The Des Moines class cruisers were a group of U.S. Navy heavy cruisers, commissioned in 1948–1949. They were the last of the all-gun heavy cruisers, exceeded in size in the American navy only by the Alaska-class cruisers.
Derived from the Baltimore-class heavy cruisers, they were larger, had an improved machinery layout, and carried a new design of auto-loading, rapid-fire 8"/55 gun (the Mk16). The improved Mk16 guns of the main battery were the first auto-loading 8" guns fielded by the US Navy, and allowed a much higher rate of fire than earlier designs, capable of sustaining seven shots per minute per barrel, or about twice that of the Mk12s found on the Baltimore class. The auto-loading mechanism could function at any elevation, giving even these large-caliber guns some anti-aircraft ability. While the secondary battery of six twin 5"/38 Mk12 DP guns was essentially unchanged from the preceding Oregon City and Baltimore class cruisers, the Des Moines class carried a stronger battery of small-caliber anti-aircraft guns, including 12 twin 3-inch/50 Mk27 and later Mk33 guns, superior to the earlier ships' quad-mounted 40mm Bofors.
Derived from the Baltimore-class heavy cruisers, they were larger, had an improved machinery layout, and carried a new design of auto-loading, rapid-fire 8"/55 gun (the Mk16). The improved Mk16 guns of the main battery were the first auto-loading 8" guns fielded by the US Navy, and allowed a much higher rate of fire than earlier designs, capable of sustaining seven shots per minute per barrel, or about twice that of the Mk12s found on the Baltimore class. The auto-loading mechanism could function at any elevation, giving even these large-caliber guns some anti-aircraft ability. While the secondary battery of six twin 5"/38 Mk12 DP guns was essentially unchanged from the preceding Oregon City and Baltimore class cruisers, the Des Moines class carried a stronger battery of small-caliber anti-aircraft guns, including 12 twin 3-inch/50 Mk27 and later Mk33 guns, superior to the earlier ships' quad-mounted 40mm Bofors.
| Des Moines class cruiser | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Des Moines class heavy cruiser |
| Operators: |  United States Navy |
| Preceded by: | Oregon City class cruiser |
| Succeeded by: | None |
| In commission: | 1948–1975 |
| Completed: | 3 |
| Cancelled: | 9 |
| Retired: | 3 |
| Preserved: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Heavy cruiser |
| Displacement: | 17,000 long tons (17,273 t) |
| Length: | 716 ft 6 in (218.39 m) |
| Beam: | 76 ft 6 in (23.32 m) |
| Draft: | 22 ft (6.7 m) |
| Propulsion: | 4 shafts General Electric turbines 4 boilers 120,000 shp (89,000 kW) |
| Speed: | 33 kn (61 km/h) |
| Range: | 10,500 nmi at 15 knots 19,400 km at 28 km/h |
| Complement: | 1,799 officers and enlisted |
| Armament: |
|
| Armor: | 6 in (150 mm) Belt 8 in (200 mm) Turrets 31⁄2 in (89 mm) Deck 61⁄2 in (170 mm) Conning Tower |
