American heavy cruiser USS Newport News (CA-148)1945-1993

Visit Amsterdam, Netherlands 17 September 1971

National Archive, The Hague, Netherlands. Photo Bert Verhoeff/Aefo

Original url

Visit Amsterdam, Netherlands 17 September 1971

National Archive, The Hague, Netherlands. Photo Bert Verhoeff/Aefo

Original url

Of the Des Moines-class heavy cruisers of which the Des Moines, Salem and Newport News were completed and the other planned nine were cancelled, preceded by the Oregon City-class. Laid down by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia, USA on 1 November 1945, launched by Mrs. Horner L. Ferguson on 6 March 1948, commissioned on 29 January 1949, decommissioned on 27 June 1975, stricken on 31 July 1978 and sold to be broken up by Southern Scrap Material Co. Ltd., New Orleans, USA on 25 February 1993.

Displacement 20.980 ton (class specifications 17.532 standard and 20.933 full load) and as dimensions 218,69 x 23,32 x 8,2 metres or 717.6 x 76.6 x 27 feet. Machinery consisted of General Electric turbine and 4 boilers supplying via 4 shafts 120.000 shp allowing a speed of 31,5 knot. Crew numbered 1.667 men. Armament consisted of 3x3-8” 55 cal guns, 6x2-12,7cm/5” 38 cal guns and 12x2-3” 50 cal guns and 12x102cm Oerlikon guns. The Armour consisted of a 1,2-15,2cm/4-” thick belt,  a 8,9cm/3.5” thick deck, gun turret, barbette and conning tower protected by respectively 5,1-20,3m/2-8”, 16cm/6.3” and 16,5cm/6.5”.