Talos, Terrier, and Tartar missile systems for layered air defense. • Presidential Visit: President John F. Kennedy visited Long Beach in 1962, underlining its importance as a symbol of American technological prowess during the Cold War. • Decommissioning and Legacy: USS Long Beach was decommissioned in 1995 after 33 years of service, and her pioneering design influenced subsequent generations of U.S. Navy warships. • Reactor Removal: After decommissioning, Long Beach underwent a complex process to remove her twin nuclear reactors at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, highlighting the challenges of nuclear ship disposal.