SKOTFRED.COM | USS Helena (CA-75) Historical Information

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USS Helena CA-75

Photo courtesy U.S. Naval Historical Center. James C. Fahey collection of the US Naval Institute Photo Collection, NHC photo number NH-95821.

USS Helena (CA-75) anchored in Apra Harbor, Guam in December 1952.


Ship Class:	Baltimore Class Heavy Cruiser (Based on Wichita design)
Crew:	1426 men [wartime] 1183 men [peacetime]
Length:	674'9"
Beam :	70'8"
Draft :	24'3"
Displacement:	17,350 tons
Max. Speed:	32 knots
Propulsion:	4 Babcock & Wilcox Boilers (600psi Steam with controlled Superheat) 4 G&E Gear Turbines 4 shafts/screws 120,000 shp
Armor:	Teakwood Deck 8" Belt
Armament :	3 - Triple 8"/55 5 - Twin 5"/38 26 - 20mm AA barbettes 12 - Quad 40mm AA (later converted to 7 Dual 3"/50 mounts)
Builder :	Bethlehem Quincy (Quincy, MA)
Awarded :	09 SEP 1940
Keel Laid :	09 SEP 1943
Launched :	28 APR 1945
Sponsor:	Mrs. John Haytin
Commissioned :	06 SEP 1945
Decommissioned :	29 JUN 1963, US Naval Station San Diego CA (Pier 5)
Stricken :	10 JAN 1970
Awards:	Korean Presidential Unit Citation (1st Awarded to a U.S. Naval Ship) Korean Service Medal
Present Status:	Scrapped

USS Helena (CA-75) served in the Pacific Fleet during the Korean War. She saw action off the coast of Pohang and Changsa-Gong in SEP 1950.

Fitted to carry and launch Regulus cruise missiles and underwent limited flagship conversion.

Embarked COMFIRSTFLT, home ported at North Island (San Diego), CA.