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SHIP'S HISTORY
The USS LONG BEACH (CGN-9), was
the third ship of the fleet to be named for the city of Long Beach,
California, but only the second to have been planned, designed, and
built for military purposes from it's inception.
Unexpected
Ship Historian By Bill Gilbert
USS LONG BEACH
FIRST USS LONG BEACH
(Click For Larger Image)
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SECOND USS LONG BEACH
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The first USS LONG BEACH
(AK-9), a cargo ship, was constructed in 1892 for service
as a German steamer, named HOHENFELDE. Spurred by the needs resulting
from the first World War, the US Navy acquired the ship and commissioned
her in Charleston, South Carolina on 20 December, 1917. The first
LONG BEACH had a speed of 8.5 knots, displaced 5,800 tons,
and was 330 feet in length. She was armed with one 3-inch 50 caliber
antiaircraft gun and two machine guns. Her wartime tasks consisted
of transporting coal and lumber between Eastern ports of the U.S.
and between ports in England, Ireland, and France in 1918 and 1919.
LONG BEACH was placed out of commission on April 26, 1921
and sold in a private transaction on May 24, 1922 for $20,000. |
During her Far East tour of 1944, LONG BEACH
earned four battle stars and other awards for operations in which
she participated as follows:
- Bismark Archipelago Operation, Admiralty Islands Landings:
16-18 March, 1944.
- Hollandia Operation: 21-27 April, 1944.
- Wester New Guinea Operations, Cape Sansapor Operation: 6-9
August, 1944, Morotai Landings: 15 September, 1944.
- Leyte Operation, Leyte Landings: 5-21 November, 1944. Phillippine
Republic Presidential Unit Citation Badge: 5-21 November, 1944.
LONG BEACH II, displacing 1,430 tons and 304 feet in length,
had three 3"/50 caliber dual purpose batteries and 2 twin 40
mm mounts. Her speed was 20.3 knots.
Following her wartime service, the LONG BEACH II was
placed out of commissionon 12 july, 1945, and transferred to the
Russian Navy under terms of the Lend-Lease Act. The U.S. Navy
regained custody of the ship in late 1949, and in November, 1953,
LONG BEACH II was loaned to the Government of Japan under
the Mutual Defense AssistanceProgram. She now bears the name SHII
in the Japanese Defense Forces.
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