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USS Long Beach (CGN 9)

USS LONG BEACH, the third ship in the Navy to bear the name, was the first nuclear powered surface warship in the world and the first large combatant in the US Navy with its main battery consisting entirely of guided missiles. She was also the first American cruiser since the end of World War II built entirely new from the keel up, and, when completed, boasted the highest bridge in the world. She was also the last warship to be fitted with teakwood decks.

LONG BEACH was originally ordered as CLGN 160. She was reclassified CGN 160 in early 1957, but was again reclassified as CGN 9 on 1 July 1957. On May 1, 1995, LONG BEACH was decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list. She was then berthed at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA, and got her superstructure removed. LONG BEACH's hull is currently awaiting final disposal.

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS LONG BEACH. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

• Click here to view the list.

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• Click here to see which USS LONG BEACH memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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USS LONG BEACH Cruise Books:

• Commissioning and Mediterranean Cruise Book 1961-63
• WestPac Cruise Book 1966-67
• WestPac Cruise Book 1968
• WestPac Cruise Book 1969-70
• WestPac Cruise Book 1980
• WestPac Cruise Book 1987-88
• World Cruise Book 1989-90
• WestPac Cruise Book 1991

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USS LONG BEACH's Commanding Officers:

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Notes of Interest:

• USS LONG BEACH was authorized as USS BROOKLYN but the name was changed shortly afterwards.
• USS LONG BEACH was commissioned without any guns aboard. In April 1962, President John F. Kennedy visited the ship and it is said that he ordered the LONG BEACH to be equipped with the two 5-inch guns that were installed aboard the ship later that year.

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History of USS LONG BEACH:

USS LONG BEACH was the first nuclear-powered surface warship in the world and the first major U.S. Navy surface combatant designed with guided missiles as its principal armament. Named after the city of Long Beach, California, she was the third ship of the United States Navy to bear the name. Originally authorized under the designation CLG(N) 160, she was subsequently redesignated CGN 160 and received her final hull number, CGN 9, on July 1, 1957.

The contract for her construction was awarded to Bethlehem Steel Company on October 15, 1956. Her keel was laid at the company's Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, on December 2, 1957. LONG BEACH was launched on July 14, 1959, sponsored by Mrs. Craig Hosmer, wife of Congressman Craig Hosmer of California, and commissioned at Boston Naval Shipyard on September 9, 1961, with Captain Eugene P. Wilkinson in command. Wilkinson had previously served as the first commanding officer of the nuclear-powered submarine USS NAUTILUS (SSN 571).

LONG BEACH was designed around two Westinghouse C1W pressurized-water nuclear reactors, which supplied steam to two geared turbines driving two propeller shafts. Her original weapons installation consisted of a twin-arm Talos long-range surface-to-air missile launcher aft, two twin-arm Terrier medium-range missile launchers forward, an ASROC anti-submarine rocket launcher, anti-submarine torpedo tubes and two single 5-inch/38 caliber guns. Her design also incorporated provisions for weapons systems that were subsequently cancelled, including the Regulus II cruise missile and Polaris ballistic missile.

A particularly conspicuous feature was the large, box-shaped forward superstructure containing the fixed antenna arrays of the AN/SPS-32 and AN/SPS-33 radars. Together, these formed the SCANFAR radar system, an early shipboard phased-array installation intended to detect and track aircraft over a broad area. LONG BEACH also carried the Naval Tactical Data System, which allowed radar and other sensor information to be processed and displayed for air-defense coordination. Her extensive command and communications facilities made her suitable for service as a fleet flagship.

Following commissioning, LONG BEACH was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet with Norfolk, Virginia, as her homeport. On October 2, 1961, she began a series of shakedown trials and operational evaluations along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean. The testing program included nuclear propulsion operations, radar evaluations, missile fire-control trials, communications exercises and engineering inspections. The initial shakedown period continued until December 16.

On December 28, 1961, LONG BEACH proceeded to waters off Puerto Rico for operational testing of her missile systems. After completing these exercises in early January 1962, she crossed the Atlantic for her first visit to European waters. She arrived at Bremerhaven, West Germany, on January 15, 1962, and subsequently made courtesy visits to northern European ports. The deployment provided an opportunity for foreign naval representatives and civilian officials to inspect the Navy's first nuclear-powered surface combatant.

LONG BEACH returned to Norfolk on February 7, 1962. During the following months, she conducted additional training and equipment evaluations in Atlantic and Caribbean operating areas. On April 10, she participated in a major Atlantic Fleet demonstration off North Carolina and Virginia, serving as flagship for Admiral Robert L. Dennison, Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet. President John F. Kennedy and Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson observed portions of the fleet demonstration. Kennedy also visited LONG BEACH and inspected the ship's nuclear propulsion and weapons installations.

During the remainder of 1962 and the opening months of 1963, LONG BEACH continued operational trials and underwent maintenance and equipment modifications. A shipyard availability at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard included work on her weapons, electronics and other systems. Following completion of the work, she resumed training in the Caribbean, conducting missile firings, anti-aircraft exercises and evaluations of her radar and command systems.

On August 6, 1963, LONG BEACH departed Norfolk for her first Mediterranean deployment with the U.S. Sixth Fleet. During the deployment, she participated in carrier escort exercises, anti-aircraft warfare training and coordinated operations with other American and allied naval units. Her nuclear propulsion system allowed extended high-speed operations without the need to replenish conventional propulsion fuel. The Mediterranean cruise included visits to Naples, Palermo and Genoa in Italy; Istanbul, Turkey; Barcelona, Spain; Toulon, France; and Tripoli, Libya. During periods at sea, LONG BEACH evaluated the employment of her Terrier and Talos missile systems in conjunction with carrier aircraft and other surface warships. Her duties also included radar surveillance, communications exercises and support of Sixth Fleet command activities. LONG BEACH returned to Norfolk on December 20, 1963.

During the first months of 1964, LONG BEACH underwent maintenance and conducted additional training in the Atlantic and Caribbean. On April 28, she departed Norfolk for another Mediterranean deployment. Her principal assignment was to join the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN 65) and the nuclear-powered guided missile frigate USS BAINBRIDGE (DLGN 25) in the formation of the world's first all-nuclear-powered surface task group. The three ships assembled in the Mediterranean on May 13, 1964, as Task Group 60.1. Under the command of Rear Admiral Bernard M. Strean, the formation conducted exercises intended to examine the operational possibilities of a naval force whose principal combatants did not require conventional propulsion fuel. The ships practiced coordinated maneuvering, aircraft operations, air defense and sustained high-speed movements.

On July 31, 1964, the three ships passed through the Strait of Gibraltar and began Operation Sea Orbit, an around-the-world voyage by the newly designated Task Force One. The operation was planned to demonstrate the ability of nuclear-powered surface warships to conduct extended operations over great distances without refueling or receiving additional provisions. The task force proceeded south along the western coast of Africa, rounded the Cape of Good Hope and crossed the Indian Ocean. During the voyage, foreign officials were flown aboard USS ENTERPRISE for briefings and demonstrations, while diplomatic and naval visits were conducted in cooperation with governments along the route.

The task force made scheduled visits at Karachi, Pakistan, from August 20 to 22; Fremantle, Australia, from August 31 to September 2; Melbourne from September 3 to 5; Sydney from September 4 to 7; Wellington, New Zealand, from September 8 to 9; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from September 23 to 25. These visits were conducted by one or more ships of the formation, with the individual ships not necessarily entering every port simultaneously. During the Indian Ocean passage, the American formation also conducted exercises with Royal Navy units, including the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious, on August 28. After visiting Australian and New Zealand waters, Task Force One crossed the Pacific and proceeded around Cape Horn before continuing into the South Atlantic. The three nuclear-powered warships completed their circumnavigation without replenishing fuel or provisions. The voyage covered more than 30,000 nautical miles and included 58 days underway at an average speed of approximately 25 knots. LONG BEACH returned to Norfolk on October 3, 1964.

During the remainder of 1964 and the first half of 1965, LONG BEACH conducted exercises along the East Coast and in the Caribbean. On June 4, 1965, she departed for Newport, Rhode Island, to participate in the Global Strategy Conference at the Naval War College. Vice Admiral Kleber S. Masterson, Commander, Second Fleet, embarked and established his flag aboard the cruiser. LONG BEACH returned to Norfolk on June 23.

In August 1965, LONG BEACH entered Newport News Shipbuilding for an extensive refueling overhaul and maintenance period. Work on her nuclear propulsion plant was accompanied by repairs, inspections and improvements to shipboard equipment. Following completion of the shipyard work in early 1966, she conducted sea trials and prepared for transfer to the Pacific Fleet.

On February 28, 1966, LONG BEACH departed Norfolk for her new homeport at Long Beach, California. She proceeded through the Panama Canal and arrived on March 15. During the following months, the cruiser underwent training and operational evaluations in Pacific waters. Her activities included exercises with other Pacific Fleet units and summer training for Naval Academy midshipmen.

Captain Kenneth C. Wallace assumed command on August 23, 1966, relieving Captain Frank H. Price, who had commanded the ship since September 1962. During the autumn, LONG BEACH completed preparations for her first deployment to the Western Pacific.

On November 7, 1966, LONG BEACH departed Long Beach for her first WestPac deployment. After crossing the Pacific and conducting preliminary operations with the Seventh Fleet, she arrived on station in the Gulf of Tonkin on November 30. Her principal assignment was Positive Identification Radar Advisory Zone (PIRAZ) duty off North Vietnam. The PIRAZ concept employed radar-equipped surface combatants to maintain surveillance of the airspace over the Gulf of Tonkin and portions of North Vietnam. Using her SCANFAR radars, Naval Tactical Data System and communications equipment, LONG BEACH monitored American and enemy aircraft movements, provided identification assistance and coordinated fighter interception and search-and-rescue operations. LONG BEACH was particularly suited to PIRAZ duty because of her long-range radar and extensive command facilities. The ship maintained continuous radar coverage during extended periods on station, passing information to American aircraft and other naval units involved in combat operations. Her controllers worked with carrier-based fighters and search-and-rescue helicopters to identify aircraft, direct interceptions and assist aircrews operating over North Vietnam.

The assignment required the cruiser to operate for extended periods in the northern Gulf of Tonkin, where North Vietnamese aircraft, coastal defenses and small naval craft presented potential threats. During intervals away from PIRAZ station, LONG BEACH conducted replenishment operations, equipment maintenance and visits to ports in the Western Pacific. Her itinerary included Pearl Harbor, Okinawa, Hong Kong and Subic Bay in the Philippines.

On April 8, 1967, LONG BEACH began a visit to Australia, proceeding south from the Western Pacific operating area. She visited Sydney before beginning the return voyage toward Subic Bay. On April 23, the cruiser entered Ironbottom Sound in the Solomon Islands, the waters between Guadalcanal, Savo Island and Florida Island where numerous American and Japanese warships had been sunk during the Guadalcanal campaign of 1942 and 1943. During the passage through Ironbottom Sound, the crew conducted a memorial ceremony for the sailors who had died in the naval battles of World War II. A wreath was placed in the water before LONG BEACH continued through the channel known as The Slot, which had been used by Japanese naval forces during the Guadalcanal campaign.

After returning to the Western Pacific, LONG BEACH completed the remaining operational and administrative requirements of her deployment and began the return voyage to California. She arrived at Long Beach on July 4, 1967.

During the second half of 1967 and the opening months of 1968, LONG BEACH underwent maintenance and resumed exercises in Southern California waters. Training concentrated on air-defense operations, missile employment and the coordination of shipboard radar controllers with tactical aircraft. Additional work was carried out on her radar and electronic systems.

On April 15, 1968, LONG BEACH departed Long Beach for her second deployment to the Western Pacific. She again operated with the Seventh Fleet in the Gulf of Tonkin, where she resumed PIRAZ duty in support of American air operations over North Vietnam. Her assignments included radar surveillance, fighter direction, air-defense readiness and support for search-and-rescue operations. On May 11, 1968, LONG BEACH attempted to engage a North Vietnamese MiG with a Talos surface-to-air missile, but the engagement did not result in a confirmed destruction of the target. Further contacts with North Vietnamese aircraft occurred during the following weeks.

On May 23, 1968, LONG BEACH fired two Talos missiles at North Vietnamese MiG aircraft operating over North Vietnam at a range of approximately 65 nautical miles. One of the missiles destroyed a MiG-21. The engagement was the first successful destruction of a hostile aircraft by a surface-to-air missile fired from an American warship. It was also the first confirmed combat destruction of an enemy aircraft by a nuclear-powered surface warship. A second MiG destruction was credited to LONG BEACH during September 1968, reportedly at a range of approximately 61 nautical miles. Although several historical accounts recognize two Talos victories during the deployment, other assessments identify only the first as firmly confirmed.

The engagements demonstrated the ability of the Talos system to attack aircraft at considerable distances from the launching ship. Throughout the deployment, LONG BEACH continued to provide air-control services for American aircraft, including radar tracking, identification and interception guidance. During periods away from the Gulf of Tonkin, the cruiser conducted maintenance and replenishment operations and visited ports including Pearl Harbor, Subic Bay, Perth and Hong Kong. LONG BEACH returned to California on November 16, 1968.

During the following months, LONG BEACH underwent maintenance and completed preparations for another deployment. Captain William A. Spencer, who had assumed command on June 15, 1968, continued to supervise the ship's training and operational readiness program.

On August 11, 1969, LONG BEACH departed for her third Western Pacific deployment. She returned to the Gulf of Tonkin, where the Seventh Fleet continued carrier operations and surveillance missions during the Vietnam War. LONG BEACH again served in the PIRAZ role, providing radar coverage, aircraft identification and fighter direction. The deployment took place while the United States was gradually reducing its ground combat presence in Vietnam under the policy of Vietnamization. Naval aviation remained active, however, and American warships continued to provide air-defense, reconnaissance and search-and-rescue support.

LONG BEACH operated in the Gulf of Tonkin and surrounding Western Pacific waters during the latter part of 1969 and into early 1970. Port visits during the deployment included Pearl Harbor, Subic Bay, Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila and Bangkok. The cruiser returned to the United States in early 1970 and subsequently prepared for another extensive shipyard period. During 1970, LONG BEACH entered Mare Island Naval Shipyard at Vallejo, California, for a refueling overhaul. The nuclear refueling phase began on July 1. The shipyard period included maintenance of the reactor plants, propulsion machinery, electrical equipment and weapons systems, together with improvements to her electronics and other shipboard installations. The work continued into 1971 and was followed by sea trials, missile-system testing and refresher training. LONG BEACH subsequently resumed exercises in Pacific operating areas in preparation for her return to the Western Pacific.

On March 28, 1972, LONG BEACH departed for her fourth WestPac deployment. The deployment coincided with the beginning of a major North Vietnamese offensive across the Demilitarized Zone and elsewhere in South Vietnam. The United States increased naval and air operations in response, including the renewal of extensive air strikes against targets in North Vietnam. During April, LONG BEACH operated in the Gulf of Tonkin, where American surface combatants supported carrier aviation and maintained air-defense surveillance. On April 26, the cruiser was credited with participation in combat action during operations off the Vietnamese coast. Her activities during this period formed part of the wider American naval response to the North Vietnamese offensive.

On May 9, 1972, the United States began Operation Linebacker, an extensive air campaign directed against North Vietnamese transportation, supply and military targets. Naval forces also conducted Operation Pocket Money, in which aircraft mined the approaches to Haiphong and other North Vietnamese ports. LONG BEACH maintained PIRAZ stations during these operations, employing her long-range radars and communications equipment to identify aircraft and coordinate American fighters. Her controllers were involved in directing fighter aircraft during engagements with North Vietnamese MiGs and provided assistance to search-and-rescue forces operating near the North Vietnamese coast.

During the deployment, LONG BEACH's air-intercept controllers were credited with directing American fighter aircraft in engagements that resulted in the destruction of nine North Vietnamese aircraft. These were victories achieved by aircraft under the cruiser's radar control, rather than by the ship's own surface-to-air missiles. Her personnel were also credited with assisting the rescue of 19 downed American aviators during the deployment.

A particularly well-documented rescue took place on November 10, 1972. Lieutenant Michael J. Cobb of Attack Squadron 93, flying an A-7B Corsair II from USS MIDWAY (CVA 41), was hit by North Vietnamese anti-aircraft fire during an armed reconnaissance mission near Thanh Hoa. After his aircraft became uncontrollable, Cobb ejected into the Gulf of Tonkin approximately ten miles offshore. A Sikorsky HH-3A Sea King helicopter of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Seven, Detachment 110, was operating from LONG BEACH at the time. The rescue helicopter was alerted shortly before 9 a.m. and launched from the cruiser at approximately 9:01 a.m. It reached the area of the downed pilot, recovered him from the water and returned to LONG BEACH at 9:43 a.m. Cobb sustained only minor injuries.

Throughout the cruise, LONG BEACH continued air-surveillance and rescue-support operations while maintaining her missile systems in readiness. The ship also conducted training, replenishment and maintenance during intervals away from station. She returned to California in November 1972.

Following maintenance and preparations during the early months of 1973, LONG BEACH departed on May 1 for her fifth Western Pacific deployment. American involvement in direct combat operations in Vietnam had changed following the Paris Peace Accords of January 27, 1973, and the subsequent withdrawal of most American combat forces.

LONG BEACH operated with the Seventh Fleet in the Western Pacific during the transition from wartime operations to the continuing American naval presence in East Asia. Her duties included fleet air defense, surveillance, exercises with other naval units and visits to ports in the region. The cruiser also maintained readiness for contingency operations as the political and military situation in Southeast Asia remained unsettled. After completing her deployment and subsequent Pacific Fleet training, LONG BEACH prepared for another overseas assignment during 1974. On November 7, 1974, she departed for her sixth Western Pacific deployment.

During the following months, LONG BEACH conducted Seventh Fleet operations in the Western Pacific, providing air-defense and command capabilities for American surface and carrier formations. The deployment took place during the final months of the Vietnam War, which ended with the capture of Saigon by North Vietnamese forces on April 30, 1975. LONG BEACH continued operations in the region following the collapse of the South Vietnamese government. The American naval presence was maintained to support regional commitments, protect U.S. interests and provide forces for possible contingencies. The cruiser completed her deployment in 1975.

On June 7, 1975, LONG BEACH changed her homeport from Long Beach to San Diego, California. During the remainder of the year, she conducted training and maintenance along the Pacific coast. From December 1975 through June 1976, the cruiser underwent a shipyard availability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. The shipyard work included maintenance of her nuclear propulsion and shipboard systems, repairs and improvements to equipment and preparations for further Seventh Fleet operations. Following completion of the work, LONG BEACH conducted sea trials and refresher training.

On September 15, 1976, LONG BEACH departed for her seventh Western Pacific deployment. The cruise involved operations in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, including extended periods with Seventh Fleet formations. Her assignments included anti-aircraft warfare exercises, radar surveillance, command and communications training and operations with American and allied naval units. During the deployment, LONG BEACH operated in areas extending from the Philippine Sea toward the Indian Ocean and participated in multinational naval exercises. American naval forces were maintaining a presence in the region during a period of increasing Soviet naval activity and changing political circumstances in Southeast Asia. LONG BEACH returned to San Diego on March 28, 1977.

Following a period of maintenance and training along the California coast, LONG BEACH departed on April 4, 1978, for her eighth WestPac deployment. She operated as part of the battle group of USS ENTERPRISE, conducting carrier escort and area air-defense duties during operations in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. The deployment included training in coordinated air defense, surface warfare, anti-submarine operations and tactical communications. LONG BEACH's command and radar systems were employed to monitor air activity and coordinate the defensive operations of the formation. During periods of reduced operational activity, the cruiser conducted replenishment and maintenance and participated in port visits with other Seventh Fleet units. LONG BEACH returned to San Diego on October 27, 1978.

By this time, the Navy had begun withdrawing the Talos long-range surface-to-air missile system from operational service. LONG BEACH's Talos installation was deactivated during 1978, and the system was removed in 1979. Its withdrawal marked a substantial change in the cruiser's original weapons configuration. Between January and April 1979, LONG BEACH underwent the first phase of a planned mid-life modernization at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The work included removal of equipment associated with the Talos installation and preparations for later improvements to her weapons and electronic systems.

During the latter part of 1979, LONG BEACH completed maintenance, training and preparations for another Western Pacific deployment. The Navy was also examining proposals to modernize existing surface combatants, including possible installation of the Aegis combat system aboard LONG BEACH. Earlier plans for a much more extensive reconstruction of the cruiser had been considered during the mid-1970s, but were not implemented because of costs and changes in Navy procurement priorities.

On January 7, 1980, LONG BEACH departed San Diego for her ninth Western Pacific deployment. The cruise involved operations in the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, including air-defense exercises, carrier support and visits to ports in East and Southeast Asia. On May 1, 1980, while operating in the South China Sea approximately 250 miles southeast of Saigon, LONG BEACH encountered a vessel carrying Vietnamese refugees. The refugees were among the many people fleeing Vietnam by sea following the end of the war in 1975. Their small boats frequently encountered dangerous weather, mechanical failures, shortages of food and water and attacks by pirates.

LONG BEACH rescued 107 Vietnamese refugees and provided them with food, water, medical assistance and temporary accommodation. The rescue was part of the wider humanitarian assistance provided by American naval vessels to Vietnamese boat refugees during the late 1970s and early 1980s. During the remainder of the deployment, LONG BEACH continued Seventh Fleet operations and visited Pearl Harbor; Apra Harbor, Guam; Subic Bay; Hong Kong; White Beach, Okinawa; Pusan, South Korea; Manila; Sattahip, Thailand; and Yokosuka, Japan. She returned to San Diego on July 11, 1980.

On October 6, 1980, LONG BEACH began the second and much more extensive phase of her mid-life modernization at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The comprehensive overhaul, which continued until March 26, 1983, involved major changes to her weapons, sensors, electronics and command facilities. One of the most conspicuous changes was the removal of the original SCANFAR radar antennas and the large enclosed equipment installations associated with them. The AN/SPS-32 and AN/SPS-33 radar systems were replaced by more modern radar equipment, including the AN/SPS-48C three-dimensional air-search radar and the AN/SPS-49 two-dimensional air-search radar. A new lattice mast and revised antenna arrangements were installed.

The modernization also included improvements to the ship's Naval Tactical Data System, combat direction facilities, communications equipment and fire-control systems. Additional spaces within the former radar installation were adapted for command and operational purposes. The forward Mk 10 missile launchers were modified to employ Standard SM-2ER surface-to-air missiles, replacing the original Terrier weapons. The improved missiles and associated control equipment provided the cruiser with updated air-defense capabilities.

Two Mk 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon Systems were installed on the after superstructure, occupying positions previously associated with Talos fire-control equipment. Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers were also installed, providing the ship with a modern surface-strike capability. Her anti-submarine equipment was improved, including the replacement of the original sonar installation. The extensive overhaul also involved repairs to the nuclear propulsion plant, electrical systems, habitability spaces and auxiliary machinery. The work altered the cruiser's external appearance, particularly around the forward superstructure, masts and after weapons installations.

Following completion of the modernization in March 1983, LONG BEACH conducted sea trials, engineering evaluations and tests of her new radar and weapons systems. The remainder of 1983 was devoted to refresher training, missile-system evaluations and preparations for renewed Pacific Fleet operations.

On January 13, 1984, LONG BEACH departed San Diego for her tenth Western Pacific deployment. She returned to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean, where she operated with Seventh Fleet formations and participated in carrier escort, air-defense and surface warfare exercises. Her modernized Standard missile system and radar equipment were employed during fleet training and operational evaluations. The deployment also involved routine replenishment operations, communications exercises and visits to ports in the Western Pacific. LONG BEACH returned to the United States during August 1984.

On January 9, 1985, LONG BEACH entered a Selected Restricted Availability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. During the shipyard period, additional modifications were made to her weapons and equipment. The most significant change was the installation of two four-round Tomahawk Armored Box Launchers on the after main deck. To provide space for the launchers, the Harpoon missile installations were relocated to positions atop the after superstructure. These alterations gave LONG BEACH the ability to launch Tomahawk cruise missiles against surface or land targets. Following completion of the shipyard period in October 1985, LONG BEACH underwent additional sea trials, weapons testing and training. The cruiser subsequently participated in Pacific Fleet exercises to evaluate her modernized combat systems.

On May 13, 1986, LONG BEACH departed for her eleventh Western Pacific deployment. During the cruise, she operated with a surface battle group centered on the reactivated battleship USS NEW JERSEY (BB 62). The battleship had returned to active service as part of the Navy's program to modernize and reactivate selected IOWA-class ships. LONG BEACH provided air-defense and command capabilities for the formation while participating in tactical exercises in the Western Pacific. The deployment involved operations with American and allied naval forces and included training in surface warfare, air defense and coordinated maneuvering. LONG BEACH returned to California in October 1986.

During the opening months of 1987, LONG BEACH conducted further Pacific Fleet training, maintenance and operational evaluations. These included exercises involving her Standard missile, Harpoon and other weapons systems, together with activities intended to maintain her readiness for another overseas deployment.

On July 25, 1987, LONG BEACH departed San Diego for her twelfth Western Pacific deployment. The cruise took place during the Iran-Iraq War, when attacks on commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf had become an increasingly serious international concern. The United States was implementing Operation Earnest Will, under which Kuwaiti tankers were reflagged under the American flag and escorted by U.S. naval forces. The operation was intended to protect shipping against attacks and interference during the continuing conflict between Iran and Iraq.

LONG BEACH proceeded through the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean toward the Persian Gulf. During the deployment, she provided air-defense and command support for American naval forces operating in the region. Her extensive communications and command facilities were used by the Commander, Joint Task Force Middle East, and members of his staff during part of the deployment. Her duties included air surveillance, coordination with other American warships and maintenance of an air-defense posture during tanker escort and related operations. LONG BEACH operated in a region where Iranian and Iraqi forces employed aircraft, mines, small attack craft and anti-ship missiles against maritime targets.

On October 16, 1987, the reflagged Kuwaiti tanker SEA ISLE CITY was struck by an Iranian Silkworm anti-ship missile while anchored near the Kuwaiti coast. The attack injured 18 people, including the ship's American captain, and prompted the United States to authorize a military response. On October 19, American naval forces conducted Operation Nimble Archer against Iranian offshore oil platforms that were being used for military purposes. The operation involved American surface combatants, which first warned personnel aboard the platforms before conducting naval gunfire attacks against the installations.

LONG BEACH provided anti-aircraft and surveillance support during the operation, helping protect the American naval units against possible air or missile attacks. Other American warships operating in the region included USS GRIDLEY (CG 21), USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (CG 32) and USS HOEL (DDG 13). Aircraft from USS RANGER (CV 61) were also part of the wider American naval presence in the region. During the remainder of the deployment, LONG BEACH continued operations in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. Her cruise included visits to Pearl Harbor, Subic Bay, Diego Garcia, Perth and Hobart, Australia. She returned to San Diego on January 19, 1988.

Following her return, LONG BEACH conducted maintenance and weapons-system training in Pacific waters. In July 1988, she successfully performed an at-sea test launch of an anti-ship variant of the Tomahawk cruise missile. The test was an important step in the evaluation of the ship's modernized surface-strike capabilities.

On October 13, 1988, LONG BEACH participated in a NATO-related ship visit. During the remainder of the year and into 1989, she continued training, inspections and preparations for another extended deployment.

On September 18, 1989, LONG BEACH departed San Diego for her thirteenth Western Pacific deployment, which developed into a second voyage around the world. The opening phase included participation in PACEX 89, a large Pacific Fleet exercise involving American and allied naval forces. The exercise tested the ability of multiple carrier and surface formations to conduct coordinated operations over considerable distances. LONG BEACH operated with the battle group of USS ENTERPRISE during portions of the deployment. The ships participated in extensive fleet exercises in the northern and western Pacific, including air-defense, anti-submarine and surface warfare operations.

The cruise included visits to Yokosuka, Japan; Chinhae, South Korea; Hong Kong; Subic Bay; Pattaya, Thailand; and Singapore. LONG BEACH subsequently continued into the Indian Ocean and visited Diego Garcia. From the Indian Ocean, the cruiser proceeded around the Cape of Good Hope into the South Atlantic. Her return itinerary included Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Barbados in the Caribbean. LONG BEACH returned to San Diego on March 16, 1990.

During the remainder of 1990, LONG BEACH conducted maintenance and training in Pacific Fleet operating areas. Captain William R. Burns Jr. assumed command in November 1990, relieving Captain John C. Pollock III. Preparations were subsequently made for another deployment to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf.

On May 28, 1991, LONG BEACH departed San Diego for her fourteenth and final Western Pacific deployment. The cruise followed the conclusion of major combat operations in Operation Desert Storm, the coalition campaign that had expelled Iraqi forces from Kuwait earlier that year. LONG BEACH deployed as part of a carrier battle group centered on USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN 72). Other ships associated with the formation included USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (CG 57), USS MERRILL (DD 976) and USS GARY (FFG 51).

During June 1991, a major volcanic eruption at Mount Pinatubo on the Philippine island of Luzon forced the evacuation of American military installations in the region. The eruption, accompanied by heavy rainfall from Typhoon Yunya, caused extensive destruction at Clark Air Base and threatened Naval Base Subic Bay. The United States organized Operation Fiery Vigil to evacuate military personnel, dependents and other authorized civilians from the affected installations. Naval ships were used to transport evacuees and equipment away from Subic Bay while aircraft and ground transportation moved additional personnel to safer locations.

LONG BEACH participated in the evacuation alongside other ships of the USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN battle group. Approximately 1,200 American military personnel and family members were transported to safety aboard the cruiser. The ship's crew provided temporary accommodations, food, water and medical support while the evacuees were being moved away from the affected region.

Following the emergency operation in the Philippines, LONG BEACH continued her deployment into the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf. American naval forces remained in the region after the Gulf War to monitor the situation in Iraq, support the enforcement of United Nations resolutions and maintain security in regional waters.

LONG BEACH conducted air-defense, surveillance and command duties while operating with American naval forces in the Persian Gulf. The deployment included visits to Pearl Harbor, Subic Bay, Singapore, Phuket in Thailand, Bahrain, Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong. LONG BEACH returned from her final WestPac deployment on November 27, 1991.

During the following months, the Navy continued reviewing the future of its older nuclear-powered surface combatants. The maintenance requirements of LONG BEACH's propulsion machinery and weapons systems, together with the increasing availability of newer Aegis-equipped cruisers and destroyers, contributed to the decision to retire the ship rather than undertake another extensive modernization. On April 8, 1992, LONG BEACH entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for an overhaul and maintenance period that continued until October 1. The work included maintenance of her propulsion, weapons and electronic equipment and preparations for further operational service.

During 1993, LONG BEACH was assigned to maritime counter-narcotics operations in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean regions. On May 12, she departed for patrols in waters off Central America, where American naval forces were cooperating with the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies to detect and intercept vessels suspected of transporting illegal narcotics. Her duties included maritime surveillance, radar tracking, communications support and coordination with aircraft and other vessels involved in the patrols. After completing the assignment, LONG BEACH returned to port and underwent maintenance and training.

On November 8, 1993, LONG BEACH began another counter-narcotics deployment, this time operating in the Caribbean. During the assignment, she served as a command platform for maritime operations and participated in exercises involving the coordination of surface ships, aircraft and supporting agencies.

As the Navy proceeded with plans to retire LONG BEACH, preparations began for the final shutdown of her nuclear propulsion plant and the transfer of the ship to inactive status. On May 6, 1994, LONG BEACH's two nuclear reactors were shut down for the final time. The same date marked the administrative change of her homeport to Norfolk, Virginia, where the cruiser was to be prepared for inactivation. A formal deactivation ceremony was held at Naval Station Norfolk on July 2, 1994. LONG BEACH was placed in an inactive reserve status while preparations continued for the removal of her nuclear fuel, equipment and other systems.

Following the deactivation, the ship was transferred to Newport News Shipbuilding for the defueling of her nuclear reactors and extensive preparations for disposal. The process involved removal of nuclear fuel and associated systems, decontamination and the dismantling of much of the superstructure and other equipment.

USS LONG BEACH was formally decommissioned and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on May 1, 1995. Her final commanding officer was Captain Keith P. Bersticker, who had assumed command in April 1993. After decommissioning, the remaining hull was transferred to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. The former cruiser underwent further dismantling and preparation for eventual disposal, including the removal of much of her superstructure and equipment.

During subsequent years, the remaining hull was progressively reduced as components and structural sections were removed. By 2015, additional work had included the removal of sections of the bow and stern, leaving a shortened central hull containing the defueled reactor compartments and associated structures. The remaining hull continued to be held at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard pending a final decision on dismantling and disposal. The unusual nature of the ship's construction and nuclear propulsion installation required special procedures for handling and disposing of the remaining structures and equipment.

On April 7, 2026, the Naval Sea Systems Command announced a public consultation process under the National Historic Preservation Act concerning the former cruiser. The Navy had conducted a historical evaluation of the remaining hull to determine whether it qualified for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The evaluation concluded that the extensively dismantled remains of LONG BEACH no longer retained sufficient historic integrity to qualify for listing. On September 30, 2026, the Navy issued a request for proposals for the transportation, dismantling, demilitarization and disposal of the remaining hull, including its defueled reactor plants. As of October 2026, the former cruiser remained at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard awaiting final disposal.

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Major Deployments and Shipyard Periods of USS LONG BEACH:

...for additional information on the deployments read the history text above.

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USS LONG BEACH Image Gallery:

The photos below were taken by me and show the hull of the LONG BEACH laid-up at Bremerton, Wash., on March 14, 2010.

The photos below were taken by me and show the hull of the LONG BEACH laid-up at Bremerton, Wash., on May 12, 2012.

The photo below wase taken by Michael Jenning and shows the remaining hull of the LONG BEACH laid-up at Bremerton, Wash., on October 13, 2017.

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