Dilandu
I'm dissatisfied, which means, I exist.
Another of my AU ships) This time - American one)
By early 1970s, United States Navy gained enough experience in nuclear warships constructions and operations to consider a serial production of such possible. The existing nuclear surface fleet - large atomic cruisers CGN-9 "Long Beach" and CGN-13 "Puerto Rico", atomic carriers CVN-65 "Enterprise" and CVNG-67 "Macedonian", atomic frigates DLGN-25 "Bainbridge" and DLGN-35 "Truxtun" - clearly demonstrated the advantages of nuclear propulsion. The existing plans of atomic supercarrier fleet required atomic-powered escort ships also.
But the USN wasn't exactly sure what kind of nuclear cruisers it wanted.
* The NAVSHIPS insisted on following the line of large, high-value nuclear powered "battlecruisers" such as "Long Beach" and "Puerto Rico", armed with multiple long-range and medium-range SAM systems and capable of providing the air defense for the fleet. The experience of Vietnam War (the "Bremerton" incident, where heavy gun cruiser CA-130 "Bremerton" was heavily damaged by coastal-launched "Sopka" missiles - and the same attack on heavy missile cruiser CG-18 "Fall River" was defeated without much troubles) heavily implied that large cruisers with more sophisticated sensors and fire controls have better chances to protect themselves - as well as other units.
* The CNO, on the other hand, followed "don't put all eggs in one backet" approach, and insisted that a large number of smaller nuclear-powered frigates, armed with medium-range SAM and cannons, are better choice in context of large-scale warfare. They noted, that any ship, no matter how big and well-protected it is, could be sunk - and the loss of one big cruiser would harm the naval capabilities far more than the loss of one of many frigates.
Initially the CNO position have significantly more support - especially in Congress. But NAVSHIPS wasn't gonna just surrender without a fight. They have a trump card in their sleeve, and played it well:
The trump card of NAVSHIPS was called RIM-68 SM-1LR "Stalos" - a brand-new, very long-range, multiple-interception capable SAM system. It originated from the rather obscure early 1960s project of "Solid-Fuel Talos" (hense the "S-Talos", later reduced to "Stalos") - a conceptual development of solid-fuel ramjet engine for RIM-8 "Talos" SAM. At this point, it wasn't anything more than design study, since it was assumed that all T-family missile systems would be soon replaced by RIM-50 "Typhoon".
But the failure of "Typhoon" project in 1963 caused USN to re-evaluate its priorities. It was obvious now, that Navy stuck with "Talos" for quite some time - and there were a lot of warships that either carried "Talos" or supposed to carry it (three "Galveston"-class light missile cruisers, eight "Albany"-class heavy missile cruisers, atomic cruisers "Long Beach" and "Puerto-Rico" and second atomic carrier "Macedonian"). So Navy decided to make "Stalos" a high-priority project. The meaning of its name was changed, though; now it means "Super Talos", and was a central part of large-scale "Talos" modernization project.
By late 1960s, the "Stalos" project - now a part of "Standard" missile family, and designated as "Standard Talos" SM-1LR - was re-evaluated again. The original concept of "solid-fuel upper stage for Talos" was dropped in favor of booster-less hybrid rocket-ramjet system, based on experimental CROW test vechicle. The new missile was still supposed to be compatible with old "Talos" launch systems, but was smaller and lighter in general, while having comparable range. Most importantly, the advances of electronics made feasible the "multiple sectoral interception" concept, i.e. simultaneous tracking of several targets & guiding missiles on them per each radar.
A 1969 demonstration of "Stalos" prototype, installed on USS "Puerto-Rico" greatly impressed both naval high-ranks and politicians. During trials, cruiser sucsessfully defeated a simultaneous converging "attack" of a dozen of target drones - both low-flying subsonic and high-flying supersonic - neither of which managed to penetrate "Stalos" envelope. And since it was obvious that large, heavy and powe-demanding "Stalos" would much better fit the large cruiser than small frigate, the advantage of large hull became obvious. The NAVSHIPS half-hearthedly tried to design a 8000-ton nuclear "Stalos frigate", but inefficiency of such design was so obvious, that the whole idea was dropped, and large 15000-ton "Stalos cruiser" was greenlighted.
DESIGN:
The "Samoa"-class nuclear large missile cruisers were a direct descendants of traditional "cruiser lines" in US shipbuilding. Their hull shape was a further development of "Long Beach" design, while their superstructure followed the general lines of "Albany"/"Puerto Rico" class cruisers. Their standard displacement reached 18.500 tons, full displacement - 22.000 tons, making them the largest non-carrier warships commissioned by USN after WW2. Hulls were made from HLSA-80 steel, superstructure from aluminum alloys.
Two C3W nuclear reactors provided steam for a pair of geared turbines, with total power of 140.000 hp. The max speed of "Samoa"-class cruisers was about 35.5 knots on trials - albeit in serivce they rarely exceeded 33 knots due to hull overload. The reactor fuel cycle was set for 20 years.
MAIN AIR DEFENSE ARMAMENT
The "Samoa"-class cruisers were constructed around two RIM-68 SM-1LR "Stalos" surface-to-air missile system. Those long-range missile systems were equipped with solid-fuel rocket/ramjet missiles with combined guidance and were capable of carrier group area defense in 250 km radius.
The "heart and mind" of "Stalos" system was STAR - Sectoral Threat Awarness Radar, composed of two phased array antennas on single mount. The STAR was designed to provide simultaneous target tracking & missile midcourse guidance against several targets in 48 degrees sector. Since doing this with a single antenna was considered too complex for 1970s technology, the radar consisted of two separate parts, the AN/SPS-38 and AN/SPS-39:
* The AN/SPS-38 component could search & track for up to 3 target simultaneously;
* The AN/SPW-39 component could produce guidance beam for RIM-68 missiles toward each of tracked targets;
Since neither radar was powerful enough to "illuminate" targets for RIM-68 interference seeker, each STAR radar was paired with AN/SPG-51E illuminator dish. The AN/SPG-51 radar provided terminal illumination for missile seeker at the last seconds of missile flight before interception. A single "Stalos" GMLS was provided with two STAR's and two AN/SPG-51, which made it capable of simultaneously engaging up to six targets (later models increased this number).
The RIM-68 SM-1LR ("Standard - Long Range") "Stalos" guided missile was a direct decendant of "CROW" project. It was powered by solid fuel integrated rocket ramjet - with fast-burning rocket fuel block filling the central channel of ramjet fuel block. It therefore did not require a booster rocket; the RIM-68 was capable of launching itself without a booster in rocket mode, and switching to ramjet for cruising.
The RIM-68 missile was capable of 180 km max range (250 km for later models). It was equipped either with continious-rod warhead (early model), or directed fragmentation warhead (later models) or nuclear one (W30 on early models, W81 on later models). The guidance was combined; missile followed the guidance beam of AN/SPW-39 radar on midcourse, and switched to semi-active homing with illumination from AN/SPG-51 radar on terminal run. The basic RIM-68 was capable of homing on jamming signal; later model also included passive homing (against enemy radars) and dual radar/infrared homing for decoy discrimination.
Besides aerial targets, the RIM-68 could also be used against surface ships and coastal installations in both conventional and nuclear versions.
The Mk-18 GLSM used to launch "Stalos" missiles was composed of twin-rail Mk-35 launcher, under-deck missile handling and transporting system Mk-24 «Missile Auto Handler» and four missile magazines. Each magazine stored 18 missiles horizontally on conveyor-type arrangement; the magazines were isolated from each other by anti-splinter bulkheads, and connected through a system of hatches and rails, that allowed transportations of missiles between magazines. The launcher loading was performed through deck hatches, which raised at 30 degrees, connecting with launcher rails. The reloading cycle was about 11-15 seconds.
STRIKE MISSILE ARMAMENT
The strike missile armament of "Samoa"-class was initially planned to consist of new BGM-109 "Tomahawk" A/B missiles, but those weren't ready by the time cruiser construction was commenced. So to fill the gap, "Samoa"-class cruisers were fitted with a standard USN's Ryan RGM-34 "Firebird" missiles. A derivative of BQM-34 "Firebee" target drones, those subsonic missiles were a standard over-the-horizon armament of American destroyers and frigates since early 1960s. Equipped with radio seeker (which on later models could be replaced by optical contrast seeker for coastal strikes) those missiles have a range about 150 km, and carried 225-kg (500 pdr) semi-AP warhead.
Six "coffin"-type launch boxes were installed between the forward GMLS and forward superstructure. It was assumed that as soon as "Tomahawk" missiles would become available, the "Firebird" missiles would be replaced with four "Armored Box Launchers".
DEFENSE GUN/MISSILE ARMAMENT
The initial project assumed, that for self-defense cruisers would carry RIM-24 "Tartar" missiles in two broadside mk-13 GMLS. But during development, it was decided that RIM-24 "Tartar" did not exactly fit the niche of self-defense missile system. So a new solution - a Mk-11 "Vulparal" CIWS system - was proposed instead.
The Mk-11 "Vulparal" (Vulcan-Chaparral) was a derivative of Marine Corps self-propelled air defense mount, which composed the "Vulcan" 20-mm autocannon with "Sea Chaparral" short-range SAM's. The original USMC design was rather primitive - basically a "Vulcan" mount with "Chaparral" rails installed at sides - but worked well enough to validate interest from both Army and Navy.
The "Vulparal" mount was equipped by search/tracking radar in plastic radome, and small AN/VPG-2 illumination radar, slaved to it. The AN/VPG-2 radar was required to illuminate targets for RIM-72 "Sea Chaparral" (based on RIM-7C "Sidewinder" AAM) SARH seekers. The missiles were used for head-on interception of incoming targets at 5-10 km distances, while the 20-mm autocannon was used to shooting down the incoming targets at close range.
On "Samoa"-class ships, three "Vulparal" mounts were installed: two at the sides of forward superstructure, and the third on top of helicopter hangars. The mounts were of Mod-1 version, which included drum magazine for 24 "Sea Chaparral" missiles below the mount and automatic reload (the Mod-0 version have separate magazine in ship's superstructure, and was reloaded manually)
ARTILLERY ARMAMENT
The main artillery piece of "Samoa"-class cruiser was a "heavy lightweight" Mk-9 Mod 0 12-inc/55 cannon. This massive gun system was an offshoot of 8-inch Mk-71 gun project, designed initially for specialized fire support vessels. By using a base bleed shells, the cannon was capable of firing a 300-kg Mk-18 shell for more than 55 kilomteres (and with advent of laser guidance, could even be used to reliably hit the moving warships in sea). While gun wasn't exactly a dual-purpose, an anti-aircraft fire was still possible, compensating with relatively low rate of fire (1 round each 10 seconds) with enormous rupture volume of superheavy HE shell.
ANTI-UNDERWATER ARMAMENT
The underwater defense consisted of three layers. The first (long-range defense) was a standard RUR-5 ASROC launcher, placed between superstructures. The second layer (medium-range defense) was composed of standard Mk-32 torpedo tubes. The third layer (short-range defense), though, was a different system, not used previously by USN:
A pair of trainable, seven-barrel, 18-inch rocket depth charge throwers with automatic reloading, named RUR-8 CONTROC (COunter Topredo ROCket) were installed on ship's fantail. Their main purpose was to defend cruisers against incoming torpedoes - especially of wake-following variety, that can't be fooled by standard decoys. The CONTROC munition consisted of floating mines with high-sensitivity proximity fuses, capable of detecting a passing torpedo & knock it out by shockwave. A special "stern observation sonar" was installed, that used high-power narrow beam to constantly scan the ship's wake for incoming weapons. If needed, CONTROC system could also be used to protect against the torpedo attacks from other direction.
AVIATION FACILITIES
The "Samoa"-class cruisers carried a large helicopter pad and two hangars in rear superstructure. The hangars were designed to accomodate either one SH-60B «Seahawk» (LAMPS II) helicopter, or two SH-2F «Seasprite» (LAMPS I) helicopters, or three QH-50 DASH helicopter drones. Due to presonnel & logistic limitation, the usual air wing was mixed and consisted of one SH-60B «Seahawk», one SH-2F «Seasprite» and two QH-50 DASH drones (the latter shared the hangar with «Seasprite»)
SHIPS IN CLASS
Four "Samoa"-class cruisers - designated as CBNG, or "large nuclear missile cruisers" - were ordered in 1971-1975:
* CBGN-20 USS Samoa — laid down 10.08.1971, launched 14.11.1973, commissioned 19.08.1975;
* CBGN-21 USS Virgin Islands — laid down 08.06.1972, launched 21.01.1975, commissioned 19.12.1976; (the name was considered particularly unfortunate, since sailors that served on USS Virgin Islands were mercilessly teased for being "the only constantly virgin men in American Navy")
* CBGN-22 USS Guam (originally Swan Island, renamed during construction after the CBG-3 Guam large missile cruiser was decommissioned in 1975) — laid down 02.01.1974, launched 28.02.1976, commissioned 09.10.1977;
* CBGN-23 USS "Northern Mariana" - laid down 05.05.1975, launched 22.06.1977, commissioned 19.08.1978;
By early 1970s, United States Navy gained enough experience in nuclear warships constructions and operations to consider a serial production of such possible. The existing nuclear surface fleet - large atomic cruisers CGN-9 "Long Beach" and CGN-13 "Puerto Rico", atomic carriers CVN-65 "Enterprise" and CVNG-67 "Macedonian", atomic frigates DLGN-25 "Bainbridge" and DLGN-35 "Truxtun" - clearly demonstrated the advantages of nuclear propulsion. The existing plans of atomic supercarrier fleet required atomic-powered escort ships also.
But the USN wasn't exactly sure what kind of nuclear cruisers it wanted.
* The NAVSHIPS insisted on following the line of large, high-value nuclear powered "battlecruisers" such as "Long Beach" and "Puerto Rico", armed with multiple long-range and medium-range SAM systems and capable of providing the air defense for the fleet. The experience of Vietnam War (the "Bremerton" incident, where heavy gun cruiser CA-130 "Bremerton" was heavily damaged by coastal-launched "Sopka" missiles - and the same attack on heavy missile cruiser CG-18 "Fall River" was defeated without much troubles) heavily implied that large cruisers with more sophisticated sensors and fire controls have better chances to protect themselves - as well as other units.
* The CNO, on the other hand, followed "don't put all eggs in one backet" approach, and insisted that a large number of smaller nuclear-powered frigates, armed with medium-range SAM and cannons, are better choice in context of large-scale warfare. They noted, that any ship, no matter how big and well-protected it is, could be sunk - and the loss of one big cruiser would harm the naval capabilities far more than the loss of one of many frigates.
Initially the CNO position have significantly more support - especially in Congress. But NAVSHIPS wasn't gonna just surrender without a fight. They have a trump card in their sleeve, and played it well:
The trump card of NAVSHIPS was called RIM-68 SM-1LR "Stalos" - a brand-new, very long-range, multiple-interception capable SAM system. It originated from the rather obscure early 1960s project of "Solid-Fuel Talos" (hense the "S-Talos", later reduced to "Stalos") - a conceptual development of solid-fuel ramjet engine for RIM-8 "Talos" SAM. At this point, it wasn't anything more than design study, since it was assumed that all T-family missile systems would be soon replaced by RIM-50 "Typhoon".
But the failure of "Typhoon" project in 1963 caused USN to re-evaluate its priorities. It was obvious now, that Navy stuck with "Talos" for quite some time - and there were a lot of warships that either carried "Talos" or supposed to carry it (three "Galveston"-class light missile cruisers, eight "Albany"-class heavy missile cruisers, atomic cruisers "Long Beach" and "Puerto-Rico" and second atomic carrier "Macedonian"). So Navy decided to make "Stalos" a high-priority project. The meaning of its name was changed, though; now it means "Super Talos", and was a central part of large-scale "Talos" modernization project.
By late 1960s, the "Stalos" project - now a part of "Standard" missile family, and designated as "Standard Talos" SM-1LR - was re-evaluated again. The original concept of "solid-fuel upper stage for Talos" was dropped in favor of booster-less hybrid rocket-ramjet system, based on experimental CROW test vechicle. The new missile was still supposed to be compatible with old "Talos" launch systems, but was smaller and lighter in general, while having comparable range. Most importantly, the advances of electronics made feasible the "multiple sectoral interception" concept, i.e. simultaneous tracking of several targets & guiding missiles on them per each radar.
A 1969 demonstration of "Stalos" prototype, installed on USS "Puerto-Rico" greatly impressed both naval high-ranks and politicians. During trials, cruiser sucsessfully defeated a simultaneous converging "attack" of a dozen of target drones - both low-flying subsonic and high-flying supersonic - neither of which managed to penetrate "Stalos" envelope. And since it was obvious that large, heavy and powe-demanding "Stalos" would much better fit the large cruiser than small frigate, the advantage of large hull became obvious. The NAVSHIPS half-hearthedly tried to design a 8000-ton nuclear "Stalos frigate", but inefficiency of such design was so obvious, that the whole idea was dropped, and large 15000-ton "Stalos cruiser" was greenlighted.
DESIGN:
The "Samoa"-class nuclear large missile cruisers were a direct descendants of traditional "cruiser lines" in US shipbuilding. Their hull shape was a further development of "Long Beach" design, while their superstructure followed the general lines of "Albany"/"Puerto Rico" class cruisers. Their standard displacement reached 18.500 tons, full displacement - 22.000 tons, making them the largest non-carrier warships commissioned by USN after WW2. Hulls were made from HLSA-80 steel, superstructure from aluminum alloys.
Two C3W nuclear reactors provided steam for a pair of geared turbines, with total power of 140.000 hp. The max speed of "Samoa"-class cruisers was about 35.5 knots on trials - albeit in serivce they rarely exceeded 33 knots due to hull overload. The reactor fuel cycle was set for 20 years.
MAIN AIR DEFENSE ARMAMENT
The "Samoa"-class cruisers were constructed around two RIM-68 SM-1LR "Stalos" surface-to-air missile system. Those long-range missile systems were equipped with solid-fuel rocket/ramjet missiles with combined guidance and were capable of carrier group area defense in 250 km radius.
The "heart and mind" of "Stalos" system was STAR - Sectoral Threat Awarness Radar, composed of two phased array antennas on single mount. The STAR was designed to provide simultaneous target tracking & missile midcourse guidance against several targets in 48 degrees sector. Since doing this with a single antenna was considered too complex for 1970s technology, the radar consisted of two separate parts, the AN/SPS-38 and AN/SPS-39:
* The AN/SPS-38 component could search & track for up to 3 target simultaneously;
* The AN/SPW-39 component could produce guidance beam for RIM-68 missiles toward each of tracked targets;
Since neither radar was powerful enough to "illuminate" targets for RIM-68 interference seeker, each STAR radar was paired with AN/SPG-51E illuminator dish. The AN/SPG-51 radar provided terminal illumination for missile seeker at the last seconds of missile flight before interception. A single "Stalos" GMLS was provided with two STAR's and two AN/SPG-51, which made it capable of simultaneously engaging up to six targets (later models increased this number).
The RIM-68 SM-1LR ("Standard - Long Range") "Stalos" guided missile was a direct decendant of "CROW" project. It was powered by solid fuel integrated rocket ramjet - with fast-burning rocket fuel block filling the central channel of ramjet fuel block. It therefore did not require a booster rocket; the RIM-68 was capable of launching itself without a booster in rocket mode, and switching to ramjet for cruising.
The RIM-68 missile was capable of 180 km max range (250 km for later models). It was equipped either with continious-rod warhead (early model), or directed fragmentation warhead (later models) or nuclear one (W30 on early models, W81 on later models). The guidance was combined; missile followed the guidance beam of AN/SPW-39 radar on midcourse, and switched to semi-active homing with illumination from AN/SPG-51 radar on terminal run. The basic RIM-68 was capable of homing on jamming signal; later model also included passive homing (against enemy radars) and dual radar/infrared homing for decoy discrimination.
Besides aerial targets, the RIM-68 could also be used against surface ships and coastal installations in both conventional and nuclear versions.
The Mk-18 GLSM used to launch "Stalos" missiles was composed of twin-rail Mk-35 launcher, under-deck missile handling and transporting system Mk-24 «Missile Auto Handler» and four missile magazines. Each magazine stored 18 missiles horizontally on conveyor-type arrangement; the magazines were isolated from each other by anti-splinter bulkheads, and connected through a system of hatches and rails, that allowed transportations of missiles between magazines. The launcher loading was performed through deck hatches, which raised at 30 degrees, connecting with launcher rails. The reloading cycle was about 11-15 seconds.
STRIKE MISSILE ARMAMENT
The strike missile armament of "Samoa"-class was initially planned to consist of new BGM-109 "Tomahawk" A/B missiles, but those weren't ready by the time cruiser construction was commenced. So to fill the gap, "Samoa"-class cruisers were fitted with a standard USN's Ryan RGM-34 "Firebird" missiles. A derivative of BQM-34 "Firebee" target drones, those subsonic missiles were a standard over-the-horizon armament of American destroyers and frigates since early 1960s. Equipped with radio seeker (which on later models could be replaced by optical contrast seeker for coastal strikes) those missiles have a range about 150 km, and carried 225-kg (500 pdr) semi-AP warhead.
Six "coffin"-type launch boxes were installed between the forward GMLS and forward superstructure. It was assumed that as soon as "Tomahawk" missiles would become available, the "Firebird" missiles would be replaced with four "Armored Box Launchers".
DEFENSE GUN/MISSILE ARMAMENT
The initial project assumed, that for self-defense cruisers would carry RIM-24 "Tartar" missiles in two broadside mk-13 GMLS. But during development, it was decided that RIM-24 "Tartar" did not exactly fit the niche of self-defense missile system. So a new solution - a Mk-11 "Vulparal" CIWS system - was proposed instead.
The Mk-11 "Vulparal" (Vulcan-Chaparral) was a derivative of Marine Corps self-propelled air defense mount, which composed the "Vulcan" 20-mm autocannon with "Sea Chaparral" short-range SAM's. The original USMC design was rather primitive - basically a "Vulcan" mount with "Chaparral" rails installed at sides - but worked well enough to validate interest from both Army and Navy.
The "Vulparal" mount was equipped by search/tracking radar in plastic radome, and small AN/VPG-2 illumination radar, slaved to it. The AN/VPG-2 radar was required to illuminate targets for RIM-72 "Sea Chaparral" (based on RIM-7C "Sidewinder" AAM) SARH seekers. The missiles were used for head-on interception of incoming targets at 5-10 km distances, while the 20-mm autocannon was used to shooting down the incoming targets at close range.
On "Samoa"-class ships, three "Vulparal" mounts were installed: two at the sides of forward superstructure, and the third on top of helicopter hangars. The mounts were of Mod-1 version, which included drum magazine for 24 "Sea Chaparral" missiles below the mount and automatic reload (the Mod-0 version have separate magazine in ship's superstructure, and was reloaded manually)
ARTILLERY ARMAMENT
The main artillery piece of "Samoa"-class cruiser was a "heavy lightweight" Mk-9 Mod 0 12-inc/55 cannon. This massive gun system was an offshoot of 8-inch Mk-71 gun project, designed initially for specialized fire support vessels. By using a base bleed shells, the cannon was capable of firing a 300-kg Mk-18 shell for more than 55 kilomteres (and with advent of laser guidance, could even be used to reliably hit the moving warships in sea). While gun wasn't exactly a dual-purpose, an anti-aircraft fire was still possible, compensating with relatively low rate of fire (1 round each 10 seconds) with enormous rupture volume of superheavy HE shell.
ANTI-UNDERWATER ARMAMENT
The underwater defense consisted of three layers. The first (long-range defense) was a standard RUR-5 ASROC launcher, placed between superstructures. The second layer (medium-range defense) was composed of standard Mk-32 torpedo tubes. The third layer (short-range defense), though, was a different system, not used previously by USN:
A pair of trainable, seven-barrel, 18-inch rocket depth charge throwers with automatic reloading, named RUR-8 CONTROC (COunter Topredo ROCket) were installed on ship's fantail. Their main purpose was to defend cruisers against incoming torpedoes - especially of wake-following variety, that can't be fooled by standard decoys. The CONTROC munition consisted of floating mines with high-sensitivity proximity fuses, capable of detecting a passing torpedo & knock it out by shockwave. A special "stern observation sonar" was installed, that used high-power narrow beam to constantly scan the ship's wake for incoming weapons. If needed, CONTROC system could also be used to protect against the torpedo attacks from other direction.
AVIATION FACILITIES
The "Samoa"-class cruisers carried a large helicopter pad and two hangars in rear superstructure. The hangars were designed to accomodate either one SH-60B «Seahawk» (LAMPS II) helicopter, or two SH-2F «Seasprite» (LAMPS I) helicopters, or three QH-50 DASH helicopter drones. Due to presonnel & logistic limitation, the usual air wing was mixed and consisted of one SH-60B «Seahawk», one SH-2F «Seasprite» and two QH-50 DASH drones (the latter shared the hangar with «Seasprite»)
SHIPS IN CLASS
Four "Samoa"-class cruisers - designated as CBNG, or "large nuclear missile cruisers" - were ordered in 1971-1975:
* CBGN-20 USS Samoa — laid down 10.08.1971, launched 14.11.1973, commissioned 19.08.1975;
* CBGN-21 USS Virgin Islands — laid down 08.06.1972, launched 21.01.1975, commissioned 19.12.1976; (the name was considered particularly unfortunate, since sailors that served on USS Virgin Islands were mercilessly teased for being "the only constantly virgin men in American Navy")
* CBGN-22 USS Guam (originally Swan Island, renamed during construction after the CBG-3 Guam large missile cruiser was decommissioned in 1975) — laid down 02.01.1974, launched 28.02.1976, commissioned 09.10.1977;
* CBGN-23 USS "Northern Mariana" - laid down 05.05.1975, launched 22.06.1977, commissioned 19.08.1978;
