CSS Tuscaloosa
CSS Tuscaloosa (CL-1925)
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Last in the 'Scout' series of what became light cruisers were the Tuscaloosa class. Built to be better than the current 'C' class British cruisers and to be able to act with destroyers. The original plans showed that there was to be 8 x 6" in casemates fore and aft in a similar manner to the Des Moisne type. Thankfully sanity prevailed and the ships were completed with 4 twin 6" turrets fitted equally two fore and aft. The original plans also called for a speed of 35 knots so the ships could act with the destroyers squadrons. BuOrd seemed to have some fanciful dreamers in its ranks as it was shown by line commanders that a destroyer in normal sea conditions will not make much more than 32 knots a speed cruisers could make in the same sea conditions. This reduction to 32 knots allowed a strengthening of the hull and more than a token gesture at armour.
Oldest CSN unmodified cruisers to enter the war, the ships had been next in line for some serious upgrading which never took place. The best that could be done was to remove the aircraft handling facilities and torpedo tubes and replace them with modern AA weaponry. Replacing the old directors and replacing them with modern fire control systems was also helpful.
| Displacement | 7,200 tons std 7,300 tons full load |
| Length | 556.5 ft |
| Breadth | 55 ft |
| Draught | 20 ft |
| Machinery | 4 shaft steam turbines, 70,000shp orig |
| Speed | 32 knots |
| Range | 7200 miles at 18 knots (2,100 nm at 27 knots) |
| Armour | 3" side, 1.5" deck, 2" turrets |
| Armament | 8 x 6" (4x2) 6 x 3" (3x2) 10 x 20mm (10x1) |
| Aircraft | 1 |
| Torpedoes | 6 x 21" (2x3) |
| Complement | 560 |
| Notes |
CSS Tuscaloosa
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Two Tuscaloosa class cruisers, acting as flotilla leaders to destroyer squadrons. (Nicaragua Canal 1934)