View source for USS Quincy (CA-71)

{{Short description|Heavy cruiser of the United States Navy}}
{{other ships|USS Quincy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
 |image=USS Quincy (CA-71) underway in the Pacific Ocean 1952-54.jpg
 |image_caption=USS ''Quincy'' underway, 1952–1954
 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
 |hide_header=
 |country=United States
 |flag={{USN flag|1954}}
 |name=''Quincy''
 |namesake=City of [[Quincy, Massachusetts|Quincy]], Massachusetts
 |ordered=17 June 1940
 |builder=[[Fore River Shipyard]]
 |laid_down=9 October 1941
 |launched=23 June 1943
 |sponsor= Mrs. Henry S. Morgan
 |acquired=
 |commissioned=15 December 1943
 |decommissioned=2 July 1954
 |in_service=
 |out_of_service=
 |struck=1 October 1973
 |reinstated=
 |identification=*[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: NWGJ
                 *{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Whiskey}}{{ICS|Golf}}{{ICS|Juliet}}
                 *[[Hull classification symbol#Surface combatant type|Hull number]]: CA-71
 |honors=[[USS Quincy (CA-71)#Awards|See ''Awards'']]
 |fate=[[Ship breaking|Scrapped]], 1974
 |notes=
 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
 |hide_header=
 |header_caption=
 |class={{sclass|Baltimore|cruiser|0}} [[heavy cruiser]]
 |displacement={{cvt|13600|LT|0|lk=on}}
 |length={{convert|673|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on}}
 |beam={{convert|70|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}
 |draft={{convert|20|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
 |propulsion=
 |speed={{cvt|33|kn|lk=in}}
 |range=
 |complement=1,142 officers and enlisted
 |sensors=
 |EW=
 |armament=
*9 × [[8-inch/55-caliber gun|{{cvt|8|in|0}}/55]] [[caliber (artillery)|caliber]] guns (3x3)
*12 × [[5-inch/38-caliber gun|{{cvt|5|in|0}}/38 caliber]] [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft guns]] (AA) (6x2)
*48 × [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|{{cvt|40|mm|2}} Bofors]] AA guns (12x4)
*24 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{cvt|20|mm|2}} Oerlikon]] AA cannons (24x1)
 |armor=
 |aircraft=4 × [[OS2U Kingfisher]]
 |aircraft_facilities=*Stern hangar for 4 aircraft(wings folded)
                      *2 × [[Aircraft catapult#Interwar and World War II|catapult]]s
 |notes=
 }}
}}

'''USS ''Quincy'' (CA-71)''' was a [[heavy cruiser]] of the [[Baltimore class cruiser|''Baltimore''-class]] of the [[United States Navy]]. She was the [[USS Quincy|third ship to carry the name]].

==Construction==
The third ''Quincy'' was authorized on 17 June 1940, and laid down at the [[Fore River Shipyard]] of the [[Bethlehem Steel Company]], [[Quincy, Massachusetts]], as ''St. Paul'' on 9 October 1941. Renamed ''Quincy'' on 16 October 1942, to perpetuate that name, after the destruction of the second {{USS|Quincy|CA-39|3}} at the [[Battle of Savo Island]] on 9 August 1942. She was launched on 23 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Catherine Adams-Morgan, wife of [[Henry S. Morgan]], daughter of [[Charles Francis Adams III|Charles Francis Adams]], and sponsor of the previous ''Quincy''. She was commissioned at the U.S. Naval Drydock, [[South Boston]], Massachusetts, on 15 December 1943, with [[Captain (United States O-6)|Captain]] Elliot M. Senn in command.<ref name="navy bio"/>

==Service history==

===World War II===
After a shakedown cruise in the Gulf of Paria, between Trinidad and Venezuela, the new heavy cruiser was assigned, 27 March 1944, to Task Force 22 and trained in Casco Bay, Maine, until she steamed to Belfast, Northern Ireland, with TG 27.10, arriving 14 May and reporting to Commander, 12th Fleet for duty. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, accompanied by Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk, inspected the ship's company in Belfast Lough 15 May 1944.

USS ''Quincy'' sailed out of Belfast Lough, 20 May, for the Clyde and anchored off Greenock, Scotland, to begin special training in shore bombardment. She then returned to Belfast Lough, and began final preparations for the invasion of Europe. Her float plane [[artillery observer]] pilots were temporarily assigned to [[VOS-7]] flying [[Spitfire]]s from [[RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus)]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Mersky |first=Peter |year=1986 |title=Naval Aviators in Spitfires |journal=[[Proceedings (magazine)|Proceedings]] |volume=112 |issue=12 |pages=105&106 |publisher=[[United States Naval Institute]] }}</ref> At 0537, 6 June 1944, she engaged shore batteries from her station on the right flank of [[Utah Beach]], Baie de la Seine.<ref name="navy bio">{{cite web |title=Quincy III (CA-71) |url=https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/q/quincy-iii.html |publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command, US Navy |access-date=27 May 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

During the period 6 through 17 June, in conjunction with shore fire control parties and aircraft spotters, ''Quincy'' conducted highly accurate pinpoint firing against enemy mobile batteries and concentrations of tanks, trucks, and troops. She also neutralized and destroyed heavy, long range enemy batteries, supported minesweepers operating under enemy fire, engaged enemy batteries that were firing on the crews of the ships [[USS Corry (DD-463)|USS ''Corry'' (DD-463)]] and [[USS Glennon (DD-620)|''Glennon'' (DD-620)]] during their efforts to abandon their ships after they had struck mines and participated in the reduction of the town of [[Quinéville]] on 12 June.<ref name="navy bio"/>

''Quincy'' steamed to Portland, England, 21 June, and joined TF 129. She departed Portland, 24 June, for Cherbourg, France. The [[Bombardment of Cherbourg|bombardment of the batteries]] surrounding the city commenced in conjunction with the Army's assault at 1207. Nineteen of the twenty-one primary targets assigned the task force were successfully neutralized or destroyed thus enabling Army troops to occupy the city on 26 June.

The heavy cruiser sailed for Mers-el Kebir, North Africa, on 4 July, arriving there 10 July. She proceeded to Palermo, Sicily, 16 July, arriving two days later. ''Quincy'', based at Palermo through 26 July, conducted shore bombardment practice at Camarota in the Gulf of Policastro. She then steamed to Malta via the Straits of Messina. Between 27 July and 13 August, the cruiser participated in training exercises at Malta and Camarota, Italy.

On the afternoon of 13 August, in company with four British cruisers, one French cruiser, and four American destroyers, ''Quincy'' departed Malta for the [[Operation Dragoon|landings on the southern coast of France]], arriving Baie de Cavalaire 15 August. For three days the group provided fire support on the left flank of the U.S. 7th Army. ''Quincy'' transferred 19 August to TG 86.4, and until the 24th, engaged the heavy batteries at Toulon, St. Mandrier, and Cape Sicie. She steamed westward the afternoon of 24 August to support minesweepers clearing the channel to Port de Bouc in the [[Marseille]] area.

USS ''Quincy'' was detached from European duty on 1 September, and steamed for Boston, arriving one week later. She remained at Boston for the installation of new equipment through 31 October, when she got underway for training in Casco Bay. After fitting out at Boston for a Presidential cruise, ''Quincy'' steamed for [[Hampton Roads, Virginia]], 16 November.

President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] and his party embarked on ''Quincy'' on 23 January 1945, at Newport News, Virginia, for passage to [[Malta]], arriving 2 February. After receiving calls by [[British Prime Minister]] [[Winston Churchill]] and other dignitaries, President Roosevelt departed ''Quincy'' and continued on to the [[Crimea]] by air to attend the [[Yalta Conference]].

====The ''Quincy'' Agreement====
[[File:Franklin D. Roosevelt with King Ibn Saud aboard USS Quincy (CA-71), 14 February 1945 (USA-C-545).jpg|thumb|[[Franklin D. Roosevelt|President Roosevelt]] with [[Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia]], kneeling on one knee, Colonel [[William A. Eddy]] (organizer of the meeting and serving as interpreter) and on the left Admiral [[William D. Leahy|William Leahy]] aboard ''Quincy''. In the background is Sergeant James Pendry, orderly to FDR during the President’s cruise.]]

USS ''Quincy'' departed Malta 6 February 1945, and arrived at the [[Great Bitter Lake]] in the [[Suez Canal]] two days later, after calling at Ismalia, Egypt. The President and his party returned to ''Quincy'' on 12 February, following the Yalta Conference with Soviet leader [[Josef Stalin]] and Churchill, and the next day received King [[Farouk of Egypt]] and [[Haile Selassie]], Emperor of [[Ethiopia]].

From 14 February, President Roosevelt and King [[Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia]], known in the West as Ibn Saud, met aboard ''Quincy.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Atatüre |first=Süha |url= |title=China and Eurasian Powers in a Multipolar World Order 2.0: Security, Diplomacy, Economy and Cyberspace |date=2023 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |others=Mher Sahakyan |isbn=978-1-003-35258-7 |edition= |location=New York |pages=36 |chapter=The US and China as Main Powers in Multipolar World Order 2.0 |oclc=1353290533}}</ref>'' During the meeting, President Roosevelt tried to persuade Ibn Saud to give support for Jewish immigration to [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]], and hoped that Ibn Saud might be able to offer constructive advice on the Palestine issue. There, Roosevelt and Saud concluded a secret agreement in which the U.S. would provide Saudi Arabia military security – military assistance, training and a military base at [[Dhahran]] in Saudi Arabia – in exchange for secure access to supplies of [[petroleum|oil]].<ref name="pact">[http://www.crethiplethi.com/letter-from-president-roosevelt-to-king-ibn-saud-april-5-1945/usa/2010/ Letter From President Roosevelt to King Ibn Saud, April 5, 1945] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204205857/http://www.crethiplethi.com/letter-from-president-roosevelt-to-king-ibn-saud-april-5-1945/usa/2010/ |date=4 December 2011 }}, Crethi Plethi. <!-- https://web.archive.org/web/20190404081608/http://www.crethiplethi.com/letter-from-president-roosevelt-to-king-ibn-saud-april-5-1945/usa/2010/ --></ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, The Near East and Africa, Volume VIII - Office of the Historian |url=https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1945v08/d2 |website=history.state.gov |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200217092401/https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1945v08/d2 |archive-date=17 February 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Taylor |first1=Adam |title=The first time a U.S. president met a Saudi king |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/01/27/the-first-time-a-u-s-president-met-a-saudi-king/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191230190511/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/01/27/the-first-time-a-u-s-president-met-a-saudi-king/ |archive-date=30 December 2019 |language=en |date=27 January 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=FDR meets with Saudi king, Feb. 14, 1945 |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/14/this-day-in-politics-feb-14-1945-1164052 |website=Politico |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214080409/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/14/this-day-in-politics-feb-14-1945-1164052 |archive-date=14 February 2019 |language=en |date=14 February 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

After a call at [[Alexandria]], and a final meeting between President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill, ''Quincy'' steamed for [[Algiers]], arriving on 18 February. The President's senior aide, Maj. Gen. [[Edwin "Pa" Watson]], who had been ailing, died aboard ship on 20 February.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/entertainment/books/2018/01/28/last-100-days-book/15390827007/ | title='The Last 100 Days': Book examines President Roosevelt's big moves amid decline }}</ref>  Following a presidential conference with the American ambassadors to [[Great Britain]], [[France]] and [[Italy]], the cruiser steamed for the United States, arriving at Newport News on 27 February.

====Remainder of wartime career====
USS ''Quincy'' sailed out of Hampton Roads 5 March 1945, arriving [[Pearl Harbor]] 20 March. After training in the Pearl Harbor area, she steamed for [[Ulithi]] via [[Eniwetok]], joining the 5th Fleet there 11 April. Two days later, she departed Ulithi and joined Rear Admiral Wiltse's Cruiser Division 10, in Vice Admiral Mitscher's Fast Carrier Task Force. From 16 April, ''Quincy'' supported the carriers in their strikes on [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]], Amami Gunto, and Minami Daito Shima. She returned to Ulithi with units of the task force 30 April.

In company with units of TF 58, ''Quincy'' departed Ulithi 9 May, for the area east of [[Kyushu]], Japan, arriving 12 May for carrier strikes against Amami Gunto and Kyushu. Before dawn on 14 May, the cruiser splashed a Japanese plane. Her own aircraft strafed targets in Omonawa on Tokune Shima 19 May. ''Quincy'' continued to support carrier aircraft strikes against Okinawa, Tokuno Shima, Kikai Jima, Amami Gunto, and Asumi Gunto until the force returned to base 13 June. En route, ''Quincy'' safely rode out the severe typhoon of 5 June.

During the period of replenishment and upkeep at [[Leyte]] in the Philippines, Rear Admiral Wiltse, ComCruDiv 10 transferred to ''Quincy''. The cruiser departed Leyte 1 July with Task Force 38 to begin a period of strikes at Japan's home islands which lasted until the termination of hostilities on [[V-J Day]]. She supported carriers in strikes in the [[Tokyo Plain]]s area, [[Honshu]], [[Hokkaido]], and [[Shikoku]].

''Quincy'' joined the Support Force, 23 August, and four days later, helped occupy Sagami Wan, Japan, and entered Tokyo Bay 1 September.

Rear Admiral Wiltse transferred his flag 17 September to [[USS Vicksburg (CL-86)|''Vicksburg'' (CL-86)]], and 20 September, ''Quincy'' joined the 5th Fleet as a unit of the Eastern Japan Force, TF 53, basing in Tokyo Bay.

===Korean War===
''Quincy'' was decommissioned on 19 October 1946, in the [[Puget Sound Naval Shipyard]], [[Bremerton, Washington|Bremerton]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. She was assigned to the Bremerton Group, Pacific [[Reserve Fleet]] until 31 January 1952, when she recommissioned to serve in the [[United States Seventh Fleet|7th Fleet]] in support of United Nations Forces in [[Korean War|Korea]]. Following fitting out and readiness training, she served in the screen of the Fast Carrier Task groups ranging off the coastline of [[Korea]] from 25 July 1953 to 1 December 1953. She again decommissioned 2 July 1954, at Bremerton.<ref name="navy bio"/>

===Fate===
''Quincy'' sat in the reserve fleet at the [[Puget Sound Naval Shipyard]] until she was stricken on 1 October 1973. She was the only one of her class to retain her [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm gun]] mounts instead of receiving the newer 3/50 mounts.  Of the ''Baltimore class'' she had the second shortest active career (''Fall River'' was in service just {{frac|2|1|2}} years), and was in active service for only {{frac|5|1|2}} years.  She was sold to American Ship Dismantling Co., Portland Oregon on 1 September 1974 for $1,156,667.66.

==Awards==
*[[European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal]] with two [[battle star]]s
*[[Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal]] with two battle stars
*[[World War II Victory Medal]]
*[[Navy Occupation Medal]] with "ASIA" clasp
*[[National Defense Service Medal]]
*[[Korean Service Medal]] with one battle star
*[[Korean Presidential Unit Citation]]
*[[United Nations Korea Medal]]
*[[Korean War Service Medal]] (South Korea)

==Legacy==
In honor of the meeting between Saudi's [[King Abdul Aziz]] and [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] aboard ''Quincy'', the official residence of the American ambassador to Saudi Arabia is named [[Quincy House (United States Ambassador residence)|Quincy House]], and is located on the Diplomatic Quarter in [[Riyadh]]. In 1995, to commemorate 50 years since the meeting occurred, then–U.S. Ambassador [[Ray Mabus]] unveiled a detailed model of the meeting on ''Quincy'', paid for with private donations, and this model is still on display today at Quincy House.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.dallasbar.com/members/headnotes.asp?item=540 |title=Interview with Ambassador Bob Jordan, 2002 |access-date=10 May 2007 |archive-date=10 March 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310182819/http://www.dallasbar.com/members/headnotes.asp?item=540 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

''Quincy''{{'}}s ship bell has been preserved, and is on display at [[Marina Bay (Quincy, Massachusetts)|Marina Bay]] in Quincy, Massachusetts. <ref>{{cite news |last1=Blandino |first1=Peter |title=Military statue, one of 19 worldwide, unveiled in Quincy |url=https://www.patriotledger.com/story/news/2024/08/14/quincy-ma-navy-park-lone-sailor-statue-dedication-joseph-dunford-thomas-koch-fore-river-shipyard/74739986007/ |access-date=11 October 2025 |work=The Patriot Ledger}}</ref>

==References==
{{DANFSNVR}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|USS Quincy (CA-71)}}

* {{navsource|04/071/04071|USS Quincy}}
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eiuyy6pbtk0 Video of 1945 meeting on ''Quincy'' between Roosevelt and heads of state]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH1cUz7O7mg Ibn Saud greets President Franklin D. Roosevelt on USS Quincy in the Suez Canal]

{{Baltimore class cruiser}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Quincy (CA-71)}}
[[Category:Baltimore-class cruisers]]
[[Category:World War II cruisers of the United States]]
[[Category:Korean War cruisers of the United States]]
[[Category:Ships built in Quincy, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:Pacific Reserve Fleet, Bremerton Group]]
[[Category:Naval ships of Operation Neptune]]