Spurred by the success of the specialized Amphibious Force Flagships (AGC) of World War II and by a desire to remove major tactical force commanders and their staffs from excessively crowded combat ships, the post-war Navy converted the incomplete heavy cruiser Northampton (CA-125) to a tactical command ship. She was redesignated CLC-1 in 1947, completed in 1953 and again redesignated CC-1 in 1961, when the role of National Emergency Command Post Afloat was added to her mission.
In 1962-64 two former small aircraft carriers (CVL) were also converted for the National Emergency Command Post function and redesignated CC-2 and CC-3. Only the first was completed in that guise, with the other being further modified to serve as a communications relay ship (AGMR).
Also, in 1952 the incomplete large cruiser Hawaii (CB-3) was reclassified as a Large Tactical Command Ship, with the new hull number CBC-1. However, the necessary work was not carried out and the ship was again redesignated CB-3 in 1954. The command ship designation (CC) became extinct in 1980, when USS Northampton and USS Wright were sold for scrapping.
This page provides the numbers of U.S. Navy command ships (CBC, CLC & CC).
Command ships numbered in the CBC, CLC & CC series:
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NOTES:
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Page made 22 August 2002
New ship added 14 June 2009