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The ''Blue Ridge'' class is the first and only class of amphibious command and control ships to be specifically designed as such from the keel up.
The ''Blue Ridge'' class resulted from almost seven years of planning and construction work. Under the designation SCB-248 (later SCB-400.65), the hull of the 
At the time of their commissionings, the ships of the ''Blue Ridge'' class had the distinction of carrying the world's most sophisticated electronics suites, thirty percent larger than that of the 
Besides small arms, the ''Blue Ridge'' class was initially armed with two twin Mark 33
Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship
The ''Iwo Jima''-class amphibious assault ships of the United States Navy were the first amphibious assault ships designed and built as dedicated helicopter carriers, capable of operating up to 20 helicopters to carry up to 1,800 marines ashore. ...
was used as the basis of the design due to the flight deck's ability to distance antennas to minimize interference between the ships' multiple communications systems and to the deck's ability to act as a ground plane
In electrical engineering, a ground plane is an electrically conductive surface, usually connected to electrical ground.
The term has two different meanings in separate areas of electrical engineering.
*In antenna theory, a ground plane is a ...
; the LPH island was replaced with a small centralized superstructure.
As designed, the ''Blue Ridge'' class was capable of supporting the staff of both the Commander of an Amphibious Task Force and the staff of the Commanding General of the Landing Force. The ships were the most advanced joint amphibious command-and-control centers constructed at the time, due to their advanced computer systems, extensive communications package and modern surveillance and detection systems.
At the time of their commissionings, the ships of the ''Blue Ridge'' class had the distinction of carrying the world's most sophisticated electronics suites, thirty percent larger than that of the aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying, and recovering aircraft. Typically, it is the capital ship of a fleet, as it allows a ...
, which had been the most complex. They were fitted with a "main battery" of computers, communications gear, and other electronic facilities to fulfill their mission as command ships. An advanced communications system was also an integral part of the ships' radical new design. Through an automated patch panel and computer controlled switching matrix her crew could use any combination of communication equipment desired. Welcome Aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) 1971 file 05 of 10
US Navy long-range communications were heavily reliant on _1971_file_05_of_10.jpg.html){kind=link}
high frequency
High frequency (HF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) between 3 and 30 megahertz (MHz). It is also known as the decameter band or decameter wave as its wavelengths range from one to ten ...
radio systems in the 1970s and have evolved to predominantly satellite communications in the 2000s. This was illustrated by the long wire antennas, discone antennas, and directional HF yagi or log-periodic antenna initially installed on the class and later removed and replaced with a number of satellite communications antennas.
Besides small arms, the ''Blue Ridge'' class was initially armed with two twin Mark 33 3"/50 caliber gun
The 3"/50 caliber gun (spoken "three-inch fifty-caliber") in United States naval gun terminology indicates the gun fired a projectile in diameter, and the barrel was 50 calibers long (barrel length is 3 in × 50 = ). Different guns (identifi ...
s at commissioning, though they have since been removed. They also carried two Mark 25 launchers and electronics for the Basic Point Defense Missile System
RIM-7 Sea Sparrow is a U.S. ship-borne short-range anti-aircraft and anti-missile weapon system, primarily intended for defense against anti-ship missiles. The system was developed in the early 1960s from the AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile a ...
(BPDMS) which was added sometime in the 1970s and removed in the 1990s. Two 20 mm Phalanx CIWS systems were added in the 1980s for point defense. In recent years they have also carried Mk 38 25 mm Bushmaster cannons.
The ''Blue Ridge'' class consists of two ships. Originally six were requested, three were planned, and only two were built.
Ships in class
References
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