Wichita class cruiser
Encyclopedia
The Wichita class cruiser was a class of heavy cruiser
used by the United States Navy
. The single ship of the class was the .
designed heavy cruisers.
The differences between the pre-war heavy cruiser classes and the Wichita class are numerous. The hull was longer than previous cruisers and the hull design foreshadowed the that was to follow during the war years. Smaller compartments and increased protection were added with the thought of increased stability and survivability for the ship. Weapons were improved and the Wichitas 8 inches (20.3 cm) turrets incorporated the ability to load and fire the guns separately. Also, the Wichita had aircraft facilities mounted aft which was incorporated in later cruiser classes as well.
The following Baltimore class cruisers started as an improved Wichita class before being given its own class designation.
Heavy cruiser
The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range, high speed and an armament of naval guns roughly 203mm calibre . The heavy cruiser can be seen as a lineage of ship design from 1915 until 1945, although the term 'heavy cruiser' only came into formal use in 1930...
used by the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. The single ship of the class was the .
Class history
What was to become the Wichita class cruiser was conceived as another . However, the design was altered and the Wichita class became a bridge between pre-war and World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
designed heavy cruisers.
The differences between the pre-war heavy cruiser classes and the Wichita class are numerous. The hull was longer than previous cruisers and the hull design foreshadowed the that was to follow during the war years. Smaller compartments and increased protection were added with the thought of increased stability and survivability for the ship. Weapons were improved and the Wichitas 8 inches (20.3 cm) turrets incorporated the ability to load and fire the guns separately. Also, the Wichita had aircraft facilities mounted aft which was incorporated in later cruiser classes as well.
The following Baltimore class cruisers started as an improved Wichita class before being given its own class designation.