World's first nuclear cruiser up for auction as scrap.

Yahoo News ^ | Wed, Jul 11, 2012 | Laura L. Myers

[atomic_dog]

SEATTLE (Reuters) - The world's first nuclear-powered surface warship, the USS Long Beach, was put up for auction as scrap metal on Tuesday to be dismantled and recycled, after spending the past 17 years mothballed in a naval shipyard in Washington state.

The 720-foot (219-metre) vessel, the first American cruiser since the end of World War Two to be built new from the keel up, boasted the world's highest bridge and was the last such U.S. vessel with teakwood decks, according to Navy history.

Long Beach, commissioned in 1961, is not the first warship to be recycled. But the defense contractor that exclusively handles such auctions, Government Liquidation, said it would be the first time in its 11-year history that a nuclear powered guided missile cruiser has been sold for scrap.

[atomic_dog]

Another one bites the dust. I remember when she pulled into Pearl she was always given the best spot to tie up, the long stretch in front of MidPac (and the O Club). She was unique and always impressive.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Whatever happened to the nuke-powered Savannah? Guess I could look it up....

[bgill]

How many organizations would I tick off parking it by my boat dock?

[null and void]

[USMCPOP]

Are batteries included?

[Kartographer]

Teak Wood Decks?? So will there be a raid like they did Gibson Guitar?

[JohnBrowdie]

misty. the long beach was named after the city of my birth.

[UCANSEE2]

Are batteries included?

Probably not. But who cares.

"The auction is set to close on Thursday at 5 p.m. Minimum bids are $150."

Too bad we missed it, because I would have bid $200.

[MasterGunner01]

The ex-USS LONG BEACH (CGN-9) has been tied up at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The ship is a hulk (every bit of superstructure above the main deck is removed). There remains a floating hull and that's about it. Scrapping the reactors ought to be interesting — big time HazMat.

[moonshot925]

NS Savannah was a nuclear powered passenger ship, not a cruiser.

[thackney]

Celebrated nuclear ship rests in Baltimore
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-savannah-nuclear-20110731,0,3234260.story

[Last Dakotan]

Would look good alongside the USS Iowa in San Pedro and close to its namesake city.

[moonshot925]

The bow of the nuclear powered cruiser USS South Carolina (CGN 37) was turned into a memorial at Bremerton Marine Park.

[rottndog]

No saving the Long Beach now....



Topside has been virtually stripped clean. She's dead Jim...

[Last Dakotan]

She looks like my friend’s car after he parked it in the wrong part of Chicago....

[Daus]

wrong part of Chicago....

I wasnt aware there was a right part of Chicago. :)

[Eric in the Ozarks]

What a sad looking mess.
It’s almost as if it needs to be put out of its misery...

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks atomic_dog.

[MasterGunner01]

A good use. Perhaps a similar fate for LONG BEACH? I’m sad to see the ship go because she was a pioneer in so many ways.

[Docbarleypop]

I was decommed both the California (CGN 36) and the Arkansas (CGN 41) cant imagine better ships. I blame Clinton for pulling the plug on nuclear cruisers. You only have to pull into a gas station once every 20 years or so, but you had better load up on snacks when you do!