Commissioned between 1976–1980, the Virginia-class cruisers were built as nuclear-powered escorts for carrier battle groups. Each unit cost approximately USD 1–1.1 billion at launch, while annual operating and maintenance costs reached USD 60–70 million per ship by the late 1990s. Technologically advanced yet financially heavy, all were decommissioned between 1994–1999. Their story is not failure—but proof that power sometimes outpaces practicality. #ww2 #military #ship #navy #veterans | Naval L