| Peter E. Ruppert MOS: Served: V.V.A. Member: 010377 E-Mail: per0632@aol.com Company: Address: RR 1 Box 200C Canadensis, Pa. 18325-9504 Phone: 570-595-9327 Comments: Pictures: |
| Initially commissioned as a BALTIMORE - class heavy gun cruiser, the USS BOSTON was the sixth ship in the Navy to bear the name. During World War II, the ship operated in the Pacific. Following the Japanese surrender, the BOSTON remained in the Far East on occupation duty until February 28, 1946. She then returned to the United States and was placed out of commission in reserve at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard March 12, 1946. BOSTON was reclassified CAG 1, January 4, 1952. In February 1952 she was towed from Bremerton, Wash., to Philadelphia for conversion to a guided missile heavy cruiser by New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J. During conversion her after-8" turret was replaced with anti-aircraft missile launchers and she was otherwise modernized. BOSTON was recommissioned on November 1, 1955. For the next 15 years, the BOSTON operated from the US east coast, conducting several Mediterranean deployments. This schedule was only interrupted by three tours of duty off Vietnam between 1964 and 1970. On May 1, 1968, the BOSTON was again reclassified CA 69 and her Mk-10 Terrier missile system was retired. Finally decommissioned on May 5, 1970, the BOSTON was sold for scrapping on March 1, 1975. General Characteristics: Awarded: 1940 Keel laid: June 30, 1941 Launched: August 26, 1942 Commissioned: June 30, 1943 Decommissioned: May 5, 1970 Builder: Bethlehem Steel, Quincy, Mass. Propulsion system: geared turbines; 120,000 shaft horsepower Length: 673.5 feet (205.3 meters) Beam: 69.9 feet (21.3 meters) Draft: 24.94 feet (7.6 meters) Displacement: approx. 17,500 tons full load Speed: 33 knots Aircraft: none Armament: six 8-inch/55 caliber guns in two triple mounts, ten 5-inch/38 caliber guns in five twin mounts, eight 3-inch/50 caliber guns, two Mk-10 Terrier missile launchers Crew: 80 officers and 1650 |