Pensacola-class cruiser: Difference between revisions
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=== Background === | === Background === | ||
Initial efforts to design what would become the ''Pensacola''-class began in 1918 with the launch of the British [[Hawkins-class cruiser|''Hawkins''-class cruisers]]. The US Navy believed the ''Hawkins''-class outclassed all American cruisers that were currently in service: an issue as [[United Kingdom|Great Britain]] was considered a potential rival. [[Japan]] was also identified as a potential threat, and any war in the [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]] would have required uniquely designed ships that could cope with extreme range. To counter both potential adversaries, the new American cruisers needed to exceed the capabilities of the ''Hawkins''-class while possessing the range necessary to operate across the Pacific.<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |last=Whitley |first=M. J. (Michael J. ) |url=https://archive.org/details/cruisers-of-wwii-enciclopedia-images/page/192/mode/2up?q=%22De+Ruyter%22+ |title=Cruisers of World War Two : an international encyclopedia |date=1995 |publisher=London : Arms and Armour Press |isbn=}}</ref>{{Rp|page=232}} | |||
=== Washington Naval Treaty === | === Washington Naval Treaty === | ||
{{See also|Treaty cruiser}} | {{See also|Treaty cruiser}} | ||
In 1922, the United States and other [[Naval power|naval powers]] signed the [[Washington Naval Treaty]], intended to prevent a [[naval arms race]] and foster a sense of [[disarmament]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Washington Treaty |url=https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3995 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250112235801/https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3995 |archive-date=12 January 2025 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=www.digitalhistory.uh.edu}}</ref> The treaty limited future cruisers to [[Displacement (ship)|displace]] less than 10,000 tons and armed with weapons with a [[caliber]] no greater than {{Convert|8|in}}. The '' | In 1922, the United States and other [[Naval power|naval powers]] signed the [[Washington Naval Treaty]], intended to prevent a [[naval arms race]] and foster a sense of [[disarmament]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Washington Treaty |url=https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3995 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250112235801/https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtID=3&psid=3995 |archive-date=12 January 2025 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=www.digitalhistory.uh.edu}}</ref> The treaty limited future cruisers to [[Displacement (ship)|displace]] less than 10,000 tons and armed with weapons with a [[caliber]] no greater than {{Convert|8|in}}. The ''Pensacola''-class was the first American design built to treaty specifications, which allowed American naval architects to experiment with the requirements.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1953-02-01 |title=Speed Characteristics Of The Treaty Cruisers |url=https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1953/february/speed-characteristics-treaty-cruisers |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=[[U.S. Naval Institute]] |language=en}}</ref> | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
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In an effort to remain within treaty limits, while still mounting a very heavy main battery of ten {{convert|8|in|0|adj=on}} guns, the hull was of welded construction, and the armor [[Belt armor|belt]] was thin (varying from {{convert|2.5|to|4|in}} in thickness). This was inadequate to protect her vitals from enemy 8-inch shells and was no thicker than the armor on {{convert|6|in|0|adj=on}} gun cruisers. In fact, {{USS|Pensacola|CA-24|2}} and {{USS|Salt Lake City|CA-25|2}} were classified as [[light cruiser]]s due to their minimal armor, until re-designated in July 1931 as [[heavy cruiser]]s in accordance with the provisions of the [[London Naval Treaty]] to designate all cruisers with guns larger than 6.1-inch as heavy cruisers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Friedman |first1=Norman |title=U.S. Cruisers: An Illustrated Design History |date=1984 |publisher=United States Naval Institute |isbn=0-87021-718-6 |page=450}}</ref> | In an effort to remain within treaty limits, while still mounting a very heavy main battery of ten {{convert|8|in|0|adj=on}} guns, the hull was of welded construction, and the armor [[Belt armor|belt]] was thin (varying from {{convert|2.5|to|4|in}} in thickness). This was inadequate to protect her vitals from enemy 8-inch shells and was no thicker than the armor on {{convert|6|in|0|adj=on}} gun cruisers. In fact, {{USS|Pensacola|CA-24|2}} and {{USS|Salt Lake City|CA-25|2}} were classified as [[light cruiser]]s due to their minimal armor, until re-designated in July 1931 as [[heavy cruiser]]s in accordance with the provisions of the [[London Naval Treaty]] to designate all cruisers with guns larger than 6.1-inch as heavy cruisers.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Friedman |first1=Norman |title=U.S. Cruisers: An Illustrated Design History |date=1984 |publisher=United States Naval Institute |isbn=0-87021-718-6 |page=450}}</ref> | ||
Their main armament consisted of ten 8-inch guns, in two twin turrets on the main deck, and two triple turrets two decks above, making it one of the two US Navy ship classes (besides the {{sclass|Nevada|battleship}}s) to have different-sized turrets for main armament. All the guns in each turret were mounted in a single slide, and were unable to elevate independently of one another. Also, unlike the very few other ships with different-sized main battery turrets (''Nevada''-class battleships and ''[[King George V-class battleship (1939)|King George V]]''-class battleships) the ''Pensacolas'' had the larger turrets [[superfire|superfiring]] over the smaller turrets, whereas the others had the larger turrets on "bottom".<ref>the original design for the {{sclass|Lexington|battlecruiser}} would have shared this unique arrangement, as they called for ten {{convert|14|in|adj=on}} guns, with the triple turrets superfiring over twin turrets, and would have appeared like scaled-up ''Pensacola''s</ref> Placing heavier turrets above lighter ones allows for finer lines for a given length, however causing | Their main armament consisted of ten 8-inch guns, in two twin turrets on the main deck, and two triple turrets two decks above, making it one of the two US Navy ship classes (besides the {{sclass|Nevada|battleship}}s) to have different-sized turrets for main armament. All the guns in each turret were mounted in a single slide, and were unable to elevate independently of one another. Also, unlike the very few other ships with different-sized main battery turrets (''Nevada''-class battleships and ''[[King George V-class battleship (1939)|King George V]]''-class battleships) the ''Pensacolas'' had the larger turrets [[superfire|superfiring]] over the smaller turrets, whereas the others had the larger turrets on "bottom".<ref>the original design for the {{sclass|Lexington|battlecruiser}} would have shared this unique arrangement, as they called for ten {{convert|14|in|adj=on}} guns, with the triple turrets superfiring over twin turrets, and would have appeared like scaled-up ''Pensacola''s</ref> Placing heavier turrets above lighter ones allows for finer lines for a given length, however causing top-heaviness and reducing stability. | ||
Unfortunately, because of the rather unusual main battery layout and their heavy tripod fore-masts, they were top-heavy and prone to excessive rolling. This combined with low freeboard forward made them inferior seaboats compared to later designs. Rework in the shipyards modified the hull and superstructure in the 1930s to eliminate the rolling.<ref>{{cite book|last=Silverstone|first=Paul H|year=1965|title=US Warships of World War II|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=0-87021-773-9}}</ref> | Unfortunately, because of the rather unusual main battery layout and their heavy tripod fore-masts, they were top-heavy and prone to excessive rolling. This combined with low freeboard forward made them inferior seaboats compared to later designs. Rework in the shipyards modified the hull and superstructure in the 1930s to eliminate the rolling.<ref>{{cite book|last=Silverstone|first=Paul H|year=1965|title=US Warships of World War II|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=0-87021-773-9}}</ref> | ||
Latest revision as of 23:07, 21 June 2025
Template:Short descriptionTemplate:Use dmy dates Template:More citations needed
Template:Infobox ship imageTemplate:Infobox ship class overviewTemplate:Infobox ship characteristicsThe Pensacola class was a class of United States Navy heavy cruiser, the first "treaty cruisers" designed under the limitations set by the Washington Naval Treaty, which limited cruisers to a maximum of Template:Convert displacement and a maximum main battery caliber of Template:Convert.
Development
Background
Initial efforts to design what would become the Pensacola-class began in 1918 with the launch of the British Hawkins-class cruisers. The US Navy believed the Hawkins-class outclassed all American cruisers that were currently in service: an issue as Great Britain was considered a potential rival. Japan was also identified as a potential threat, and any war in the Pacific would have required uniquely designed ships that could cope with extreme range. To counter both potential adversaries, the new American cruisers needed to exceed the capabilities of the Hawkins-class while possessing the range necessary to operate across the Pacific.[1]Template:Rp
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". In 1922, the United States and other naval powers signed the Washington Naval Treaty, intended to prevent a naval arms race and foster a sense of disarmament.[2] The treaty limited future cruisers to displace less than 10,000 tons and armed with weapons with a caliber no greater than Template:Convert. The Pensacola-class was the first American design built to treaty specifications, which allowed American naval architects to experiment with the requirements.[3]
Description
In an effort to remain within treaty limits, while still mounting a very heavy main battery of ten Template:Convert guns, the hull was of welded construction, and the armor belt was thin (varying from Template:Convert in thickness). This was inadequate to protect her vitals from enemy 8-inch shells and was no thicker than the armor on Template:Convert gun cruisers. In fact, Template:USS and Template:USS were classified as light cruisers due to their minimal armor, until re-designated in July 1931 as heavy cruisers in accordance with the provisions of the London Naval Treaty to designate all cruisers with guns larger than 6.1-inch as heavy cruisers.[4]
Their main armament consisted of ten 8-inch guns, in two twin turrets on the main deck, and two triple turrets two decks above, making it one of the two US Navy ship classes (besides the Template:Sclasss) to have different-sized turrets for main armament. All the guns in each turret were mounted in a single slide, and were unable to elevate independently of one another. Also, unlike the very few other ships with different-sized main battery turrets (Nevada-class battleships and King George V-class battleships) the Pensacolas had the larger turrets superfiring over the smaller turrets, whereas the others had the larger turrets on "bottom".[5] Placing heavier turrets above lighter ones allows for finer lines for a given length, however causing top-heaviness and reducing stability.
Unfortunately, because of the rather unusual main battery layout and their heavy tripod fore-masts, they were top-heavy and prone to excessive rolling. This combined with low freeboard forward made them inferior seaboats compared to later designs. Rework in the shipyards modified the hull and superstructure in the 1930s to eliminate the rolling.[6]
The Navy built only two ships in this class before switching to the Template:Sclass design. Many of the deficiencies of the Pensacolas were corrected by reducing the main battery to three triple turrets (two forward, one aft) and adding another upper deck forward of amidships.
Ships in class
| Ship name | Hull no. | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:USS | CA-24 | New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York City | 27 Oct 1926 | 25 Apr 1929 | 6 Feb 1930 | 26 Aug 1946 | Struck, 28 Nov 1945; Sunk as target, 10 Nov 1948 |
| Template:USS | CA-25 | New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey | 9 Jun 1927 | 23 Jan 1929 | 11 Dec 1929 | 29 Aug 1947 | Struck, 18 Jun 1948; Sunk as target, 25 May 1948 |
See also
- County-class cruiser, a contemporary class of RN cruisers built to the same Treaty limits
- Furutaka-class cruiser, a contemporary class of IJN cruisers built to the same Treaty limits
- List of cruisers of the United States Navy
References
External links
- Global Security.org – Pensacola-class cruiser
- Global Security.org – Pensacola-class cruiser specifications
Template:Military navigation Template:WWII US shipsTemplate:Treaty Cruisers
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- ↑ the original design for the Template:Sclass would have shared this unique arrangement, as they called for ten Template:Convert guns, with the triple turrets superfiring over twin turrets, and would have appeared like scaled-up Pensacolas
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