The World's 9 Most Successful Cruisers: Maritime Giants That Dominated the Seas

5. USS Long Beach (CGN-9)

As the first nuclear-powered surface combatant, USS Long Beach marked a leap in naval technology. Equipped with the most advanced radar and all-missile armament of its time, it excelled in fleet air defense and anti-submarine warfare. Its nuclear plant provided unmatched endurance, and its distinctive superstructure housed several radar arrays. The ship served as a testbed for innovations that shaped future warship design.