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fighting ships of the world

UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

CRUISERS

AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS AND CRAFT

BALTIMORE heavy cruisers (1943-1946)

NORTHAMPTON command ship (1953)

Baltimore 1943

Baltimore 1943

Baltimore 1944

Oregon City 1946

Baltimore 1963

St. Paul 1963

Oregon City 1963

Canberra 1958

Boston 1963

Albany 1963

Albany 1970

Albany 1979

Northampton 1961

Northampton 1963

Northampton 1970

Project history: Works on the Baltimore desiign started in September, 1939. War in Europe cancelled all contractual limitations that allowed to return to building of cruisers with 203mm guns. Just completed Wichita was taken for a basis, an unsatisfactory stability was appeared as her unique lack. It was originally supposed to limit by increase in a hull beam at 0.6m, however it has soon been decided to go on more significant change of the project, having strengthened AA armament at the expense of placing of 127/38mm guns in twin turrets on accepted on Cleveland class light cruisers diamond-shaped scheme, and install multi-barrelled automatic guns (originally 4x4 28mm "Chicago pianos", subsequently replaced by 40/56mm Boforses). Also it was provided to lengthen a belt on a waterline. As a result new ship was notably grown: standard displacement has reached 13600t, and almost all gain of displacement was expended to strengthening of AA armament and providing of better seaworthiness and stability. Protection, in comparison with Wichita, practically has not changed: only deck thickness was increased to 65mm and waterline belt was hardly became longer. The immune zone under fire of 203mm guns was stretched from 77.5 to 120 cables. Engine power has been increased by 20%, as in comparison with a prototype displacement rose sharply.

The order for first four ships (СА68-71) had placed in July, 1940; in September the order for next four (СА72-75) followed. Last series of 16 ships (СА122-138) has been ordered in August, 1943. First ship has commissioned only in the spring of 1943, and war experience was considered in her construction, therefore after commissioning ships practically were not modernised throughout war. In 1942 the improved project, differing by reduction of funnels number to one and the improved fire sectors of an antiaircraft artillery has been created. It has been decided to finish on "1942 design" incomplete СА122-129, СА137 and СА138. In the end of war СА134 was re-ordered as new class cruiser with automatic 203mm guns (the future De Moines class), 12.8.1945 orders for CA126-129, CA137 and CA138 were cancelled, СА125 was completed after the war as command ship.

Ship protection: Main belt abreast machinery extended to 1.5m below and 2.86m over waterline. It was 152mm thick (76mm at lower edge) on 16mm STS plating. There were narrow belts abreast magazines. Thickness of these belts was 76mm decreasing to 51mm at lower edge. Magazines were protected by 140mm fore and 127mm aft bulkheads, machinery and magazines were separated by 152mm bulkheads. Armoured deck over main belt was 65mm. Barbettes were 178mm thick. Turrets had 203mm faces, 83-38mm sides, 38mm rears and 76mm crowns. CT was mounted from CA74.

Boston class CAG: Main belt abreast machinery extended to 1.5m below and 2.86m over waterline. It was 152mm thick (76mm at lower edge) on 16mm STS plating. There were narrow belts abreast magazines. Thickness of these belts was 76mm decreasing to 51mm at lower edge. Magazines were protected by 140mm fore and 127mm aft bulkheads, machinery and magazines were separated by 152mm bulkheads. Armoured deck over main belt was 65mm. Barbettes were 178mm thick. Turrets had 203mm faces, 83-38mm sides, 38mm rears and 76mm crowns.

Albany class CG: Main belt abreast machinery extended to 1.5m below and 2.86m over waterline. It was 152mm thick (76mm at lower edge) on 16mm STS plating. There were narrow belts abreast magazines. Thickness of these belts was 76mm decreasing to 51mm at lower edge. Magazines were protected by 140mm fore and 127mm aft bulkheads, machinery and magazines were separated by 152mm bulkheads. Armoured deck over main belt was 65mm.

Modernizations: to 1946, Baltimore, Boston, Canberra, Quincy: - SG-1, SK, Mk 8 radars; + SG-3, SK-2, SP, Mk 13 radars

to 1946, Pittsburgh, St. Paul, Columbus, Helena: - SG-1, Mk 8 radars; + SG-3, Mk 13 radars

1/1946, Baltimore, Boston, Canberra, Quincy: 3 x 3 - 203/55 Mk 12, 6 x 2 - 127/38 Mk 32, 12 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 24 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 2 catapults, 4 seaplanes, SG-3, SK-2, SP, Mk 13, 2x Mk 12.22 radars

1/1946, Pittsburgh, St. Paul, Columbus, Helena: 3 x 3 - 203/55 Mk 15, 6 x 2 - 127/38 Mk 32, 11 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 22 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 2 catapults, 2 seaplanes, SG-3, SK-2, SP, Mk 13, 2x Mk 12.22 radars

1/1946, Bremerton, Fall River, Macon, Los Angeles, Chicago: 3 x 3 - 203/55 Mk 15, 6 x 2 - 127/38 Mk 32, 11 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 2 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 14 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24, 2 catapults, 2 seaplanes, SG-3, SK-2, SP, Mk 13, 2x Mk 12.22 radars

early 1950s, all survived: - SK-2 radar; + SR-6 radar, SLR-2 ECM suite

1952 - 1955, Baltimore, Boston, Canberra, Quincy: - 12 x 4 - 40/60, 24 x 1 - 20/70; + 10 x 2 - 76/50 Mk 27/33

1952 - 1955, Pittsburgh, St. Paul, Columbus, Helena: - 11 x 4 - 40/60, 2 x 2 - 40/60, 22 x 1 - 20/70; + 10 x 2 - 76/50 Mk 27/33

1952 - 1955, Oregon City, Albany, Rochester: - 11 x 4 - 40/60, 2 x 2 - 40/60, 10 x 2 - 20/70; + 10 x 2 - 76/50 Mk 27/33

1952 - 1955, Bremerton, Fall River, Macon, Toledo, Los Angeles, Chicago: - 11 x 4 - 40/60, 2 x 2 - 40/60, 14 x 2 - 20/70; + 10 x 2 - 76/50 Mk 27/33

7/1956, Helena: - 1 x 2 - 76/50; + 3 x 1 Regulus I CruM launchers (3 RGM-6)

3/1956-1958, Macon, Toledo, Los Angeles: - 3 x 2 - 76/50; + 3 x 1 Regulus I CruM launchers (3 RGM-6)

late 1950s, all survived: - SG-3, SR-6 radars; + SPS-6 or SPS-12, SPS-8, SPS-10 radars, ULQ-6 ECM suite

1960-1969, Baltimore, Quincy, Pittsburgh, St. Paul, Bremerton, Fall River, Oregon City, Rochester: - (3 - 4) x 2 - 76/50

1960-1963, Helena, Macon, Toledo, Los Angeles: - 3 x 1 Regulus I CruM launchers (3 RGM-6)

1960s, many survived: - SPS-6 radar, SLR-2 ECM suite; + SPS-37A radar, WLR-1 ECM suite

11/1955, Boston; 6.1956, Canberra were modernized as given in the table.

1950s, Boston, Canberra: - CXRX radar; + SPS-8 radar

to 1966, Boston, Canberrs: - SPS-6, SPS-8, SPS-12 radars, SLR-2 suite; + SPS-37A, SPS-30 radars, WLR-1, ULQ-6 ECM suites

1968, Boston, Canberra: - 2 x 2 Terrier SAM launchers, 2x SPQ-5 radars

11/1962, Albany; 12.1962, Columbus; 5.1964, Chicago were fully reconstructed as given in the table.

1969, Albany: - SPS-29, SPS-39 radars; + SPS-43A, SPS-48 radars

1970, Albany: + SLQ-19A ECM suite

1973, Chicago: - SPS-29, SPS-39 radars; + SPS-43A, SPS-52 radars, SLQ-26 ECM suite, NTDS CCS

1970s, Columbus: - SPS-29, SPS-39 radars; + SPS-43A radar

1975, Albany: - SPS-30 radar; + NTDS CCS

1980, Albany, Chicago: Talos SAMs and SPG-49B/SPQ-2 radars were made unoperable.

NORTHAMPTON was completed as command ship with data as given in the table.

1963, Northampton: - 4 x 2 - 76/70, SPS-2 radar, SLR-2 ECM suite; + SPS-37 radar, WLR-1, ULQ-6 ECM suites

1970s, Northampton: - 3 x 1 - 127/54

Naval service: Canberra 13.10.1944 was damaged by Japanese air torpedo and returned to service in October, 1945. Pittsburgh 5.6.1945 was badly damaged during a typhoon (she lost fore end till No1 turret) and was under repair till September, 1945.

Columbus 1945

Albany 1946

Canberra 1964

Columbus 1963

Northampton 1963

© Ivan Gogin, 2014-15