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fighting ships of the world

UNITED STATES NAVY (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)

CRUISERS

PENSACOLA heavy cruisers (1929-1930)

Pensacola 1939

Pensacola 1943

Project history: First USN 'Washington' cruisers. Designing works for 203mm-guns cruiser were begun in the USA in 1919, but the ultimate variant was ready only by 1925. Powerful armament consisted from 10 203mm guns in twin and triple turrets was provided, protection defended machinery and magazines from fire of 130mm guns on midranges. It ensured unvulnerability from destroyer guns, and central fire control system allowed to fight against light cruisers, armed by 152mm guns, on big distances on which their backfire will be ineffective. At the same time ships were vulnerable on any distances under fire of 203mm guns. Flush-decked hull with appreciable deck sheer was strongly narrowed at ship ends. This decision has allowed to lower some percentage of hull weight and to raise a speed, however it had also negative consequences: wide barbettes of triple turrets were not entered into fine lines. As a result cruisers had rather unusual arrangement of main turrets: end twin turrets and superfiring triple ones. Armament includes also 4 127/25mm AA guns and 2 х 3 533mm TTs. Two catapults for seaplanes took places amidships.

Soon after commissioning their very strong rolling was appeared. During fixing of this problem bilge keels were increased.

Ship protection: Main belt extended to 1.5m below waterline and to 2nd deck abreast machinery and to 3rd deck abreast magazines. Middle part of belt abreast machinery was 64mm thick and end parts abreast magazines were 102mm. Belt was closed by 64mm bulkheads and middle and end parts were separated by 25mm bulkheads. Armoured deck over main belt was 45mm thick over magazines and 25mm over machinery. Barbettes were 19mm thick. Turrets had 64mm faces, 25mm sides, 19mm rears and 51mm crowns. There are CT with 32mm sides.

Modernizations: mid-1930s, both: - 2 x 3 - 533 TT; + 8 x 1 - 12.7/90

1940, Pensacola: + CXAM radar

early 1941, both: - 8 x 1 - 12.7/90; + 4 x 1 - 127/25 Mk 10.11.13

11/1941, both: + 2 x 4 - 28/75 Mk 1

1942, both: + 2 x 4 - 28/75 Mk 1, 8 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4

late 1942, both: - 4 x 4 - 28/75; + 4 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4

1943, Pensacola: - CXAM radar; + SG, SK, Mk 3, Mk 4 radars

1943, Salt Lake City: + SC, SG, Mk 3, Mk 4 radars

1944, both: - 1 catapult; + 2 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, (8 - 9) x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4

to 1945, Pensacola: - 20 x 1 - 20/70; + 1 x 4 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 9 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 4

to 1945, Salt Lake City: - 2 x 1 - 20/70 (19 at all)

late 1945, Pensacola: - 4 x 1 - 127/25, 1 x 4 - 40/56, 4 x 2 - 20/70, 1 catapult

1/1946, Pensacola: 2 x 3 - 203/55 Mk 14, 2 x 2 - 203/55 Mk 14, 4 x 1 - 127/25 Mk 19, 6 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 5 x 2 - 20/70 Mk 24, SC, SG, Mk 3, Mk 4 radars

1/1946, Salt Lake City: 2 x 3 - 203/55 Mk 14, 2 x 2 - 203/55 Mk 14, 8 x 1 - 127/25 Mk 19, 6 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 19 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 1 catapult, 4 seaplanes, SC, SG, Mk 3, Mk 4 radars

Naval service: Pensacola 30.11.1942 in battle at Tassafaronga was badly damaged by torpedo from Japanese ship and was underrepair till November, 1943. Salt Lake City 11.10.1942 in battle at Cape Esperance was damaged by three shells from Japanese ships, repair lasted till February, 1943; in battle at Comandor Islands 26.3.1943 she received heavy damages from Japanese cruisers gunfire (4 shell) and returned to service in October, 1943. Both ships were used as targets in nuclear tests in 1946, Pensacola was finally scuttled 10.11.1948 and Sault Lake City was sunk 25.5.1948 as target.

Pensacola 1930

© Ivan Gogin, 2014-15