A modern guided-missile cruiser is about 180 meters (600 feet) long, weighs 7,000–10,000 tons, and has a crew of around 500.
Speed
A guided-missile cruiser can travel at speeds of over 30 knots.
Missions
Guided missile cruisers can perform a variety of missions, including anti-air warfare, anti-submarine, strike, ballistic missile defense, and anti-surface warfare.
Modern cruise missiles are guided by an inertial navigation system that uses contour maps stored in the system's computerized memory.

John Jr goes on the USS Port Royal (CG-73)

John Jr. with wide, amazed eyes, standing in front of the massive USS Port Royal docked at the harbor.

Once upon a time, in a cozy little town, lived a curious baby boy named John Jr. with his loving parents. John Jr. had short brown hair and eyes filled with wonder. One sunny morning, John Jr.'s parents decided it was a perfect day for an adventure. They told him they were going to visit a very big ship called the USS Port Royal. John Jr. could hardly contain his excitement. He had never seen a ship before, especially not one as massive as a guided-missile cruiser. As they approached the dock, the USS Port Royal loomed large, like a giant floating on the water. John Jr.'s eyes widened in amazement.

The Big Adventure Begins

John Jr. on the bridge of the USS Port Royal, looking curiously at the buttons and screens while a friendly officer explains.

John Jr. and his parents boarded the USS Port Royal with a group of other visitors. The crew welcomed them warmly. They started their tour by visiting the bridge, where John Jr. saw countless buttons and screens. 'This is where we steer the ship,' explained a friendly officer. Next, they visited the deck where the missile launchers were. John Jr. was fascinated to learn that the ship could travel over 30 knots and perform many missions. He imagined the ship moving through the ocean, swift as a dolphin. The adventure on the ship was turning out to be more exciting than he had ever imagined.

Exploring the Mighty Ship

John Jr. in a special room, listening intently to a crew member explaining the ship's missions with a model of a cruise missile in the background.

After exploring the deck, John Jr. and his parents were taken to a special room where they learned about the ship's missions. 'The USS Port Royal can defend against air attacks, find submarines in the ocean, and even strike faraway targets,' a crew member explained. John Jr. listened intently, amazed at the ship's capabilities. He learned about the importance of protecting the sea and the people who travel on it. The crew member also showed them a model of a cruise missile and explained how it was guided by maps stored in its computer. John Jr.'s imagination soared as he pictured the ship on a mission, bravely navigating the high seas.

The Mission Explained

John Jr. holding a small model of the USS Port Royal with a mix of excitement and sadness on his face, dreaming of his own high-sea adventures.

As the tour came to an end, John Jr. felt a mix of excitement and sadness. He didn't want to leave the USS Port Royal. Before they left, the captain gave John Jr. a small model of the ship as a souvenir. 'Now you have your own USS Port Royal to take on adventures,' he said with a smile. On the way home, John Jr. couldn't stop talking about the ship and all the things he had learned. That night, he dreamt of sailing the high seas on his very own guided-missile cruiser, going on daring missions and exploring the unknown. It was a day he would never forget, the day John Jr. went on the USS Port Royal.