U.S. NAVY
CLEVELAND CLASS CRUISERS


Hull Number and Name

CL-55    Cleveland
CL-56    Columbia
CL-57    Montpelier
CL-58    Denver
CL-59    Independence
CL-60    Santa Fe
CL-61    Princeton
CL-62    Birmingham
CL-63    Mobile
CL-64    Vincennes
CL-65    Pasadena
CL-66    Springfield
CL-67    Topeka
Hull Number and Name

CL-76    Belleau Wood
CL-77    Cowpens
CL-78    Monterrey
CL-79    Cabot
CL-80    Biloxi
CL-81    Houston
CL-82    Providence
CL-83    Manchester
CL-84    (Un-named)
CL-85    Langley
CL-86    Vicksburg
CL-87    Duluth
CL-88    (Un-named)
Hull Number and Name

CL-89      Miami
CL-90      Astoria
CL-91      Oklahoma City
CL-92      Little Rock
CL-93      Galveston
CL-94      Youngstown
CL-99      Bataan
CL-100    San Jacinto
CL-101    Amsterdam
CL-102    Portsmouth
CL-103    Wilkes Barre
CL-104    Atlanta
CL-105    Dayton



Their Histories and Their Fates


CL55
 Cleveland

Built by New York SB.  Laid down 1 July 1940, launched 6 Sept 1941, commissioned 15 June 1942.  Decommissioned 7 Feb 1947, stricken 1 March 1959, sold 18 Feb 1960, scrapped at Baltimore.

CL56
 Columbia

Built by New York SB.  Laid down 18 Aug 1940, launched 17 Dec 1941, commissioned 29 July 1942.  Kamikaze 6 Jan 1945 (two) and 9 Jan 1945.   Decommissioned 30 Nov 1946, stricken 1 March 1959, sold 16 Feb 1959, scrapped at Chester PA 1960.

CL57
 Montpelier

Built by New York SB.  Laid down 2 Dec 1940, launched 12 Feb 1942, commissioned 9 Sept 1942.  Kamikaze 27 Nov 1944.  Decommissioned 24 Jan 1947, stricken 1 March 1959, sold 22 Jan 1960, scrapped at Baltimore, MD.

CL58
 Denver

Built by New York SB.  Laid down 26 Dec 1940, launched 4 April 1942, commissioned 15 Oct 1942.  Torpedoed 13 Nov 1943, kamikaze 28 Oct 1944, minor damage.  Decommissioned 7 Feb 1947, stricken 1 March 1959, sold 29 Feb 1960, scrapped at Kearney, NJ  11/60.

CL59
 Independence /
CV 22 / CVL 22 (ex Amsterdam)

Built by New York Shipbuilding.  Laid down 1 May 1941, to CV 10 Jan 1942, launched 22 Aug 1942, commissioned 14 Jan 1943.  Torpedoed 20 Nov 1943.  Decommissioned July 1946, target ship for Operation Crossroads atom bomb tests at Bikini Atoll 7/46, sunk as target 30 Jan 1951.

CL60
 Santa Fe

Built by New York SB.  Laid down 7 June 1941, launched 10 June 1942, commissioned 24 Nov 1942. Decommissioned 19 Oct 1946, stricken 1 March 1959, sold 9 Nov 1959, scrapped at Portland, OR.

CL61
 Princeton /
CV 23 / CVL 23 (ex Tallahassee)

Built by New York Shipbuilding.  Laid down 2 June 1941, to CV 14 Feb 1942, launched 18 Oct 1942, commissioned 25 Feb 1943.  Bombed 24 Oct 1944 at Leyte Gulf, torpedoes in hangar deck exploded, cruiser Birmingham, alongside to fight fires, was heavily damaged. CVL 23 later abandoned and scuttled.

CL62
 Birmingham

Built by Newport News.  Laid down 17 Feb 1941, launched 20 March 1942, commissioned 29 Jan 1943.  Heavily damaged by torpedoes and bombs 8-9 Nov 1943.  Heavily damaged by explosion of carrier Princeton 24 Oct 1944.  Kamikaze 4 May 1945.  Decommissioned 2 Jan 1947, stricken 1 March 1959, scrapped at Long Beach, CA.

CL63
 Mobile

Built by Newport News.  Laid down 14 April 1941, launched 15 May 1942, commissioned 24 March 1943.  Decommissioned 9 May 1947, stricken 1 March 1959, sold 19 Jan 1960, scrapped at Portland, OR.

CL64
 Vincennes (ex Flint)

Built by Bethlehem Quincy.  Laid down 7 March 1942, launched 17 July 1943, commissioned 21 Jan 1944.  Decommissioned 10 Sept 1946, stricken 1 April 1966, target 28 Oct 1969.

CL65
 Pasadena

Built by Bethlehem Quincy.  Laid down 6 Feb 1943, launched 28 Dec 1943, commissioned 8 June 1944.  Decommissioned 12 Jan 1950, conversion to CLG 6 canceled (CL 82 substituted), stricken 1 Dec 1970, scrapped.

CL66
 Springfield
CLG 7 / CG 7

Built by Bethlehem Quincy.  Laid down 13 Feb 1943, launched 9 March 1944, commissioned 9 Sept 1944.  Decommissioned 1950. To CLG-7 23 May 1957, conversion at Bethlehem Quincy started  1 Aug 1957, moved to Boston Navy 22 March 1960, recommissioned  2 July 1960, completed 7 Aug 1960. Carried 1 twin Terrier launcher aft (120 missiles), 1 triple 6/47 and 1 dual 5/38 forward, fitted as flagship.  All superstructure rebuilt.  Decommissioned 15 May 1974, to CG 30 June 1975, stricken 30 Sept 1978, scrapped.

CL67
 Topeka
 CLG 8

Built by Bethlehem Quincy.  Laid down 21 April 1943, launched 19 Aug 1944, commissioned 23 Dec 1944.  Decommissioned 18 June 1949.  To CLG 8 23 May 1957, conversion at New York Navy started 19 Aug 1957, recommissioned 26 March 1959, completed 12 June 1960.  Carried 1 twin Terrier launcher aft (120 missiles),  2 triple 6/47 and 3 dual 5/38 forward.  Forward superstructure  essentially unchanged, after superstructure rebuilt.  Decommissioned 5 June 1969, stricken 1 Dec 1973, sold 20 March 1975, scrapped.

CL76
 Belleau Wood
CV 24 / CVL 24 (ex New Haven)

Built by New York Shipbuilding.  Laid down 11 Aug 1941, to CV 14 Feb 1942, launched 6 Dec 1942, commissioned 32 Mar 1943.  Kamikaze 30 Oct 1944.  Decommissioned 13 Jan 1947, to France 6/51, renamed Bois Belleau 9 Sept 1953, returned 9/60, stricken 1 Oct 1960, scrapped at Chester PA in 1962.

CL77
 Cowpens
 CV 25 / CVL 25 / AVT 1 (ex Huntington)

Built by New York Shipbuilding.  Laid down 17 Nov 1941, to CV 27 March 1942, launched 17 Jan 1943, commissioned 28 May 1943. Decommissioned 13 Jan 1947, to AVT 5/59, stricken 1 Nov 1959, scrapped at Portland, OR, 1962.

CL78
 Monterey
CV 26 / CVL 26 / AVT 2 (ex Dayton)

Built by New York Shipbuilding.  Laid down 29 Dec 1941, to CV 27 March 1942, launched 28 Feb 1943, commissioned 17 June 1943. Decommissioned 11 Feb 1947.  Recommissioned 15 Sept 1950,  training carrier 1951-1954, replaced by Saipan, decommissioned 16 Jan 1956, to AVT 5/59, stricken 1 June 1970, scrapped.
CL79  Cabot
 CV 28 / CVL 28 / AVT 3 (ex Wilmington)

Built by New York Shipbuilding.  Laid down 16 March 1942, to CV 2 June 1942, launched 4 April 1943, commissioned 24 July 1943. Kamikaze 25 Nov 1944,  decommissioned 11 Feb 1947.  Recommissioned 27 Oct 1948, updated for ASW work, decommissioned 21 Jan 1955, to AVT 5/59.  Refit at Philadelphia Navy 1965-1967, Spanish Dedalo 30 Aug 1968, stricken 1 Aug 1972, sold to Spain 5 Dec 1972,  decommissioned at New Orleans 5 Aug 1989, sold for scrap 1995.

CL80
 Biloxi

Built by Newport News.  Laid down 9 July 1941, launched 23 Feb 1943, commissioned 31 Aug 1943.  Kamikaze 27 March 1945. Decommissioned 29 Oct 1946, stricken 1 Sept 1961, scrapped at Portland, OR 1962

CL81
 Houston
(ex Vicksburg)

Built by Newport News.  Laid down 4 Aug 1941, launched 19 June 1943, commissioned 20 Dec 1943.  Severely damaged by torpedoes 14 Oct 1944, hit again 16 Oct 1944, nearly lost, repairs took one year. Ship was entirely reconstructed and a totally new stern was built.  Decommissioned 15 Dec 1947, stricken 1 March 1959, scrapped at Baltimore, MD 1960.

CL82
 Providence
 CLG 6 / CG 6

Built by Bethlehem Quincy.   Laid down 27 July 1943, launched 28 Dec 1944, commissioned 15 May 1945.  Decommissioned 14 June 1949, to CLG 23 May 1957, conversion at Bethlehem Quincy started 1 June 1957, recommissioned 17 Sept 1959, completed 31 Dec 1959. Carried 1 twin Terrier launcher aft (120 missiles), 1 triple 6/47 and 1 dual 5/38 forward, fitted as flagship. All superstructure rebuilt.  Decommissioned 31 Aug 1973, to CG 30 June 1975, stricken 30 Sept 1978, scrapped.

CL83
 Manchester

Built by Bethlehem Quincy.  Laid down 25 Sept 1944, launched 5 March 1946, commissioned 29 Oct 1946.  Refitted with dual 3/50 in place of quad 40 mm 1950's.  Decommissioned 27 June 1956,  stricken 1 April 1960, sold 31 Oct 1960, scrapped at Richmond, CA.

CL84
 (Un-named)

Canceled 16 Dec 1940 to allow Federal SB to concentrate on DDs.

CL85
 Langley
 CV 27 / CVL 27 (ex Crown Point, ex Fargo)

Built by New York Shipbuilding.  To CV 27 March 1942, laid down 11 April 1942, renamed 13 Nov 1942, renamed 8 May 1943,  launched 22 May 1943, commissioned 31 Aug 1943.  Decommissioned  11 Feb 1947, French 8 Jan 1951, renamed Lafayette 2 June 1951,  returned March 1963, stricken 1963, scrapped at Baltimore, MD in 1964.

CL86
 Vicksburg

Built by Newport News.  Laid down 26 Oct 1942, launched 14 Dec 1943, commissioned 12 June 1944.  Decommissioned 30 June 1947, stricken 1 Oct 1962, test hulk, sold 25 Aug 1964, scrapped at Terminal Island, CA.

  CL87  Duluth

Built by Newport News.  Laid down 9 Nov 1942, launched 13 Jan 1944, commissioned 18 Sept 1944.  Decommissioned 25 June 1949, stricken 1 Jan 1960, sold 14 Nov 1960, scrapped.

CL88  
(Un-named)

Canceled 16 Dec 1940 to allow Federal SB to concentrate on DDs.

CL89
 Miami

Built by Cramp.  Laid down 2 Aug 1941, launched 8 Dec 1942, commissioned 28 Dec 1943.  Decommissioned 30 June 1947, stricken 1 Sept 1961, sold 26 July 1962, scrapped at Richmond, CA.

CL90
 Astoria

Built by Cramp.  Laid down 6 Sept 1941, launched 6 March 1943, commissioned 17 May 1944.  Decommissioned 1 July 1949, stricken 1 Nov 1969, scrapped.

CL91
 Oklahoma City
CLG 5 / CG 5

Built by Cramp.  Laid down 8 Dec 1942, launched 20 Feb 1944, commissioned 22 Dec 1944.  Decommissioned 30 June 1947,  to CLG 5 23 May 1957 (Galveston Class), conversion at Bethlehem San Francisco started 21 May 1957, recommissioned 7 Sept 1960, completed 31 Aug 1960.  Carried 1 twin Talos launcher aft (46 missiles),  1 triple 6/47 and 1 dual 5/38 forward, fitted as flagship.  All  superstructure rebuilt.  To CG 30 June 1975, decommissioned and  stricken 15 Dec 1979.  Used as a target hulk; sunk as a target 25 March 1999.

CL92
 Little Rock
CLG 4 / CG 4


Built by Cramp, laid down 6 March 1943, launched 27 Aug 1944, commissioned 17 June 1945.  Decommissioned 24 June 1949, to CLG 4 23 May 1957 (Galveston Class), conversion at NY Shipbuilding started 30 Jan 1957, recommissioned 3 June 1960, completed 5 June 1960. Carried 1 twin Talos launcher aft (46 missiles), 1 triple 6/47  and 1 twin 5/38 forward, fitted as flagship.  All superstructure  rebuilt.  To CG 4 30 June 1975, decommissioned and stricken 22 Nov 1976, preserved as a museum.

CL93
 Galveston
CLG 93 / CLG 3

Built by Cramp.  Laid down 27 Aug 1943, launched 22 April 1945, suspended 24 June 1946 (nearly complete), laid up, to CLG 93 4 Feb 1956 (Galveston Class), conversion at Philadelphia Navy started 15 Aug 1956, redesignated CLG 3 and commissioned 28 May 1958, completed 30 June 1958.  Carried 1 twin Talos launcher aft (46 missiles), 2 triple 6/47 and 3 dual 5/38 forward; forward superstructure essentially unmodified, all aft superstructure rebuilt.  Was heavily overloaded and experienced hull cracking problems. Decommissioned 25 May 1970, stricken 21 Dec 1973, scrapped.

CL94
 Youngstown

Laid down by Cramp 4 Sept 1944, canceled 12 Aug 1945, scrapped.

CL99  Bataan
 CV 29 / CVL 29 / AVT 4 (ex Buffalo)

Built by New York Shipbuilding.  To CV 2 June 1942, laid down 31 Aug 1942, launched 1 Aug 1943, commissioned 13 May 1943. Decommissioned 11 Feb 1947, recommissioned 13 May 1950, updated for ASW work, decommissioned 9 April 1954.  To AVT 5/59, stricken 1 Sept 1959, scrapped.

CL100
 San Jacinto
CV 30 / CVL 30 / AVT 5 (ex Reprisal, ex Newark)

Built by New York Shipbuilding.  To CV 2 June 1942, laid down 26 Oct 1942, renamed 6 Jan 1943, launched 29 Sept 1943, commissioned 15 Dec 1943.  Decommissioned 1 Mar 1947, to AVT 5/59, stricken 1 June 1979, scrapped.

CL101
 Amsterdam

Built by Newport News.  Laid down 3 March 1943, launched 25 April 1944, commissioned 8 Jan 1945.  Decommissioned 30 June 1947, stricken 2 Jan 1971, scrapped.

CL102
 Portsmouth

Built by Newport News.  Laid down 28 June 1943, launched 20 Sept 1944, commissioned 25 June 1945.  Decommissioned 15 June 1949, stricken 1 Dec 1970, scrapped.

CL103
 Wilkes-Barre

Built by New York SB.  Laid down 14 Dec 1942, launched 23 Dec 1943, commissioned 1 July 1944.  Decommissioned 9 Oct 1947, stricken 15 Jan 1971, used in explosives trials and sunk 12-13 May 1972.

CL104  Atlanta

IX 304


Built by New York SB.  Laid down 25 Jan 1943, launched 6 Feb 1944, commissioned 3 Dec 1944.  Decommissioned 1 July 1949, stricken 1 Oct 1964.  Reacquired 15 May 1964 as IX 304, all new superstructure fitted for blast tests, placed "out of commission, special" 31 Aug 1965, stricken 1 April 1970, scuttled 1 Oct 1970.

CL105  Dayton


Built by New York SB.  Laid down 8 March 1943, launched 19 March 1944, commissioned 7 Jan 1945.  Decommissioned 1 March 1949, stricken 1 Sept 1961, scrapped at Baltimore, MD..

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