The USS Texas (CGN-39) was the United States Navy's second Virginia-class nuclear guided missile cruiser, named in honor of the State of Texas. Laid down on August 18, 1973, at Newport News, Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, she was initially designated a guided missile destroyer leader (DLGN) but was reclassified as a guided missile cruiser with the hull number CGN-39 on June 30, 1975. The vessel was launched on August 9, 1975, with Betty Jane Briscoe, wife of Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe, serving as sponsor, and was commissioned on September 10, 1977. Constructed with a nuclear propulsion system, USS Texas featured a design optimized for multi-mission capabilities including anti-aircraft, anti-ship, and missile defense. After her commissioning, she underwent initial testing, weapon loading at Yorktown Naval Weapons Station, and refresher training near Guantánamo Bay. Her early service included evaluations of her propulsion and weapons systems off the Virginia coast and in the Caribbean, followed by a Post Shakedown Availability at Newport News. USS Texas’s first deployment was with the USS Nimitz Carrier Battle Group during the Iranian hostage crisis, supporting Operation Eagle Claw, and she served as flagship for Cruiser-Destroyer Group One. Her subsequent upgrades in 1980–81 added Harpoon anti-ship missiles and CIWS gun mounts for missile defense. She also participated in combat response during Libyan aggression in the Gulf of Sidra. In 1983, Texas embarked on a global cruise, visiting every inhabited continent except South America, and changed homeport to San Diego. She later operated in the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea, participating in various international port visits, including Australia and New Zealand, the latter amid anti-nuclear protests. After a complex overhaul at Bremerton and her return to Alameda, California, she deployed again with the Carl Vinson Battle Group in 1988. During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, USS Texas served as the command ship for the Anti-Air Warfare Commander of the Nimitz Carrier Battle Group and supported minesweeping operations off Kuwait. Her service record includes counter-narcotics missions and multiple deployments. Decommissioned in 1993 after just 15 years of service, USS Texas was placed in reserve and entered the nuclear Ship-Submarine Recycling Program in 1999. Her legacy reflects her role as a versatile, nuclear-powered warship with a distinguished operational history.

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