USS California
(CGN-36)
Originally
California Class DLGN
re-designated California
Class CGN
Displacement 9,561
Tons, Dimensions, 596' (oa) x 61' x 31' 6" (Max)
Armament 2 Standard SAM 1x2, (80 Missiles) 2 x
5"/54RF, ASROC (24 Missiles) 4 x12.75" TT.
Machinery, 60,000 shaft horsepower; 2 G.E.
Reactors (D2G), Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 30+ Knots
Crew 540.
Keel laid on
13 JUN 1968 at Newport News Shipyard, Newport News, VA
Launched Sep 22, 1971
Commissioned Feb 16, 1974
Decommissioned Jul 09, 1999
Stricken
Jul
09, 1999
Recycled
at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, May 12, 2000
My Duties
with USS California
Mar
1988 - Jun 1993
USS California (CGN-36) was a nuclear powered
cruiser home ported and berthed at Alameda,
NAS
I was annoyed to find that the CO and most officers were
nuclear engineers. They forgot (or ignored) that the
real function of a surface combatant ship is "Ordinace on
Target" instead, the nuclear engineering plant became the tail
that wagged the dog.
In July '88, California joined a huge task group on
what was called a "MiniPac." We transited via great
circle through the Aleutian Islands and then joined Japanese
and Korean units for joint exercises in the Sea of
Japan. In Aug we spent a long weekend in Chinhae, Korea,
arriving back in Alameda, CA in Sept.
Feb '89 California went into overhaul and refueling at Puget
Sound
Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, WA.
I was assigned as LPO to fire watch division. The system
for assigning and tracking fire watch personnel seemed
inefficient to me, so I devised and set up my own
system. When I was transferred TAD to another ship, I
taught my system to my relief and he was later awarded a
Navy/Marine corps Achievement medal for following through on
my idea.
In July'90 to Dec 90 I was transferred TAD to USS Reasoner
(FF-1063).
Sept 1991 I was advanced and initiated as QMC. (I ranked 4th in the fleet.) I was pinned with anchors passed to me from my
dear friend, QMC Burris.
On my cover I also wore an anchor
passed to me from my wife's Grandfather, MMC Donald Davison,
who served in WWI.
In 1992 California left overhaul and spent most of her time
performing exercises in SoCal testing the many systems
upgrades.
Jun 1993 I was transferred to FTC San Diego
for instructor duty.
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