A Place Called
YORKSHIP Guided-Missile Cruisers of New York Shipbuilding |
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Last Update: 3 November 2018 |
USS Little Rock fires a Talos guided missile, May 1961
In the early 1950s, the U.S. Navy began a hasty transition from guns to missiles for fleet air defense. Three of the first four contracts to convert existing vessels went to New York Ship--for the heavy cruisers Boston and Canberra, which were to mount the Terrier missile system, and the light cruiser Little Rock, which mounted the Talos system. In the 1960s, New York Ship would build two Leahy-class guided missile cruisers from the keel up, as well as the nuclear-powered Truxton. The Little Rock is a museum ship in Buffalo, NY; all other vessels listed here have been scrapped or sunk.
Listed in chronological order by contract date. Additions and corrections welcomed.
C # |
Designation. |
Name(s) |
Keel Laid |
Launched |
Description |
Disposition |
498 |
CA-69 CAG-1 |
Boston | Jun 30, 1941 | Jun 30, 1943 (CA) Nov 1, 1955 (CAG conversion) |
Photo © 1961 by Dick Leonhardt Guided missile conversion of Baltimore class heavy cruiser, 673 ft, 16700 tons dp |
Built by Bethlehem Quincy and launched as CA-69. Earned ten battle stars in the Pacific during WWII. Mothballed in 1946. Rebuilt as world's first guided missile cruiser 1952-55 at NYSB. Mounted two twin-rail Terrier SAM launchers aft. Stricken Jan 4, 1974 and sold for scrap. |
499 |
CA-70 CAG-2
|
Canberra | Sep 3, 1941 | Apr 19, 1943 (CA) Jun 15, 1956 (CAG conversion) |
Guided missile conversion of Baltimore class heavy cruiser |
Built by Bethlehem Quincy and launched as CA-70 Pittsburgh. Decommissioned 1947. Redesignated CA-70 in May 1968. Stricken July 31, 1978, sold July 1980 and scrapped. |
525 | CLG-4 | Little Rock | Mar 6, 1943 | Aug 27, 1944 (CL) May 6, 1960 |
U.S. Navy photo Guided missile conversion of Cleveland class light cruiser, 610 ft, 10000 tons dp |
Built by Cramp and launched as CL-92. Rebuilt as guided missile cruiser (Talos system) by NYSB 1957-60. Served as 6th Fleet flagship 1967-70. Stricken Nov 22, 1976. Now a museum at Buffalo Naval and Serviceman’s Park, Buffalo NY. |
532 | DLG-19
CG-19 |
Dale | Sep 6, 1960 | Jul 28, 1962 | U.S. Navy photo Guided missile cruiser, Leahy class, 533 ft, 7500 t, 4-3" guns, ASROC, Terrier |
Reclassified as CG in Jun 1975.
Decommissioned and stricken Sep 23, 1994. Disposed of as target
off the coast of Maryland, 6 Apr 2000. The hulk lies at a depth of
2150 fathoms. |
533 | DLG-20
CG-20 |
Richmond K. Turner | Jan 9, 1961 | Apr 6, 1963 |
Photo © 1975 by Dick Leonhardt Guided missile cruiser, Leahy class |
Earned eight battle stars for
Vietnam service. Reclassified as CG in Jun 1975. Decommissioned
and stricken Mar 31, 1995. Sunk as a target by the USS
Enterprise battle group Aug 9, 1998 near Puerto Rico. She
rests beneath 3000 fathoms of water. |
540 | DLGN-35
CGN-35 |
Truxtun | Jun 17, 1963 | Dec 19, 1964 |
From the collection of Jim Williams Guided missile cruiser, mod of Belknap class; 564 ft, 8659 t. |
USN's 4th nuclear surface ship. Decommissioned Sep 1995, recycled Oct 1997. |
C# = New York Shipbuilding contract number
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your Yorkship memories to Michael Kube-McDowell, Class of '68