USS Marblehead (CL-12)

USS Marblehead (CL-12), underway in San Diego Harbor, California, 10 January 1935.
History
United States
Name:	Marblehead
Namesake:	Town of Marblehead, Massachusetts
Ordered:	1 July 1918
Awarded:	24 January 1919
Builder:	William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia
Laid down:	4 August 1920
Launched:	9 October 1923
Sponsored by:	Mrs. Joseph Evans
Completed:	1 January 1922
Commissioned:	8 September 1924
Decommissioned:	1 November 1945
Struck:	28 November 1945
Identification:	Hull symbol:CL-12 Code letters:NIRR
Honors and awards:	2 × battle star
Fate:	Sold for scrap 27 February 1946
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type:	Omaha-class light cruiser
Displacement:	7,050 long tons (7,163 t) (standard) 9,508 long tons (9,661 t) (loaded)
Length:	555 ft 6 in (169.32 m) oa 550 ft (170 m) pp
Beam:	55 ft (17 m)
Draft:	14 ft 3 in (4.34 m) (mean)
Installed power:	12 × White-Forster boilers 90,000 ihp (67,000 kW) (Estimated power produced on trials)
Propulsion:	4 × Parsons steam turbines 4 × screws
Speed:	35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph) 33.7 knots (62.4 km/h; 38.8 mph) (Estimated speed on Trial)
Crew:	29 officers 429 enlisted (peace time)
Armament:	2 × twin 6 in (150 mm)/53 caliber guns 8 × single 6 in (150 mm)/53 caliber guns 4 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber guns anti-aircraft 6 × triple 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 4 × twin 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 224 × mines (removed soon after completion)
Armor:	Belt: 3 in (76 mm) Deck: 1 1⁄2–4 in (38–102 mm) Conning Tower: 1 1⁄2 in (38 mm) Bulkheads: 1 1⁄2–3 in (38–76 mm)
Aircraft carried:	2 × floatplanes
Aviation facilities:	2 × Amidship catapults crane
General characteristics (1941)
Armament:	2 × twin 6 in (152 mm)/53 caliber 6 × single 6 in (152 mm)/53 caliber 7 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber anti-aircraft guns 6 × triple 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 8 × .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns
General characteristics (1945)
Armament:	2 × twin 6 in (152 mm)/53 caliber 6 × single 6 in (152 mm)/53 caliber 8 × 3 in (76 mm)/50 caliber anti-aircraft guns 6 × triple 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 3 × twin 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors guns 12 × single 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons

USS Marblehead (CL-12) was an Omaha-class light cruiser, originally classified as a scout cruiser, of the United States Navy. She was the third Navy ship named for the town of Marblehead, Massachusetts.

Marblehead was authorized on 1 July 1918 and assigned to William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia on 24 January 1919. She was laid down on 4 August 1920 and launched on 9 October 1923, sponsored by Mrs. Joseph Evans. Marblehead was commissioned on 3 November 1923, with Captain Chauncey Shackford in command.

Marblehead was 550 feet (170 metres) long at the waterline with an overall length of 555 feet 6 inches (169.32 metres), her beam was 55 feet 4 inches (16.87 metres) and a mean draft of 13 feet 6 inches (4.11 metres). Her standard displacement was 7,050 long tons (7,160 t) and 9,508 long tons (9,661 t) at full load. Her crew, during peace time, consisted of 29 officers and 429 enlisted men.

Marblehead was powered by four Parsons steam turbines geared steam turbines, each driving one screw, using steam generated by 12 White-Forster boilers. The engines were designed to produce 90,000 indicated horsepower (67,000 kW) and reach a top speed of 35 knots (65 km/h; 40 mph). She was designed to provide a range of 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph), but was only capable of 8,460 nautical miles (15,670 km; 9,740 mi) at that speed.