USS Long Beach (CGN-9) holds the place in naval history as the world’s first nuclear-powered surface warship and the first cruiser constructed from the keel up since the close of World War II. Commissioned in 1961, this innovative vessel was characteristic of engineering and military power innovation; it was a series of firsts and lasts for the U.S. Navy.
The USS Long Beach symbolized something more than just a ship; she held the place of being the very epitome of American innovation in naval history. Again, it became the first ship in the U.S. Navy armed with guided missiles as its principal armament, moving further on the boundaries of technology in naval warfare. Fearsome armament fitted on the ship included twin 5-inch/38-caliber gun mounts, an ASROC anti-submarine system, and a RIM-2 Terrier missile system, which was later upgraded to the RIM-67 Standard missile system.
Twin C1W nuclear reactors powered the USS Long Beach to over 30 knots and gave her an unlimited range, making her an awe-inspiring force on the high seas. It could also engage in antisubmarine warfare and even provide the capability of shore bombardment, but this ship’s primary function was that of a long-range air defense of the carrier battle groups. The feature of teakwood decks, a characteristic that would not find its way into warships in the future, further enhanced the capabilities of the ship. Its towering bridge was the tallest in the world at that time.
Although considered the first to fly the Regulus nuclear cruise missile, the USS Long Beach eventually fitted four launching tubes with the Polaris missile. This cemented its place as a multi-role and formidable asset for fleet operations within the arsenal of the U.S. Navy. The ship’s first commanding officer was Captain Eugene Parks Wilkinson, previously having commanded the world’s first nuclear-powered vessel, the submarine USS Nautilus, thus furthering Long Beach’s story along the pages of history.
While under construction, the USS Long Beach became the target of an attempted sabotage when anti-mine cables were severed in three different places. The ship was completed, however, and well-maintained into the 1990s with many major upgrades, most notably with the Aegis Combat System. After the Cold War and subsequent budget cuts by President Bill Clinton, though, the USS Long Beach was decommissioned, thus bringing an end to the era of U.S. Navy cruisers.
The legacy of the USS Long Beach illustrates the great depths of ingenuity and vision in the United States Navy. As the world’s first nuclear-powered surface warship, it reset the yardstick for both naval engineering and warfare and imprinted military history indelibly.