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Introduction

The Atlanta class of light cruisers consisted of eight ships. Although initially designed to serve as scout scruiser or destroyer flotilla leader, they proved mainly successful as anti-aircraft cruisers. Due to further optimisation for the latter purpose, the last four ships of this class were also referred to as the Oakland class.


USS Juneau (CL-52). Note the incorrect marking (CL-53) in the US Navy’s own photo caption. Source: U.S. Navy photo

Definitielijst

destroyer
Very light, fast and agile warship, intended to destroy large enemy ships by surprise attack and eliminating them by using torpedoes.

Ships of this class

USS Atlanta (CL-51)
April 22nd, 1940: keel laid
September 6th, 1941: launched
December 24th, 1941: commissioned
November 13th, 1942: sunk
January 13th, 1943: stricken from Naval Register
USS Juneau (CL-52)
May 27th, 1940: keel laid
October 25th,1941: launched
February 14th, 1942: commissioned
November 13th, 1942: sunk
USS San Diego (CL-53)
March 27th, 1940: keel laid
July 26th, 1941: launched
January 10th, 1942: commissioned
November 4th, 1946: decommissioned
March 1st, 1959: stricken from Naval Register
February 3rd, 1960: scrapped
USS San Juan (CL-54)
March 15th, 1940: keel laid
September 6th, 1941: launched
February 28th, 1942: commissioned
November 9th, 1946: decommissioned
May 1st, 1959: stricken from Naval Register
October 31st, 1961: scrapped
USS Oakland (CL-95)
July 15th, 1941: keel laid
October 23rd, 1942: launched
July 17th, 1943: commissioned
July 1st, 1949: decommissioned
March 1st, 1959: stricken from Naval Register
December 1st, 1959: scrapped
USS Reno (CL-96)
August 1st, 1941: keel laid
December 23rd, 1942: launched
December 28th, 1943: commissioned
November 4th, 1946: decommissioned
March 1st, 1959: stricken from Naval Register
March 22nd, 1962: scrapped
USS Flint (CL-97)
October 23rd, 1942: keel laid
January 25th, 1944: launched
August 31st, 1944: commissioned
May 6th, 1946: decommissioned
June 1st, 1965: stricken from Naval Register
October 6th, 1966: scrapped
USS Tucson (CL-98)
December 23rd, 1942: keel laid
September 3rd, 1944: launched
February 3rd, 1945: commissioned
June 11th, 1949: decommissioned
June 1st, 1966: stricken from Naval Register
February 24th, 1971: scrapped

History

The Atlanta class consisted of eight light cruisers, of which the first batch of four were designed in 1937 and ordered in 1938 as destroyer flotilla leaders (also called scout cruisers). During the Second World War, these ships proved especially effective as anti-aircraft cruisers. The first batch of four ships were already employed for this particular task. The second batch of four cruisers, starting with the USS Oakland (CL-95), received improved and more extensive armament for the same purpose and were therefore also referred to as the Oakland class. The entire group was sometimes referred to as the Atlanta-Oakland class.[1][2]

The order to build the first two cruisers was given on March 27th, 1934, followed by the order for the third and fourth ships on May 17th, 1938. The last four ships were ordered on July 19th, 1940. The design was originally not intended as an anti-aircraft cruiser but as a destroyer leader.[3][4]

Main armament consisted of 12 x 127mm/38 caliber guns in three double-barreled turrets mounted forward and the same number mounted aft. The first four ships also had an additional armament of two double-barreled 127mm/38 caliber guns each mounted on either side of the superstructure. The first four ships also had a secondary armament of 12 x 28mm/75 caliber anti-aircraft guns across three quadruple mountings. This anti-aircraft defense was replaced by 40mm Bofors artillery in the course of 1942. Around the same time, eight rapid-fire anti-aircraft guns were added to the armament, which number was further increased from 1943 onwards. The second group of ships only received the main armament of six double-barreled turrets, three forward and three aft. The side turrets were replaced with anti-aircraft guns. The same was done with the first group of light cruisers, from 1943 onwards. As the Second World War progressed, the ships could differ from each other in the amount of anti-aircraft armament that was present at any given time.[5]


USS Atlanta (CL-51) with the USS Hornet (CV-8) and USS Vincennes (CA-44) at the Battle of Midway. Source: U.S. Navy photo

A radar installation was not included in the construction, but during 1942 all ships were fitted with an FD (Mk 4) radar. On ships still in service, this was replaced in the course of 1943 by an FD Mk 12/Mk 22 combination radar. Although the ships were designed as destroyer flotilla leaders, they lacked no anti-submarine equipmen. Together with the radar upgrade in 1942, the ships received sonar, six depth charge launchers and two depth charge racks on the stern. This was later largely removed to allow for more anti-aircraft defense capacity.

The USS Atlanta (CL-51) and USS Juneau (CL-52) were lost on November 13th, 1942, during the Battle of Guadalcanal. This mainly showed that although the ships were capable air defense cruisers, they were less suitable for operating during naval battles. The various deficiencies found were corrected during the war in the follow-up design, the Juneau class. The six remaining ships survived the Second World War and were classified as anti-aircraft cruisers in 1949 with the designation CLAA. From 1959 onwards, the ships were gradually phased out and the last one was scrapped in 1971.[6]

Definitielijst

caliber
The inner diameter of the barrel of a gun, measured at the muzzle. The length of the barrel is often indicated by the number of calibers. This means the barrel of the 15/24 cannon is 24 by 15 cm long.
destroyer
Very light, fast and agile warship, intended to destroy large enemy ships by surprise attack and eliminating them by using torpedoes.
radar
English abbreviation meaning: Radio Detection And Ranging. System to detect the presence, distance, speed and direction of an object, such as ships and airplanes, using electromagnetic waves.

Technical data

Class: Atlanta class
Number of ships:
8
Country:
United States of America
Type:
Light cruiser / anti-aircraft cruiser
Displacement:
6,000 lt (standard)
7,400 lt (fully loaded)
Lengte:
165 meter
Breedte:
16.10 meter
Diepgang:
6.25 meter
Installed power:
4 x 665 psi boilers
2 geared turbines
Power: 75,000 shp (56 MW)
Speed:
32.5 knots (62 km/h)
Maximum range:
15,700 km (at 15 knots)
Armament (standard):
Standard:
8x2 127 mm/38 caliber guns
3x4 or 4x4 28 mm/75 kaliber guns
6x 20 mm/70 kaliber anti-aircraft guns
2x4 533 mm torpedo tubes
Oakland sub-class (CL 95-99):
6x2 127 mm/38 kaliber guns
8x2 40 mm/56 caliber anti-aircraft guns
16x 20 mm/70 caliber anti-aircraft guns
2x4 533 mm torpedo tubes
 Complement:
673 (813: Oakland sub-class)

Notes

  1. Silverstone, 2012, pag. 29
  2. Mooney, 1991, pag. 450
  3. Mooney, 1964, pag. 215
  4. Stille, 2016
  5. Fitzsimons, 1971, pag. 188
  6. Warship International, 1982, pag 189

Definitielijst

caliber
The inner diameter of the barrel of a gun, measured at the muzzle. The length of the barrel is often indicated by the number of calibers. This means the barrel of the 15/24 cannon is 24 by 15 cm long.
torpedo
A weapon of war. A cigar shaped body fitted with explosives and a propulsion and control mechanism. Intended to target after launch a nearby enemy ship and disable it by underwater explosion.

Information

Article by:
Wilco Vermeer
Article by:
Simon van der Meulen
Published on:
12-12-2024
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Related books

The World at War, 1939-1945
US Navy Light Cruisers 1941–45
Register of Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990: Major Combatants