USS Concord (CL-10)

USS Concord (CL-10) was a Omaha class light cruiser that served in the south Pacific until 1944 before moving to the Aleutians, from where she took part in the bombardment of the Japanese Kurile Islands. She received one battle star for her role in the Second World War.

USS Concord (CL-10) in Gulf of Panama, 1944
USS Concord (CL-10)
in Gulf of Panama, 1944

The Concord was laid down on 29 March 1920, launched on 15 December 1921 and commissioned on 3 November 1923. Her shakedown cruise took her to the Mediterranean, through the Suez Canal, around the Cape of Good Hope and back to the Caribbean. In 1925 she then became flagship, Atlantic Destroyer Flotillas (or Destroyer Squadrons, Scouting Fleet). In 1931 she became the flagship of CruDiv 3, then part of the Scouting Force in the Atlantic. In 1932 the Scouting Force was transferred to the Pacific. CruDiv 3 quickly transferred to the Battle Force. She remained in the Pacific for most of the rest of her career, apart from a brief spell on the US east coast in the winter of 1938-39.

Grumman J2F being lowered from USS Concord (CL-10)
Grumman J2F being lowered from USS Concord (CL-10)
From 1 April 1940 the Concord was based at Pearl Harbor, but in December 1941 she was at San Diego at the start of an overhaul. She returned to action in February 1942, and was allocated to the Southeast Pacific Force. She carried out a mix of duties with this fleet, including escorting convoys to Bora Bora in the Society Islands, patrols along the coast of South American, visits to the islands in the area and spells as the flagship. On one cruise in September-November 1943 as gasoline explosion killed 22 men, amongst them the executive officer.

After the damage from this explosion was repaired the Concord was sent to the Aleutian Islands, arriving at Adak on 2 April 1944. She served as Flagship, TF 94, and took part in a series of bombardments of the Kurile Islands. She also carried out anti-shipping sweeps across north of Japan, and took part in an attack on a convoy on 25 August 1944.

After the end of the war she took part in the occupation of Japan, covering the occupation of Ominato, Japan from 8-14 September. She then sailed for the United States. On 12 December 1945 she was decommissioned and on 21 January 1947she was sold for scrap.

Displacement (standard)

7,050t

Displacement (loaded)

9,508t

Top Speed

34kts

Range

10,000nm at 10kts (design)
8,460nm at 10kts (actual)

Armour – deck

1.5in

 - belt

3in

Length

555ft 6in

Width

55ft 5in

Armaments (as built)

Twelve 6in/53 guns
Two 3in/50 AA guns
Ten 21in torpedo tubes (two triple and two double mountings)

Crew complement

459

Laid down

29 March 1920

Launched

15 December 1921

Commissioned

3 November 1923

Sold

1947

US Navy Light Cruisers 1941-45, Mark Stille. Covers the five classes of US Navy light cruisers that saw service during the Second World War, with sections on their design, weaponry, radar, combat experience. Nicely organised, with the wartime service records separated out from the main text, so that the design history of the light cruisers flows nicely. Interesting to see how new roles had to be found for them, after other technology replaced them as reconnaissance aircraft [read full review]
cover cover cover

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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (9 January 2014), USS Concord (CL-10) , http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_USS_Concord_CL10.html

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