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USS California (CGN 36)

USS CALIFORNIA was the lead ship of the fourth class of nuclear powered guided missile cruisers in the Navy and the sixth ship in the Navy to bear the name.

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS CALIFORNIA. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

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USS CALIFORNIA Cruise Books:

• Mediterranean Cruise Book 1976-77
• WestPac Cruise Book 1994
• WestPac Cruise Book 1996

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Accidents aboard USS CALIFORNIA:

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USS CALIFORNIA's Commanding Officers:

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History of USS CALIFORNIA:

The contract for USS CALIFORNIA's construction was awarded to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Newport News, Virginia, on June 13, 1968. Her keel was laid on January 23, 1970, and she was launched on September 22, 1971, sponsored by First Lady Patricia Nixon. CALIFORNIA was commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, on February 16, 1974, with Captain Floyd H. Miller as her first commanding officer. Originally designated DLGN 36, a nuclear-powered guided-missile frigate or destroyer leader, she was reclassified as a guided-missile cruiser under the hull number CGN 36 on July 1, 1975, as part of the Navy's fleetwide ship classification changes.

Following commissioning, CALIFORNIA remained in the Norfolk area while completing the final stages of her initial operational preparations. Her early service included propulsion plant evaluations, weapons-system testing, crew training, and exercises in the western Atlantic and Caribbean.

In July 1976, CALIFORNIA departed Norfolk for her first Mediterranean deployment, operating with the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) and her sister ship USS SOUTH CAROLINA (CGN 37). The deployment placed the cruiser under the operational control of the U.S. Sixth Fleet during a period of continued American and Soviet naval competition in the Mediterranean. Her activities included carrier battle group escort duties, air-defense exercises, surveillance, and multinational training with allied naval forces. The deployment also provided opportunities for port visits and logistical support at Mediterranean naval facilities. CALIFORNIA returned to Norfolk in February 1977, completing her first extended overseas assignment.

On June 6, 1977, CALIFORNIA was involved in an accident while moored at Naval Station Norfolk. Severe winds associated with a sudden squall caused the cruiser to break free of her mooring lines. She subsequently drifted into the frigate USS THOMAS C. HART (FF 1092), which was berthed nearby. The collision caused minor damage to CALIFORNIA's stern.

Later that month, CALIFORNIA represented the United States surface fleet at the Silver Jubilee Fleet Review held at Spithead, near Portsmouth, England, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the British throne. The review took place on June 28, 1977, and involved approximately 150 naval vessels from Britain and foreign navies. CALIFORNIA participated alongside ships representing numerous allied and other nations, providing an opportunity for diplomatic exchanges and naval visits during the celebrations.

After returning to the United States, CALIFORNIA resumed Atlantic Fleet operations, including training exercises, inspections, and maintenance periods. During 1978, she continued her duties in the western Atlantic and Caribbean, preparing for further overseas service. These activities included tactical training with other surface combatants and aircraft, weapons-system evaluations, and exercises designed to maintain the cruiser's readiness for integrated carrier battle group operations.

On September 10, 1979, the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ departed Norfolk for a deployment that initially took her battle group to the Mediterranean. CALIFORNIA and the nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser USS TEXAS (CGN 39) operated with the carrier during this deployment. The assignment coincided with a period of growing instability in the Middle East following the Iranian Revolution and the overthrow of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi earlier that year.

On November 4, 1979, Iranian militants seized the United States Embassy in Tehran and took American diplomatic personnel hostage. The crisis prompted the United States to reinforce its military presence in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea. In early January 1980, the USS NIMITZ battle group, including CALIFORNIA and USS TEXAS, was ordered to leave the Mediterranean and proceed toward the waters south of Iran.

The three nuclear-powered warships departed from the vicinity of Livorno, Italy, and sailed westward through the Strait of Gibraltar before rounding the Cape of Good Hope and entering the Indian Ocean. The approximately 12,000-mile passage was completed in about eighteen days. Their nuclear propulsion plants allowed them to maintain sustained high transit speeds without requiring conventional propulsion fuel, although food, aviation fuel, and other supplies still had to be replenished. The group subsequently operated in the North Arabian Sea as part of the expanded American naval presence established in response to the hostage crisis.

Throughout the following months, CALIFORNIA provided air-defense and escort capabilities for the USS NIMITZ battle group. Her assignments included surveillance of regional air and maritime activity, tactical exercises, and the maintenance of readiness during an extended period at sea. In April 1980, the American government attempted to rescue the hostages through Operation Eagle Claw, also known during its planning as Operation Evening Light. Aircraft operating from USS NIMITZ supported the attempted mission, which was aborted following mechanical difficulties and subsequently ended in a fatal accident at a desert staging site in Iran. CALIFORNIA remained with the carrier battle group during this period, performing her assigned fleet-support duties.

After approximately five months in the Indian Ocean, CALIFORNIA began her return voyage to the United States. She arrived at Norfolk with USS NIMITZ on May 26, 1980. The nine-month deployment had involved approximately 80,000 miles of steaming and constituted one of the longest overseas assignments of the cruiser's early career. The return was followed by post-deployment leave, maintenance, and a resumption of Atlantic Fleet training.

During 1981, CALIFORNIA undertook a second deployment to the Indian Ocean. The voyage again placed her in waters where American naval forces were maintaining an increased presence following the Iranian Revolution and the continuing instability in Southwest Asia. In addition to surveillance and fleet-defense assignments, the cruiser conducted exercises intended to maintain coordination among deployed naval forces. On the return passage, CALIFORNIA sailed eastward across the Pacific and returned to Norfolk through the Panama Canal, completing her first circumnavigation of the globe. It was the first such voyage by an American nuclear-powered surface warship since USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) and her escorts completed Operation Sea Orbit in 1964.

Following the circumnavigation, CALIFORNIA continued serving with the Atlantic Fleet. During 1982 and the first part of 1983, she participated in routine training, maintenance, and operational assignments while based at Norfolk. These included tactical exercises, readiness inspections, and training associated with the operation of her nuclear propulsion plant and guided-missile systems.

In September 1983, CALIFORNIA departed Norfolk for the final time as her homeport, transited the Panama Canal, and proceeded to Naval Air Station Alameda, California. The transfer placed the cruiser under the Pacific Fleet and shifted her principal operating areas to the eastern and western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf region. Following her arrival at Alameda, she underwent the administrative and logistical preparations associated with the homeport change and resumed training off the West Coast.

During 1984, CALIFORNIA conducted training and maintenance activities in preparation for her first overseas deployment as a Pacific Fleet unit. These preparations included tactical exercises with aircraft and surface combatants, weapons-system checks, and operational evaluations.

In February 1985, CALIFORNIA deployed to the western Pacific and Indian Ocean as a member of the battle group centered on the aircraft carrier USS CONSTELLATION (CV 64). During the deployment, she conducted carrier escort operations, air-defense training, maritime surveillance, and other assignments associated with the activities of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. Her operations included the western Pacific and Indian Ocean, where American naval forces continued maintaining a presence in response to regional security concerns. The deployment also involved logistics support and port visits in the western Pacific operating area. After completing her overseas duties, CALIFORNIA returned to Alameda and entered a period of post-deployment maintenance and training.

During the spring of 1986, CALIFORNIA operated in the Bering Sea and northern Pacific, conducting exercises in challenging weather and sea conditions. Her activities included operations near the Aleutian Islands and a visit to Adak, Alaska. The visit was reported as the first by an American cruiser since World War II. These operations formed part of the Navy's continuing efforts to maintain experience with high-latitude maritime operations in the northern Pacific, an area of considerable strategic importance during the Cold War because of its proximity to Soviet naval and air bases.

In 1987, CALIFORNIA undertook another extended deployment to the western Pacific and Indian Ocean, completing her second circumnavigation of the globe. During the voyage, she conducted fleet air-defense and surface warfare assignments and operated in support of American naval commitments in the Pacific and Indian Ocean regions. The deployment involved long-distance movements between operating areas and opportunities for training with other U.S. Navy units. CALIFORNIA returned to the San Francisco Bay area in July 1987 and subsequently resumed operations from Alameda.

During 1988, CALIFORNIA continued operating with Pacific Fleet carrier battle groups. She participated in RIMPAC 88, the multinational Rim of the Pacific exercise conducted in and around the Hawaiian operating areas. During the exercise, the cruiser served as an Anti-Surface Warfare Commander, coordinating aspects of surface warfare operations within the participating naval force. RIMPAC brought together ships, submarines, aircraft, and personnel from the United States and allied Pacific nations for tactical exercises involving maritime surveillance, fleet defense, and combined operations.

Later in 1988, CALIFORNIA participated in Olympic Presence Operations off the Korean Peninsula in connection with the Summer Olympic Games held in Seoul from September 17 to October 2. American naval forces maintained a presence in the region during the Games, while U.S. and South Korean authorities coordinated security arrangements amid continuing tensions between North and South Korea. CALIFORNIA performed surface warfare and battle group coordination duties during the operation.

During her 1988-1989 deployment, CALIFORNIA operated in the western Pacific, Indian Ocean, North Arabian Sea, and Persian Gulf. She served as an Anti-Air Warfare Commander, coordinating the air-defense activities of the naval forces assigned to her operating area. These duties required the collection and distribution of air surveillance information, the coordination of shipboard defensive systems, and the establishment of procedures for responding to potential aerial threats.

The deployment coincided with the final phase of Operation Earnest Will, the American effort to protect reflagged Kuwaiti tankers and other shipping during the latter stages of the Iran-Iraq War. The operation had begun in July 1987, following repeated attacks on commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf. Although Iran and Iraq accepted a ceasefire in August 1988, American naval forces continued conducting security and escort operations in the region.

In December 1988, CALIFORNIA carried out a convoy escort mission through the Strait of Hormuz during the concluding phase of Operation Earnest Will. The cruiser subsequently continued her assigned operations in the region before returning to the Pacific. The deployment provided further experience in coordinating air defense and surface warfare in confined waters where military and commercial shipping operated in close proximity.

During the summer of 1989, CALIFORNIA participated in northern Pacific operations connected with a Chief of Naval Operations project examining carrier battle group activities in near-land operating areas. The exercises addressed tactical problems associated with coastal geography, surveillance, communications, and the operation of surface ships and aircraft in waters close to land.

In September and October 1989, CALIFORNIA participated in PACEX 89, a major Pacific Fleet exercise involving American and allied naval forces. The exercise brought together several carrier battle groups and a large number of supporting surface combatants, submarines, and aircraft in the northern Pacific. CALIFORNIA served as an air-defense picket ship, providing surveillance and early warning capabilities for the larger naval formation. The exercise tested the ability of widely dispersed naval units to coordinate operations, maintain communications, and defend against simulated threats in the northern Pacific operating environment.

In April 1990, CALIFORNIA entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington, for a complex overhaul and nuclear refueling. The extensive availability continued for nearly three years and included the replacement of both reactor cores, major machinery maintenance, equipment modifications, and improvements to the ship's combat systems. The new reactor cores were designed to provide sufficient nuclear fuel for more than twenty years of normal operation, although CALIFORNIA ultimately remained in commission for only a further six years.

A major element of the overhaul was the installation of the New Threat Upgrade combat system, intended to improve the cruiser's ability to detect, track, and engage modern aerial threats. The modernization also involved changes to her weapons and sensor configuration, including the removal of the original ASROC launcher and modifications to the sonar installation. The work reflected the changing requirements for surface combatants following advances in aircraft, missiles, and electronic warfare systems during the 1980s.

While CALIFORNIA remained in the shipyard, the international strategic situation changed considerably. The dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991 ended the Cold War, and the U.S. Navy began reducing and restructuring its fleet. At the same time, the 1990-1991 Gulf War had demonstrated the continuing importance of naval aviation, missile defense, and maritime operations in support of American military commitments overseas.

On January 25, 1993, CALIFORNIA left Puget Sound Naval Shipyard following completion of her overhaul. She subsequently began an extensive series of sea trials, inspections, and training exercises intended to restore operational readiness after her prolonged period out of service. These activities included propulsion plant evaluations, weapons-system testing, independent tactical training, and exercises with other Pacific Fleet units.

During the remainder of 1993 and the opening months of 1994, CALIFORNIA continued preparing for overseas operations. Her training included coordinated carrier battle group exercises designed to test the integration of the cruiser's modernized sensors, weapons, and command systems with other ships and aircraft. On February 16, 1994, she marked the twentieth anniversary of her commissioning.

In June 1994, CALIFORNIA deployed to the western Pacific with the battle group centered on the aircraft carrier USS KITTY HAWK (CV 63). The deployment was her first extended overseas assignment since the completion of the 1990-1993 overhaul. USS KITTY HAWK departed San Diego on June 24 for a six-month deployment, during which the battle group operated primarily in the western Pacific.

The deployment took place during a period of heightened tensions surrounding North Korea's nuclear program. Earlier in 1994, disagreements over international inspections and North Korean nuclear facilities had raised concerns about the possibility of renewed conflict on the Korean Peninsula. American naval forces continued conducting operations in the region while diplomatic negotiations proceeded. An agreement between the United States and North Korea was reached in October 1994, but U.S. military forces maintained their normal regional commitments.

During the deployment, CALIFORNIA participated in combined exercises with South Korean naval forces, including personnel exchanges and training intended to improve communications and tactical coordination. She also took part in LINKEX, a tactical data-link exercise involving American forces operating in and around Korea. The exercise tested the exchange of surveillance and tactical information among ships, aircraft, and command facilities and was described as one of the most extensive tactical data-link exercises conducted in the region up to that time.

In November 1994, CALIFORNIA operated with the USS KITTY HAWK battle group during ANNUALEX 06G, an exercise conducted with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force from November 8 to 12. The training involved coordinated naval operations, communications, and tactical procedures intended to improve interoperability between American and Japanese maritime forces. The cruiser also participated in activities associated with the U.S.-Japan exercise series KEEN EDGE.

Following these operations, CALIFORNIA took part in TANDEM THRUST 95, a combined and joint exercise conducted from November 15 to December 15, 1994, involving American, Australian, and other allied military forces. Although designated with the year 1995, the exercise began in November 1994, during the U.S. military's 1995 fiscal year. The training involved maritime and air operations, command-and-control procedures, and the coordination of forces from several services and participating nations.

After completing the final exercises of the deployment, CALIFORNIA returned to Bremerton in December 1994, shortly before Christmas. Her return was followed by post-deployment leave, maintenance, and preparations for further Pacific Fleet duties.

During 1995, CALIFORNIA completed a four-month maintenance availability intended to improve the reliability of her propulsion plant and update elements of her combat systems. Following the maintenance period, the cruiser resumed underway training and participated in exercises designed to maintain her readiness for future deployments.

In September 1995, CALIFORNIA visited Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and participated in ceremonies commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the end of World War II. The celebrations included a naval parade and other commemorative events honoring the conclusion of the war in the Pacific and the service of American and allied military personnel. CALIFORNIA subsequently continued her training and preparations for the following year's deployment.

In May 1996, CALIFORNIA departed for another six-month deployment to the western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Persian Gulf as part of the battle group centered on the aircraft carrier USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70). The deployment took place during a period of continuing American military involvement in the Persian Gulf following the 1991 Gulf War. United States and coalition forces were conducting Operation Southern Watch to enforce restrictions on Iraqi military aircraft operating south of the established no-fly zone boundary.

CALIFORNIA served as an Air Warfare Commander within the battle group, coordinating air-defense planning, surveillance, and the tactical control of defensive resources. Her responsibilities included maintaining a common air picture, assessing potential threats, and coordinating procedures among the ships assigned to the formation. The modernized combat systems installed during her overhaul were employed in these fleet-defense assignments.

During the summer of 1996, the battle group operated in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters, conducting exercises, maritime surveillance, and activities supporting Operation Southern Watch. These operations took place against the background of continuing disputes between Iraq and the international coalition over military movements, air-defense activity, and compliance with the ceasefire arrangements established after Operation Desert Storm.

In September 1996, the United States carried out Operation Desert Strike following Iraqi military intervention in fighting between rival Kurdish factions in northern Iraq. On September 3 and 4, American forces launched cruise missiles against Iraqi air-defense and command-related targets. The attacks involved U.S. Navy surface combatants, including USS SHILOH (CG 67), as well as U.S. Air Force B-52 bombers.

During these operations, CALIFORNIA remained assigned to the USS CARL VINSON battle group, performing air-warfare command and fleet-defense duties. Her contribution was associated with the coordination and protection of the naval force rather than a documented individual cruise-missile launch. Following the strikes, the battle group continued operating in the region in support of American and coalition commitments.

CALIFORNIA subsequently received a Meritorious Unit Commendation in recognition of her service during the deployment, including activities associated with Operations Southern Watch and Desert Strike. After completing her overseas assignment, the cruiser returned to the Pacific and entered a period of maintenance and operational training.

During the spring of 1997, CALIFORNIA completed a concentrated maintenance period before resuming a series of exercises and readiness evaluations. These activities included live-fire missile training, inspections of her nuclear propulsion plant, an Operational Reactor Safeguards Examination, and a Final Evaluation Period. The inspections and exercises tested the ship's ability to perform its assigned missions while maintaining the safety and reliability of its engineering plant.

For her performance during 1997, CALIFORNIA received the Battle Efficiency Award, commonly known as the Battle "E." The award recognized the ship's operational readiness and performance within her competitive category.

In January 1998, CALIFORNIA deployed to the eastern Pacific and Caribbean in support of counterdrug operations. Serving as an Air Warfare Commander in support of Joint Interagency Task Force East, the cruiser contributed surveillance, communications, and command capabilities to operations intended to detect and intercept maritime and aerial drug-trafficking activity. These operations involved coordination between military units and American law-enforcement agencies operating in the Caribbean and surrounding waters.

After completing the counterdrug assignment, CALIFORNIA returned to the Pacific and continued preparations for the final major exercise of her career. In July 1998, she participated in RIMPAC 98 in the Hawaiian operating areas. The multinational exercise brought together naval forces from the United States and several Pacific nations for combined maritime training. CALIFORNIA operated as part of the bilateral force, conducting her final major fleet exercises before beginning the process of withdrawal from active service.

Following RIMPAC 98, CALIFORNIA returned to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. A deactivation ceremony was held there on August 28, 1998. The ceremony marked the conclusion of the cruiser's operational career after more than twenty-four years of service, although she formally remained in commission while preparations for her final disposal continued.

USS CALIFORNIA was officially decommissioned on July 9, 1999, and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on the same date. Her retirement followed the Navy's decision to withdraw the remaining nuclear-powered surface cruisers from active service as part of the post-Cold War restructuring of the fleet. Although CALIFORNIA had received new reactor cores and extensive combat-system improvements during her 1990-1993 overhaul, the Navy determined that continued operation of the class was less economical than relying on newer conventionally powered guided-missile cruisers equipped with the Aegis combat system.

Following decommissioning, CALIFORNIA entered the Navy's Nuclear-Powered Ship and Submarine Recycling Program at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The process involved removing nuclear fuel, dismantling the ship, and disposing of the reactor compartments and other materials in accordance with the procedures established for retired nuclear-powered naval vessels. Recycling was completed on May 12, 2000.

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