Long Beach (CGN 9) - Naval Cruise Book

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WESTPACHNDIAN QCEAN CRUISE O :- :- O N E E G. z Q f JULY 25TI-I - JANUARY 19TI-I 1987 - 1988

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THE SHIP USS LONG BEACH KCGN 91 was the first nu- clear-powered cruiser and first large combatant in the U. S. Navy with main armament consisting exclusively of guided missiles Built in Bethlehem Steel Company s Fore River Shipyard at Quincy Massachusetts the ship s keel was laid on December 2 1957 and the ship was launched on July 14 1959 with Mrs. Craig Hosmer of Long Beach California as sponsor LONG BEACH got underway on nuclear power for the first time on the morning of July 5 1961 On Sep- tember 9 1961 the ship was commissioned at the Bos- ton Naval Shipyard with the Honorable John B Con- nally Secretary of the Navy keynoting the ceremonies in which LONG BEACH with Captain E. P Wilkinson as commanding officer joined the fleet Early in 1962 LONG BEACH made a six week cruise to Europe In July 1964 LONG BEACH joined the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS ENTER PRISE and the nuclear frigate USS BAINBRIDGE on a world cruise steaming more than 30 O00 miles in 58 days LONG BEACH underwent her first overhaul at Newport News Virginia from August 1965 to February 1966 She then transited the Panama Canal to her new homeport in Long Beach California arriving on March 15 1966 In November 1966 LONG BEACH depart- ed for the Western Pacific and during the next three years the ship completed three tours of duty in the Far East In March 1970 LONG BEACH commenced her second overhaul in Vallejo California. After completing the overhaul she departed for her fourth deployment in the Western Pacific in March 1972 Operational duties were again in the Tonkin Gulf where several North Vietnamese jet fighters were shot down and 17 U S. pilots rescued. In 1975 the ship s homeport was changed to San Diego California where LONG BEACH was award- ed the Commander Naval Surface Force Anti-Air Warfare fAAWl award and the Battle E in March 1979. On January 7 1980 LONG BEACH deployed for her ninth WESTPAC cruise. During this deploy- ment she was awarded the Humanitarian Service Medal for her efforts in the rescuing of 144 Vietnamese refugees. On October 6 1980 LONG BEACH entered Pu- get Sound Naval Shipyard for a two and one-half year complex overhaul after which she began her tenth Western Pacific deployment on January 13 1984 during which she again was awarded the Anti-Air War- fare award On January 9 1985 LONG BEACH en- tered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for a nine-month Selected Restricted Availability to install the TOMA- HAWK cruise missile system In 1986 LONG BEACH deployed for her elev- enth Western Pacific deployment as part of the first battleship battle group to deploy since the Korean War During the cruise the Gray Lady completed the first successful firing of a TOMAHAWK cruise mis- sile in an operational environment LONG BEACH was awarded the Battle Efficiency E In spring of 1987 LONG BEACH participated in Operation Team Spirit a joint exercise held with the Republic of Korea The Navy s only real cruiser deployed for her twelfth Western Pacific deployment in July 1987 as flagship for a battleship battle group