Major Shaitan Singh
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USSVirginia(CGN-38) lead ship of the Virginia class nuclear- powered cruisers, prior her refit in the '80s.
Elegant and heavily armed warships, the Virginia-class nuclear-powered guided-missile cruisers were a series of four double-ended (with armament carried both fore and aft) guided-missile cruisers commissioned in the late 1970s, which served in the United States Navy until the mid-to-late 1990s. A fifth warship, the CGN-42, was canceled before being named or laid down. With their nuclear power plants, and the resulting capability of steaming at high speeds for long periods of time, these were excellent escorts for the fast nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, such as the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. Their main mission was as air-defense ships, though they did have excellent flagship facilities, capabilities as anti-submarine (ASW) ships, surface-to-surface warfare (SSW) ships, and in gun and missile bombardment of shore targets.
A The double ended Virginia class cruiser with her flight deck as it was before the refit.
USSTexas(CGN-40)
The Virginia class cruisers were built as improved versions of California class nuclear-powered cruisers and they share similar layout. The main difference was the new Mark 26 twin-arm launcher instead of the Mk 13 launcher of the California class ships and the absence of the ASROC launcher. The Mk 26 could launch also ASROC rockets except the SM-2 surface-to-air missiles and thus a separate ASROC launcher was not needed. The elimination of the separate facilities for ASROC enabled the hull to be shortened by 3.3m. The introduction of the SM-2MR which needs target illumination only in the terminal phase enabled the two forward SPG-51 trackers/illuminators of the Californias to be eliminated and thus reducing top weight. Moreover, in comparison with Californias, the new vessels had a hangar to accommodate one helicopter.
This helicopter hangar was beneath the quarterdeck, a quite unusual feature. A lift transferred the helicopter from the flight deck to the hangar. The helicopter hangar measured 12.8m x 4.3m and was served by an electro-mechanical elevator covered by a telescopic hatch. This arrangement in a ship other than an aircraft carrier was the first (and last) since the De Moines class cruisers of the '40s. In general the ships of the class had similar (and sometimes improved electronics) with the California class, especially after the refits of both classes. The ships of the class also had limited armor around important parts. Specifically, one inch Kevlar plastic armor was installed around combat information center, magazines, and machinery spaces
Click to enlarge and save the image to view the details: modified photo of USSVirginiacruiser of U.S. Navy.
For a high resolution image click here.
A Sea King helicopter operating above
the USS Mississippi(CGN-40).
Photo: Robert Scoggin, US Navy
USSArkansas(CGN-41) cruiser
after her refit in 1985.
Photo: Charon, US Navy
During the ships' refit in the mid-80s, the Virginia class cruisers received gradually the SM-2 MR (RIM-66J) surface-to-air missiles that replaced the SM-1 (SM-2 has double the range of SM-1, about 80km range), two Phalanx close in weapon systems (CIWS), two quadruple Harpoon launchers and Tomahawk cruise missiles (known as Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles - TLAM) in two armored box quad launchers installed at the flightdeck. The Tomahwak missiles were installed after a decision was taken to remove the helicopter from the ships' equipment as the Virginias were encountering problems with the elevators and in keeping the hangars watertight. Therefore, the capability of the ships to carry a Kaman SH-2 Seasprite LAMPS (Light Airborne Multipurpose System) helicopter either in the hangar or stationed at the deck, it was eliminated. Their electronics and sensors also were upgraded or replaced by more modern ones (such as the AN/SPS-49 radar, although USS Virginia kept the older AN/SPS-40).