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I wish to ask if anybody heard more about this proposed modernization of these aging cruisers by 1952?
Both Norman Friedman, the hazegray.org and globalsecurity.org sites mention this proposal but nothing concrete is written.
I can only think of them as part of the CIP (Class Improvement Plan) with 3"/50 RF Mark 22 guns and new radars but not found anything about them.
Quote from Norman Friedman's U.S. Cruisers: An Illustrated Design History page 343
quote from the hazegrey.org site:
www.globalsecurity.org
Both Norman Friedman, the hazegray.org and globalsecurity.org sites mention this proposal but nothing concrete is written.
I can only think of them as part of the CIP (Class Improvement Plan) with 3"/50 RF Mark 22 guns and new radars but not found anything about them.
Quote from Norman Friedman's U.S. Cruisers: An Illustrated Design History page 343
Though Friedman's text implies that even the USS Portland was considered for such modernization...Although the Northamptons and the Portland were placed on the disposal list in 1946, they were restored to the navy list in 1952. Although modernization plans were drawn up as part of the general compilation of class improvement plans in 1952, it does not appear that reactivation was ever a serious possibility. All of these ships were at the limit of their stability, and the older heavy cruisers were considered power critical as early as August 1945. The Wichita, however, came close to reactivation as a missile ship.
quote from the hazegrey.org site:
quote from the globalsecurity.org site:These ships were scheduled for disposal in 1946 but were retained, modernizations were considered in 1952.
CA-26 Northampton
The remaining three were scheduled for disposal in 1946 but were decommissioned in June-July 1946 and retained in reserve. Modernizations were considered in 1952. Chester, Louisville, and Augusta were stricken 1 March 1959 and sold for scrap thereafter.