Truxtun class cruiser

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Truxtun-class guided missile cruiser

Class Overview
Class type:	Guided missile cruiser
Class name:	In honor of Commodore Thomas Truxtun
Preceded by:	Belknap-class cruiser
Succeeded by:	California-class cruiser
Ships of the line:	USS Truxtun (CGN-35)

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 Inch/54-caliber Mk. 42 gun on the foredeck and a twin-rail RIM-2 Terrier Mk 10 Missile Launcher on the quarterdeck.^[1] The Terrier system was later replaced with a Mk. 26 Guided Missile Launching System utilizing standard missiles.^[1] The missile depot was located under the helicopter deck and could store 40 Standard and 20 ASROC missiles.^[1] For AAW, the class initially used two twin 3"/50 caliber guns, however in 1980 these were replaced with two Harpoon missile launchers.^[1] 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.^[1] 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.^[2]

1 General characteristics
2 The Truxtun class ships
3 References
4 External links

[edit] General characteristics

Lead Ship: USS Truxtun (CGN-35)
Number of Ships: 1
Displacement: 9,127 tons^[3] (8,280 tonnes)
Length: 564 ft^[3] (172 m)
Beam: 58 ft^[3] (18 m)
Draft: 31 ft^[2] (9 m)
Speed: 30+ knots^[3] (56+ km/h)
Propulsion: two D2G naval reactors, two geared steam turbines, two shafts.^[3]
Performance: 60,000 shp^[3]
Complement: 37 officers, 530 enlisted^[3]
Armor: none^[2]
Aircraft: (initial configuration) 1 × DASH^[1]
Aircraft: (final configuration) 1 × SH-2 Seasprite^[3]
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.^[2]^[3]