The USS Long Beach (CGN-9) was a pioneering nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser and the first of its kind in the world. She was constructed by Bethlehem Steel at the Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts, with her keel laid on December 2, 1957. Launched on July 14, 1959, and commissioned on September 9, 1961, she was originally designated CLGN-160, reclassified as CGN-160 early in 1957, and finally as CGN-9 later that year. Her construction cost was approximately $320 million, significantly exceeding initial estimates. Long Beach was built on a World War II-era cruiser hull design, making her the last U.S. cruiser of this form. She featured a high, box-like superstructure housing advanced radar systems, notably the SCANFAR system, including the AN/SPS-32 and AN/SPS-33 phased-array radars, which were precursors to systems used on later Aegis cruisers. Her hull incorporated around 450 tons of structural aluminum, earning her the radio callsign "Alcoa." Propelled by two nuclear reactors powering her twin shafts, she could reach speeds surpassing 30 knots. Originally envisioned as an all-missile vessel, her armament was modified to include two 5-inch/38-caliber gun mounts and the ASROC missile system. Throughout her service life, her weapons suite was updated, eventually including the Standard SM-2ER missiles, Phalanx CIWS, Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles, and Tomahawk cruise missiles following a mid-life upgrade in the 1980s. Long Beach's operational history included deployments in Vietnam, where she notably shot down MiG fighters using SAMs—being the first ship to do so during the Vietnam War—and earned a Navy Unit Commendation. She participated in strategic missions such as the "Sea Orbit" around-the-world cruise in 1964, demonstrating her nuclear independence. Throughout her service, she operated extensively in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf, supporting various military operations including the Gulf War. Decommissioned in 1995 due to high operational costs and the shift to Aegis-based cruisers, her nuclear reactors were defueled, and her hull was ultimately sold for scrap in 2012. Her significance lies in her status as the world's first nuclear-powered surface combatant and her role in pioneering naval missile and radar systems.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.