The Ship Model Forum

I served on the Long Beach from 1977 to 1981 and the wood decking was Teak and she was the last one of her type to carry this decking. She served as Flagship for several Admirals and she was designed as such. The botswains hated keeping the decking shining but so be it. This was my first shipboard assignement and she was a fine ship and I wish I could see her again just for memories sake.

Yes, the dark areas in the Shelton pix in Bremerton are indeed the areas where the teak decking was located. The "box" superstructure covered part of it like a "porch" and constituted the quarterdeck areas of the ship (officers' gangway, OOD, ship's log, 1MC, BM of the watch, ship's bell, etc.) Teak decking (planking) is an old tradition of the Navy on its battleships and cruisers. The Long Beach was the last cruiser with the teak decks. Yes, on Long Beach it was mainly ceremonial, but on long watch duty it sure beat hard, hot steel. On the old dreadnaughts and cruisers of WWI & II the teak served to suppress shrapnel in battle, and insulate the main deck to those below. As one who's been there, we appreciated the abbreviated area on Long Beach when it came time to "holystone" those decks to clean, bleach and smooth them about monthly. J. D. Cafferty, ship's company 1967-68 2nd & X Div.

Long Beach was the most unique looking warship. I picked up the Revell kit here in Australia for about $20 not the most accurate kit but useful as I am buildin a 1/72 scale RC model of her!! They should never have scrapped any of the CGN's they gave the US fleet great balance. Speed, endurance, firepower !!. Gone too soon.

Here R some pic's of my 1/72 scale USS Long Beach, she is at the detailing stage now. I have built her as a "what if" She will have an improved weapon's fit with 2x 30mm Goalkeeper CWIS (port & stbd just aft of bridge), 2x 8" mk71 Gun turrets (replacing the 5" 38's), 2 x 16 cell VLS either side of the UNREP kingpostand the aft superstructure has been rebuilt as a heli hanger for SH-60's . She will retain her 2x Mk10 fwd SM2ER launchers, ASROC, and 2x aft 20mm CWIS guns.

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building:
1/72 RC USS LONG BEACH CGN9
1/72 RC USS CALIFORNIA CGN36
1/72 RC USS SAIPAN LHA2
1/72 RC USS JOHN PAUL JONES DDG53
1/72 RC USS SHARK SSN591
1/72 RC USS SEAWOLF SSN21
1/72 RC USS ALBANY CG10

Here R some pic's taken by OZpirate at the recent Carrier & Escort weekend in Wagga, Australia.

Cheers Bruce

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building:
1/72 RC USS LONG BEACH CGN9
1/72 RC USS CALIFORNIA CGN36
1/72 RC USS SAIPAN LHA2
1/72 RC USS JOHN PAUL JONES DDG53
1/72 RC USS SHARK SSN591
1/72 RC USS SEAWOLF SSN21
1/72 RC USS ALBANY CG10

Hi Bruce good to see your Long Beach on MW looking forward to more up dates.
Dave Wooley

A movie made at the TF72 event at Wagga by Mick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NyOGlOAqkx8

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Building
1/72 Admiral Kuznetsov
1/72 Frunze Russian Battle cruiser
1/72 Steregushchy-class corvette

Mick
Tumut Australia

Awesome! - I put your link on the "USS Long Beach CGN-9, Strike Hard-Strike Home" facebook page
Thanks!
Rex

That's Cool Mate! Any of the new pic's for the model will be in the 'what if's section' don't want 2 double up on posts!!

Cheers Bruce

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building:
1/72 RC USS LONG BEACH CGN9
1/72 RC USS CALIFORNIA CGN36
1/72 RC USS SAIPAN LHA2
1/72 RC USS JOHN PAUL JONES DDG53
1/72 RC USS SHARK SSN591
1/72 RC USS SEAWOLF SSN21
1/72 RC USS ALBANY CG10

See Dragon on the main page. Listed for release this Oct. at $34.95.

I'd like 2 C a reasonably priced 1/350 scale USS Long Beach kit in either original config or late 80's

Bruce

_________________
building:
1/72 RC USS LONG BEACH CGN9
1/72 RC USS CALIFORNIA CGN36
1/72 RC USS SAIPAN LHA2
1/72 RC USS JOHN PAUL JONES DDG53
1/72 RC USS SHARK SSN591
1/72 RC USS SEAWOLF SSN21
1/72 RC USS ALBANY CG10

ditto !!

An update on Long Beach models:

Revell Germany has re-released their 1:460 version of the Long Beach, complete with Regulus missile along with the Terrier and Talos missile systems: http://www.revell.com/germany/ships/80-0022.html

Here is a direct link to the Dragon/Cyber Hobby 1:700 scale release: http://www.dragonmodelsusa.com/dmlusa/p ... id=CHC7091

Wouldn't be right not to acknowledge J.A.G. Models beautiful and reasonably priced resin kit, and thank them for setting the standard for Cold War modeling in 1:700 scale: http://www.jagcollective.com/LONGBEACH.htm

Interesting to note that JAG's catalog is beginning to face some competition from the Chinese manfacturers... the Virginia, and now Long Beach from Cyber-Hobby, and AOE-1 (Sacramento) and -4 coming from Trumpeter.

Daniel

Excellent information !

I have posted it in the Facebook page: USS Long Beach CGN-9, Strike Hard-Strike Home
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pag ... 95?ref=sgm

Thanks!
Rex

Anyone have line-drawings-plans-whatever of LB later in her life?
Have JAG LB and considering purchasing at least 2 of the Dragon kits in order to build
1. As build
2. with 5-inch guns
3. CIWS, Tomahawks, etc.
I'm one of those dumb modelers who has to "see it" in order to be able to scratch build anything.

Thanks in advance!!

Gus
Semper Fi

Corpsman,

There is a single line drawing (starboard side) in Friedman's U.S. Cruisers. It's identified as the 1981-82 reconstucted and does show the Harpoon and CIWS. The lattice mainmast doesn't appear as later photographs show it. Think there was a specific book but can't immediately recall.
I just purchased the Dragon kit which I'll build with the 5" mounts, but I too would be interested in a later version. Think the Harpoon and CIWS could be easily managed from other kits but the Mainmast would require a dedicated photoetch. Any rumors?

Mac

Here R a some pic's of my 1/72 Rc USS Long Beach cruising last weekend, more pic's can be seen in my "what if- Modernised Lb thread" (as well as pic's from the TF72 Annual Regatta in Dec)

Cheers Bruce

_________________
building:
1/72 RC USS LONG BEACH CGN9
1/72 RC USS CALIFORNIA CGN36
1/72 RC USS SAIPAN LHA2
1/72 RC USS JOHN PAUL JONES DDG53
1/72 RC USS SHARK SSN591
1/72 RC USS SEAWOLF SSN21
1/72 RC USS ALBANY CG10

http://cgn38.net16.net/today/

Photos of the Long Beach, other nucelar cruisers, and several submarines going through decommissiong at Bremerton, at above link.

Some pix of my USS Long Beach from our club sail just before I busted my wrist... no play time for 5 more weeks......Arrrrrrrrghhhhh

_________________
building:
1/72 RC USS LONG BEACH CGN9
1/72 RC USS CALIFORNIA CGN36
1/72 RC USS SAIPAN LHA2
1/72 RC USS JOHN PAUL JONES DDG53
1/72 RC USS SHARK SSN591
1/72 RC USS SEAWOLF SSN21
1/72 RC USS ALBANY CG10

Long Beach was a Talos shooter, so here's one of the coolest things ever!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eq8Hz1vr5ik

1/50 Talos launcher and magazine!!!

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Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance