Please Report Any Broken Links Or Trouble You Might Come Across To The Webmaster
Please Take A Moment To Let Us Know So That We Can Correct Any Problems And Make Your Visit As Enjoyable And As Informative As Possible.

NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS SALEM (CA-139)

       
Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - India - Quebec - Yankee
CLASS - DES MOINES
Displacement 17,000 Tons, Dimensions, 716' 6" (oa) x 76' 4" x 26' (Max)
Armament 9 x 8"/55, 12 x 5"/38AA, 24 x 3"/50, 24 x 20mm, 4 Aircraft
Armor, 6" Belt, 8" Turrets, 3 1/2" Deck, 6 1/2" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 120,000 SHP; G. E. Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 33 Knots, Crew 1799.
Operational and Building Data
Keel laid on 04 JUL 1945 by the Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, MA
Launched 25 MAR 1947
Commissioned 14 MAY 1949
Decommissioned 30 JAN 1959
Reclassified CLAA-96 18 MAR 1949
Stricken 1 JUL 1991
Fate: Donated as a Museum ship OCT 1994
Click On Image
For Full Size Image		 Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Salem
0413942		 101k Starboard bow view date and location unknown. This photo appears to be taken either during Sea Trials or just after Commissioning. Note the high waterline indicating that she has not yet taken on ammunition or stores. David Buell
Salem 24k Salem seen here in Oran, North Africa in 1950. © Frank Doherty
Salem 106k

USS Salem (CA-139) At anchor in Palmas Bay, Sardinia, on 19 May 1950, two days after she became flagship of the Sixth Fleet. She is dressed with flags and flies the three-star flag of Commander, Sixth Fleet, from her foremast.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97604.

 USNHC
Salem 108k

USS Salem (CA-139) at Toulon, France, 18 June 1951.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

 Fred Weiss
Salem 66k

USS Salem (CA-139) moored in the Canal della Guidecca, during a visit to Venice, Italy, on 23 August 1951. Salem was then flagship of the Sixth Fleet. Note decorated awning rigged forward, probably for entertaining visiting dignitaries.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-12025.

Scott Dyben/National Archives
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   USS Coral Sea (CVB-43) and USS Salem (CA-139) during Med. exercises, 1952. Note helo between Coral Sea and Salem. George Panos
Ex QMS 2/C
Salem 51k

USS Salem (CA-139) Underway in the Mediterranean, bound for Trieste, 16 June 1952.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97606.

 USNHC
Salem 116k

USS Salem (CA-139) Underway in the Mediterranean Sea, en route to Trieste, on 16 June 1952.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97605.

 USNHC
Salem 101k

USS Salem (CA-139) Underway in the Mediterranean, bound for Trieste, 16 June 1952.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97606.

 USNHC
Salem 158k

USS Salem (CA-139) Silhouetted against the Sun, while steaming toward Trieste during her third Mediterranean deployment, 16 June 1952.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97607.

 USNHC
Salem 269k

Starboard bow view taken in the Med, 1954 while serving as the 6th Fleet Flag ship. She is cruising of the coast of Villafrance.

U.S. Navy Photo.

 John P. Derr, CDR, USN,(Ret)
Salem 116k Starboard bow view in Algiers, Algeria on 5/20/54. USS Mercury (AKS-20) to Starboard. USS Roanoke (CA-145) to Port. Almost hidden behind Roanoke is USS Tidewater (AD-31). Larry Bohn
Salem 151k Port view of the Bridge of USS Salem taken about 9/22/54. Note that at this time, the only ribbon mounted on the bridge is the occupation ribbon. Note also the "Bite" taken out of the lower bridge rail to allow the 3" 50 cal. to swing full circle. Firing Cutout Cams inside he gun mount prevented shooting while pointing in an unsafe direction. Larry Bohn
Salem 82k

USS Salem (CA-139) Anchored in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 25 March 1956. The cruiser was then working up for her final tour as flagship of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #USN 1040195.

 USNHC
Salem 102k

Piasecki HUP-2 "Retriever" Helicopter (Bureau # 128533), of Helicopter Utility Squadron Two (HU-2) Lowers guard mail to the foredeck of USS Salem (CA-139), during operations in the Mediterranean Sea, 29 April 1957. In the background, USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) is refueling USS Lake Champlain (CVA-39) and a destroyer.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97609.

 USNHC
Salem
04139p01		 698k A painting of USS Salem (CA-139) at anchor in Venice, Italy, circa 1958. The title of the piece is "Evening in Venice" by artist Wayne Scarpaci. Wayne Scarpaci
Salem 55k Salem being helped by tug on her "Sail Day" in 1995. USN
The Following 14 Images Show SALEM As Preserved At The Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass.
She Is In Excellent Material Condition, But In Sad Need Of Paint.
Salem 122k Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., May 2, 1998. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 106k Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., May 2, 1998. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 87k Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., May 2, 1998. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 93k Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., May 2, 1998. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 139k Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., May 2, 1998. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 136k Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., May 2, 1998. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 140k Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., May 2, 1998. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 132k Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., May 2, 1998. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 157k Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., May 2, 1998. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 92k Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., May 2, 1998. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 149k Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., May 2, 1998. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 133k Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., May 2, 1998. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 118k Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., May 2, 1998. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 108k Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., May 2, 1998. © Richard Leonhardt
The Following 10 Images Show SALEM As Preserved At The Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass.
She was Drydocked in 1999/2000 for preservation/painting and as such looks MUCH better than in the previous batch of photos.
Salem 65k The Cobblers Shop, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., July 21, 2002. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 45k The Dentists Office, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., July 21, 2002. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 85k A Crew Head, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., July 21, 2002. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 77k The Machine Shop, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., July 21, 2002. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 78k The Mess Deck, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., July 21, 2002. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 50k Office compartment, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., July 21, 2002. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 57k The Pilot House, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., July 21, 2002. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 74k USS SALEM after her re-painting, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., July 21, 2002. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 74k The Tailor shop, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., July 21, 2002. © Richard Leonhardt
Salem 66k The Wardroom Pantry, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy Mass., July 21, 2002. © Richard Leonhardt
USS SALEM (CA-139) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry
(Located On The Hazegray & Underway Web Site, This Is The Main Archive For The DANFS Online Project.)
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Contact Name: Mr. Bob Daniels
Address: PO Box 493139 Leesburg, FL, 34748
Phone: 352-315-1397
E-mail: None

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.
USS SALEM Web Site United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum
USS SALEM also starred as the German Pocket Battleship "GRAF SPEE" In "Battle Of The River Platte" (1956)
Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Cruiser Photo Index Page

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster

This Page Was Created By Paul R. Yarnall And Is Maintained By Tom Bateman.
All Pages Copyright © 1996 - 2007 Paul R. Yarnall © 2007 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
Last updated on January 22, 2008