At least they all didn't go that way. My proud Guiness Book Record setter was a former CA-123 class, converted to the Albany CG-10 ship of HER class, and the worlds most powerful cruiser.
I know how you feel. I was aboard the USS NewportNews (sister ship) from 66-69. She was scrapped quite a few years ago. She was a piece of history and this did not have to happen to her. Someday they will find out they still need those 8" rapid fire guns.
Greg H. formerly 1st div. USS Newport News (Grey Ghost)
Ahh, the 8" rapid-firing main battery of these ships.....there may come a time when the U.S. Marines will rue the day that the Newport News and the Des Moines were scrapped, like when they might have to seize a beach-head in the Strait of Hormuz from Iran or Inchon from the North Koreans, yet again. At least the Iowa and the Wisconsin with their 16" main batteries could return for one last gorious volley of REAL shock and awe.......
The Marine Corps have begged the navy to keep the Battleships in some sort of ready reserve, One of the reasons they do not let you below decks on them. I agree those 8 inch cruisers should have been kept around or the navy build something compatiable
The Navy should of kept the"Alaska" class battlecruisers and the newest of the "cleveland" and all of the "Fargo" class light cruisers. They were all new ships when decommed. It's gonna kick the Navy inthe butt when they gotta have some off-shore fire support and all they have is a 76mm and the 5" gun.
My wise old father who served on the USS DesMoines and USS Wisconsin has told me those types of ships are no longer viable for current warfare. I would tend to agree. When was the last time we REALLLY needed shore bombardmant? They did some during the Vietnam war and very little during the first Gulf war. Also for those lamenting the loss of the DesMoines, there was a group trying to make her a museum but they could not raise the funds from anywhere.
We relieved the Daisy Mae at Rota, Spain in 1958 as flag of the 6th Fleet. The guys were on the dock in hula girl outfit,with big signs WELCOME BOSTON ! Now they could go home. I don't know if that was before or after they mad the movie THE PURSUIT OF THE GRAF SPEE, the German pocket battleship. In the movie, she was supposed to hiding as an American Heavy Cruiser. What a beautiful ship!
You know, this is a comment I meant to make over a year ago. But on the U.S. S. Des Moines ships’s homepage. It was Sunday afternoon the 20th of August. I was on my way home from Norfolk, VA and a reunion with some of my E-Div shipmates from my first at sea command. The U.S.S. Leahy (DLG-16). I was setting on the right side of the plane and as we were on short approach into Phily, I glanced down and instantly noticed that the Des Moines was being readied for towing. Boy my heart sank. I knew she was trying to be saved as a museum ship. Just about a week before my reunion I had bought at a local bookstore a copy of “Warship Boneyards”, by Kit & Carolyn Bond. There were good pictures off “The Daisy Mae” in it. It was an ironic thing that the Daisy Mae followed the Leahy to Brownsville also. But she sure outlasted the “Beautiful Sweet 16”. They were both very Good Looking Gray Hulls, despite the fact I later became a Submarineer. I wished that some time after WWII, someone had, had the foresight to save a Pre WWII Treaty Cruiser, like the Portland Class. Until the Leahy/Bainbridge Class came along, No ship in the Navy had such a good looking hull design as those Treaty Cruisers. Although, the late war built heavy cruisers had their own wonderful lines and shapes but in a diffrent way. My Favorite was the Oregon City Class, which preceded the Des Moines Class. Even though they were slightly smaller and lighter, they had a great look to them. But for the classic Warbuilt CA, the Des Moines class looked the best I guess. Maybe??? Way better than the Baltimore class. Just one old Submarineer’s opinion. Despite their beauty, they are still no matter what, just “Targets”
I know some of you will declare "get a rope". But it’s true. Look at what happened eventually to the GENERAL BELGRANO, AKA the USS PHOENIX (CL-46). Actually, I know this is turning into a long story. But it’s my story so I’m going to tell it!!!
When I got off active duty and joined the USNR, one of the guys I meet was an ENC(SS). He was one of the older fellows in my SubGrpSpt Unit. He had served on the USS PHOENIX (CL-46) at Pearl Harbor the morning of Dec 7th. He was the duty boat engineer. I can relate the rest of that event if anyone wants to hear it. It is a real No S!@# Sea story….
This message has been edited. Last edited by: IC2SS19Z50C5,
Anyway, he was the duty boat engineer or Coxswain, (I had to think about that for a minute).. Anyway they had just gotten back from what I believe was their first trip to this little landing near Pearl City. They had gone to get fresh milk, pineapples and some Sunday papers. He had just sat down to read the paper on a set of Bits near the after quatrerdeck when the first bombs started falling and then as we all know the S@#$ really started to hit the fan!!!… He and the duty utilityboat made three trips to Mary’s Point (for those that don’t know, the main, at the time pick up point for liberty launches going to ships anchored out)… (Road a whale boat from there myself, I caught the last one to Ford Island the night I checked into SubSqdrn 15 back in 72). Anyway, they made those three full trips in the height of the first wave attack. They took any and everyone, mainly trying to get their own ships crew members, but due to the situation of course they were not particular!!!.. When they caught up to the PHOENIX, she was already under way and gaining headway. They/he held the utility boat up to the afterbrow until all aboard were off and headed up the brow. As I remember he said he put the wheel hard full against the brow and then made his move and leapt aboard.. As they passed down through the channel at 20kts they flooded out the officer housing which was located alongside the channel… If you have done your research the PHOENIX and ST. LOUIS were the only Major warships to clear the harbor that morning. If I’m incorrect on this please let me know… Anyway that was the story. He had another one where he slept through general quarters and a full-scale air attack. He was on the PHOENIX throughout the whole war. Only switching to submarines after the war.
