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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS BALTIMORE (CA 68)


     

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Kilo - Yankee

Tactical Voice Radio Call Sign - PINAFORE, HOUSEMAID


CLASS - BALTIMORE
Displacement 13,600 Tons, Dimensions, 673' 5" (oa) x 70' 10" x 26' 10" (Max)
Armament 9 x 8"/55, 12 x 5"/38AA, 48 x 40mm, 24 x 20mm, 4 Aircraft
Armor, 6" Belt, 8" Turrets, 2 1/2" Deck, 6 1/2" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 120,000 SHP; G. E. Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 33 Knots, Crew 2000.
Operational and Building Data
Ordered 01 JUL 1940
Keel Laid on 26 MAY 1941 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Fore River, MA
Launched 28 JUL 1942
Commissioned 15 APR 1943
Decommissioned 29 APR 1947
Commissioned 28 NOV 1951
Decommissioned 31 MAY 1956
Stricken FEB 1971
Fate Sold for scrap to Zidell Explorations, Inc., of Portland, OR on 10 APR 1972
Two Hundred tons of Armor Plate from USS Baltimore have been put to use at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
(Thanks to Mark Janowski for this information)
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Combat Action Ribbon - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (9)
Second Row - World War II Victory - World War II Occupation Medal w/JAPAN Clasps - World War II Occupation Medal w/GERMANY Clasp
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - Philippine Presidential Unit Citation - Philippine Liberation Medal



Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Baltimore
0406875
148k

Caption:

"(BX1) QUINCY, MASS., JULY 28-NEW CRUISER SLIDES DOWN WAYS-The new U.S. Navy cruiser U>S>S> Baltimore , fourth American warship to bear that name, slides down the ways into Weymouth Fore River in a launching today at the Bethlehem Steel Company's Fore River Yard.(AP wirephoto )(BW31355FOX)1942"

Ron Reeves
Baltimore
0406868
550k

Starboard side view while at anchor, date and location unknown.

U.S. Navy Photo.

David Buell
Baltimore
0406869
325k

Starboard bow view while at anchor, date and location unknown.

U.S. Navy Photo.

David Buell
Baltimore
0406802
91k

Starboard view showing general deck arrangements, 15 April 1943.

U.S. Navy Photo.

John Spivey / Tommy Trampp
Baltimore
0406872
249k

Nice overhead view, date and location unknown.

U.S. Navy Photo.

David Buell
Baltimore 194k A cropped starboard bow view while underway in Boston Harbor, 15 April 1943. It appears to have been taken at the same time as the following photograph. Edwin Kaukali
Baltimore 103k

USS Baltimore (CA 68) underway in Boston harbor, Massachusetts, 15 April 1943 [the day she was commissioned]. Note that she has not yet received her radar antennas. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute. Collection of James C. Fahey.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 91454.

USNHC/Edwin Kaukali
Baltimore 97k

USS Baltimore (CA 68) In Boston harbor, Massachusetts, 15 April 1943. Note her twin aircraft cranes and broad transom. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute. Collection of James C. Fahey.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 91457.

USNHC
Baltimore
0406804
21k

USS Baltimore (CA 68) Underway off the Massachusetts coast, 18 June 1943. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute. Collection of Rear Admiral Kemp Tolley, USN.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 91450.

USNHC/Joe Radigan
Baltimore 29k Port quarter view while underway on 1st July, 1943, location unknown (Caption updated by Bob Hirst). USN
Baltimore 80k

USS Baltimore (CA 68) Off the Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts, 10 September 1943. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute. Collection of James C. Fahey.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 91451.

USNHC
Baltimore 80k

USS Baltimore (CA 68) Off the Boston Navy Yard, Massachusetts, 10 September 1943. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute. Collection of James C. Fahey.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 91452.

USNHC
Baltimore 170k

Stern view of the USS Baltimore (CA 68) departing Mare Island on 25 Oct 1943.

U.S. Navy Photo #7274-43.

Darryl Baker
Baltimore 160k

Bow view of the USS Baltimore (CA 68) departing Mare Island on 25 Oct 1943.

U.S. Navy Photo #7275-43.

Darryl Baker
Baltimore 270k

Broadside view of the USS Baltimore (CA 68) off Mare Island on 25 Oct 1943. She was at Mare Island from 17 Oct until 25 Oct 1943.

U.S. Navy Photo #7277-43.

Darryl Baker
Baltimore
0406880
141k

Camouflage Measure 31-32-33 Series, Design 16D

Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for heavy cruisers of the CA 68 (Baltimore) class. USS Baltimore (CA 68) is known to have worn this pattern. This plan, showing the ship's starboard side, stern, superstructure ends, and exposed decks, is dated 30 December 1943 and was approved by Captain Henry A. Ingram, USN.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Photo #80-G-109723

Russ Moody
Baltimore
0406879
169k

Camouflage Measure 31-32-33 Series, Design 16D

Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for heavy cruisers of the CA 68 (Baltimore) class. USS Baltimore (CA 68) is known to have worn this pattern. This plan, showing the ship's port side, is dated 30 December 1943 and was approved by Captain Henry A. Ingram, USN.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Photo #80-G-109724

Russ Moody
Baltimore
0406881
1m A Vought OS2U-3 Kingfisher is recovered by USS Baltimore (CA 68) after she had rescued Lieutenant (Junior Grade) George M. Blair from Truk Lagoon, 18 February 1944.? Plane's pilot is Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Denver F. Baxter. His radioman, ARMC Reuben F. Hickman, is on the wing, preparing to attach the plane so it can be hoisted on board.? Blair's F6F "Hellcat", of Fighting Squadron Nine from USS Essex (CV 9), had been shot down during the dawn fighter sweep over Truk. Robert Hurst
Baltimore 251k

Forward plan view of USS Baltimore (CA 68) at Mare Island on 16 July 44. She was at the yard from 6 July until 17 July 1944. The USS Vestal (AR 4) is in the background.

U.S. Navy photo #4543-44

Darryl Baker
Baltimore 328k

Aft plan view of USS Baltimore (CA 68) at Mare Island on 16 July 44. She was at the yard from 6 July until 17 July 1944. The USS Vestal (AR 4) is in the background.

U.S. Navy photo #4546-44

Darryl Baker
Baltimore
0406877
176k

President Franklin D. Roosevelt chats with the commanding officer of USS Baltimore (CA 68), Captain Walter C. Calhoun while in Pearl Harbor, 26 July 1944. Behind them are L to R: General Douglas Macarthur, USA, and Lieutenant General R.C. Richardson, USA.

Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #NH 62430

Naval History and Heritage Command
Baltimore
0406878
187k President Franklin D. Roosevelt on board USS Baltimore (CA 68) with, left, General Douglas MacArthur, Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers, and right, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander-in-Chief Pacific-Pacific Ocean Area.

Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #NH 62961

Naval History and Heritage Command
Baltimore
2.7m President Franklin D. Roosevelt's speech to the USS Baltimore crew, 9 August 1944, Auk Bay, Juneau, Alaska.  From the collection of BM2/c Charles C. Winburn. Karl C. Lemmerman
Baltimore 78k

USS Baltimore (CA 68) Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 18 October 1944. Her camouflage is Measure 32, Design 16d. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute. Collection of James C. Fahey.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 91464.

USNHC
Baltimore 81k

USS Baltimore (CA 68) Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 18 October 1944. Her camouflage is Measure 32, Design 16d. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute. Collection of James C. Fahey.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 91462.

USNHC
Baltimore 147k

USS Baltimore (CA 68) Plan view, forward, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 21 October 1944, at the end of an overhaul. USS Indianapolis (CA 35) is in the background. Note the two different types of 8"/55 guns and turrets mounted on these heavy cruisers, and the paravanes aboard Baltimore. Circles mark recent alterations to the ship.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives #19-N-74297.

National Archives
Baltimore 133k

USS Baltimore (CA 68) Plan view, amidships, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 21 October 1944, at the end of an overhaul. USS Indianapolis (CA 35) is in the background. Note Baltimore's 5"/38 guns, armored conning tower, smokestacks and whaleboat. Circles mark recent alterations to the ship.

High Resolution (1.2mb) version of this photo, courtesy of Pieter Bakels

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives #19-N-74298.

National Archives
Baltimore 133k

USS Baltimore (CA 68) Plan view, aft, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 21 October 1944, at the end of an overhaul. Note Baltimore's 5"/38 and 40mm guns, Mark 37 and Mark 34 gun directors (with antenna for Mark 8 radar atop the latter), OS2U floatplanes and aircraft cranes. Circles mark recent alterations to the ship. Several barges are moored in the distance, among them YF-461, YF-791 and YD-64.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives #19-N-74299.

National Archives
Baltimore 130k

USS Baltimore (CA 68) at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, while undergoing reactivation in 1951. The original print is dated 28 November 1951, the day Baltimore was recommissioned, but was probably taken somewhat earlier.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98241.

USNHC
Baltimore
0406867
1020k

USS Baltimore (CA 68) underway in San Francisco Bay, late 1951. Note the Ship's band playing on the fantail.

Photograph by Allied Photographers of San Francisco.

Robert M. Cieri
Baltimore 111k Starboard bow view, with the destroyer USS Robert K. Huntington (DD 781) in Venice Italy during the early 1950's. George Klos
Baltimore
0406884
102k

Electronics Technician 3rd Class A.L. Gardoni (left) and Electronics Technician 1st Class D.A. Haapapuru working on electronics equipment on board the cruiser circa 1951-1956.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # NH 98242.

Robert Hurst
Baltimore
0406870
301k

Portside view while at anchor in April 1952, location unknown.

U.S. Navy photo.

David Buell
Baltimore 141k Looking out over a 40mm Quad at the USS Coral Sea (CVB 43) while underway in the Med during 1952. Note the Helo hovering over the Coral Sea. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 113k Signaling the USS Coral Sea (CVB 43) while underway in the Med during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 162k 40mm Quad manned and ready for gunnery practice while underway in the Med during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 124k 40mm Quad gunnery practice while underway in the Med during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 116k 40mm Quad gunnery practice while underway in the Med during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 99k 5"/38 gunnery practice while underway in the Med during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 132 Target spotting during gunnery practice. Note the MK51 gun director for the 40mm and 5"/38 gun mounts (lower right) George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 133k Preparing to fuel while underway in the Med during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 109k Signalmen preparing to hoist a signal while underway in the Med, 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 139k How many officers does it take to hoist a signal? Officer training while underway in the Med, 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C

Baltimore

99k USS Baltimore (CA 68) and USS Vesole (DD 878) moored in Venice, Italy, 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 55k Dress ship while moored in Venice, Italy, 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 109k ATTENTION ON DECK! CAPT G. L. Caswell coming aboard while in Venice, Italy during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 136k Did someone say Liberty Call? George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 122k Waiting at the gangway for the liberty launch. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 134k A liberty boat getting underway while in Venice, Italy during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 130k More liberty boats while in Venice, Italy during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 63k Coca-Cola Deliveries in Venice, Italy during 1952 Med cruise. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore
0406874
124k St. Mark's Square and Bell Tower as seen from the USS Baltimore George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore
0406873
266k Enjoying liberty at St. Mark's Square in Venice George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 69k Officers training during the 1952 Med cruise. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 147k Morning Colors in Venice, Italy during the 1952 Med cruise. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 153k Sweep down during the 1952 Med cruise. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 88k Standby to mark! QM's keeping the Baltimore on course during the 1952 Med cruise. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 114k Still sweeping. (note the two bugles near the top of the photo). George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 112k Still cleaning... George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 171k Target spotters during the 1952 Med cruise. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 90k Religious service on the fantail while in the Med during 1952. Note the HUP helicopter forward. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 65k Religious service on the fantail while in the Med during 1952. Note the HUP helicopter forward. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 133k Moored in Venice, Italy during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 127k USS Columbus (CA 74) and USS Baltimore (CA 68) moored in an unknown port during 1952. USS Des Moines (CA 134) can be seen to the left. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 128k USS Columbus (CA 74) and USS Baltimore (CA 68) moored in an unknown port during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 96k USS Coral Sea (CVB 43) as seen from the Baltimore in 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 112k USS Salem (CA 139) at anchor in Naples, Italy, as seen from USS Baltimore (CA 68) in 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 129k USS Columbus (CA 74) (left) and USS Salem (CA 139) (right), as seen from USS Baltimore (CA 68) in 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 120k Holystoning the deck while in the Med during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 131k Holystoning the deck while in the Med during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 101k Holystoning the deck while in the Med during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 129k Flaking out line on the forecastle while in the Med during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 126k Flaking out line on the forecastle while in the Med during 1952. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore 131k USS Baltimore (CA 68) in Istanbul while in the Med during 1952. Also visible in the photo are the USS Vesole (DD 878) and the USS Cone (DD 866). George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Baltimore
0406883
2m

Moored in Lisbon, Portugal on 3 October 1952. By all the crew on deck in blues and the people on the pier, it appears that she has just arrived in port. The USS Des Moines (CA 134) moored forward of Baltimore.

US Navy photo #448992

David Buell
Baltimore
0406871
418k

Portside view while underway in November 1952, location unknown.

U.S. Navy photo.

David Buell
Baltimore 146k

The crew manning the rails in honor of Queen Elizabeth II, during the United Kingdom's Coronation Naval Review off Spithead, England, in June 1953. The ship just astern of Baltimore is HMS Starling (F 66). Note life rafts stowed atop the cruiser's after 8"/55 triple gun turret; motor launch on deck at left and HUP helicopter parked just in front of the hangar hatch.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 91465.

USNHC
Baltimore
0406882
289k

USS Baltimore (CA 68) taking part in the Spithead Coronation review for the Coronation of Elizabeth II on 15 June 1953.

Life Magazine Archives, Carl Mydans photographer, shared by Peter DeForest.

Mike Green
Baltimore
0406818
93k

USS Baltimore (CA 68) anchored in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 22 September 1954.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 52422.

USNHC
Baltimore 105k

Sailors removing bucklers from the 8"/55 guns of her Number Two turret, while preparing her for decommissioning at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington. Photo is stamped with the date 28 May 1956. The men are identified as GM1 B.J. Belue, SN J.L. Tinkle, GM2 J.R. Marue, GM3 G.A. Bushur and GM2 R.D. Brehm.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98245.

USNHC
Baltimore 94k

USS Baltimore (CA 68) in drydock at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, while preparing for decommissioning. Photo is stamped with the date 28 May 1956. Original caption reads: "Looking like new, after painting, the anchor chain is hauled back aboard."

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98244.

USNHC
Baltimore
0406876
143k The ex-Baltimore undergoing scrapping at Zidell Explorations in Portland Oregon. The majority of the superstructure has been removed. Austin Oliver

Commanding Officers
Name/Rank Class Final Rank Dates
Calhoun, Walter Carson, CAPT 1917   04/15/1943 - 08/22/1944
Fink, Carl Kenneth, CAPT 1919 RADM 08/22/1944 - 08/11/1945
Olsen, Clarence Edward, CAPT 1920 RADM 08/11/1945 - 05/03/1946
Curtiss, John Pemberton, CAPT 1920   05/03/1946 - 07/08/1946
Espenas, Arthur Krag, CDR 1933   07/08/1946 - 01/31/1947
Whitby Jr., Frank Ray, CDR     01/31/1947 - 04/29/1947
Decommissioned     04/29/1947 - 11/28/1951
Tedder, Fondville Lee, CAPT 1926 RADM 11/28/1951 - 08/23/1952
Caswell, Gordon Leonard, CAPT 1927   08/23/1952 - 04/23/1953
Taylor, John Barrett, CAPT 1926   04/23/1953 - 06/16/1954
Christie, Carl Gulford, CAPT 1929   06/16/1954 - 12/1955
Adams, Scarritt, CAPT 1930   12/1955 - 05/31/1956

(Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves - Photos courtesy of Bill Gonyo)


USS BALTIMORE (CA 68) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
CA 68 - SSN-704

Contact Name: Mr. Bill Baker
Address: 2604 Nuckolls Rd. Cumming, GA 30041
Phone: 770-781-5303
E-mail:wbaker3@compuserve.com

Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Cruiser Pages By Andrew Toppan.
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