| Originally, during WWII, the United States Navy planned to build 52 Cleveland Class Cruisers which were to have longer range capabilities and better anti-aircraft defense than any other previous design. In actuality, several factors altered these plans and ultimately only 27 ships were constructed that conformed more-or-less to the original concept. (However, the USS Youngstown and two other "un-named were cancelled or scrapped before completion). Nine others were converted to Light Aircraft Carriers(*). Below is a chart showing the twenty seven ships that were ultimately built as well as those converted and those scrapped(•). To see a list showing the entire 52 planned Clevelands and their ultimate disposition CLICK HERE. |
| 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 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Canceled 16 Dec 1940 to allow Federal SB to concentrate on DDs. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Canceled 16 Dec 1940 to allow Federal SB to concentrate on DDs. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Built by Cramp Shipbuilding. 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. |
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Built by Cramp Shipbuilding. 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. |
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Built by Cramp Shipbuilding. 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. |
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Laid down by Cramp 4 Sept 1944, canceled 12 Aug 1945, scrapped. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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.. |
Some interesting information on the birthplace of the U.S.S. LITTLE ROCK The following is from Wikipedia: William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Company of Philadelphia was founded in 1825 by William Cramp, and was the preeminent U.S. iron shipbuilder in the 19th century. The American Ship & Commerce Corporation bought the yard in 1919 but closed it in 1927 as fewer ships were ordered by the U.S. Navy after passage of the Naval Limitations Treaty in 1923. In 1940, the Navy spent $22 million to reopen the yard to build cruisers and submarines. Cramp closed in 1947, and the site, on the Delaware River, became an industrial park. Bordering the yard were smokestacks of the Philadelphia Electric Company on one side and a line of the Reading Railroad on the other. Notable projects:
The three Wm. Cramp Shipbuilding "Clevelands":
Note: The last ship delivered by William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding was the U.S.S. Galveston, launched on April 22, 1945 and delivered to the Navy on 25 May 1946. Cramp Shipbuilding was a major shipbuilder with a very distinguished history going back to the 1820s. It was bought by Averell Harriman's American Ship & Commerce Corporation in 1919 and closed in 1927. The yard stretched from Norris Street to Lehigh Avenue, on nearly a quarter of a mile of water-front and over 30 acres. It was revived for the WWII effort, with the encouragement of the Navy, which provided $22mm toward the cost, but with only limited success. Cramp Shipbuilding closed permanently after the war ended. - - - - - - - -
The following information was obtained from the Kenneth W. Milano Philadelphia Genealogical & Historical Research Services website which may be found at: http://www.kennethwmilano.com During the first war, World War I, Cramp Shipyard occupied 53 acres and employed 10,500 workers, however by 1927, they went out of business due to the lack of work and unfavorable conditions in the shipbuilding industry. The double jolt of the loss of Cramp’s Shipyard and the loss of over 13,000 textile jobs during this same time period was devastating for Kensington, Pennsylvania. Cramp’s Shipyard reopened in October of 1940, at the outbreak of World War II. In December of 1940, Cramps in co-operation with the Philadelphia Board of Education, opened the Mastbaum Vocational Annex, the first vocational school in the United States to teach shipbuilding trades. A few months later, “Cramp University” was opened at the shipyard and by 1944, over 10,000 men and women, formerly employed in the hosiery, dyeing and scouring, weaving, tanning, and other industries, underwent orientation for shipbuilding. The training offered no haven for “slackers,” it demanded continuous interest and intensive work. Trainees were given “on the job” instruction and, upon graduation, became qualified for one of the sixteen shipyard trades. Some graduates became machinists; others, welders, silver solderers, sheet metal workers, burners, and so forth. Still others handled intricate problems relating to hull, piping, machinery, and ventilation work in the drafting room. Many of the graduates of the “University” were able to upgrade themselves to supervisory positions. The “Cramp University” training program produced results that were a credit to all concerned and had answered the challenge to develop efficient shipbuilders. 600 people were employed in the safety, fire, and sabotage watch. 24 doctors and nurses were employed in the Medical Department. By 1944 Cramp’s had 15,000 workers, and covered 65 acres, with almost 4,000 Cramp workers serving in the Armed Forces. At the end of the war Cramp’s Shipyard closed for good (1946). The large acreage still sits vacant, with the possibility of this once grand shipyard becoming the home of a casino. Another interesting link pertaining to Cramp Shipbuilding: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/cramp.htm |