Class
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. Only one vessel was built in this 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. Truxtun 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 was powered by two D2G reactors rather than her sister class's four 1,200 psi boilers. This resulted in the Truxtun being larger overall: 17 feet (5.2 m) longer, 3 feet (0.91 m) greater across the beam, a 2-foot-deeper (0.61 m) 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 was commissioned with a 5"/54 caliber Mark 42 gun on the foredeck and a twin-rail Mk 10 Missile Launcher on the quarterdeck, for the RIM-2 Terrier The Terrier system was later upgraded to utilizing the RIM-67A Standard missiles in place of the less reliable Terrier missile. The missile depot was located under the helicopter deck and could store 40 RIM-67 Standard and 20 RUR-5 ASROC missiles. Truxtun initially used two twin 3"/50 caliber guns, however in 1980 these were replaced with two Harpoon missile launchers. The ASW suite of the Truxtun originally included the un-manned DASH, but in 1971 the hangar was upgraded to LAMPS Mk. I and the SH-2 Seasprite helicopter. While Truxtun 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.
Read more about this topic: USS Truxtun (CGN-35)
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