C1W (nuclear reactor)

C1W was the name of a nuclear reactor that was used by the United States Navy for power generation and for nuclear propulsion on cruisers . The reactor, like all of the Navy used, was pressurized water .

designation

The abbreviation C1W stands for:

• C = cruiser
• 1 = first generation
• W = Westinghouse ; was the main contract holder for the construction of the reactor.

General

The nuclear reactor was used exclusively in the guided missile cruiser USS Long Beach (Long Beach class). It was the first nuclear powered cruiser in the US Navy. The C1W was the only nuclear reactor with two geared turbines. The following nuclear powered cruisers were powered by a class "D" reactor (D = Destroyer ).

The USS Long Beach entered service in September 1961 and retired in May 1995.