Cleveland class light cruisers

Cleveland class light cruisers

Displacement: 13,887 tons full load
Dimensions: 608 x 64 x 23.5 ft
Propulsion: Steam turbines, 4 634 psi boilers, 4 shafts, 100,000 hp, 32.5 knots
Crew: 1255
Armament: 4 triple 6/47, 6 dual 5/38, 4 dual 40 mm AA, 19 20 mm AA
Armor: 3.25-5 inch belt, 2 inch deck, 1.5-6 inch turrets, 6 inch barbettes,
2.25-5 inch CT
Extensively improved Brooklyn class design. Final AA armament
was 4 quad 40 mm, 6 twin 40 mm, 10 20 mm. CL 66 and later
had steel deckhouses in place of aluminum in earlier ships.
These ships were badly overloaded by 1945. Some of these ships
were reclassified to CV in 1942 (changed to CVL in 1943) and
converted to light fleet carriers.

CL 55   Cleveland
Built by New York SB. Laid down 1 July 1940, launched 6 Sept 1941,
commissioned 15 June 1942. Decommissioned 7 Feb 1947, stricken
1 March 1959, sold 18 Feb 1960, scrapped at Baltimore.

CL 56   Columbia
Built by New York SB. Laid down 18 Aug 1940, launched 17 Dec 1941,
commissioned 29 July 1942. Kamikaze 6 Jan 1945 (two) and 9 Jan 1945.
Decommissioned 30 Nov 1946, stricken 1 March 1959, sold 16 Feb 1959,
scrapped at Chester PA 1960.

CL 57   Montpelier
Built by New York SB. Laid down 2 Dec 1940, launched 12 Feb 1942,
commissioned 9 Sept 1942. Kamikaze 27 Nov 1944. Decommissioned
24 Jan 1947, stricken 1 March 1959, sold 22 Jan 1960, scrapped
at Baltimore.

CL 58   Denver
Built by New York SB. Laid down 26 Dec 1940, launched 4 April 1942,
commissioned 15 Oct 1942. Torpedoed 13 Nov 1943, kamikaze 28 Oct 1944,
minor damage. Decommissioned 7 Feb 1947, stricken 1 March 1959,
sold 29 Feb 1960, scrapped at Kearney 11/60.

CL 59/CV 22/CVL 22   Independence (ex Amsterdam)
Built by New York Shipbuilding. Laid down 1 May 1941, to CV
10 Jan 1942, launched 22 Aug 1942, commissioned 14 Jan 1943.
Torpedoed 20 Nov 1943. Decommissioned July 1946, target ship
for Operation Crossroads atom bomb tests at Bikini Atoll 7/46,
sunk as target 30 Jan 1951.

Conversion specs:
Displ: 14,751 tons normal
Dim: 600 x 71.5 x 26 ft
Extr: 622.5 x 109.25 x 26 ft
Crew: 1,461
Arm: 2 quad, 8 dual 40 mm AA, 16 single 20 mm AA, 45 aircraft

CL 60   Santa Fe
Built by New York SB. Laid down 7 June 1941, launched
10 June 1942, commissioned 24 Nov 1942. Decommissioned
19 Oct 1946, stricken 1 March 1959, sold 9 Nov 1959,
scrapped at Portland, OR.

CL 61/CV 23/CVL 23   Princeton (ex Tallahassee)
Built by New York Shipbuilding. Laid down 2 June 1941, to CV
14 Feb 1942, launched 18 Oct 1942, commissioned 25 Feb 1943.
Bombed 24 Oct 1944 at Leyte Gulf, torpedoes in hangar deck exploded,
cruiser Birmingham, alongside to fight fires, was heavily damaged.
CVL 23 later abandoned and scuttled.

Conversion specs: as CL 59

CL 62   Birmingham
Built by Newport News. Laid down 17 Feb 1941, launched
20 March 1942, commissioned 29 Jan 1943. Heavily damaged by torpedoes
and bombs 8-9 Nov 1943. Heavily damaged by explosion of carrier
Princeton 24 Oct 1944. Kamikaze 4 May 1945. Decommissioned
2 Jan 1947, stricken 1 March 1959, scrapped at Long Beach.

CL 63   Mobile
Built by Newport News. Laid down 14 April 1941, launched
15 May 1942, commissioned 24 March 1943. Decommissioned
9 May 1947, stricken 1 March 1959, sold 19 Jan 1960, scrapped
at Portland, OR.

CL 64   Vincennes (ex Flint)
Built by Bethlehem Quincy. Laid down 7 March 1942, launched
17 July 1943, commissioned 21 Jan 1944. Decommissioned
10 Sept 1946, stricken 1 April 1966, target 28 Oct 1969.

CL 65   Pasadena
Built by Bethlehem Quincy. Laid down 6 Feb 1943, launched
28 Dec 1943, commissioned 8 June 1944. Decommissioned
12 Jan 1950, conversion to CLG 6 cancelled (CL 82 substituted),
stricken 1 Dec 1970, scrapped.

CL 66/CLG 7/CG 7     Springfield
Built by Bethlehem Quincy. Laid down 13 Feb 1943, launched
9 March 1944, commissioned 9 Sept 1944. Decommissioned 1950.
To CLG 7, May 1957, conversion at Bethlehem Quincy started
1 Aug 1957, moved to Boston Navy 22 March 1960, recommissioned
2 July 1960, completed 7 Aug 1960. Carried 1 twin Terrier launcher
aft (120 missiles), 1 triple 6/47 and 1 dual 5/38 forward, fitted
as flagship. All superstructure rebuilt. Decommissioned
15 May 1974, to CG 7, June 1975, stricken 30 Sept 1978, scrapped.

CL 67/CLG 8 Topeka
Built by Bethlehem Quincy. Laid down 21 April 1943, launched
19 Aug 1944, commissioned 23 Dec 1944. Decommissioned
18 June 1949. To CLG 8, 23 May 1957, conversion at New York Navy
started 19 Aug 1957, recommissioned 26 March 1959, completed
12 June 1960. Carried 1 twin Terrier launcher aft (120 missiles),
2 triple 6/47 and 3 dual 5/38 forward. Forward superstructure
essentially unchanged, after superstructure rebuilt. Decommissioned
5 June 1969, stricken 1 Dec 1973, sold 20 March 1975, scrapped.

CL 76/CV 24/CVL 24   Belleau Wood (ex New Haven)
Built by New York Shipbuilding. Laid down 11 Aug 1941, to CV
14 Feb 1942, launched 6 Dec 1942, commissioned 32 Mar 1943.
Kamikaze 30 Oct 1944. Decommissioned 13 Jan 1947, to France 6/51,
renamed Bois Belleau 9 Sept 1953, returned 9/60, stricken 1 Oct 1960,
scrapped at Chester PA in 1962.

Conversion specs: as CL 59

CL 77/CV 25/CVL 25/AVT 1     Cowpens (ex Huntington)
Built by New York Shipbuilding. Laid down 17 Nov 1941, to CV
27 March 1942, launched 17 Jan 1943, commissioned 28 May 1943.
Decommissioned 13 Jan 1947, to AVT 5/59, stricken 1 Nov 1959,
scrapped at Portland, 1962.

Conversion specs: as CL 59

CL 78/CV 26/CVL 26/AVT 2     Monterey (ex Dayton)
Built by New York Shipbuilding. Laid down 29 Dec 1941, to CV
27 March 1942, launched 28 Feb 1943, commissioned 17 June 1943.
Decommissioned 11 Feb 1947. Recommissioned 15 Sept 1950, training
carrier 1951-1954, replaced by Saipan, decommissioned 16 Jan 1956,
to AVT 5/59, stricken 1 June 1970, scrapped.

Conversion specs: as CL 59

CL 79/CV 28/CVL 28/AVT 3     Cabot (ex Wilmington)
Built by New York Shipbuilding. Laid down 16 March 1942, to CV
2 June 1942, launched 4 April 1943, commissioned 24 July 1943.
Kamikaze 25 Nov 1944, decommissioned 11 Feb 1947. Recommissioned
27 Oct 1948, updated for ASW work, decommissioned 21 Jan 1955,
to AVT 5/59. Refit at Philadelphia Navy 1965-1967, Spanish Dedalo
30 Aug 1968, stricken 1 Aug 1972, sold to Spain 5 Dec 1972,
decommissioned at New Orleans 5 Aug 1989, sold for scrap 1995.

Conversion specs: as CL 59

CL 80   Biloxi
Built by Newport News. Laid down 9 July 1941, launched 23 Feb 1943,
commissioned 31 Aug 1943. Kamikaze 27 March 1945. Decommissioned
29 Oct 1946, stricken 1 Sept 1961, scrapped at Portland, OR 1962.

CL 81   Houston (ex Vicksburg)
Built by Newport News. Laid down 4 Aug 1941, launched 19 June 1943,
commissioned 20 Dec 1943. Severely damaged by torpedoes 14 Oct 1944,
hit again 16 Oct 1944, nearly lost, repairs took one year.
Ship was entirely reconstructed and a totally new stern was
built. Decommissioned 15 Dec 1947, stricken 1 March 1959,
scrapped at Baltimore 1960.

CL 82/CLG 6/CG 6     Providence
Built by Bethlehem Quincy.   Laid down 27 July 1943, launched
28 Dec 1944, commissioned 15 May 1945. Decommissioned 14 June 1949,
to CLG 6, May 1957, conversion at Bethlehem Quincy started
1 June 1957, recommissioned 17 Sept 1959, completed 31 Dec 1959.
Carried 1 twin Terrier launcher aft (120 missiles), 1 triple 6/47
and 1 dual 5/38 forward, fitted as flagship. All superstructure
rebuilt. Decommissioned 31 Aug 1973, to CG 6 June 1975, stricken
30 Sept 1978, scrapped.

CL 83   Manchester
Built by Bethlehem Quincy. Laid down 25 Sept 1944, launched
5 March 1946, commissioned 29 Oct 1946. Refitted with dual 3/50
in place of quad 40 mm 1950's. Decommissioned 27 June 1956, stricken
1 April 1960, sold 31 Oct 1960, scrapped at Richmond, CA.

CL 84        (none)
Cancelled 16 Dec 1940 to allow Federal SB to concentrate on DDs.

CL 85/CV 27/CVL 27   Langley (ex Crown Point, ex Fargo)
Built by New York Shipbuilding. To CV 27 March 1942, laid down
11 April 1942, renamed 13 Nov 1942, renamed 8 May 1943,
launched 22 May 1943, commissioned 31 Aug 1943. Decommissioned
11 Feb 1947, French 8 Jan 1951, renamed Lafayette 2 June 1951,
returned March 1963, stricken 1963, scrapped at Baltimore in 1964.

Conversion specs: as CL 59

CL 86   Vicksburg
Built by Newport News. Laid down 26 Oct 1942, launched 14 Dec 1943,
commissioned 12 June 1944. Decommissioned 30 June 1947,
stricken 1 Oct 1962, test hulk, sold 25 Aug 1964, scrapped
at Terminal I.

CL 87   Duluth
Built by Newport News. Laid down 9 Nov 1942, launched 13 Jan 1944,
commissioned 18 Sept 1944. Decommissioned 25 June 1949,
stricken 1 Jan 1960, sold 14 Nov 1960, scrapped.

CL 88   (none)
Cancelled 16 Dec 1940 to allow Federal SB to concentrate on DDs.

CL 89   Miami
Built by Cramp. Laid down 2 Aug 1941, launched 8 Dec 1942,
commissioned 28 Dec 1943. Decommissioned 30 June 1947,
stricken 1 Sept 1961, sold 26 July 1962, scrapped at Richmond, CA.

CL 90   Astoria
Built by Cramp. Laid down 6 Sept 1941, launched 6 March 1943,
commissioned 17 May 1944. Decommissioned 1 July 1949,
stricken 1 Nov 1969, scrapped.

CL 91/CLG 5/CG 5     Oklahoma City
Built by Cramp. Laid down 8 Dec 1942, launched 20 Feb 1944,
commissioned 22 Dec 1944. Decommissioned 30 June 1947,
to CLG 5, May 1957, conversion at Bethlehem San Francisco
started 21 May 1957, recommissioned 7 Sept 1960, completed
31 Aug 1960. Carried 1 twin Talos launcher aft (46 missiles),
1 triple 6/47 and 1 dual 5/38 forward, fitted as flagship. All
superstructure rebuilt. To CG 5, June 1975, decommissioned and
stricken 15 Dec 1979. Used as a target hulk; sunk as a target
25 March 1999.

CL 92/CLG 4/CG 4     Little Rock
Built by Cramp, laid down 6 March 1943, launched 27 Aug 1944,
commissioned 17 June 1945. Decommissioned 24 June 1949,
to CLG 4, May 1957, conversion at NY Shipbuilding started
30 Jan 1957, recommissioned 3 June 1960, completed 5 June 1960.
Carried 1 twin Talos launcher aft (46 missiles), 1 triple 6/47
and 1 twin 5/38 forward, fitted as flagship. All superstructure
rebuilt. To CG 4 June 1975, decommissioned and stricken
22 Nov 1976, preserved.

CL 93/CLG 93/CLG 3   Galveston
Built by Cramp. Laid down 27 Aug 1943, launched 22 April 1945,
suspended 24 June 1946 (nearly complete), laid up, to CLG 3,
4 Feb 1956, conversion at Philadelphia Navy started 15 Aug 1956,
redesignated CLG 3 and commissioned 28 May 1958, completed
30 June 1958. Carried 1 twin Talos launcher aft (46 missiles),
2 triple 6/47 and 3 dual 5/38 forward; forward superstructure
essentially unmodified, all aft superstructure rebuilt. Was
heavily overloaded and experienced hull cracking problems.
Decommissioned 25 May 1970, stricken 21 Dec 1973, scrapped.

CL 94   Youngstown
Laid down by Cramp 4 Sept 1944, cancelled 12 Aug 1945, scrapped.

CL 99/CV 29/CVL 29/AVT 4     Bataan (ex Buffalo)
Built by New York Shipbuilding. To CV 2 June 1942, laid down
31 Aug 1942, launched 1 Aug 1943, commissioned 13 May 1943.
Decommissioned 11 Feb 1947, recommissioned 13 May 1950, updated
for ASW work, decommissioned 9 April 1954. To AVT 5/59, stricken
1 Sept 1959, scrapped.

Conversion specs: as CL 59

CL 100/CV 30/CVL 30/AVT 5    San Jacinto (ex Reprisal, ex Newark)
Built by New York Shipbuilding. To CV 2 June 1942, laid down
26 Oct 1942, renamed 6 Jan 1943, launched 29 Sept 1943,
commissioned 15 Dec 1943. Decommissioned 1 Mar 1947,
to AVT 5/59, stricken 1 June 1979, scrapped.

Conversion specs: as CL 59

CL 101 Amsterdam
Built by Newport News. Laid down 3 March 1943, launched
25 April 1944, commissioned 8 Jan 1945. Decommissioned
30 June 1947, stricken 2 Jan 1971, scrapped.

CL 102 Portsmouth
Built by Newport News. Laid down 28 June 1943, launched
20 Sept 1944, commissioned 25 June 1945. Decommissioned
15 June 1949, stricken 1 Dec 1970, scrapped.

CL 103       Wilkes-Barre
Built by New York SB. Laid down 14 Dec 1942, launched
23 Dec 1943, commissioned 1 July 1944. Decommissioned
9 Oct 1947, stricken 15 Jan 1971, used in explosives trials
and sunk 12-13 May 1972.

CL 104/IX 304        Atlanta
Built by New York SB. Laid down 25 Jan 1943, launched
6 Feb 1944, commissioned 3 Dec 1944. Decommissioned
1 July 1949, stricken 1 Oct 1964. Reacquired 15 May 1964
as IX 304, all new superstructure fitted for blast tests,
placed "out of commission, special" 31 Aug 1965, stricken
1 April 1970, scuttled 1 Oct 1970.

CL 105       Dayton
Built by New York SB. Laid down 8 March 1943, launched
19 March 1944, commissioned 7 Jan 1945. Decommissioned
1 March 1949, stricken 1 Sept 1961, scrapped at Baltimore.