Boston class cruiser

Boston class cruiser

The United States Navy's Boston class were the first guided missile cruisers in the world. Both ships in this experimental class were originally Baltimore class heavy cruisers that had been decommissioned after World War II, but were redesignated as guided missile heavy cruisers (CAGs) and entered refit in 1952. The lengthly conversion and modernization project involved removing the aft triple 8 inch gun turret and its supporting structure and installation of two twin launchers for Terrier anti-aircraft guided missiles. The forward two 8 inch gun turrets remained unchanged. The forward superstructure was modified to include the Terrier's associated radars and electronics, the aft superstructure was completely replaced, and Baltimore class's two funnels were trunked to one.

Owing to the Boston class's experimental nature, the ships were only partially converted, with a full conversion to be carried out if the new weapon systems were successful. Had the ships been fully converted, the forward 8 inch turrets would have been replaced with additional Terrier launchers.

In 1968 both Boston class guided missile heavy cruisers were reclassified back to heavy cruisers (CAs), in part due to the extensive use of their 8 inch guns for shore bombardment during the Vietnam War. While they had retained their Terrier missiles, the swift advance of technology had made these pioneering weapons obsolete after little more than a dozen years' service, and the ships' main battery were once again their six remaining 8 inch guns in the forward turrets.

Various proposals for limited modernization or complete reconstruction were considered but ultimately rejected. In 1970 both Boston class ships were decommissioned for the final time, eventually stricken from the Naval Vessel Register, and sold for scrap.

The Boston class ships

External links

* [http://www.hazegray.org hazegray.org]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil US Naval Historical Center]
* [http://www.hullnumber.com/CAG-1 CAG-1 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Baltimore class cruiser — The Baltimore class cruisers were a class of heavy cruisers built for the United States Navy and the last heavy cruisers to be built during World War II. The ships looked very much like those of the Cleveland class. Their main role was to escort… …   Wikipedia

  • Albany class cruiser — The Albany Class guided missile cruisers were converted Baltimore and Oregon City class heavy cruisers of the United States Navy. All original superstructure and weapons were removed and replaced. The converted ships had new very high… …   Wikipedia

  • Crown Colony class cruiser — HMS Nigeria Class overview Name: Crown Colony Operators …   Wikipedia

  • USS Boston (CA-69) — USS Boston (CA 69/CAG 1), a Baltimore class heavy cruiser, was the sixth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the city of Boston, Massachusetts. Boston was launched 26 August 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Company s, Fore River Shipyard,… …   Wikipedia

  • Protected cruiser — Protected cruisers were a type of naval cruiser of the late 19th century, so known because their deck armour offered protection for vital machine spaces from shrapnel caused by exploding shells above. They were less well protected than armoured… …   Wikipedia

  • Iowa class battleship — The Iowa class battleships were a class of six fast battleships ordered by the United States Navy in 1939 and 1940 to escort the Fast Carrier Task Forces that would operate in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Four were completed in the early… …   Wikipedia

  • USS Boston — Seven ships of the United States Navy have borne the name Boston , in honor of the city of Boston, Massachusetts.* The USS Boston (1776), was a gondola launched in 1776 and was burned to avoid capture by the British on 13 October 1776. * The USS… …   Wikipedia

  • North Carolina-class battleship — North Carolina steaming on 3 June 1946. By this time, many of the light anti aircraft weapons (Bofors 40 mm and Oerlikon 20 mm) mounted during the war had been removed, while more modern radars had been mounted on her forefunnel and mainmast …   Wikipedia

  • Mercedes-Benz S-Class — Manufacturer Mercedes Benz Production 1954–present Assembly Berlin Frankfurt, Ge …   Wikipedia

  • USS Canberra (CA-70) — USS Canberra (CA 70, ex CAG 2, ex CA 70) was a Baltimore class cruiser and later a Boston class guided missile cruiser of the United States Navy. She served from 1943 until 1970, and participated in World War II and the Cuban Missile Crisis naval …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”