USS South Carolina (CGN-37)

• First of Her Name: USS South Carolina (CGN-37) was the lead ship of her class of nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers, and the second ship in U.S. Navy history to bear the name "South Carolina." • Commissioned in 1975: She was commissioned on 25 January 1975, representing a significant leap in naval technology with her nuclear propulsion. • Nuclear Power: As a nuclear-powered cruiser, the South Carolina had virtually unlimited range and endurance, requiring refueling only every 10–15 years. • Carrier Escort Role: The ship was specifically designed to escort aircraft carriers and provide anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine protection. • First Atlantic Fleet Nuclear Cruiser: She was the first nuclear-powered surface combatant permanently assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. • 1986 Libya Operation: USS South Carolina participated in Operation El Dorado Canyon, the U.S. strike against Libya in April 1986, providing air defense for the carriers and surface action group. • Cold War Patrols: Throughout her career, the ship was a key player in Cold War naval operations, often shadowing Soviet vessels in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. • Historic Mediterranean Deployment: In 1981, South Carolina made a record-setting, uninterrupted 126-day deployment at sea in the Mediterranean, showcasing the advantages of nuclear propulsion. • Decommissioned Early: Despite her advanced technology, she was decommissioned early (1999) due to the high costs associated with maintaining and refueling nuclear-powered surface ships. • Recycling and Legacy: After decommissioning, the ship was dismantled and recycled through the Navy’s Ship-Submarine Recycling Program, but her legacy lives on as a testament to the nuclear era of surface combatants.