It was August of 1972; I was walking across the lobby of Recruit Training Command Headquarters San Diego, when I laid eyes on a six plus foot brass ship model encased in glass. As I approached the case, I mistook the craft for a battleship, three triple turrets et al; after a cursory glance I realized she was a heavy cruiser, she was in fact the USS Newport News, it was love at was love at first sight.
After Boot Camp and “A” School I was assigned to the USS Skipjack (SSN-585) for 13 months, when I was transferred. Low and behold, one of my choices of duty station was the USS Newport News (CA-148) whose crew I joined the day she arrived back in Norfolk, Virginia from her deployment in Viet Nam. My first sight of her sleek lines and teak deck brought back memories of the model ship I had seen long ago. I remained aboard Newport News until she was decommissioned June 27, 1975. I am a Plank Preserver.
USS Newport News (CA-148)
Namesake: Newport News, Virginia
Builder: Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company
Laid down: 1 November 1945
Launched: 6 March 1948
Sponsored by: Mrs. Homer L. Ferguson
Commissioned: 29 January 1949
Decommissioned: 27 June 1975
Struck: 31 July 1978
Identification: Hull symbol: CA-148
Fate: Sold for scrap to Southern Scrap Material Co., Ltd, New Orleans 25 FEB 1993
Newport News
Type: Heavy cruiser
Displacement:
17,255 long tons (17,532 t) (standard)
20,933 long tons (21,269 t) (full load)
Length: 716 ft 6 in (218.39 m)
Beam: 76 ft 6 in (23.32 m)
Draft: 22 ft (6.7 m)
Propulsion:
4 shafts
General Electric turbines
4 boilers
120,000 shp (89,000 kW)
Speed: 33 kn (61 km/h)
Range:
10,500 nmi at 15 knots
19,400 km at 28 km/h
Complement: 1,799 officers and enlisted
Armament:
9 × 8 inch/55 caliber guns (3 x 3) (Rate of Fire: 9 rounds per minute per gun)
12 × 5 inch/38 caliber guns (6 x 2) (Rate of Fire: 15-22 rounds per minute per gun)
24 × 3 inch/50 caliber guns (12 x 2) (Rate of Fire: 45-50 rounds per minute per gun)
12 × 20 mm Oerlikon cannons (12 x 1) (Rate of Fire: 250 to 320 rounds per minute per gun)
Armor:
Belt: 4-6 in (102-152 mm)
Deck: 3.5 in (89 mm)
Turrets: 2-8 in (51-203 mm)
Barbettes: 6.3 in (160 mm)
Conning tower: 6.5 in (165 mm)
Looking at her amazing rate of fire you can see why her radio call sign was “Thunder”.
Below I have depicted USS Newport News (CA-148) in 1949 (as commissioned), 1962 after an update to her radar and communication suites, the enclosure of her bridges, and an addition of an enlargement of her deckhouse to accommodate the staff of the Admiral Second fleet/Strike Force Atlantic , and the removal of her Oerlikons and 3”/50 guns. And her recall to Norfolk in1972.
1949
![[ img ]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/wiw217zpd8ryp0k/USA%2C%20Des%20Moines-Class%20Heavy%20Cruiser.%20%28CA-148%29%20USS%20Newport%20News%201949.png?dl=1)
1962
![[ img ]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/0fjp6e7x1zwpjh6/USA%2C%20Des%20Moines-Class%20Heavy%20Cruiser.%20%28CA-148%29%20USS%20Newport%20News%201962.png?dl=1)
1972
![[ img ]](https://www.dropbox.com/s/42cl3ow5b43oq3q/USA%2C%20Des%20Moines-Class%20Heavy%20Cruiser.%20%28CA-148%29%20USS%20Newport%20News%201972.png?dl=1)
than the older Midnigthnova one)