The second USS Newport News (CA–148) was a Des Moines-class heavy cruiser in the United States Navy. Newport News was laid down 1 November 1945; launched on 6 March 1948 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia. The vessel was sponsored by Mrs. Homer L. Ferguson upon commissioning on 29 January 1949, Captain Roland N. Smoot commanding. She was the first fully air-conditioned surface ship in the United States Navy, and the last all-gun heavy cruiser in commission in naval history. The USS Newport News served in the U.S. Navy from March 6, 1948 - June 27, 1975. She served her country for 26 years, 4 months and 29 days, until decommissioned on 27 JUN 1975. The USS Newport News spent the first eighteen years sailing from the East Coast on routine and contingency deployments. She answered the call to project American strength in the East Mediterranean and in several instances in the Caribbean, including the Cuban Missile Blockade. In September 1967 she sailed for the Pacific and the War in Vietnam. She deployed three times to Vietnam, providing air defense and shore bombardment for the American effort. The USS Newport News spent her twilight tour homeported in Norfolk, and sailing to the North Atlantic, Caribbean, hosting diplomatic and ceremonial events, midshipman training and a final dependents cruise. She was decommissioned in June 1975 and eventually scrapped in the early 1990s. ca-148/
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 19:01:26 +0000
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