USS Los Angeles (CA-135)
bombarding Wonsan,
15 October 1951
|
|
USS Los Angeles (CA-135) was a Baltimore class heavy cruiser that served on two tours of duty during the Korean War. Los Angeles received five battle stars for service during the Korean conflict.
The Los Angeles was laid down in July 1943, launched on 20 August 1944 and commissioned on 22 July 1945. The Second World War ended before her shakedown cruise was over, but once she was ready for service she was dispatched to the Far East. She joined the 7th Fleet in January 1946 and spent the rest of the year operating in the western Pacific. She then returned home where on 9 April 1948 she was decommissioned.
After the outbreak of the Korean War the US Navy needed more ships and the Los Angeles was recommissioned on 27 January 1951. Once again she was sent to the Pacific, and she arrived off the east coast of Korea on 31 May. She served as the flagship of CruDiv 5 (Rear Admiral Arleigh A. Burke). This first tour lasted for six months and involved her in the fighting on both the west and east coast of Korea.
Her second tour of Korea started on 9 October 1952 and she was in action on 11 October. In both tours she carried out shore bombardments. During the second tour she was also used as part of the screen for the 7th Fleet's fast carriers. In April 1954 she was hit by North Korean shore guns, but only suffered minor damage. This second tour ended in mid-April and she returned to the US in mid-May.
The Los Angeles split the remaining ten years of her active career between duties with the 7th Fleet in the Far East, carrying out eight peace-time tours, and with operations from Long Beach, California. The nearest she came to combat during this period was during the Quemoy-Matsu crisis of 1958 (also known as the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis). She was part of the US fleet that helped protect Taiwan against a possible invasion from mainland China.
The Los Angeles was decommissioned on 15 November 1963, five months after returning from the Pacific for the last time. She was struck off the Navy List on 1 January 1974.
Displacement (standard) |
14,472t |
Displacement (loaded) |
17,031t |
Top Speed |
33kts |
Range |
10,000nm at 15kts |
Armour – belt |
4-6in |
- armour deck |
2.5in |
- barbettes |
6.3in |
- turrets |
8in face |
- conning tower |
6in |
- underwater magazines |
3in side |
Length |
673ft 5in oa |
Armaments |
Nine 8in guns (three triple turrets) |
Crew complement |
2039 |
Laid down |
28 July 1943 |
Launched |
20 August 1944 |
Completed |
22 July 1945 |
Stricken |
1 January 1974 |
