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California vs Virginia

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Specifications
California Virginia
Origin 🇺🇸 United States 🇺🇸 United States
Category Cruiser Cruiser
Type Guided-missile cruiser Nuclear-powered guided-missile cruiser
Manufacturer Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company
Year introduced 1974 1976
Number built 2 units 4 units
Estimated unit price NA $675 million
Displacement 10,600 tons 11,853 tons
Maximum speed 30.0 knots 30.0 knots
Range Unlimited Unlimited
Length 179.0 m 179.0 m
Beam 19.0 m 19.0 m
Crew 584 579
Performance Radar Chart
Armament & Systems
California Virginia
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
  • 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
Propulsion 2 × General Electric D2G reactors generating 60,000 shp (45,000 kW) 2 General Electric D2G nuclear reactors, two shafts, 60,000 shp (45,000 kW)

Overview

The California and the Virginia are both Cruiser classes.

Displacement is 10,600 tons for the California vs 11,853 tons for the Virginia. The California reaches 30 knots vs 30 knots for the Virginia. Operational range is 99,999 nautical miles for the California vs 99,999 for the Virginia. The California carries a crew of 584 vs 579 for the Virginia.

The California was produced in 2 units vs 4 for the Virginia. The California was commissioned in 1974, 2 years before the Virginia (1976).

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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.