It isnt an accident, however, but one of poor planning.
Still another plan saw the recycling effort dragging on for 15 years and costing nearly $1.4 billion.
Perhaps, the United States Navy and lawmakers should have seen this problem coming long ago.
The USSLong Beachwas a nuclear powered guided missile cruiser and the first surface warfare ship with a nuclear powerplant. It is shown here in 1983. Image: NARA
The USSEnterprisewasnt the first nuclear-powered warship built, nor was it the first to be retired.
Rather, it proceeded apace.
The U.S. then demonstrated the vastly more-powerful hydrogen bomb, and a race for more powerful nuclear weapons continued.
Intended to be the first of many nuclear-powered surface warfare ships, construction began on the USSLong Beachin the late 1950s. Image: NARA
At the same time, the power of the atom wasnt seen as limited to just destruction.
Yet, she was noted for being the first military vessel powered by a nuclear reactor.
USSNautilusushered in the nuclear U.S. Navy, and today the services submarine fleet is entirely nuclear-powered.
The USSLong Beachwas built by the Bethlehem Steel Company. This undated photograph shows much of the construction approaching completion. Image: NARA
In addition, the sea service currently operates 10Nimitz-class and oneGerald R. Ford-class supercarriers.
What is sometimes forgotten is that the USSEnterprisewasnt the first surface combatant to be powered by a nuclear reactor.
The 17,000-ton warship was the first cruiser to be built for the U.S. Navy since the Second World War.
Launched on July 14, 1959, the hull of the USSLong Beachis maneuvered in the water by a pair of tug boats. Image: NARA
USSLong Beachwas unlike any cruiser before or since.
CGN-9 was capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots and had essentially unlimited range.
The nuclear-powered cruiser carried a complement of 1,160 officers and men.
This photo is marked with notations for some of the antennas and other electronics on the USSLong Beach. Image: NARA
When she was commissioned in September 1961, CGN-9 became the third vessel named for the California coastal community.
It was the first such battle force of its kind in the history of naval operations.
Two other world circumnavigations were made by U.S. nuclear vessels, but by submarines rather than surface combatants.
USSLong Beachconstruction nears completion in this 1961 photograph. Image: NARA
During that first deployment, one of CGN-5s Air Intercept Controllers (AIC) directed aU.S.
In 1980, the warship helped rescue more than 100 Vietnamese boat people who had fled the Communist regime.
The Terrier missiles were also replaced by Standard SM-2ER SAMs.
The USSLong Beachhas a distinctive look thanks to its extremely high bridge structure. Image: PHCS Ron Bayles/NARA
Naval Base Subic Bay following the volcanic eruption of Mount Pinatubo personnel in the Philippines.
All of the warships had been retired by the end of the 1990s.
However, it took nearly 17 years for the ship to finally be sold at auction.
This is a RIM-2 Terrier missile launcher on the USSLong Beachduring operations in the South China Sea in 1976. It was one of the early SAM systems used by the Navy. Image: U.S. Navy
Nuclear Success, or Failure?
Today, the legacy of the USSLong Beachis that nuclear power is now reserved for carriers and submarines.
But that should not diminish the service over the years of this storied ship
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An overhead view of the USSLong Beachunderway near the coast of Southern California in 1989. Image: PH1 Wilcox/NARA
Operation Sea Orbit was a United States Navy mission that displayed an all-nuclear surface warfare task force to the world. Image: U.S. Navy
Task Force 1 passes through the Mediterranean Sea in formation at the start of Operation Sea Orbit. Image: NARA
The USSLong Beachreturns from a deployment to the PIRAZ off the coast of Vietnam. Also known as Yankee Station, the ship played an important role there. Image: NARA
A port bow view of the amphibious command ship USSBlue Ridge(LCC-19) and the USSLong Beachleaving the Persian Gulf in 1987. Image: PHAN Brad Dillon/NARA
Crew members of the USSLong Beachhaul in the high line from the USSSacramento(AOE-1) while operating in the South China Sea, June 1967. Image R.D. Moeser/NARA
AGM-84 Harpoon surface-to-surface missile canisters are loaded aboard the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USSLong Beach. Image: NARA
A SH-2F Sea Sprite of Helicopter Light Anti-Submarine Squadron (Light) 37 (HSL-37) lands on the deck of the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USSLong Beach. Image: PH2 Jeffrey A. Elliott/NARA
The USSLa Jolla(SSN-701), aLos Angeles-class attack submarine, passes the USSLong Beachin 1982. Image: PH2 Randy Hays/NARA
The USSLong Beachprior to its final cruise before decommissioning. Visible are the updated RIM-67 Standard surface to air missiles (SAM). Image: PH3 Brian Mcfadden/NARA
The USSLong Beachenters Subic Bay, Philippines. Image: PHCS Ron Bayles/U.S. Navy
