Nuclear Powered Guided Missile Cruisers: Virginia Class

[Brian James]

IMHO one of the best looking warships of the '70's era.
USS Texas pictured on sea trials on June 19th 1977.
USS Texas (DLGN/CGN-39) was the second Virginia Class Nuclear Guided Missile Cruiser. Her keel was laid down on August 18th 1973, at Newport News, Virginia, by the Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Company. She was initially designated a Guided Missile Destroyer Leader (DLGN), but was reclassified as a Guided Missile Cruiser and given the hull classification symbol CGN-39 on June 30th 1975, as part of the Navy's ship reclassification plan. She was launched on August 9th 1975, and commissioned on September 10th 1977.

[Brian James]

Virginia Class Nuclear Powered Guided Missile Cruiser USS Mississippi pictured running trials in Chesapeake Bay,June 27th 1978.

[Brian James]

Virginia Class,Nuclear powered Guided Missile Cruiser USS Arkansas pictured from USS Enterprise,Pacific Ocean,April 9th 1986.....IMHO these beautiful ships were scrapped way too early.

[designeraccd]

They were scrapped to soon, but the co$t of updating them was, no doubt, deemed way to high. Not only mid-life expense of nuke overhaul, but changing to VLS and new electronic$................OWCH. Even for the US taxpayer's "BOTTOMLE$$" wallet the money required to do all of that. DFO

[Brian James]

Virginia Class Nuclear Guided Missile Cruiser USS Texas pictured on sea trials on June 19th 1977.