USS Long Beach: is this an unbuilt concept

http://www.vought.com/heritage/

Nice web!. Thank you TinWing

Isn’t it amazing that Vought, which is no longer a “prime contractor,” – has a more impressive website than either Airbus or Boeing.

http://www.vought.com/heritage/

Nice web!. Thank you TinWing

That picture appears to show a Regulus (?) type cruise missile launcher instead of the 5in guns actually fitted. Regulus was replaced by submarine launched ballistic missiles and probably retired before Long Beach was in service. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/cgn-9.htm

The missile depicted on the amidships laucher is the Regulus 2 cruise missile – a project that was cancelled at about the same time Long Beach was building.

The Regulus 2 was a Vought project. You can find schematics of both the subsonic Regulus 1 and the supersonic Regulus 2 on the Vought historical website.

Thanks for the confirmation!

Now I would like to see the Polaris A2 version. It would have been the most powerful armed surface ship in the World.
The only ship I know with provision for such a weapon was the Italian cruiser Giussepe Garibaldi after its rebuilding in 1961 but I seriously doubt if nuclear warheads were never carried onboard
Any extra information?

I have found this pic in an olb book for children. It is tittled as USS Long Beach but obviously this is not the real Long Beach. Doing some research I have found that preliminary concepts (The Long Beach had a long conceptual way until its design was frozen). Initial concepts included Regulus and Polaris missiles.

Can anybody confirm if this correspond to a real USS Long Beach concept?

I’m very interested in unbuilt naval projects. I have some stuff about the subject. so please send PM if do you want to share info.

I’m going to buy Naval Institute Press US Cruisers but I would like to find more books. Recommended readings will be welcome!
What about Conways?
🙂

Wow. THREE Talos launchers?

Both the Regulus and Polaris stories are correct.
These concepts came into existence when the Navy realised that their newest and most modern nuclear powered cruiser had no offensive capability (any defensive anti-air and anti-sub weaponry).

Regulas was also a feature on about half a dozen subs back in the mid 50’s this was America’s version to the Whiskey Longbins.

Also with the first design and the actual inservice ship, you’ll notice the aft flight deck. When the LB was originally designed, helos weren’t in wide spead service.

That picture appears to show a Regulus (?) type cruise missile launcher instead of the 5in guns actually fitted. Regulus was replaced by submarine launched ballistic missiles and probably retired before Long Beach was in service. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/cgn-9.htm