U.S.S. Newport News
CA-148
1966
(Quadrant)
- Class: Des Moines - 3 heavy cruisers of 1943-44
- Displacement: 20,950 tons
- Dimensions: 716'5" x 76'4" x 25'6"
- Machinery: 4 boilers, 4 geared trubines; 120,000 shp; 4 screws
- Speed: 33 knots
- Armor: 6" belt, 8" turrets, 3.5" deck, 6.5" conning tower
- Guns: 9-8"/55 (3x3), 12-5"/38 DP (6x2), 8-3"/50 AA (4x2)
- Complement: 1400
- Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia
- Keel Laid: 1 Oct 1945
- Launched: 6 Mar 1948
- Commissioned: 29 Jan 1949
- Decommissioned: 27 Jun 1975
- Notes: Originally completed with 24-3"/50 AA, many were removed during a 1961-62 refit. Multiple deployments in the Mediterranean as flagship, Sixth Fleet, from 1950-61, followed by service in the Atlantic as flagship, Second Fleet, from 1962-1964. Participated in the Cuban blockade Oct-Nov 1962. Moved to the Pacific and served with the Seventh Fleet on the gun line off Viet Nam 1967-1969 and again in 1972. On 1 Oct 1972 an 8" projectile exploded prematurely in the bore of the center gun of turret II, igniting a powder fire, killing 20 sailors and injuring 36. The center gun was removed and its port plated over during repairs at Subic Bay and the turret remained inoperable and locked in train for the remainder of her career. However, she returned to fire support missions off Viet Nam later that month. She was the last heavy cruiser in service before decommissioning in 1975.
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