USS Huntington (CL-107) at Naples, July-August 1948
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USS Huntington (CL-107) was the second of two Fargo class light cruisers to be completed just after the end of the Second World War, and like the Fargo had a short post-war career.
The Huntington was laid down in October 1943, launched in April 1945 and commissioned on 23 February 1946. She spent the first half of 1946 preparing for active service, and on 23 July 1946 set sail for the Mediterranean, where she joined the 6th Fleet. She remained in the Mediterranean until 8 February 1947, when she departed for the United States.
The Huntington performed a second tour in Mediterranean between May and September 1947. After her return to the US she was used for training Naval Reserve personnel. Late in 1947 she began an overhaul which lasted until 12 April 1948. This was followed by a third tour in the Mediterranean between June and August 1948. This was followed by a good will tour of Africa and South America, which began with a transit of the Suez Canal on 22 September and included visits to Argentina (where she was inspected by President Peron), Uruguay (again with a Presidential visit), Rio and Trinidad.
Her last cruise was a brief cruise to the Caribbean, which ended on 22 January 1949. She was decommissioned on 15 June 1949 and struck off the Navy List on 1 September 1961.
Displacement (standard) |
11,744t |
Displacement (loaded) |
14,131t |
Top Speed |
32.5kts |
Range |
11,000nm at 15kts |
Armour – belt |
3-5in |
- armour deck |
2in |
- bulkheads |
5in |
- barbettes |
6in |
- turrets |
6.5in face |
- conning tower |
5in |
Length |
610ft 1in oa |
Armaments |
Twelve 6in/47 guns (four triple turrets) |
Crew complement |
1,285 |
Builder |
New York SB |
Laid down |
4 October 1943 |
Launched |
8 April 1945 |
Commissioned |
23 February 1946 |
Broken up |
1962 |
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]
