Pensacola-class cruiser
The Pensacola class was a class of United States Navy heavy cruiser, the first "treaty cruisers" designed under the limitations set by the Washington Naval Treaty, which limited cruisers to a maximum of 10,000 long tons (10,160 t) displacement and a maximum main battery caliber of 8-inch (203 mm). DevelopmentBackgroundInnitial efforts to design what would become the Pensacola-class began in 1918 with the launch of the British Hawkins-class cruisers. The US Navy believed the Hawkins-class outclassed all American cruisers that were currently in service: an issue as Great Brittain was considered a potential rival. Japan was also identified as a potential threat, and any war in the Pacific would have required uniquely designed ships that could cope with extreme range. To counter both potential adversaries, the new American cruisers needed to exceed the capabilities of the Hawkins-class while possessing the range necessary to operate across the Pacific.[2]: 232 Washington Naval TreatyIn 1922, the United States and other naval powers signed the Washington Naval Treaty, intended to prevent a naval arms race and foster a sense of disarmament.[3] The treaty limited future cruisers to displace less than 10,000 tons and armed with weapons with a caliber no greater than 8 inches (200 mm). The Pennsacola-class was the first American design built to treaty specifications, which allowed American naval architects to experiment with the requirments.[4] DescriptionIn an effort to remain within treaty limits, while still mounting a very heavy main battery of ten 8-inch (203 mm) guns, the hull was of welded construction, and the armor belt was thin (varying from 2.5 to 4 inches (64 to 102 mm) in thickness). This was inadequate to protect her vitals from enemy 8-inch shells and was no thicker than the armor on 6-inch (152 mm) gun cruisers. In fact, Pensacola and Salt Lake City were classified as light cruisers due to their minimal armor, until re-designated in July 1931 as heavy cruisers in accordance with the provisions of the London Naval Treaty to designate all cruisers with guns larger than 6.1-inch as heavy cruisers.[5] Their main armament consisted of ten 8-inch guns, in two twin turrets on the main deck, and two triple turrets two decks above, making it one of the two US Navy ship classes (besides the Nevada-class battleships) to have different-sized turrets for main armament. All the guns in each turret were mounted in a single slide, and were unable to elevate independently of one another. Also, unlike the very few other ships with different-sized main battery turrets (Nevada-class battleships and King George V-class battleships) the Pensacolas had the larger turrets superfiring over the smaller turrets, whereas the others had the larger turrets on "bottom".[6] Placing heavier turrets above lighter ones allows for finer lines for a given length, however causing topheaviness and reducing stability. Unfortunately, because of the rather unusual main battery layout and their heavy tripod fore-masts, they were top-heavy and prone to excessive rolling. This combined with low freeboard forward made them inferior seaboats compared to later designs. Rework in the shipyards modified the hull and superstructure in the 1930s to eliminate the rolling.[7] The Navy built only two ships in this class before switching to the Northampton-class design. Many of the deficiencies of the Pensacolas were corrected by reducing the main battery to three triple turrets (two forward, one aft) and adding another upper deck forward of amidships. Ships in class
See also
References
External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pensacola class cruisers. |
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