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FIGHTING SHIPS OF THE WORLD
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
CRUISERS
WICHITA heavy cruiser (1939)


Photo



  Wichita 1940

Ships


No Name Yard No Builder Laid down Launched Comm Fate
CA45 Wichita   Philadelphia N Yd // New York SB, Camden 28.10.1935 16.11.1937 16.2.1939 stricken 3.1959


Technical data


Displacement standard, t

10589

Displacement full, t

13015

Length, m

182.9 wl 185.4 oa

Breadth, m

18.8

Draught, m

7.24 full load

No of shafts

4

Machinery

4 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 8 Babcock & Wilcox boilers

Power, h. p.

100000

Max speed, kts

33

Fuel, t

oil 1323 - 1984

Endurance, nm(kts)10000 (15)
Armour, mm

belt: 152 - 102 on 16mm STS plating, bulkheads: 152, deck: 57, barbettes: 178, turrets: 203 - 38, CT: 152 sides, 57 roof

Armament

3 x 3 - 203/55 Mk 12.15, 8 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 12, 8 x 1 - 12.7/90, 2 catapults, 4 seaplanes (SOC)

Complement

929



Standard scale images


<i>Wichita</i> 1945
Wichita 1945


Graphics


  <i>Wichita</i> 1940
  Wichita 1940


Project history

According to decisions of 1930 London Naval conference, the USA could lay down one heavy cruiser in 1934 (СА44 Vincennes of New Orleans class) and one more in 1935. In March, 1934 it was decided to build latter ship under the new design, on basis of Brooklyn with replacement of 152mm guns by 203mm. A thickness of main belt was raised to 152mm, barbettes to 178mm. Main lack of previous 203mm turrets was too wide shells spread because of insufficient distance between barrels. This distance was made bigger in new turrets without increasing of barbette diameter (barbettes were made conical, not cylindrical). Structure and arrangement of machinery was the same, as well as on last two ships of Brooklyn class: boiler room with six of eight boilers took places before fore engine room, and two remained boilers were installed in boiler room arranged between two engine rooms. Armour protection provided to a cruiser an immune zone under fire of 203mm guns in a band from 50 to 110 cables. In addition to 203mm guns cruiser carried new 127/38mm DP guns, placed not aside, but on diamond-shaped scheme, that notably improved fire sectors. As the design provided much lighter 127/25mm AA guns, stability after installation of 127/38mm guns began to call serious fears. Exit has been found in 200t of lead ballast.

Ship protection

Main belt abreast machinery extended to 1.5m below and 2.86m over waterline. It was 152mm thick (76mm at lower edge) on 16mm STS plating. There were narrow belts abreast magazines. Thickness of these belts was 102mm decreasing to 76mm at lower edge. Magazines were protected by 152mm bulkheads fore and aft, machinery and magazines were separated by 152mm bulkheads. Armoured deck over main belt was 57mm. Barbettes were 178mm thick. Turrets had 203mm faces, 95mm sides, 38mm rears and 70mm crowns.

Modernizations

7.1941: + 2 x 4 - 28/75 Mk 1, CXAS Mk 1 radar

4/1942: - 8 x 1 - 12.7/90, CXAS Mk 1 radar; + 12 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, SC, 2x Mk 4, Mk 8 radars

11/1943: - 2 x 4 - 28/75, SC, Mk 8 radars; + 4 x 4 - 40/56 MK 1.2, 2 x 2 - 40/56 Mk 1.2, 6 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, SG, SK-1, Mk 13 radars

1945: - 2 x Mk 4 radars; + 2 x 2 - 40/56 MK 1.2, 2 x Mk 25 radars, full displacement was 14611t

1/1946: 3 x 3 - 203/55 Mk 12, 4 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 21/24, 4 x 1 - 127/38 Mk 30, 4 x 4 - 40/60 Mk 2, 4 x 2 - 40/60 Mk 1, 18 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 10, 2 catapults, 4 seaplanes, SG, SK-1, 2x Mk 25, Mk 13 radars

Naval service

No significant events.