Wichita 1945
| No | Name | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comm | Fate |
| CA45 | Wichita | Philadelphia N Yd // New York SB, Camden | 28/10/1935 | 16/11/1937 | 16/2/1939 | stricken 3/1959 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
10589 |
|
Displacement full, t |
13015 |
|
Length, m |
182.9 wl 185.4 oa |
|
Breadth, m |
18.8 |
|
Draught, m |
7.24 full load |
|
No of shafts |
4 |
|
Machinery |
Parsons geared steam turbines, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers |
|
Power, h. p. |
100000 |
|
Max speed, kts |
33 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil 1323 - 1984 |
| Endurance, nm (kts) | 10000 (15) |
|
Armour, mm |
belt: 152 - 102 on 16mm STS plating, bulkheads: 152, deck: 57, barbettes: 178, turrets: 203 - 38, CT: 152 sides, 57 roof |
|
Armament |
3 x 3 - 203/55 Mk 12/15, 8 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 8 x 1 - 12.7/90, 2 catapults, 4 seaplanes (SOC) |
|
Complement |
929 |
Ship project history: According to decisions of the London Naval conference of 1930, the USA could lay down one heavy cruiser in 1934 (ÑÀ44 Vincennes of New Orleans class) and one more in 1935. In March, 1934 latter was decided to build under the new project, in which basis Brooklyn laid with replacement of 152mm guns by 203mm. A thickness of main belt was raised to 152mm, barbettes to 178mm. Main lack of previous 203mm turrets was too wide scatter of shells in a volley because of insufficient distance between axes of guns. In new turrets this distance was made bigger without increasing diameter of a barbette (barbettes were made conical, not cylindrical).
Structure and arrangement of machinery was same, as well as by last two ships of Brooklyn class: boiler room with six of eight boilers took places before fore engine room, and two remained boilers were installed in boiler room arranged between two engine rooms.
Armour protection provided to a cruiser an immune zone under fire of 203mm guns in a band from 50 to 110 cables.
In addition to 203mm guns cruiser carried new 127/38mm DP guns, placed not aside, but on diamond-shaped scheme, that notably improved fire sectors. As the project provided much lighter 127/25mm AA guns, stability of the ship after installation of 127/38mm guns began to call serious fears. Exit has been found in 200t of a pig-iron ballast.
Ship protection: Main belt abreast machinery extended to 1.5m below and 2.86m over waterline. It was 152mm thick (76mm at lower edge) on 16mm STS plating. There were narrow belts abreast magazines. Thickness of these belts was 102mm decreasing to 76mm at lower edge. Magazines were protected by 152mm bulkheads fore and aft, machinery and magazines were separated by 152mm bulkheads. Armoured deck over main belt was 57mm. Barbettes were 178mm thick. Turrets had 203mm faces, 95mm sides, 38mm rears and 70mm crowns.
Modernizations: 7/1941: + 2 x 4 - 28/75 Mk 1, CXAS Mk 1 radar
4/1942: - 8 x 1 - 12.7/90, CXAS Mk 1 radar; + 12 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlkon, SC, 2x Mk 4, Mk 8 radars
11/1943: - 2 x 4 - 28/75, SC, Mk 8 radars; + 4 x 4 - 40/56 Bofors, 2 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors, 6 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon, SG, SK-1, Mk 13 radars
1945: - 2 x Mk 4 radars; + 2 x 2 - 40/56 Bofors, 2 x Mk 25 radars, full displacement was 14611t
Naval service: No significant events.
Wichita 1940
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10