She was the first nuclear powered surface warship in the world, built as a guide missile cruiser under yard No 1669 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Mass. for the USA Navy.
15 October 1956 ordered, original as CLG(N)-160 but reclassified CG(N)-9 on 1 July 1957
02 December 1957 laid down
14 July 1959 launched under the name USS LONG BEACH, she was the third vessel in the USS Navy under that name, sponsored by Mrs. Craig Hosmer, wife of Congressman Hosmer of California. She was the only vessel in her class.
Displacement 15.540 ton standard, 17.525 tons full load, dim. 219.8 x 22.3 x 9.5m. (draught).
Powered by two Westinghouse C1W pressurised-water-cooled nuclear reactors, powering two General Electric steam turbines, 80.000 shp, twin screws, speed 36 knots.
Armament: 2 twin Terrier guided missiles launchers with 120 missiles, 1 twin Talos guided missile launcher with 52 missiles, 1 8-tube ASROC launcher, 2 – 5inch guns, 2 – 12.75 inch torpedo tubes (2 x 2). BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile ABL.
Carried not an aircraft, but was fitted out with a landing platform for helicopters.
Crew 1.160 plus accommodation for 68 staff when in use as flagship.
09 September 1961 commissioned under command of Capt. E.P. Wilkinson.
After commissioned assigned to the Atlantic Fleet with homeport Norfolk, Va.
From 2 October till 16 December 1961 carried out extensive testing of her complex weapons and propulsion systems.
Between 28 December and 6 January 1962, she conducted operational tests of her missiles off Puerto Rico.
Then she sailed for Bremerhaven, Germany, where she arrived on 15 January for a courtesy calls in north European ports.
Returning to Norfolk 7 February, she trained on the East Coast of the USA and the Caribbean.
10 April joined the Atlantic Fleet exercises of North Caroline and Virginia as flagship for Adm. Robert H. Dennison, Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet. She was reviewed by President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson during this demonstration of naval power.
After overhaul and installation of new equipment at Philadelphia, LONG BEACH trained in the Caribbean and sailed 06 August 1963 to join the 6th Fleet in its Mediterranean peacekeeping operations. She returned to Norfolk 20 December for coastal and Caribbean operations through 28 April when she sailed for the Mediterranean to join attack carrier ENTERPRISE (CVA(N)-65) and guide-missile frigate BAINBRIDGE (DLG(N)-25) in the formation of the first all nuclear powered task group 13 May. The force operated in the Mediterranean testing its unique capabilities until 31 July when it sailed under rear Admiral Bernard M. Stream from Gibraltar on an around-the-world cruise. This operation, “Sea Orbit”, reminiscent of the cruise of the Great White Fleet in 1907-1908, demonstrated the strategic mobility of US naval nuclear-powered surface forces independent of normal fleet logistic support. During 58 steaming days, LONG BEACH steamed over 30.000 miles at an average speed of 25 knots, without being refuelled 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. An unqualified success, the operation proved to people the world over the tremendous increase in capabilities nuclear power brings the Navy.
LONG BEACH returned to Norfolk from this triumph 3 October to join in exercises off the East Coast and in the Caribbean. On 4 June, she sailed for the Global Strategy Conference at the Naval War College, Newport, where Vice Admiral Kleber S. Masterson, Commander, 2nd Fleet, broke his flag in the ship. Back in Norfolk 23 June, 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, Calif. And arrived 15 March.
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 from Long Beach for the Far East. She arrived on PIRAZ (positive identification and radar advisory zone) station on the 30th, and continued on that vital operation throughout most of her Westpac tour.
From 8 to 27 April 1967, the nuclear-powered cruiser made a cruise to Sydney, Australia. On the return portion of the trip back to Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, the ship made a stop in “Ironbottom Sound” on 23 April for a memorial service commemorating the battles fought and lives lost there in World War II. After the wreath-laying ceremony, she steamed up “The Slot” at 30 knots, back toward a different war.
LONG BEACH arrived back at the West Coast on 4 July where, after a well deserved period of rest, she resumed the exercises and operations which would keep her well prepared for her return to Vietnam the following year. This next deployment began when she once again left her home on 15 April 1968. As before, the cruiser spent most of her time on PIRAZ station, guiding the many planes which operated over North Vietnam. This tour of duty in Westpac ended with her arrival again at Long Beach on 16 November, where she remains into 1969.
While on PIRAZ duty, in May and June 1968, LONG BEACH shot down two MIG’s over North Vietnam with her Talos surface to air missiles. The range of the MIG’s was about 65 nautical miles. Extensively modernized at Puget Sound from 6 October 1980 to 26 March 1983, further improvements were planned for fiscal year 1983, but the ship was rescheduled for retirement.
1991 En route to the Persian Gulf during Operation Dessert Storm, she helped evacuate 1.200 people from the American Naval Base at Subic Bay following the eruption of Mount Pinatubo.
During 1993 – 1994 she participated in drug-interdiction operations in the Caribbean.
06 May 1994 homeport changed to Norfolk, Virginia.
01 May 1995 decommissioned, and defueled.
Placed “in commission, in reserve” on 2 July 1995. LONG BEACH was slated to enter the Navy’s nuclear-powered ship recycling program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wa.
2008 She is still there alongside minus her accommodation block waiting for scrapping.
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Source: Mostly copied from http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/cruisers/cgn9.txt Wikipedia.