USS Minneapolis
Part of the New Orleans-class consisting of the New Orleans, Astoria, Minneapolis, Tuscaloosa, San Francisco, Quincy and Vincennes, preceded by the Portland-class and succeeded by the Wichita. Originally called the Astoria-class but renamed after the losses in 1942 and the following modernisation of the remaining ships. Due to the limited displacement as a result of the Washington Naval Treaty (1922) was she known as a so-called Treaty cruiser classified as light cruiser but later reclassified as heavy cruiser due to the calibre of her main guns. There were three different designs for the ships in this class, namely for the New Orleans, Astoria and Minneapolis (all 3 originally laid down as Portland-class cruisers), the Tuscaloosa and San Francisco and the Quincy and Vincennes.
Ordered on 13 February 1929, building awarded and actually start of building period on 11 October 1930, laid down at the Mare Island Navy Yard on 9 September 1931, launched on 9 March 1933, commissioned on 10 February 1934, decommissioned on 10 February 1946, stricken on 1 March 1959, sold to be broken up on 9 September 1959 and broken up at Panama City, Florida in May 1961. Limited building costs 11.318.000 US dollars. Call sign NIJZ.
General technical specifications for this class. Displacement 10.110 (standard)-12.663 (loaded) tons and as dimensions 175 (between perpendiculars)-179,27 (over all) x 18,82 x 5,92-7,16 (maximum) metres or 574-588’2” x 61’9” x 19’5”-23’6”. The machinery consisted of 4 Westinghouse geared turbines and 8 Babcock&Wilcox boilers delivering 107.000 hp allowing with the 4 screws a speed of 32,7 knots. Crew numbered 708 men. Original armament consisted of 3x3-20,3cm/8” /55cal guns, 8-12,7cm/5” /25 cal anti aircraft guns, 2-4,7cm/1.9”/ 30 saluting guns and 8-0.50” machineguns. In 1945 consisted the armament of 3x3-20,3cm/8” /55cal guns, 8-12,7cm/5” /25 cal anti aircraft guns, 2-4,7cm/1.9”/3pd saluting guns, 6-quad 4cm/1.6” Bofors anti aircraft guns and 28x102cm/0.79” Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons. Could carry 4 floatplanes for which catapults were mounted amidships (in 1945 remained one catapult). The armour consisted of a 7,6cm/3”-12,7cm/5” thick belt, a 3,2cm/1.25”-5,7cm/2.25” thick deck with the turrets, barbettes and conning tower protected by respectively 3,8cm/1.5”-20,3cm/8”, 16,5cm/6,5” and conning tower 12m7cm/5”.
