NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive
USS NEWPORT NEWS (CA-148)
Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - India - Quebec - Quebec
 Patch image contributed by George Klos |
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 1 NOV 1945 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA Launched 06 MAR 1948 Commissioned 29 JAN 1949 Decommissioned 27 JUN 1975 Stricken 31 JUL 1978 Fate: Sold for scrap to Southern Scrap Material Co., Ltd, New Orleans 25 FEB 1993 |
 Patch image contributed by Mike Smolinski |
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon
Second Row - Navy Unit Citation (2) - Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation - Navy Expeditionary Medal
Third Row - National Defense Service Medal - Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2) - Vietnam Service Medal (2)
Fourth Row - Sea Service Deployment Ribbon - Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/Palm - Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
| Click On Image For Full Size Image |
Size | Image Description | Contributed By And/Or Copyright |
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227k | The last Heavy Cruiser built for the U.S. Navy, CA-148, was named for the city in which she was built, Newport News, Virginia. Her keel was laid at Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co. on 1 October 1945. This picture was taken 4 days later. | George Klos | |
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124k | Progress view of the 716½ foot long cruiser in her building dock on 3 March 1947, three days before launching. | George Klos | |
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183k | The Newport News on launching day, 6 March 1947. | George Klos | |
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142k | Turret three on the fantail was the focus of activity when the ship was commissioned 29 January 1949. This shot was taken during the playing of the National Anthem. | George Klos | |
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355k | The completed ship rides high on Commissioning Day because she is not yet fully loaded. In addition to three triple 8-inch turrets, the new cruiser had 12 5-inch guns, 24 three-inch guns, and 12 20-mm guns. The 20-mm guns were removed almost immediately after commissioning. The ship's full-load displacement was 21,500 tons. | George Klos | |
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86k | Seen as completed. | USN | |
 0414866 |
60k |
Port side view while underway, date and location unknown. U.S. Navy photo. |
David Buell | |
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342k | Starboard side view, date unknown. | Robert M. Cieri | |
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98k | Starboard bow view, underway, date unknown. Note the 3"/50 gunmount still on the bow. | George Klos | |
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190k | Port bow view, underway, date unknown. Note MT31 (3"/50) in the bows. This was removed in 1955. | George Klos | |
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435k | Undated port bow photo. | George Klos | |
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238k |
Undated starboard bow view. Photo © Atlantic Fleet Sales |
Robert M. Cieri | |
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174k | Crew inspection while the ship is at anchor in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, June 1949, during her shakedown cruise. | George Klos | |
 0414862 |
334k | Crew inspection while the ship is at anchor in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, June 1949, during her shakedown cruise. | Robert M. Cieri | |
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133k | Ice-encrusted 3-inch mount 31 when she crossed the Arctic Circle in November 1949 as Flagship of the Second Task Fleet. | George Klos | |
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181k | Refueling in the Mediterranean in 1950: Top to bottom - USS Powers (DD-839), USS Newport News (CA-148), USS Salamonie (AO-26), amd USS Hanson (DD-832). The cruiser is carrying an H03S-1 helo on her fantail. When completed, the Newport News had seaplane catapults on her stern, but they were removed shortley after she was commissioned. | George Klos | |
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125k | LT James E. Norton, CHC, is lifted by sling to H03S-1 Helicopter. This permitted sharing him with smaller ships on the Midshipman Cruise. | George Klos | |
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278k | Three classes of cruisers are shown moored to pier at Naples, Italy in February 1951. Left ot right are the USS Newport News (CA-148), USS Roanoke (CL-145), and USS Columbus (CA-74). | USN | |
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105k | Port bow view in Venice, Italy, 12 APR 1950. | Robert M. Cieri | |
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125k | Fifth Division cleans the stack in 1952. This ship was capable of 120,000 SHP and 33 knots. | George Klos | |
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134k | Holystoning with boiler fire bricks and caustic solution was standard method for cleaning the cruisers' wooden decks. | George Klos | |
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92k | Starboard bow view, underway, 1955. Mount 31 and the old life rafts have been removed. The black quarterdeck canvas didn't last much longer and the main mast has some growing to do. | George Klos | |
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118k | Among the Sixth Fleet ships visiting Barcelona, Spain in April 1956 were, from left ot right: USS Cassin Young (DD-793), USS Albany (CA-123), USS Newport News (CA-148), USS Mercury (AKS-20), and USS Mauna Loa (AE-8). The Newport News had just taken over as Flagship for Vice Admiral Harry D. Felt as Commander Sixth Fleet when this photo was taken. The Albany, alongside, belonged to the same generation, although not the same class of U.S. cruisers. The Albany was later converted to a guided-missile cruiser and became Second Fleet flagship when the Newport News concluded her lasts deployment in late 1974. | George Klos | |
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47k | Nice, early 1960's photo. | SFP2 Robert S. Henderson | |
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70k | Port bow view, 1960's. | Robert M. Cieri | |
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246k | Port bow view while underway in the Med. Early 1960. | George Klos | |
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104k | Photo of the USS Newport News (CA-148) that is out of a visitor pamphlet from 1960. The admiral's barge and captain's gig are on the fantail and there are five vehicles further forward, all covered in canvas. Since there is no red "E" on the stack yet, the ship had to be on the way or just arriving in the Med where the "E" was added. The vehicles were offloaded and traveled mostly by land since they were in the way of a warship's purpose: shooting at things. | George Klos | |
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25k | Venice Italy 1960. | George Klos | |
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37k | Seen here in early 1961. Note that there are four 3"/50 gun tubs on each side. The 2 midships tubs were removed to provide space for the flag offices. | USN | |
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228k | Taken in the Med in 1961 after a severe storm which damaged a forward 3" mount (barrels raised by heavy seas) and damage to bow. | George Klos | |
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104k | Taken in 1961 while anchored in Athens Greece with the submarine USS Shark (SSN-591) tied up alongside. | George Klos | |
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171k | USS Newport News taken in 1961 during a Med Cruise. There are five vehicles and the Admiral's Barge on the fantail and two crew members sun bathing on main deck in front of 5 inch mount 53. | George Klos | |
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254k | USS Newport News (CA-148) refuels from oiler Canisteo (AO-99) during NATO excercise Riptide II in July 1961. | George Klos | |
 0414867 |
68k | Starboard bow view, sometime after her 1961-62 modernization. Note the NTDS antenna forward and all the missing 3"/50 gun mounts. | David Buell | |
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154k | The modernized Newport News underway in NATO Exercise Riptide III in August 1962. During her overhaul in the winter of 1961-62, the cruiser was given more extensive communications and flagship capabilities. Added were antennas and boxy structures abaft the bridge, which provided additional office space for the Flag staff. | George Klos | |
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398k | As Second Fleet flagship, Newport News is shown transiting the Kiel Canal through a pastoral portion of West Germany in September 1962. The following month she was in the Caribbean as flagship of the U.S. quarantine force off Cuba. | George Klos | |
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92k | Starboard bow view, underway, 1962. Note the expansion of the Superstructure midships to accomodate the Flag Staff and it's communications equipment. | George Klos | |
 0414865 |
232k |
Following a 3 1/2 month yard period, during which the communication facilities were extensively revamped and office and berthing spaces were constructed to accommodate Commander Second Fleet and his staff, NEWPORT NEWS assumed her new duties as flagship for Vice Admiral John McNay Taylor. Shown in August 1962 in the Western Atlantic, she participated in NATO Exercise RIPTIDE III, as flagship of ComStrikFltLant, the NATO role of Commander Second Fleet. For years afterward this photo was considered her "Official Portrait". U.S. Navy photo. |
Robert M. Cieri | |
 0414864 |
204k |
Port side view as seen from Fort San Cristobal in San Juan, Puerto Rico in January 1963 while participating in "Operation Springboard". U.S. Navy photo. |
Robert M. Cieri | |
 0414868 |
307k |
Port quarter view while outbound to the Atlantic Ocean just off Cape
Henry on the Chesapeake Bay, 14 May 1963. Photo © Atlantic Fleet Sales |
Bill Gonyo | |
 0414863 |
193 |
This photo shows the world's fastest firing major caliber rapid fire 8-inch, 55-caliber guns of the Newport News as she bombards the target range on Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, during FIREX 67; 5 February 1967. U.S. Navy photo. |
Robert M. Cieri | |
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213k | Shore bombardment of North Vietnam in 1967. | George Klos | |
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125k | The main deck strewn with empth 8-inch powder casings in December 1967. These cartridges required no further human handling once they were put into the ammunition hoists from the magazines. Spent casings were ejected from the open port below each gun. | George Klos | |
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117k | A director-controlled 5-inch mount firing. At right is a 3-inch twin mount, the last of which was removed in January 1974. | George Klos | |
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152k | A Gunners Mate makes an adjustment inside one of the 5-inch twin mounts. He is standing between the recoil mechanisms of the two guns. | George Klos | |
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122k | The volume of fire off Vietenam by the 5-inch guns is indicated by these mountains of empty powder tanks awaiting return to the replenishment ship. | George Klos | |
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169k | The daily logistics helo approches the Newport News' faintail in April 1968. | George Klos | |
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57k | A picture of the Starboard bow while coming alongside the USS Passumpsic (AO-107) off the coast of Vietnam. | Ralph W. Turner | |
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69k | Newport Rhode Island, October 18 1970. | © Richard Leonhardt | |
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556k | Welcome aboard booklet, circa 1972. | Robert M. Cieri | |
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62k | Eight inch/55 caliber guns in action, Picture is prior to 1972. | USN | |
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509k | Off the coast of Vietnam, June 1972. Taken from the USS Myles C. Fox (DD-829). | Paul Wieloszynski | |
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180k | At 0110 on the morning of 1 October 1972, while on a fire mission off Vietnam, a faulty 8-inch projectile detonated prematurely in the center barrel of turret two. The shells in the powder train leading up from the magazine burned rapidly and 20 men were killed. This view inside the turret shows the effects of the intense heat. The powder tray extends up the center of the photo and into the breachblock. | George Klos | |
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211k | An exterior view of the gun in which the explosion occurred. The barrel has been blown completely clear of the turret and is connected only by the gun liner. | George Klos | |
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179k | Newport News prepares to refuel from the USS Savannah (AOR-4) in September 1974. The center of the cruiser's turret two has been plated over because the damaged gun was not replaced after the 1972 explosion. | George Klos | |
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143k | Seen here sometime after 1972, when her #2 turret, center gun exploded. The turret was not restored to service and the remaining 2 guns were fixed in place. Note helo on stern. | USN | |
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127k | Seen here sometime after 1972, when her #2 turret, center gun exploded. The turret was not restored to service and the remaining 2 guns were fixed in place. | USN | |
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273k | The Newport News visiting Oslo, Norway, 27-30 September 1974. | George Klos | |
 0414856 |
90k | The quarterdeck while moored at Oosteliske Pier, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 27-29 OCT 1974. | Robert Ruiter | |
 0414857 |
76k | The quarterdeck while moored at Oosteliske Pier, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 27-29 OCT 1974. | Robert Ruiter | |
 0414858 |
51k | Stern view (including the garbage chute) while moored at Oosteliske Pier, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 27-29 OCT 1974. | Robert Ruiter | |
 0414859 |
76k | Moored at Oosteliske Pier, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 27-29 OCT 1974. | Robert Ruiter | |
 0414861 |
53k | Fantail with SH-2 helicopter, moored at Oosteliske Pier, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 27-29 OCT 1974. | Robert Ruiter | |
 0414860 |
73k | Stern crane (note the antenna assemble on top), moored at Oosteliske Pier, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 27-29 OCT 1974. | Robert Ruiter | |
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71k | The Newport News lies morred in a little-used annex of Norfolk Naval Shipyard while undergoing inactivation in May 1975. Her masts are covered with scaffolding and her hull is splotched with Red Lead as the few remaining crew members prepare her for a trip to the mothball fleet. | George Klos | |
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299k | Decommissioning Booklet. 27 JUN 1975 | Robert M. Cieri | |
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296k | USS Newport News Commanding Officers (From Decommissioning Booklet). | Robert M. Cieri | |
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79k | Philadelphia Naval Base, Pennsylvania - Three stricken cruisers await disposal in the Reserve Basin, October 1978. The ships, whose hull numbers have been painted out, are (from left to right): ex-Newport News (CA-148); ex-Springfield (CLG-7); and ex-Northampton (CC-1). Official U.S. Navy Photograph #K-121961. | USNHC | |
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116k | Apr 1, 1993 - New Orleans, LA: The decommissioned cruiser Newport News (CA-148) stands moored to a pier at the Southern Scrapping Company. | Fred Weiss | |
USS NEWPORT NEWS (CA-148) 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: James A. Peden
Address:
Phone:
E-mail: peden@uss-newport-news.com
Date: June 20-26, 2006
Location: Quincy, MA
Note About Contacts.