California-class (CGN-36)

Summary

Description

The USS California (CGN-36) was the lead ship of the California-class of nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers and the sixth vessel of the United States Navy to be named after the state of California. As the last active nuclear-powered cruiser, it was commissioned as a destroyer leader and later reclassified as a guided-missile cruiser. Its sister ship was the USS South Carolina. Both ships were equipped with a comprehensive arsenal, including two single-armed Mk 13 launchers for Standard Missiles, one ASROC missile launcher, two Mk-141 launchers for Harpoon missiles, and two 5-inch/54 calibre Mk 45 guns. Additionally, they featured a unique design with a flight deck aft of their superstructures and full suites of anti-submarine warfare equipment, allowing them to engage threats in all domains—air, surface, and underwater.

The contract to build USS California was awarded to the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company on June 13, 1968. The keel was laid down on January 23, 1970, and the ship was launched on September 22, 1971, sponsored by First Lady Pat Nixon. It was officially commissioned on February 16, 1974, and its designation was later changed to a guided-missile cruiser on June 30, 1975. An incident occurred on June 6, 1977, when the ship suffered minor stern damage after high winds caused her to collide with the USS Thomas C. Hart.

Operationally, the USS California had an eventful history. It represented the U.S. Navy in the Silver Jubilee naval review in 1977 and was diverted in 1980 to respond to the Iran hostage crisis, eventually participating in the unsuccessful Operation Eagle Claw hostage rescue attempt. The cruiser circumnavigated the globe in 1981 and changed homeports to Naval Air Station Alameda, California, in 1983. It undertook Northern Pacific operations and participated in various exercises throughout the 1980s, including the last USN Earnest Will convoy mission and the largest naval sailing since World War II during PACEX 89.

In the 1990s, USS California underwent an extensive three-year refueling and systems overhaul, which included the New Threat Upgrade Combat Systems Suite. The overhaul extended the ship's operational life compared to the four newer Virginia-class cruisers, which were decommissioned due to cost concerns. The ship returned to operations, joining various battle groups and exercises, including ANNUALEX 06G, Keen Edge 95, and Tandem Thrust 95. It participated in Counterdrug Operations and RIMPAC 98 before it was recorded that the operational costs notably exceeded those of Ticonderoga-class cruisers.

USS California was deactivated on October 1, 1998, and decommissioned on July 9, 1999. It went through the Nuclear-Powered Ship-Submarine recycling program and was fully scrapped by May 12, 2000. Throughout its service, the ship received multiple awards, including several Meritorious Unit Commendations, Battle Efficiency "E" awards, Navy Expeditionary Medals, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, and the Southwest Asia Service Medal.

Technical specifications