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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS SOUTH CAROLINA (DLGN/CGN 37)

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Lima - Victor - Quebec

Patch image contributed by Mike Smolinski

CLASS - CALIFORNIA
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 SHP; 2 G.E. Reactors (D2G), Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 30+ Knots, Crew 540.
Operational and Building Data
Keel laid on 01 DEC 1970 at Newport News Shipyard, Newport News, VA
Launched 01 JUL 1972
Commissioned 25 JAN 1975
Reclassified CGN 37 on 30 JUN 1975
Deactivation 28 AUG 1998
Decommissioned 30 JUL 1999
Stricken 30 JUL 1999
Fate:

13 MAR 2000 Arrived PSNS

01 OCT 2007 Recycling commenced

10 MAY 2010 Recycling completed

Ships bow has been dedicated as a memorial in Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.

Patch image contributed by Mike Smolinski

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Joint Meritorious Unit Award - Navy Unit Commendation - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (2)
Second Row - Navy Battle "E" Ribbon (3) - Navy Expeditionary Medal - National Defense Service Medal
Third Row - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal - Southwest Asia Service Medal (1) - Amed Forces Service Medal
Fourth Row - Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (11) - Coast Guard Special Operations Service Ribbon - Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By And/Or Copyright
04013743	131k	Artist's concept drawing.	Ron Reeves
04013745	140k	Keel Laying Ceremony invitation, 1 December 1970.	Ron Reeves
04013746	154k	Keel Laying Ceremony postal cover, 1 December 1970.	Ron Reeves
04013747	134k	Keel Laying Program cover, 1 December 1970.	Ron Reeves
04013744	195k	Admiral Hyman Rickover, Senator Strom Thurmond, Mr. Ackerman, Mrs. Rivers, Mrs. Ackerman, The Honorable L.M. Rivers, and Mrs. Eastwood, 1 December 1970 .	Ron Reeves
04013748	223k	Mrs. Ackerman, Mrs. Zumwalt, Mrs. Eastman, Mrs. Rivers, Mrs. Holifield, Mr. Ackerman, 1 December 1970.	Ron Reeves
04013749	189k	Admiral Hyman Rickover and Mrs. Rivers at the Keel laying ceremony, 1 December 1970.	Ron Reeves
04013750	249k	Keel plate being lowered into place,1 December 1970.	Ron Reeves
04013770	452k	Admiral Zumwalt speaking at the Keel laying ceremony,1 December 1970.	Ron Reeves
04013769	432k	Secretary of the Navy John H. Chafee speaking at the Keel laying ceremony, 1 December 1970.	Ron Reeves
04013751	234k	Mr. Ackerman speaking at the Keel laying ceremony, 1 December 1970.	Ron Reeves
04013755	155k	Admiral Rickover and Mrs. Rivers reviewing the program, 1 December 1970.	Ron Reeves
04013752	175k	Mr. Rivers authenticating the keel, 1 December 1970.	Ron Reeves
04013753	184k	Mrs. Rivers authenticating the Keel, 1 December 1970.	Ron Reeves
04013756	199k	Mr. & Mrs. Rivers showing off their tools, 1 December 1970.	Ron Reeves
04013754	180k	Mrs. Rivers with the Presentation plate, 1 December 1970.	Ron Reeves
	342k	Launching invitation for USS South Carolina (DLGN 37), 01 July 1972.	Robert M. Cieri
04013759	53k	Launch ceremony ticket, 01 July 1972.	Ron Reeves
	222k	Launching program cover, 01 July 1972.	Robert M. Cieri
04013758	105k	Launch postal cover, 01 July 1972.	Ron Reeves
04013773	230k	Mrs. J. Fred Buzhardt christening South Carolina (CGN 37), 01 July 1972.	S. Dale Hargrave
04013728	310k	South Carolina sliding down the ways on 01 July 1972.	S. Dale Hargrave
04013757	269k	South Carolina sliding down the ways on 01 July 1972.	Ron Reeves
04013760	228k	Sea trials, around 14 October 1974.	Ron Reeves
04013761	298k	Sea trials, around 14 October 1974.	Ron Reeves
04013762	334k	Sea trials, around 14 October 1974.	Ron Reeves
04013763	280k	Sea trials, around 14 October 1974.	Ron Reeves
04013764	307k	Sea trials, around 14 October 1974.	Ron Reeves
04013765	289k	Sea trials, around 14 October 1974.	Robert M. Cieri & Ron Reeves
04013766	295k	Sea trials, around 14 October 1974.	Ron Reeves
04013767	166k	Sea trials, around 14 October 1974.	Ron Reeves
04013768	49k	Commissioning invitation, 25 January 1975.	Ron Reeves
	267k	Commissioning program cover, 25 January 1975.	Robert M. Cieri
	143k	Commissioning first day postal cover, 25 January 1975.	Robert M. Cieri
	32k	Port view, underway.	USN
	38k	(Dark) Undated moored.	USN
	49k	Starboard view, underway.	USN
	55k	(poor) Overhead image underway.	USN
	25k	Stern view, Date unknown	Unknown
	517k	Undated port bow view. Photo © Atlantic Fleet Sales	Robert M. Cieri
	111k	Starboard bow. 1974.	USN
	136k	Welcome Aboard booklet, January 1975.	Robert M. Cieri
	64k	Virginia Capes, May 1975.	© Richard Leonhardt
	140k	Virginia Capes, May 1975.	© Richard Leonhardt
	67k	Atlantic, May 1975.	© Richard Leonhardt
	105k	"The Navy's second nuclear task force is shown off the Virginia Capes. USS Nimitz (CVN 68) is escorted by the nuclear-powered cruisers USS California (CGN 36) and USS South Carolina (CGN 37)." From the NAVSEA Journal. This photo was possibly taken in 1975.	Bob Bush
	123k	This is a picture of the Nimitz Task Group from 1976 with South Carolina (CGN 37) (top), Nimitz (CVN 68), and California (CGN 36).	Michael Boyd, USS California
04013727	60k	USS South Carolina at anchor with the USS Grand Rapids (PG 98) moored along side in the Kithira Strait off of Greece on 8 August 1976. View from the Soviet ship Krasny Krim ( Kashin class DDG).	Eugene Ivkin
04013739	168k	9 August 1976. The Eastern Mediterranean, Kithira Strait. The USS South Carolina passes by the Soviet ship Krasny Krim ( Kashin class DDG).	Eugene Ivkin
04013740	188k	9 August 1976. The Eastern Mediterranean, Kithira Strait. The USS South Carolina passes by the Soviet ship Krasny Krim ( Kashin class DDG).	Eugene Ivkin
04013741	241k	9 August 1976. The Eastern Mediterranean, Kithira Strait. The USS South Carolina passes by the Soviet ship Krasny Krim ( Kashin class DDG).	Eugene Ivkin
04013742	165k	9 August 1976. The Eastern Mediterranean, Kithira Strait. The USS South Carolina passes by the Soviet ship Krasny Krim ( Kashin class DDG).	Eugene Ivkin
04013813	170k	HAMPTON ROADS, VA, 22 December 1980 - Aerial bow view of the nuclear-powered cruiser USS Virginia (CGN 38) being assisted by Navy tugs. The nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser USS South Carolina (CGN 37) and nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) are close astern, as they enter port after an Indian Ocean deployment. U.S. Navy photo #DN-ST-84-00318 by: PH2 Colin E. Fritz.	Robert M. Cieri
04013812	41k	An aerial starboard bow view of six nuclear-powered guided missile cruisers underway in formation during exercise READEX 1-81. The ships are, from left to right: USS TEXAS (CGN 39), USS MISSISSIPPI (CGN 40), USS CALIFORNIA (CGN 36), USS SOUTH CAROLINA (CGN 37), USS VIRGINIA (CGN 38) and USS ARKANSAS (CGN 41). Photo taken 26 February 1981 by PH1 Anthony Alleyne. DOD Photo #DN-SC-87-08333	Steve Dietrich
04013825	665k	Six nuclear powered cruisers sailing together on 28 February 1981. The United States had operated nuclear powered cruisers for over three decades. USS Long Beach (CGN 9) entered service in 1961 while the final cruisers, the California class were decommissioned in 1999 (The Virginia class, the final class designed and built, were decommissioned in 1998). First row, front to back: USS Virginia (CGN 38) USS South Carolina (CGN 37) USS California (CGN 36) Second row, front to back: USS Arkansas (CGN 41) USS Mississippi (CGN 40) USS Texas (CGN 39)	U.S. Navy
04013726	161k	1 January 1982 - An aerial port beam view of the nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser USS South Carolina (CGN 37) underway. U.S. Navy Photo #DN-SC-87-05072	Robert M. Cieri
04013725	201k	1 January 1982 - A port beam view of the nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser USS South Carolina (CGN 37). A-7 Corsair II and A-6 Intruder aircraft are parked on the flight deck of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), foreground. U.S. Navy photo #DN-SC-87-05077.	Robert M. Cieri
04013735	676k	Wilhelmshaven, Germany, between August and October 1986, while escorting the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) on a short North Atlantic deployment.	Wolfgang Hechler
04013736	730k	Wilhelmshaven, Germany, between August and October 1986, while escorting the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) on a short North Atlantic deployment.	Wolfgang Hechler
04013737	682k	Wilhelmshaven, Germany, between August and October 1986, while escorting the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) on a short North Atlantic deployment.	Wolfgang Hechler
04013738	681k	Wilhelmshaven, Germany, between August and October 1986, while escorting the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) on a short North Atlantic deployment.	Wolfgang Hechler
04013827	3.25m	USS Virginia (left) and USS South Carolina (right), 1987, location unknown.	Bob Canchola
04013771	501k	Anchored in La Spezia, Italy 28 April 1987	Carlo Martinelli
04013772	405k	Italian Minesweeper Loto (M5538) passing USS South Carolina (CGN 37), 28 April 1987. La Spezia, Italy.	Carlo Martinelli
04013774	412k	Italian Special Forces Tender Pietro Cavezzale (A5301) passing USS South Carolina (CGN 37), 28 April 1987. La Spezia, Italy.	Carlo Martinelli
	205k	Welcome Aboard booklet, circa 1991.	Robert M. Cieri
04014029	1m	Bow view of USS Mississippi (CGN 40) (right) and stern view of USS South Carolina (CGN 37) (left) while moored at Norfolk Naval Station, 1994. Floating Crane YD-257 is to the right of Mississippi and the barge between them has her bow anchor resting on it.	Cody Shaffer
	474k	Starboard bow view, 1995, after NTU modifications.	Joe Gardella
	343k	Welcome Aboard booklet, circa 1997.	Robert M. Cieri
	374k	USS South Carolina (CGN 37) cuts through the water of the Atlantic Ocean during a transit to the Mediterranean Sea on 9 October 1997. South Carolina is currently on a six month deployment with USS George Washington (CVN 73) Battle Group. Official U.S. Navy Photo #971009-N-9975P-001 by Photographer's Mate First Class Petty Officer Gregory Pinkley.	Bill Gonyo
	437k	USS South Carolina (CGN 37) cuts through the water of the Atlantic Ocean during a transit to the Mediterranean Sea on 9 October 1997. South Carolina is currently on a six month deployment with USS George Washington (CVN 73) Battle Group. Official U.S. Navy Photo #971009-N-9975P-002 by Photographer's Mate First Class Petty Officer Gregory Pinkley.	Bill Gonyo
	201k	The guided missile cruiser USS South Carolina (CGN 37) is guided pierside by the large harbor tug USS Tontogany (YTB 821) (right). South Carolina returned from a six-month deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch. U.S. Navy photo by Journalist 1st Class David W. Crenshaw.	Bill Gonyo/Robert Hurst
	208k	Decommissioning program cover, 28 August 1998.	Robert M. Cieri
04013729	188k	The bow of CGN 37 now enshrined at Bremerton, just outside the gate to the Shipyard. Photos taken by Tom Armstrong.	Ron Reeves
04013730	56k	The bow of CGN 37 now enshrined at Bremerton, just outside the gate to the Shipyard. Photos taken by Tom Armstrong.	Ron Reeves
04013731	68k	The bow of CGN 37 now enshrined at Bremerton, just outside the gate to the Shipyard. Photos taken by Tom Armstrong.	Ron Reeves
04013732	92k	The bow of CGN 37 now enshrined at Bremerton, just outside the gate to the Shipyard. Photos taken by Tom Armstrong.	Ron Reeves
04013733	68k	The bow of CGN 37 now enshrined at Bremerton, just outside the gate to the Shipyard. Photos taken by Tom Armstrong.	Ron Reeves
04013734	58k	The bow of CGN 37 now enshrined at Bremerton, just outside the gate to the Shipyard. Photos taken by Tom Armstrong.	Ron Reeves

Commanding Officers
Name/Rank	Class	Final Rank	Dates
Neel, William Charles, CAPT			04/15/72 - 10/13/76
Simonton, Bennet Stocum, CAPT	1957		10/13/76 - 02/29/80
Hilt, John William, CAPT	1959		02/29/80 - 06/25/83
Sydow, Kenneth Robert, CAPT			06/25/83 - 07/12/86
Ernst, Eric Rodholm, CAPT	1965		07/12/86 - 06/15/89
Mitchell, Anthony E., CAPT	1967		06/15/89 - 07/19/91
Craighill, John St.Clair, CAPT	1967		07/19/91 - 05/28/94
Gaffney, Michael Gattrell, CAPT	1971		05/28/94 - 1/11/1997
Brown, David Kearney, CAPT	1972		1/11/1997 - 07/30/99

(Courtesy of Robert M. Cieri, Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves)

USS SOUTH CAROLINA (DLGN/CGN 37) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: James Greiner
Address:
Phone:
E-mail: jrgreiner60@yahoo.com

Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.

Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Cruiser Pages By Andrew Toppan.

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