Notes: The USN’s first post-WWII cruisers, these ships incorporated all the lessons learned from the war. They were fast, extremely maneuverable (almost as agile as destroyers) and armed solely with medium-caliber guns; omitting machine guns and low-caliber AA weapons which were found to be increasingly ineffective in 1945. Scouting and AA escort were their focus, and every weapon on board had an AA ability. They were designed from the outset for radar. At one point, each ship carried twenty-three individual radar dishes; the USN henceforth began a programme to use multi-function sets in an effort to prevent this from happening on future classes.
Originally ten were planned, however all but the first two (already under construction) were cancelled after VJ Day.
Combat usage: Both Worcester and Roanoke were active in Korea, operating as close as 2 ¾ NM from the North Korean coast on shore bombardment missions. They also operated helicopters regularly during the Korean War. However they never had a chance to prove their true value as blue-water cruisers. After a decade and a half in reserve, they were scrapped.
Their armour was of very high-quality steel and after scrapping, much of it was recycled by the Fermi National Laboratory near Chicago, IL for use in subatomic particle-acceleration research.
Displacement: 14,700t full Dimensions: 679’6”x70’8”x25’ Machinery: Steam-reduction: 4 boilers, 4 General Electric geared steam turbines, 4 shafts w/non-CP props Max speed: 33kts Range: 8000NM @ 15kts Complement: 1070 peacetime, 1401 wartime
AIRCRAFT
x1 H-5 Dragonfly
(Originally designed for x1 Curtiss SC-1 seaplane)
WEAPONS-Guns
x12 (6 twin) Mk16DP 6” 11NM AA/12 ¼ NM surface
x22 (11 twin) Mk27 3” 4 ½ NM AA/surface
x2 Mk33 3” 5NM AA/surface (added to fantail during refits)
SENSORS-Radar
AN/SPS-37 (E) 2D air search: 243NM vs. large/high, 114NM vs. small/low
AN/SPS-8 (A) 152NM heightfinder
AN/SPS-12 (A) 2D air search: 133NM vs. large/high, 42NM vs. small/low
AN/SPS-10 (G) 28NM surface search (range, bearing)
Mk13 (X) 19NM FC
Mk25 (X) 50NM FC
Mk35 (I/J) 15NM FC
Mk27 (X) Rangefinder only for main guns
SENSORS-EW
AN/WLR-1 ESM (after refit)
AN/SRD-1 RDF
AN/SPX-2 IFF
SENSORS-Sonar
AN/UQN-1 fathometer
MISC.
AN/SRT-3 comms
ARMOUR SCHEME
Belt: 5” Main deck: 5” Turrets: 6 ½” Conning tower: 5”
(below: this class was the first large warship type designed to operate in the age of atomic warfare.) (official USN photo)
