From Guns to Missiles on US Cruisers!

[@jeffgrier8488]

Thanks for the great video Shane, i'm looking forward to the deeper dive. Merry Christmas to you all!

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Thanks Jeff. Merry Christmas to you and your family!

[@bluerebel01]

Hi Shane. Great video and I also want to wish you and your crew a very Merry Christmas. God bless you all a great New Year's as well.

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Thanks so much bluerebel01! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours as well!

[@michaelgrey7854]

Navsource has heaps of photos of USS Albany's conversion.

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

That's great! Thanks for forwarding that info! I've focused on the CL's when looking for photos, but I'll take a look...definitely want to see the inner working of those incredibly tall superstructures! Appreciate it!

[@BusbobDave]

FYI Shane, the Atlanta Class CLAA were not any smaller. They were in fact Cleveland class hulls that were simply converted during construction on the premise that more AA was needed to protect the dwindling number of fleet carriers from air attack. This being mostly 1942; the gap between Pearl attack and when the numerous Essex CV’s and fast battleships started entering fleet service. I should think the only reason they were considered would be because their conversion to AA ships had already been deemed a failed concept quite early into their deployment. They were quite top heavy due to high placement of 3rd 5” /38:mounts on either end.

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Thanks for your insights. CLAA's were about 80 feet shorter and about 4,000 tons lighter...with a very minimal armor belt, about 25% the thickness of Cleveland Class. I agree that they pushed them out in the gap before we really ramped up commissioning of the CV's.

[@larryjohnson7591]

Loved the pictures of the Little Rock because I could see the old cars North of the Port Side. Couldn't figure out if that first car was a Lincoln or a Desoto.

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Yeah, They usually carried cars on the missile house - one for VADM, one for CO, and two buses for the crew. Great stuff for sure! Thanks for watching!

[@Lucas_Weinman]

It's so strange seeing the picture of Springfield. They completely rebuilt the O3 and up, except for the gun director tubes. But we know this isn't the case for Little Rock because of what we found in our superstructure video.

[@BuffaloNavalPark]

Very true, Lucas. Thanks for bringing it full circle! Got a great tip in the live chat when the video premiered. Did some research, and I'm going to be reaching out early in the new year! Thanks for everything in 2024. Look froward to more collaborative videos!