California class cruiser

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California-class guided missile cruiser

Class Overview
Class type:	Guided missile cruiser
Class name:	The state of California
Preceded by:	Truxtun-class cruiser
Succeeded by:	Virginia-class cruiser
Ships of the class:	California (CGN-36), South Carolina (CGN-37)

The California class cruisers were a set of two of nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers operated by the United States Navy between 1974 and 1998. Other than their nuclear power supply and helicopter hangars, ships of the California class were comparable to other guided missile cruisers of their era, such as the Belknap class. The class was built as a follow-up to the nuclear-powered Long Beach, Bainbridge, and Truxtun classes. Like all of the nuclear cruisers which could steam for years between refuelings, the California class was designed in part to provide high endurance escort for the navy's nuclear aircraft carriers, which were often limited in range due to their conventionally powered escorts continously needing to be refueled.

The USS California (CGN-36) was the fourth nuclear powered cruiser in the U.S. Navy; the previous three were the USS Long Beach, Bainbridge and Truxtun. The second California class cruiser, USS South Carolina (CGN-37), was the fifth nuclear-powered cruiser in the United State Navy. Other than the four ships of the Soviet Navy's Kirov class (which were actually built with a combination of nuclear and fossil-fuel propulsion), no other country has launched nuclear-powered cruisers.

Only two ships of the class were built, the California and the South Carolina, and both were decommissioned in the autumn of 1998. These ships were followed on by the four nuclear-powered cruisers of the Virginia class. These cruisers were named for states because they were seen as quite large, powerful, capable, and survivable ships. Also, in the meantime, the names of cities had been given to the nuclear submarines in the very large Los Angeles class, which eventually expanded to 62 boats, all named for American cities.

The USS California and her sister ship the USS South Carolina were equipped with two Mk-13 launchers, fore and aft, for the "Standard" surface-to-air missiles, ASROC missiles, and Harpoon missiles. They were equipped with two 5" rapid-fire cannons, fore and aft. These two cruisers also had a unique arrangement aft of the superstructure, with a flight deck and a below-decks hangar for two LAMPS helicopters, the deck connected to the hangar by an aircraft elevator similar to those found on aircraft carriers. There was also a full suite of anti-submarine warfare equipment. Thus, these ships were designed to face all threats, in the air, on the surface, and underwater. Eventually, the helo hangar and deck was removed and replaced with two Armored Box Launchers for the Tomahawk cruise missile, with a total payload of eight Tomahawks.