Cleveland class cruiser
Encyclopedia
The United States Navy
designed the Cleveland class of light cruiser
s for World War II
with the goal of increased range and AA armament as compared with earlier classes.
A total of 52 ships of this class were projected and 3 canceled. Nine ships were reordered as light aircraft carrier
s and 13 changed (of which two were completed) to a slightly different design, with a more compact superstructure and single funnel, known as the . Of the 27 Cleveland-class ships actually commissioned, one was completed as a guided missile cruiser and five were later refitted as - and -class guided missile cruisers. Following the naming convention at the time, all the ships completed as cruisers were named for U.S. cities.
The ships were mainly used in the Pacific during World War II, but some saw action in Europe
and off the coast of Africa
. All survived the war.
Except for Manchester, which remained in service until 1956, all were decommissioned by 1950. The six converted into missile ships were reactivated in the mid-1950s and retired in the early 1970s.
Only one Cleveland-class ship remains, Little Rock, which is now a museum
in Buffalo, New York
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
designed the Cleveland class of light cruiser
Light cruiser
A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...
s for World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with the goal of increased range and AA armament as compared with earlier classes.
A total of 52 ships of this class were projected and 3 canceled. Nine ships were reordered as light aircraft carrier
Light aircraft carrier
A light aircraft carrier is an aircraft carrier that is smaller than the standard carriers of a navy. The precise definition of the type varies by country; light carriers typically have a complement of aircraft only ½ to ⅔ the size of a full-sized or "fleet" carrier.-History:In World War II, the...
s and 13 changed (of which two were completed) to a slightly different design, with a more compact superstructure and single funnel, known as the . Of the 27 Cleveland-class ships actually commissioned, one was completed as a guided missile cruiser and five were later refitted as - and -class guided missile cruisers. Following the naming convention at the time, all the ships completed as cruisers were named for U.S. cities.
The ships were mainly used in the Pacific during World War II, but some saw action in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and off the coast of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. All survived the war.
Except for Manchester, which remained in service until 1956, all were decommissioned by 1950. The six converted into missile ships were reactivated in the mid-1950s and retired in the early 1970s.
Only one Cleveland-class ship remains, Little Rock, which is now a museum
Museum ship
A museum ship, or sometimes memorial ship, is a ship that has been preserved and converted into a museum open to the public, for educational or memorial purposes...
in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
.
Ships in class
(reordered as light carrier ) (reordered as light carrier ) (refit as guided missile cruiser CLG-7/CG-7) (refit as guided missile cruiser CLG-8) (reordered as light carrier ) (reordered as light carrier ) (reordered as light carrier ) (reordered as light carrier ) (refit as guided missile cruiser CLG-6/CG-6)- CL-84 (unnamed, cancelled) (reordered as light carrier )
- CL-88 (unnamed, cancelled) (refit as guided missile cruiser CLG-5/CG-5) (refit as guided missile cruiser CLG-4/CG-4) (laid up before completion, then completed as guided missile cruiser CLG-3) (cancelled and scrapped) (reordered as light carrier ) (reordered as light carrier )