Had the honor of serving on USS Newport News CA-148, the last of the heavy cruisers in the US Navy. Had basically the same 8" main guns, and secondary 5" mounts, but with 3" open mounts. Was a beautiful ship. Flag ship of the 2nd Fleet.
Thank you for sharing this. It was especially interesting for me as my maternal grandfather was a Marine Gunner on the Wichita until he suffered a severe foot injury and was sent to Newport Naval Hospital. He saw action from Iceland to Denmark. He always said, despite the injury, being a US Marine was the best thing that ever happened to him, until, he had a family. RIP Grandpa!
"Admiral Wilcox was swept overboard..." The fate of Admiral Wilcox has still never been satisfactorily explained. However, I was a ship's officer for 30 years, much of it in the North Atlantic where I was in many bad storms, and I don't know how anybody simply can get "swept overboard" from a 35,000-ton battleship, especially an Admiral.
The armor thicknesses for a New Orleans class heavy cruiser and a Brooklyn class light cruiser were very similar, and Wichita was more heavily armored than BOTH. "Heavy" and "Light" referred to the caliber of the cruisers' guns. WRT secondary guns, both the New Orleans and Brooklyn classes had 5"/25 anti-aircraft guns, whose low muzzle velocity limited their usefulness in surface battle. The Wichita had, as noted in the video, 5"/38 dual-purpose secondary guns, much better for use against ships.
My dad served on Wichita right after graduating from the Academy class of 1940. He left her to go to submarine school and served in the Pacific for the rest of the war.
USNA class of 1940 was one of the great ones! I believe they had the highest number of causalities/losses at Pearl Harbor. Both my dad and godfather were class of 1940 - one surface/pilot and the other subs. J. Skerry USNA 80.
I'm from Wichita and drilled at the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center. There is a model of the USS Wichita on the quarterdeck. I think the Bureau of Ships makes these models. they are several hundred thousand dollars and this is about 12 ft long.
The USN owed a huge debt to USS Wichita in all that was learned in her design and building that was to play a huge part in the building of the future WW2's 'Cleveland' and 'Baltimore' class of cruisers. And the fact that none of 'em were lost in the entire war, speaks volumes for the designers of the ships for following the instructions of the USN in 'Make then able to take a hit, this will be a shooting war'.
I know it’s not as glorious or as famous as some of the ships built in World War II but I would love to see you do a piece on the Garcia class destroyer escorts from the 60s
@briangibbs3774 it was. Those men on HMAS Canberra stood shoulder to shoulder with the men of the USN that night in Savo Sound and suffered just as much.
15:10 I was wondering if the caption was in error when it referred to the USS Canberra since it was such an obviously Australian name and I knew there had been an Australian cruiser by that name. But, no, the US renamed a Baltimore-class cruiser from Pittsburg to Canberra in honor of the Australian ship, sunk at Savo Island..
Oh dear Lord... and I guess the St. Louis and Cleveland-Classes are sliced fish?🤔🤨 Because while U.S.S. Wichita, CA-45 may've been the last of the "heavy" cruisers designed and built during the "treaty" period, U.S.S. Wichita, CA-45 was by NO means the last of the treaty cruisers. The two ship St. Louis-Class was designed in 1935 and the Cleveland-Class followed shortly thereafter both VERY much still products of the "treaty" period. The first four of the Cleveland-Class(U.S.S. Cleveland, CL-55, U.S.S. Columbia, CL-56, U.S.S. Montpelier, CL-57, and U.S.S. Denver, CL-58)as designed and built, still conformed to the requirements of the Second London Naval Treaty of 1935. The latter being retro-fitted over time with upgrades the post-treaty Clevelands would receive. So, in truth, U.S.S. Denver, CL-58 IS the last of the treaty cruisers.
not at all, you know I respect the accomplishments of those warships. Look, I'll admit my title is somewhat misleading which is why I just changed it, but I obviously meant she was the last heavy cruiser built (even say it in the 1st sentence of the video) under the 2nd London Treaty.
@briangibbs3774 not in October of 1944...HMAS Canberra was sunk at the battle of Savo Island in August 1942. This was a Baltimore class heavy cruiser (CA-70) that was named in honor of that ship.
Battle of Cowpens - Wikipedia The Battle of Cowpens (one word) was a military engagement during the American Revolutionary War fought on January 17, 1781, near the town of Cowpens, South Carolina.
@robertttttt716 what are you talking about? I discuss Wichita's 8 inch 55 caliber main battery and her 5 inch 38 cal secondary battery. Do you not understand common weapon terminology?
Had the honor of serving on USS Newport News CA-148, the last of the heavy cruisers in the US Navy. Had basically the same 8" main guns, and secondary 5" mounts, but with 3" open mounts. Was a beautiful ship. Flag ship of the 2nd Fleet.
Thank you for sharing this. It was especially interesting for me as my maternal grandfather was a Marine Gunner on the Wichita until he suffered a severe foot injury and was sent to Newport Naval Hospital. He saw action from Iceland to Denmark. He always said, despite the injury, being a US Marine was the best thing that ever happened to him, until, he had a family. RIP Grandpa!
"Admiral Wilcox was swept overboard..." The fate of Admiral Wilcox has still never been satisfactorily explained. However, I was a ship's officer for 30 years, much of it in the North Atlantic where I was in many bad storms, and I don't know how anybody simply can get "swept overboard" from a 35,000-ton battleship, especially an Admiral.
The armor thicknesses for a New Orleans class heavy cruiser and a Brooklyn class light cruiser were very similar, and Wichita was more heavily armored than BOTH. "Heavy" and "Light" referred to the caliber of the cruisers' guns. WRT secondary guns, both the New Orleans and Brooklyn classes had 5"/25 anti-aircraft guns, whose low muzzle velocity limited their usefulness in surface battle. The Wichita had, as noted in the video, 5"/38 dual-purpose secondary guns, much better for use against ships.
Our WW II cruisers could lay down a truly frightening weight of fire from their combined primary and secondary guns. Truly frightening.
A salute to Wichita and her crew 🇺🇲
GREAT VIDEO on USS Wichita!! Keep it up!!
Thank you
My dad served on Wichita right after graduating from the Academy class of 1940. He left her to go to submarine school and served in the Pacific for the rest of the war.
USNA class of 1940 was one of the great ones! I believe they had the highest number of causalities/losses at Pearl Harbor. Both my dad and godfather were class of 1940 - one surface/pilot and the other subs. J. Skerry USNA 80.
Exceptional battle service.
This craft certainly had a full and varied #WW2 and respects from a grateful Great Britain.🇬🇧🙏🇺🇸
Beautifully done, as always.
Beautiful ship and strong design
I'm from Wichita and drilled at the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center. There is a model of the USS Wichita on the quarterdeck. I think the Bureau of Ships makes these models. they are several hundred thousand dollars and this is about 12 ft long.
Great video, very nicely done as always.
@@paulsmith460 thank you
Well done thank you!
Good program. Thank you.
The USN owed a huge debt to USS Wichita in all that was learned in her design and building that was to play a huge part in the building of the future WW2's 'Cleveland' and 'Baltimore' class of cruisers. And the fact that none of 'em were lost in the entire war, speaks volumes for the designers of the ships for following the instructions of the USN in 'Make then able to take a hit, this will be a shooting war'.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr. served as an officer at this ship.
I think it’s cool that they named a heavy cruiser after a town in Kansas. My home state.
I know it’s not as glorious or as famous as some of the ships built in World War II but I would love to see you do a piece on the Garcia class destroyer escorts from the 60s
Always enjoy the videos , thanks.
Thank-you, Vslor Vault. I stand corrected on the USS Canberra. That was a great honour to the RAN by naming her after HMAS Canberra.
@briangibbs3774 it was. Those men on HMAS Canberra stood shoulder to shoulder with the men of the USN that night in Savo Sound and suffered just as much.
Wonderful info thanks
Thanks so much!
That boat should have been preserved as she was one of a kind.
Thanks Everyone 😊
15:10 I was wondering if the caption was in error when it referred to the USS Canberra since it was such an obviously Australian name and I knew there had been an Australian cruiser by that name. But, no, the US renamed a Baltimore-class cruiser from Pittsburg to Canberra in honor of the Australian ship, sunk at Savo Island..
Impressive war service of USS Wichita
Those interwar treaties did us no favors.
Oh dear Lord... and I guess the St. Louis and Cleveland-Classes are sliced fish?🤔🤨 Because while U.S.S. Wichita, CA-45 may've been the last of the "heavy" cruisers designed and built during the "treaty" period, U.S.S. Wichita, CA-45 was by NO means the last of the treaty cruisers.
The two ship St. Louis-Class was designed in 1935 and the Cleveland-Class followed shortly thereafter both VERY much still products of the "treaty" period. The first four of the Cleveland-Class(U.S.S. Cleveland, CL-55, U.S.S. Columbia, CL-56, U.S.S. Montpelier, CL-57, and U.S.S. Denver, CL-58)as designed and built, still conformed to the requirements of the Second London Naval Treaty of 1935. The latter being retro-fitted over time with upgrades the post-treaty Clevelands would receive.
So, in truth, U.S.S. Denver, CL-58 IS the last of the treaty cruisers.
not at all, you know I respect the accomplishments of those warships. Look, I'll admit my title is somewhat misleading which is why I just changed it, but I obviously meant she was the last heavy cruiser built (even say it in the 1st sentence of the video) under the 2nd London Treaty.
The ship was HMAS Canberra, not USS Canberra.
@briangibbs3774 not in October of 1944...HMAS Canberra was sunk at the battle of Savo Island in August 1942. This was a Baltimore class heavy cruiser (CA-70) that was named in honor of that ship.
Very educational!
Battle of Cowpens - Wikipedia
The Battle of Cowpens (one word) was a military engagement during the American Revolutionary War fought on January 17, 1781, near the town of Cowpens, South Carolina.
Hell they don't build them that good today!!!!
Please give the years also
Great ship served with Valor.
So much for the Neutrality Act.
She's beautiful and id love to sail on her!!!
30,000 yards = 17 miles if I did my math correctly.
15. 2000 yards = 1 nautical mile.
You give month and day, you forget to occasionally mention the years. I know what year, but most won't. That's my only criticism.
"Jon bart" A French name, you know.
👍👍👍👍👍
No sale, Harris.
AI audio voiceovers get a thumbs down
I'm sorry 55 caliber 38 caliber what the hell they talking about.
@robertttttt716 what are you talking about? I discuss Wichita's 8 inch 55 caliber main battery and her 5 inch 38 cal secondary battery. Do you not understand common weapon terminology?
ugh AI voice
Horrible land robot talk..
"cow pens" - two words.
That ship spent more time in the shipyard and training then it did a battle.
;
"Lay tay" two syllables NOT "late" Really awful AI narration.
All the loss and sacrifice of the greatest generation has been wasted now that we've forgone Red White and Blue for coward orange.
Never, never support a draft-dodger.
I’m afraid the American people would disagree with you according to the Red Wave that just happened…
Has done and will do more than your boy Biden ever thought about doing!
@ictpilot you're a traitor to America
@@ictpilot Yeah, because draft dodger, rapist, convicted felon...