California vs Virginia

United States guided-missile cruiser, introduced in 1974, propelled by two General Electric reactors.
Origin 🇺🇸 United States
Category Cruiser
Type Guided-missile cruiser
Manufacturer Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company
Year introduced 1974
Number built 2 units
Estimated unit price NA
American nuclear-powered cruiser, introduced in 1976, utilizes two General Electric D2G nuclear reactors.
Origin 🇺🇸 United States
Category Cruiser
Type Nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser
Manufacturer Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company
Year introduced 1976
Number built 4 units
Estimated unit price $675 million
Displacement 10,600 tons â—‰
Maximum speed 30.0 knots â—‰
Range 99,999 nm â—‰
Length 179.0 m â—‰
Beam 19.0 m â—‰
Crew 584 â—‰
Propulsion 2 × General Electric D2G reactors generating 60,000 shp (45,000 kW)
Armament
  • 2 × Mk 141 Harpoon missile launchers
  • 2 × 5 inch/54 caliber Mk 45 lightweight guns
  • 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS
  • 1 × ASROC missile launcher
  • 2 × Mk 13 missile launchers for RIM-66D Standard missiles (MR)
  • 6 × 12.75" torpedo tubes for Mark 46 torpedoes
  • 4 × .50 caliber machine guns
Displacement 11,853 tons â—‰
Maximum speed 30.0 knots â—‰
Range 99,999 nm â—‰
Length 179.0 m â—‰
Beam 19.0 m â—‰
Crew 579 â—‰
Propulsion 2 General Electric D2G nuclear reactors, two shafts, 60,000 shp (45,000 kW)
Armament
  • 2 × Mk 26 missile launchers for 68 missiles (RIM-66 Standard Missiles (MR) / RUR-5 ASROC)
  • 8 × Tomahawk missile (from 2 armored-box launchers)
  • 8 × RGM-84 Harpoon (from two Mk-141 quad launchers)
  • 4 × Mk 46 torpedoes (from fixed single tubes)
  • 2 × Mk-45 5-inch/54 caliber rapid-fire gun
  • 2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS
  • 2 × 25 mm Mk 38 chain guns
  • 6 × .50 cal (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns

Performance Radar Chart

Frequently Asked Questions

Which has greater displacement, the California-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class has greater displacement at 11,853 tons compared to the California-class's 10,600 tons.
Which is faster, the California-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class is faster with a maximum speed of 30 knots compared to the California-class's 30 knots.
Which has longer range, the California-class or Virginia-class?
Both the California-class and Virginia-class are nuclear-powered and have unlimited range, limited only by food supplies and crew endurance.
Which is longer, the California-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class is longer at 179.0 meters compared to the California-class's 179.0 meters.
How many crew members do the California-class and Virginia-class have?
The California-class has a larger crew complement of 584 compared to the Virginia-class's 579 crew members.
Which has been built in greater numbers, the California-class or Virginia-class?
The Virginia-class has been built in greater numbers with 4 vessels compared to 2 vessels of the California-class.