Pensacola class cruiser

The "Pensacola" class of United States Navy heavy cruisers were the first "treaty cruisers", designed under the limitations set by the Washington Naval Treaty, which limited cruisers to a maximum of 10,000 tons displacement and a maximum main battery caliber of 8 inches.

Class history

In an effort to remain within treaty limits, while still mounting a very heavy main battery of ten 8" guns, the hull was of welded construction, and the armor belt was thin (varying from 2.5 to 4 inches in thickness). This was inadequate to protect her vitals from enemy 8" shells and was no thicker than the armor on 6" gun cruisers. In fact, "Pensacola" and "Salt Lake City" were classified as light cruisers due to their minimal armor until re-designated in July 1931 as Heavy Cruisers in accord with international practice of designating all cruisers with guns larger then 6" as Heavy Cruisers. Flush-decked and with their main battery equally divided fore and aft, they were handsome and well proportioned ships. Their main armament consisted of ten 8 inch (203 mm) guns, in two twin turrets on the main deck, and two triple turrets two decks above. All guns in each turret were mounted in a single slide, and were unable to elevate independently of each other. Unfortunately because of the rather unusual main battery layout and their heavy tripod fore-masts, they were top-heavy and prone to excessive rolling. This combined with low freeboard forward made them inferior seaboats compared to later designs.

The Navy only built two ships in this class before switching to the Sclass|Northampton|cruiser|4 design. Many of the deficiencies of the "Pensacola"-class were corrected by reducing the main battery to three triple turrets (two forward, one aft) and adding an additional upper deck forward of amidships.

Pensacola class ships

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External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ca-24.htm Global Security.org - Pensacola class cruiser]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ca-24-specs.htm Global Security.org - Pensacola class cruiser specifications]