USS Salem (CA-139)

USS Salem at Toulon, 18 June 1951
History
United States
NameSalem
NamesakeSalem, Massachusetts
Ordered14 June 1943
BuilderBethlehem Steel Co.'s Fore River Shipyard
Laid down4 July 1945
Launched25 March 1947
Commissioned14 May 1949
Decommissioned30 January 1959
Stricken7 December 1991
Identification
StatusMuseum ship in Quincy, Massachusetts 42°14′39″N 70°58′12″W / 42.24417°N 70.97000°W / 42.24417; -70.97000
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeDes Moines-class heavy cruiser
Displacement
  • 17,000 long tons (17,273 t) (standard)
  • 21,500 long tons (21,845 t) (full load)
Length
  • 700 ft (210 m) wl
  • 716 ft 6 in (218.39 m) oa
Beam76 ft 6 in (23.32 m)
Draft22 ft (6.7 m)
Propulsion
  • 4 shafts
  • General Electric turbines
  • 4 boilers
  • 120,000 shp (89,000 kW)
Speed33 kn (61 km/h)
Range
  • 10,500 nmi at 15 knots
  • 19,400 km at 28 km/h
Boats & landing
craft carried
2–4 × lifeboats
Complement1,799 officers and enlisted
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament
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)
Aviation facilities

USS Salem (CA-139) is a Des Moines-class heavy cruiser completed for the United States Navy shortly after World War II and commissioned in 1949. The second ship of her class, she was the world's last heavy cruiser to enter service and is the last remaining. She was decommissioned in 1959 after serving in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. She is open to the public as a museum ship in Quincy, Massachusetts.[1]

  1. ^ Ronan, Patrick (7 May 2014). "USS Salem to leave Quincy for East Boston". The Patriot Ledger. Archived from the original on 22 April 2016. Retrieved 8 May 2014.