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_in_South_China_Sea_1964.jpg) USSTopeka in 1964 | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators |  United States Navy |
| Preceded by | Galveston class |
| Succeeded by | Long Beach |
| Subclasses | Cleveland class |
| In commission | 1959–1974 |
| Completed | 3 |
| Retired | 3 |
| Scrapped | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Guided missile cruiser |
| Displacement | 15,025tons |
| Length | 608 ft (185.3 m) |
| Beam | 64 ft (19.5 m) |
| Draft | 23 ft 6 in (7.1 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 32.5 knots (60 km/h) |
| Complement | 1,120 officers and enlisted |
| Sensors & processing systems |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aviation facilities | Helipad |
Originally built asCleveland-classlight cruisers (CL) in theUnited States Navy duringWorld War II, in 1957 three ships were re-designated asProvidence-classguided missile light cruisers (CLG) and fitted with theTerriersurface-to-air missile system. During the two year refit under projectSCB 146, the aft superstructure was completely replaced and all aft guns were removed to make room for the twin-arm Terrier launcher and a 120 missile storage magazine. Three large masts were also installed in order to hold a variety ofradars,missile guidance, andcommunications systems.Providence andSpringfield were simultaneously converted into fleetflagships under SCB 146A, which involved removing two forward dual 5-inch (127 mm) and one triple 6-inch (152 mm) turrets, and replacing them with a massively rebuilt and expanded forward superstructure.Topeka, in the non-flagship configuration, retained theCleveland-class's standard forward weapons: three dual 5-inch (127 mm) and two triple 6-inch (152 mm) turrets.[1]
A similar pattern was followed in converting three otherCleveland-class ships (Galveston,Little Rock, andOklahoma City) to operate theTalossurface-to-air missile system, creating theGalveston class.Little Rock andOklahoma City were outfitted as fleet flagships, butGalveston was not.[citation needed]
Like theGalveston class cruisers, theProvidence class ships suffered from serious stability problems caused by the topweight of the missile system, requiring the use of ballast to improve stability. The cruisers also suffered fromhogging of the hull.[citation needed]
All threeProvidence-class ships were decommissioned to the reserve fleet between 1969 and 1974. In the1975 cruiser realignment,Providence andSpringfield were reclassified as guided missile cruisers (CG). The ships were stricken from theNaval Vessel Register between 1974 and 1980, and eventually sold for scrap.[citation needed]
| Ship Name | Hull No. | Converted at | Laid down | Launched | Commissioned | Decommissioned | Fate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence[2] | CLG-6 | Boston Naval Shipyard | 27 July 1943 | 28 December 1944 | 15 September 1959 | 31 August 1973 | Sold for scrap, 15 July 1980 |
| Springfield[3] | CLG-7 | Fore River Shipyard | 13 February 1943 | 9 March 1944 | 2 July 1960 | 15 May 1974 | Sold for scrap, 1 March 1980[4] |
| Topeka[5] | CLG-8 | New York Naval Shipyard | 21 April 1943 | 19 August 1944 | 26 March 1960 | 5 June 1969 | Sold for scrap, 20 March 1975 |
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