Truxtun class cruiser

The "Truxtun" class cruiser was a nuclear-powered class of single-ended guided missile cruisers (their missile armament was installed only aft, unlike "double-ended" cruisers with missile armament installed both forward and aft) based on a heavily modified version of the "Belknap" class. "Truxtun" was the third class of nuclear cruisers to operate in the United States Navy, after the "Long Beach" and "Bainbridge" classes, and was powered by the same D2G reactors as the "Bainbridge" class. The class was originally designated as a destroyer leader (DLG), but in the 1975 cruiser realignment, it was reclassified as a guided missile cruiser (CG).

Virtually identical to the "Belknap" class in weapons systems, the "Truxtun" class was powered by two D2G reactors rather than her sister class's four 1200 psi boilers. This resulted in the "Truxtun" class being larger overall: 17 feet longer, 3 feet greater across the beam, a 2 foot deeper draft, and a displacement of almost 1,200 more tons. The lessons learned on the "Truxtun" class were later adapted to the next nuclear classes, the "California" and "Virginia" classes of nuclear-powered cruisers.

The "Truxtun" class was commissioned with a 5″/54 caliber Mk 42 gun on the foredeck and a twin-rail RIM-2 Terrier Mk 10 Missile Launcher on the quarterdeck.cite web
url = http://navysite.de/cg/cgn35class.htm
title = The TRUXTUN - class
accessdate = 2007-01-13
last = Doehring
first = Thoralf
publisher = Unofficial US Navy Site] The Terrier system was later replaced with a Mk 26 Guided Missile Launching System utilizing Standard missiles. The missile depot was located under the helicopter deck and could store 40 Standard and 20 ASROC missiles. For AAW, the class initially used two twin 3"/50 caliber guns, however in 1980 these were replaced with two Harpoon missile launchers. The ASW suite of the "Truxtun" class originally included the un-manned DASH, but in 1971 the hangar was upgraded to LAMPS Mk. I and the SH-2 Seasprite helicopter. While the class was not upgraded via the NTU program, two Phalanx CIWS systems were installed, and new electronics were installed during overhaul and nuclear refuelling in the mid 1980s.cite web
url = http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/cruisers/guided.htm
title = US Cruisers List: Guided Missile Cruisers
accessdate = 2007-01-12
author = Toppan, Andrew
authorlink = Andrew Toppan
date = 2000-07-17
publisher = Haze Gray and Underway]

General characteristics

* Lead Ship: USS "Truxtun" (CGN-35)
* Number of Ships: 1
* Displacement: 9,127 tonscite web
url = http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/cgn-35-specs.htm
title = CGN 35 Truxtun
accessdate = 2007-01-12
author = Pike, John E.
authorlink = John E. Pike
date = 2005-02-05
publisher = GlobalSecurity.org] (8,280 tonnes)
* Length: 564 ft (172 m)
* Beam: 58 ft (18 m)
* Draft: 31 ft (9 m)
* Speed: 30+ knots (56+ km/h)
* Propulsion: two D2G naval reactors, two geared steam turbines, two shafts.
* Performance: 60,000 shp
* Complement: 37 officers, 530 enlisted
* Armor: none
* Aircraft: (initial configuration) 1 × DASH
* Aircraft: (final configuration) 1 × SH-2 Seasprite
* Armament: (final configuration) 1 × Mk. 26 Guided Missile Launching System with standard missiles, 1 × Mk. 16 ASROC, 2 × 4 Harpoon missile launchers, 4 × 1 Mark 46 torpedo launchers, 1 × 5 Inch/54-caliber Mk. 42 gun, 2 × Phalanx CIWS.

The "Truxtun" class ships

References

ee also

*List of United States Navy destroyer leaders

External links

* [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/cgn-35.htm FAS] write-up