Leahy class cruiser

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Leahy-class guided missile cruiser

Class Overview
Class type:	Guided missile cruiser
Class name:	In honor of Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy
Preceded by:	Albany-class cruiser
Succeeded by:	Bainbridge-class cruiser
Ships of the line:	USS Leahy (DLG-16), USS Harry E. Yarnell (DLG-17), USS Worden (DLG-18), USS Dale (DLG-19), USS Richmond K. Turner (DLG-20), USS Gridley (DLG-21), USS England (DLG-22), USS Halsey (DLG-23), USS Reeves (DLG-24)

Leahy class cruisers were a class of guided missile cruisers built for the United States Navy. They were originally designated as DLG destroyers, but in the 1975 cruiser realignment, they were reclassified as guided missile cruisers (CG).

All Leahy class ships were modernized in the late 1980's New Threat Upgrade program. This program added advanced air search and track radars (SPS-49 and SPS-48E), updated targeting radars (SPG-55), and combat direction systems. In addition to upgrading combat systems, engineering spaces and crew accommodations were also overhauled.

The Leahy class was taken out of service in the early 1990's, stricken from the naval register, and transferred to the maritime administration for disposal.

The Bainbridge class cruiser, which consisted of the USS Bainbridge (CGN-25), was largely identical to the Leahy class, except it was nuclear powered.