Special Notice

USS CALIFORNIA (DLGN/CGN-36)

THE GOLDEN GRIZZLY

Begins Permanent Hibernation

The USS California (CGN-36) Deactivation Ceremony
was held 28 August 1998 at 10:00 a.m.
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard Bremerton, Washington
Official Deactivation Date--1 October 1998
Decommission Date--9 July 1999

Guest speaker for the deactivation ceremony was Rear Admiral Floyd Miller (USN Ret.), (the first CO of the California). Listen to the speech in Streaming Audio The ship departed Sept. 1 for a farewell tour to San Diego (for four days) and Alameda (for another four days). It then steamed to Port Hadlock Pacific Ordinance Center to embark family and friends for the last voyage of the ship- Sept. 18, 1998 from Port Hadlock back to PSNS.

The USS California, the fourth nuclear powered cruiser built by the Navy, was the first of a new class of nuclear-powered guided missile frigates constructed at Newport News, Virginia. Their designation was changed from Frigate (DLGN) to Cruiser (CGN) on 30 June 1975. She was the first of six ships to be named under the policy of assigning the names of States of the Union to major nuclear powered surface combatants. She was the last of these ships to remain in active service.

According to Navy officials, ships with the least potential for future growth and are the least cost efficient to operate have been proposed for decommissioning.

The high expense with overhauls and refueling, along with their high cost of supporting the necessary infrastructure, has made the nuclear cruisers a target for replacement.

Nuclear-powered ships are placed in an "In Commission, In Reserve" status for the removal of the ship's nuclear core, the nuclear power plant, and inactivation.
After that process is completed, they are placed "Out of Commission, In Reserve" and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on the same date.

Ironically, the same week that the LAST of the Nuclear Powered Surface Combatants are stricken from service, the NAVY Celebrates:
50 YEARS OF NUCLEAR POWER
To see the fate of the CGNs: visit Don Shelton's PSNS Page

Photo of CGN-36 on her last day underway. She is transiting Rich Passage from Bremerton on her way to final offload.
Date of photo is 14 September 1998.
Contributed by: LT. Scott Nickell
Last Ops Officer before deactivation

Current Ship's Status
GONE
-----Original Message-----
From: ^FH Communications
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2001 1:30 PM
Subject: ex-USS CALIFORNIA (CGN 36, RC #2), REACTOR COMPARTMENT TRANSPORT TO CLOSE ROADS
March 22, 2001
General Delivery Message
TO: All Fluor Hanford and Subcontractor Company Employees
FROM: Stuart Arnold, WMP Program Manager, Navy Disposal Programs
SUBJECT: ex-USS CALIFORNIA (CGN 36, RC #2), Reactor Compartment (rc)TRANSPORT TO CLOSE ROADS
Following is a detailed timetable to help you plan alternate routes and minimize delays:
On Sunday, March 25, 2001, at approximately 7:00 a.m., the transport trailer will pull onto Route 4S just south of the 300 Area and will travel north. The RC transport will be on Route 4S until it reaches the Wye Barricade at approximately 1:00 p.m. Traffic around the transport caravan will be restricted to one way and minor delays are expected. During this time traffic control will be provided and a pilot car will guide the traffic around the transport. Personnel are requested to use extreme caution and pay close attention to the directions of the traffic control personnel. After the RC transport reaches the Wye Barricade, it will travel on Route 2S and 11A until it reaches Trench 94 in the 200E Area. During this time Routes 2S and 11A will be closed. If the transporter does not reach 200 East before it gets dark then Routes 2S and 11A will be closed the following morning to complete the transport.
There will also be delays on Tuesday, March 27, 2001, when the empty transport trailer returns to the Port of Benton: At approximately 12:00 PM, the transport trailer will pull onto Route 11A near Gate 810 in 200 East Area. It will travel on Routes 11A and 2S until it reaches the Wye Barricade. Traffic around the transport caravan will be restricted to one way and minor delays are expected. During this time traffic control will be provided and a pilot car will guide the traffic around the transport. Personnel are requested to use extreme caution and pay close attention to the directions of the traffic control personnel. After the trailer reaches the Wye Barricade, it will travel south on Route 4S to the 300 Area. Southbound traffic on Route 4S between the Wye Barricade and the 300 Area will be delayed several minutes as no Southbound traffic will be allowed to pass the trailer. It is suggested that you take Route 10 to Highway 240 as an alternate route to avoid any delays. Northbound traffic will not be affected. All personnel are requested to use extreme caution and pay close attention to the directions of the traffic control personnel. The road closures will ensure the health and safety of the personnel who use the roads.
We apologize for any inconvenience to Hanford personnel, and thank you for the cooperation that makes the RC Disposal Program a safe and successful Hanford Site endeavor.