USS Raleigh (CL-7)

USS Raleigh (CL-7), off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 6 July 1942, following repair of combat damage and an overhaul.
History
United States
Name:	Raleigh
Namesake:	City of Raleigh, North Carolina
Ordered:	29 August 1916
Awarded:	21 August 1917 12 June 1919 (supplementary contract)
Builder:	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation's Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts
Laid down:	16 August 1920
Launched:	25 October 1922
Sponsored by:	Miss Jennie Proctor
Completed:	1 August 1921
Commissioned:	6 February 1924
Decommissioned:	2 November 1945
Struck:	28 November 1945
Identification:	Hull symbol:CL-7 Code letters:NIRT
Honors and awards:	3 × battle star
Fate:	Sold for scrap 27 February 1946
General characteristics
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 × Yarrow boiler 90,000 ihp (67,000 kW) (Estimated power produced on trials)
Propulsion:	4 × Curtis 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 2 × 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 (7.6 cm) 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 (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 8 × single 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon cannons

USS Raleigh (CL-7) 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 city of Raleigh, North Carolina. She spent most of her pre-war career in the Atlantic. Her first duty was to assist in the USAAS's first aerial circumnavigation of the world. In 1936 Raleigh joined Squadron 40-T in neutrality patrols during the Spanish Civil War where she would serve until 1938 when she would be transferred to the Pacific. This would lead her to be fatefully moored at berth F-12 on the morning of 7 December 1941, where she would take a torpedo in her No.2 boiler room and claim five victories with her anti-aircraft batteries with no loss of life.

Raleigh was ordered on 29 August 1916 and contracted to be built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation's Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, 21 August 1917. Her keel was laid on 15 May 1920 and launched on 23 May 1921, the cruiser was christened by Miss Jennie Proctor; and commissioned 6 February 1924, Captain William C. Watts in command.

Raleigh 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.