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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS ROANOKE (CL 145)

Image courtesy of Al Grazevich


       

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - India - Quebec - Echo

CLASS - WORCESTER
Displacement 14,700 Tons, Dimensions, 679' 6" (oa) x 70' 8" x 25' (Max)
Armament 12 x 6"/47AA, 24 x 3"/50AA, 12 x 20mm.
Armor, 5" Belt, 6 1/2" Turrets, 3 1/2" Deck, 5" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 120,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 33 Knots, Crew 1401.
Operational and Building Data
Authorized 27 MAR 1934
Keel laid on 15 May 1945 by the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, NJ
Launched 16 JUN 1947
Commissioned 4 APR 1949
Decommissioned 31 OCT 1958
Stricken 1 DEC 1970
Fate Sold for scrap to Levin Metals Corporation of San Jose, CA on 22 FEB 1972
Two Hundred tons of Armor Plate from USS Roanoke have been put to use at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
(Thanks to Mark Janowski for this information)

Patch image contributed by Mike Smolinski

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - World War II Occupation Medal w/Europe Clasp - National Defense Service Medal

Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Roanoke
0414516
70k

"The USS Roanoke, last naval vessel presently under contract at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, was launched today. The 14,700-ton light cruiser went down the ways of the Camden yard at 12:18 P.M., after being christened by Miss Julia Ann Henebry, daughter of Leo P. Henebry, former mayor of Roanoke Va. Miss Henebry's maid of honor was Miss Margaret Donnell Smith, daughter of R. H. Smith, president of the Norfolk & Western Railway."

Temple University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center

Michael Mohl
Roanoke
0414517
65k

"The USS Roanoke, last naval vessel presently under contract at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, was launched today. The 14,700-ton light cruiser went down the ways of the Camden yard at 12:18 P.M., after being christened by Miss Julia Ann Henebry, daughter of Leo P. Henebry, former mayor of Roanoke Va. Miss Henebry's maid of honor was Miss Margaret Donnell Smith, daughter of R. H. Smith, president of the Norfolk & Western Railway."

Temple University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center

Michael Mohl
Roanoke
0414530
890k Cover of the Commissioning Program. From the collection of PH3 Donald Carleton, Ship's Photographer and Plank Owner. Andy Carleton
Roanoke
0414537
828k Wallet copy of a Plank Owner's certificate. From the collection of PH3 Donald Carleton, Ship's Photographer and Plank Owner. Andy Carleton
Roanoke 120k Overhead stern view, as built. USN
Roanoke 159k Overhead, Starboard bow, as built. (poor) USN
Roanoke
0414508
282k Starboard bow view, date and location unknown. Robert M. Cieri
Roanoke
0414513
2m Port bow aerial view, date and location unknown DCC(SS/SW) David Johnston, USN
Roanoke
0414529
384k Moored in an unknown Mediterranean location sometime between 1950 and 1952. From the collection of PH3 Donald Carleton, Ship's Photographer and Plank Owner. Andy Carleton
Roanoke
0414521
216k Taking water over the bow in 18 to 24 foot swells. Photo from sometime during the ships shakedown cruise or first Med Cruise (1949-1950). From the collection of PH3 Donald Carleton, Ship's Photographer and Plank Owner. Andy Carleton
Roanoke
0414532
699k Target practice. An HO3S helicopter being worked on in the center of the photo. An OQ-3 target drone on a makeshift stand to the right. Andy Carleton
Roanoke
0414533
721k Target practice. An HO3S helicopter being worked on in the center of the photo. An OQ-3 target drone on a makeshift stand to the right. Andy Carleton
Roanoke
0414534
642k Preparing to launch an OQ-3 target drone for target practice. Andy Carleton
Roanoke
0414535
664k Preparing to launch an OQ-3 target drone for target practice. Andy Carleton
Roanoke
0414536
681k Steaming in formation either before or after target practice. Note the bow wave on the Escort Carrier astern. Andy Carleton
Roanoke 163k Highline transfer between the USS Roanoke and USS Gainard (DD 706). Taken from USS Gainard by Bernard Devlin. Bill Devlin
Roanoke 149k USS Gainard (DD 706) making an approach on USS Caloosahatchee (AO 98) while the Roanoke takes on fuel. Taken from USS Gainard (DD 706) by Bernard Devlin. Bill Devlin
Roanoke
0414538
166k

Underway at slow speed, circa the early 1950s. Note the ship's crew at quarters, her call sign NIQE flying at the port yardarm, a motor whaleboat off her port side amidships and the lighthouse on the tip of the jetty in the background.

USNHC photo #NH 106501
USNHC
Roanoke 60k Algiers, 1950. Larry Bohn
Roanoke
0414526
300k Actor Gary Cooper speaking with Captain Yeomans during the filming of the movie "You're In The Navy Now" in 1951. From the collection of PH3 Donald Carleton, Ship's Photographer and Plank Owner. Andy Carleton
Roanoke
0414527
197k USS PCC-1168 under tow by Roanoke during the filming of the movie "You're In The Navy Now" in 1951. In the Movie PCC-1168 was called "USS Teakettle". From the collection of PH3 Donald Carleton, Ship's Photographer and Plank Owner. Andy Carleton
Roanoke
0414531
390k USS PCC-1168 tied up across from Roanoke during the filming of the movie "You're In The Navy Now" in 1951. In the Movie PCC-1168 was called "USS Teakettle". USS Marquette (AKA 95) is moored astern of her. From the collection of PH3 Donald Carleton, Ship's Photographer and Plank Owner. Andy Carleton
Roanoke
0414522
327k Underway replenishment, 31 March 1952. From the collection of PH3 Donald Carleton, Ship's Photographer and Plank Owner. Andy Carleton
Roanoke
0414523
406k Underway replenishment working party, 31 March 1952. From the collection of PH3 Donald Carleton, Ship's Photographer and Plank Owner. Andy Carleton
Roanoke
0414524
796k Liberty call! Med moored in Athens, Greece. Note the HOS3 Helicopter on the fantail. From the collection of PH3 Donald Carleton, Ship's Photographer and Plank Owner. Andy Carleton
Roanoke
0414525
726k Liberty call! Med moored in Athens, Greece. Note the HOS3 Helicopter on the fantail. From the collection of PH3 Donald Carleton, Ship's Photographer and Plank Owner. Andy Carleton
Roanoke
0414528
300k 500 pounds of cake celebrating the ship's 3rd anniversary on 4 April 1952. The ship had just left Athens, Greece. From the collection of PH3 Donald Carleton, Ship's Photographer and Plank Owner. Andy Carleton
Roanoke
0414509
129k Starboard bow view while at anchor in an unknown port between 1953 & 1955. Jim Hewson
Roanoke
0414510
479k Nice view of the fantail and after turrets including the MK-27 Fire Control Radars mounted on the 6"/47 MK-16 DP turret fascia along with other details. Photo taken in 1954. Jim Hewson
Roanoke
0414514
231k Moored in Genoa, Italy sometime between 29 May to 03 June 1954. The ship to the right is the SS Andrea Doria, which sank off of Nantucket, Massachusetts on 25 July 1956 when it collided with the MS Stockholm. Note the HUP-3 Helicopter on the fantail. Carlo Martinelli
Roanoke
0414511
1.9m Another nice photo of the fantail including the starboard 3"/50 MK-34 single gun mount in a hull mounted sponson. The ship is Med-moored in Genoa, Italy sometime between 29 May to 03 June 1954. The ship to the right is the SS Andrea Doria, which sank off of Nantucket, Massachusetts on 25 July 1956 when it collided with the MS Stockholm. (Photo ID provided by Maurizio Brescia) Jim Hewson
Roanoke
0414512
261k Liberty party heading ashore while anchored sometime between 1953 & 1955, location unknown. Jim Hewson
Roanoke 140k Algiers, 20 May 1954, just completed blowing tubes in the after boiler room. Ship behind is the USS Tidewater (AD 31). Larry Bohn
Roanoke
0414507
2m Underway in San Francisco Bay, California, at the time of Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz' review of the First Fleet, 13 June 1957.

Photo taken by Allied Photographers of San Francisco.

Robert M. Cieri
Roanoke
0414515
1m A colorized version of the previous photo. Yu Cho
Roanoke
04145p01
270k A painting of USS Roanoke (CL 145) entering San Francisco Bay in 1957 by artist Wayne Scarpaci. The title of the painting is "Summer Fog". Wayne Scarpaci
Tucson
0409807
508k Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, CA, 31 March 1963. From Right to Left: USS Atlanta (CA 104), USS Vicksburg (CL 86), USS Bremerton (CA 130), USS Worcester (CL 144), USS Roanoke (CL 145), USS Tucson (CLAA 98). Dennis Tyra
Roanoke
0414518
582k Bell of USS Roanoke (CL 145) located in Roanoke Library Main Branch, Roanoke, Virginia. Its outside of Elmwood Park. Yu Chu
Roanoke
0414519
260k Model of USS Roanoke on display in Virginia Museum of Transportation, Roanoke, Virginia. Taken by BigJim and published on 13 June 2018. The model was constructed by USN Retired Captain F. H. Doucette. Yu Chu
Roanoke
0414520
36k USS Roanoke (CL 145) zippo lighter from 1948-57. Yu Chu

Commanding Officers
Name/Rank Final Rank Dates
Kelsey, John Donald, CAPT RADM 04/04/1949 - 12/16/1949
Yeomans, Elmer Eugene, CAPT RADM 12/16/1949 - 12/09/1950
Veeder, William Schuetze, CAPT RADM 12/09/1950 - 11/04/1951
Parish, Herman Oliff, CAPT   11/04/1951 - 11/03/1952
Deutermann, Harold Thomas, CAPT VADM 11/03/1952 - 09/15/1953
Burlingame, Creed Cardwell, CAPT RADM 09/15/1953 - 03/03/1955
Knoll, Denys William, CAPT RADM 03/03/1955 - 11/14/1955
Sands, Eugene Thomas, CAPT   11/14/1955 - 01/24/1957
Chew, John Louis, CAPT VADM 01/24/1957 - 01/15/1958
Cone, James Ingham, CAPT   01/15/1958 - 10/02/1958
McIntosh, Neil Broce, CDR   10/02/1958 - 10/31/1958

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


USS ROANOKE (CL 145) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Vic Russell
Address: 7 River Drive
Toms River, NJ 08753-7028
Phone: 732-929-0671
E-mail: CL-145@HullNumber.com
Date:
Location:

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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