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![]() Patch image contributed by Mike Smolinski |
CLASS - CALIFORNIA Displacement 9,561 Tons, Dimensions, 596' (oa) x 61' x 31' 6" (Max) Armament 2 Standard SAM 1x2, (80 Missiles) 2 x 5"/54RF, ASROC (24 Missiles) 4 x12.75" TT. Machinery, 60,000 SHP; 2 G.E. Reactors (D2G), Geared Turbines, 2 screws Speed, 30+ Knots, Crew 540. Operational and Building Data Keel laid on 23 JAN 1970 at Newport News Shipyard, Newport News, VA Launched 22 SEP 1971 Commissioned 16 FEB 1974 Reclassified CG 36 on 30 Jun 1975 Decommissioned 09 JUL 1999 Stricken 09 JUL 1999 Fate: Disposed - Hulk recycled at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard 12 MAY 2000 |
![]() Patch image contributed by Mike Smolinski |
| Click On Image For Full Size Image |
Size | Image Description | Contributed By And/Or Copyright |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
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467k | The keel plate for the California being authenticated by Mrs. Glenard P. Lipscomb, wife of the congressman from California. | Dale Hargrave | |
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759k | Keel laying at Newport News Shipyard, Newport News, VA, 23 January 1970. | Dale Hargrave | |
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California sitting on the ways at Newport News Shipbuilding a few days before her launching on 22 September 1971. | Dale Hargrave | ||
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57k | Launching Invitation for USS California (DLGN 36) on 22 Sept 1971 at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. | Robert M. Cieri | |
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162k | Newport News Shipyard Launch Bulletin, SEP 1971 | Robert M. Cieri | |
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161k | Launching booklet, 22 SEP 1971. | Robert M. Cieri | |
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41k | Commissioning Invitation for the USS California (DLGN 36), held at Naval Station Norfolk on 16 February 1974 | Robert M. Cieri | |
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353k | Commissioning Booklet, 16 FEB 1974. | Robert M. Cieri | |
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56k | Commissioning commerative postal cover. | Robert M. Cieri | |
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83k | Mrs. Pat Nixon christening the California. | S. Dale Hargrave | |
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68k | California sliding down the ways. | S. Dale Hargrave | |
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400k | Undated photo in drydock. | Robert M. Cieri | |
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46k | Starboard view, underway. | USN | |
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157k |
Undated port side view. U.S. Navy photo. |
Wendell Royce McLaughlin Jr. | |
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65k | Undated port side view. | Robert Hirsh | |
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362k | Undated starboard bow view. | Robert M. Cieri | |
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45k | Port quarter view, date and location unknown. | Robert Hirsh | |
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105k | "The Navy's second nuclear task force is shown off
the Virginia Capes. USS
Nimitz (CVN 68) is escorted by the nuclear-powered cruisers USS
California (CGN 36) and USS South
Carolina (CGN 37)." From the NAVSEA Journal.
This photo was possibly taken in 1975. |
Bob Bush | |
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123k | This is a picture of the Nimitz
Task Group from 1976 with USS South Carolina
(CGN 37) (top), USS
Nimitz (CVN 68), and USS California (CGN 36). |
Michael Boyd, USS California |
|
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64k | Taken at Portsmouth, England on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee Celebration of Queen Elizabeth 28 Jun 1977. | Vernon C. Cook USN (Ret.) | |
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118k | Spring 1980, on the USS California (DLGN 36) somewhere
in the Indian Ocean or Persian Gulf, on a Sunday - the blue missile is
called a TSAM (Training Surface-to-Air Missile) and is used for system
testing and exercise.
Photo courtesy of Tony Alter |
Bill Gonyo | |
![]() 04013812 |
41k |
An aerial starboard bow view of six nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers underway in formation during exercise READEX 1-81. The ships are, from left to right: USS TEXAS (CGN 39), USS MISSISSIPPI (CGN 40), USS CALIFORNIA (CGN 36), USS SOUTH CAROLINA (CGN 37), USS VIRGINIA (CGN 38) and USS ARKANSAS (CGN 41). Photo taken 26 February 1981 by PH1 Anthony Alleyne. DOD Photo #DN-SC-87-08333 |
Steve Dietrich | |
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124k |
1 June 1981 - An aerial port bow view of the nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser USS California (CGN 36) underway. An SH-3H Sea King helicopter, having just taken off from her stern heli-platform, is visible to the right. U.S. Navy photo #DN-SC-85-07718 by: PH2 Collins. |
Robert M. Cieri | |
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264k | Change of Command booklet, NOV 1985 | Robert M. Cieri | |
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64k | While at sea in 1987. | USN | |
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64k | Pierside at Pearl Harbor 1987. | Larry Lee | |
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84k | July 1987, Just passing under the Golden Gate Bridge returning from her World Cruise. | D. Stephenson, SMC, USN (Ret) | |
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54k | 1983, Off Point Loma, Port Bow view. | D. Stephenson, SMC, USN (Ret) | |
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125k | Change of Command booklet, 21 DEC 1991 | Robert M. Cieri | |
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228k | Working up for deployment, October 1997, off the coast of Port Angeles Washington. | USN | |
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521k |
USS California launches a missile skyward to a target two miles away. USS California is operating in the Pacific Ocean during RIMPAC '98. RIMPAC '98 is designed to enhance the tactical capabilities of participating units in major aspects of maritime operations at sea. RIMPAC '98 is the sixteenth in a series of Pacific naval exercises. DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Spike Call. (980721-N-5961C-003) |
DOD | |
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154k | Deactivation Booklet, 28 AUG 1998. | Robert M. Cieri | |
|
Commanding
Officers
|
||
| Name/Rank | Final Rank | Dates |
| Miller, Floyd H. (Hoss), CAPT | RADM | 02/16/74 - 03/26/76 |
| Rentz, William Oliphant K., CAPT | 03/26/76 - 06/79 | |
| Smith, Charles Jacob, CAPT | 06/79 - 09/4/82 | |
| Paulson, Gaylord O., CAPT | 09/4/82 - 11/85 | |
| Williams III, Richard D., CAPT | RADM | 11/85 - 08/24/88 |
| Burrow, Barry Vaile, CAPT | 08/24/88 - 12/21/91 | |
| Wallace, Ray Anderson, CAPT | 12/21/91 - 01/17/95 | |
| Perry, Robert E., CAPT | 01/17/95 - 10/03/97 | |
| Johnson, Steven Kenneth, CAPT | 10/03/97 - 07/09/99 | |
(Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves - Photos courtesy of Bill Gonyo)
The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.
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