Worcester-class cruiser

Class overview
*USS Worcester* (CL-144)**
Name:	Worcester-class cruiser
Operators:	United States Navy
Preceded by:	Fargo class
In commission:	1948–58
Planned:	10
Completed:	2
Cancelled:	8
Retired:	2
Preserved:	0
General characteristics
Type:	Light cruiser
Displacement:	14,700 long-tons (standard) 17,997 long-tons (full)
Length:	679 ft .5 in (207.0 m)
Beam:	70 ft .5 in (21.3 m)
Draft:	25 ft (7.6 m)
Propulsion:	4 × Westinghouse 620 psi boilers 4 × geared steam turbines 4 × screws 125,000 Horsepower
Speed:	33 knots
Complement:	1,560 officers and enlisted
Armament:	12 × 6-in/47 Mk16 DP in six 2-gun turrets 5 × dual 3-in/50 Mk33 port (3-in/50s were installed in early 1949) 5 × dual 3-in/50 Mk33 starboard 1 × dual 3-in/50 Mk33 bow 2 × single 3-in/50 Mk34 on blisters fantail
Armor:	3-5 in belt 3.5 in (max) deck 2-6.5 in turrets 5 in barbettes 4.5 in conn

The Worcester class was a class of light cruisers used by the United States Navy, laid down in 1945 and commissioned in 1948-49. They and their contemporaries, the Des Moines-class heavy cruisers, were the last all-gun cruisers built for the U.S. Navy. Ten ships were planned for this class, but only two (USS Worcester (CL-144) and USS Roanoke (CL-145)) were completed.

The main battery layout was distinctive with twin rather than triple turrets, unlike the previous Cleveland-class, St. Louis-class, and Brooklyn-class light cruisers. Aside from the Worcesters main battery consisting of 6 in (152 mm) rather than 5 in (127 mm) guns, the layout was identical to the much smaller Juneau-class light cruisers, carrying 12 guns in six turrets, three forward and three aft, with only turrets 3 and 4 superfiring. The 6"/47 Mk 16 gun was an autoloading, high-angle dual purpose gun with a high rate of fire, and the Worcesters were thus designed to serve as AA cruisers like the Juneaus but with much more potent guns, as well as conventional light cruisers.

Both ships were decommissioned in 1958, the last conventional light cruisers to serve in the fleet, and scrapped in the early 1970s.

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