CUS Philadelphia (CA-1932)
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This was an important class as it introduced the three triple 8"/55cal turrets to CUS cruisers and with a new turret with individual sleeves for the guns. The bigger turret also allowed for ease of loading compared to the previous Salt Lake Citys turrets. A much needed all round improvement. The length of the hull was also altered with the length being dropped by 15 feet, and the sheer forward to aid seakeeping was used again. The extra tonnage saved by the shorter hull and three turrets versus four, was put into protection. This was much needed as well.
These were the first CUA ships to carry the 1.1" quad AA mounting. The mounting was a disappointment in service. Unfortunately in the 3 years that the mounting was in service, hundreds of the mounting were produced and fitted to all and sundry ships, giving the CUA Navy a large headache in then having to replace them, which was not started till the twin and quad 40mm mountings were introduced a couple of years later. The secondary battery was the same eight 4" single mounts on AA mountings fitted to the Salt Lake City and Detroit classes. The extra protection extended the main armour belt to include the magazines
| Displacement | 10,600 tons std 12,900 tons full load |
| Length | 585 ft |
| Breadth | 65 ft |
| Draught | 22 ft |
| Machinery | 4 shaft steam turbines 100,000shp |
| Speed | 32 knots |
| Range | 10,000 miles at 15 knots |
| Armour | 4" Belt, 2.5" Turrets, 1.5" Deck |
| Armament | 9 x 8" (3x3) 8 x 4" (8x1) 24 x 1.1" (6x4) 14 x 20mm (14x1) |
| Aircraft | 3 |
| Torpedoes | nil |
| Complement | 1200 |
| Notes | CUS Philadelphia |
Two of the Philadelphia class at Pearl Harbour 1942.