uss baltimore

USS Baltimore: America’s Resilient Cruiser

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Baltimore (CA-68) represented American naval strength during World War II’s Pacific Theater. The lead ship of the Baltimore-class group was commissioned in 1943 and received its name from the city of Baltimore, Maryland to incorporate the latest technological improvements in cruiser design. During pivotal battles like the Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaigns and the Battles of the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf USS Baltimore (CA-68) showcased her multifaceted role as a fire support vessel while defending against enemy aircraft and escorting carriers. Baltimore stood out because of her sturdy build combined with an impressive combat survival record and her distinct mission to transport President Franklin D. Roosevelt through a crucial wartime operation. This article analyzes her technical features and wartime achievements while highlighting the characteristics that made her a premier cruiser until 1945 and provides insight into the U.S. Navy's Pacific dominance.

A Heavy Cruiser Built for Dominance

The Baltimore-class heavy cruisers emerged from a need to overcome the constraints of previous treaty-regulated ships and capitalized on the U.S. Navy’s industrial strength to produce a potent and well-balanced warship. The Baltimore started construction at Bethlehem Steel’s Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts on May 26, 1941 and entered service on April 15, 1943 under Captain Walter C. Calhoun after being launched on July 28, 1942 by Mrs. Howard W. Jackson who was the wife of Baltimore’s mayor. The ship measured 205.26 meters (673 feet 5 inches) long with a beam of 21.59 meters (70 feet 10 inches) while the standard displacement reached 14,472 tons which increased to 17,031 tons when fully loaded. The ship's main armament consisted of nine 8-inch (203 mm) /55 caliber cannon distributed across three triple turrets with two at the fore and one at the rear which could launch 335-pound shells over 30,000 yards. The vessel's secondary armament system included twelve 5-inch (127 mm) /38 caliber guns mounted in six twin mounts along with 48 40 mm Bofors guns in 12 quad mounts and 24 20 mm Oerlikon guns which were later adjusted to improve anti-aircraft defense capabilities. Four Babcock & Wilcox boilers and four-shaft General Electric turbines produced 120,000 shaft horsepower which drove the ship to reach 33 knots and provided her with a 10,000 nautical mile range at 15 knots. Armor was substantial: The ship's defense included a 6-inch (152 mm) armor belt, a 3-inch armored deck and 8-inch armored turret faces. Baltimore achieved her unique design through her optimal combination of speed and heavy armament with substantial protection to function effectively in the Pacific's diverse combat scenarios including shore bombardment and aerial defense.

Advanced Systems for Pacific Combat

Baltimore's advanced technology distinguished her as a premier example of cruiser design. The combination of Mark 34 fire-control directors with Mark 8 radar allowed her to fire accurately at targets from distances as far as 17 miles which surpassed Japanese cruisers that depended on optical rangefinders. The cruiser used SK-2 air-search and SG surface-search radars to provide early warning detection capabilities for aircraft at 100 miles and ships at 20 miles which was essential for coordinating operations with carriers and escort ships. The cruiser's radar-guided 5-inch guns proved deadly against both aircraft and surface targets while her 40 mm and 20 mm guns established a protective anti-aircraft shield which destroyed many Japanese planes. Her crew of 1,142 officers and enlisted men operated a floating fortress with advanced damage control—watertight compartments, fire suppression, and redundant systems—that kept her unscathed through two years of combat, a feat her crew proudly noted: The service stars earned by her crew prove that their ship's capabilities were remarkable. Baltimore distinguished herself through integrated capabilities which combined radar systems and high firepower to achieve remarkable speed enabling her to serve effectively across multiple combat roles.

Early Operations: Breaking into the Pacific

The U.S. Navy deployed Baltimore to the Pacific theater of World War II immediately and her systems were ready to back the American military operations. Following her commissioning she departed Boston for Hampton Roads, Virginia on June 17, 1943 and stopped at Annapolis to pick up midshipmen before heading to the West Coast for gunnery exercises from October 9 to 13. She left San Diego on October 16 and reached Pearl Harbor on October 29 to join Admiral Raymond A. Spruance's Fifth Fleet. She first engaged in combat during the Gilbert Islands campaign known as Operation Galvanic from November 20 to December 4, 1943. Task Force 52 deployed her firepower at Makin Atoll through over 300 rounds from 8-inch and 5-inch guns to eliminate Japanese defenses before the Marine force landed. The ship's 5-inch guns shot down two planes and her Vought OS2U Kingfisher floatplane performed a rescue mission for a downed pilot near Tarawa on November 21 demonstrating her capability in reconnaissance missions. Baltimore distinguished herself through her precise gunfire which enabled her radar-guided cannons to destroy bunkers and she maintained adequate speed to match carriers as she demonstrated her effectiveness as a fire support cruiser throughout the Pacific island-hopping operations.

Gilbert and Marshall Islands: Fire Support Mastery

The January–February 1944 campaign in the Marshall Islands affirmed Baltimore as a formidable bombardment unit. Between January 29 and February 8 Baltimore provided fire support for the Kwajalein Atoll invasion by firing 500 rounds from her 8-inch guns against Japanese defenses while her 5-inch guns engaged anti-aircraft batteries. During Operation Hailstone from February 16–17 she participated in the assault on Truk Atoll known as Japan’s “Gibraltar of the Pacific” while her guns bombarded shore installations and carriers Enterprise and Yorktown destroyed 200,000 tons of enemy shipping. On February 17, Lieutenant (j.g.) Lieutenant (j.g.) Denver M. Baxter flew her Kingfisher to save Lieutenant (j.g.) George M. Blair from VF-9 near Dublon Island while protected by two Hellcats on February 17. Lieutenant (j.g.) Denver M. Baxter piloted her Kingfisher to perform a rescue of George M. Blair from VF-9 near Dublon Island which was 6,000 yards away from enemy artillery with protection from two Hellcats demonstrating her reconnaissance capabilities. Between February 17 and March 2 she attacked Eniwetok Atoll with sustained artillery fire to enable Marine forces to land. Baltimore's ability to fire over 1,000 rounds without sustaining damage became critical to amphibious operations because her radar and guns provided devastating accuracy while her skilled crew maintained her safety.

Marianas Campaign and Philippine Sea

During the Marianas campaign and the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Baltimore displayed its capability to function effectively as a carrier escort. As part of Task Group 58.7 under Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee her role included screening carriers Hornet, Yorktown, and Essex while operating with battleship New Jersey. Between June 11 and June 24 she used her 5-inch and 40 mm guns to safeguard Saipan landings while shooting down six Japanese planes. Her radar identified the Japanese 430-plane attack during the “Turkey Shoot” on June 19 and her weaponry contributed to Task Force 58’s destruction of 240 enemy aircraft. The Hellcat aircraft from her escort group aided her Kingfisher planes during spotting missions to achieve precise shore bombardments. Her guns fired at Tinian from June 21–22 to clear bunkers for the Marines. During May 19–20 operations at Marcus Island and May 23 at Wake Island her guns attacked airfields as floatplanes located carriers. Baltimore served as an effective anti-aircraft shield by using her radar-guided guns and speed to protect carriers while her flawless battle record showed her crew’s discipline during air battles in the Marianas.

Presidential Mission: A Historic Voyage

The USS Baltimore performed a unique mission in July 1944 which established her lasting historical significance. On July 13 she left the war zone and began transporting President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his group from San Diego to Pearl Harbor. Between July 26 and 29 Roosevelt used Baltimore as his command platform to meet with Admiral Chester Nimitz and General Douglas MacArthur for the Philippines campaign planning. The Baltimore set sail for the Aleutian Islands on July 29 where she hosted President Roosevelt during inspections at Adak and Kodiak until he disembarked in Bremerton, Washington on August 9. Baltimore resumed combat preparations following her return to San Francisco on August 12. The cruiser proved her worth through flawless crew performance during a strategically vital mission transporting the Commander-in-Chief under global observation while carrying the nation’s leader during wartime.

Battle of Leyte Gulf: fire support and escort services

Baltimore re-entered combat action during the Battle of Leyte Gulf which occurred from October 23 to October 26, 1944 and stands as history's greatest naval battle. Under Admiral Halsey she rejoined Task Force 38 and operated with Task Group 38.1 alongside carriers Hornet, Wasp, and Hancock. During October 24 operations in the Sibuyan Sea her aircraft group assisted in sinking Musashi while her 5-inch guns attacked Japanese scouting planes. The Baltimore screened carriers while they sank Zuikaku, Zuihō, Chitose and Chiyoda off Cape Engaño on October 25 while her guns shot down three Zeros. While she remained absent in the Surigao Strait her task group’s air strikes disrupted the operations of Kurita’s Center Force off Samar. Between December 14 and 16 she carried out bombardment operations against Luzon to support the landings at Leyte before surviving Typhoon Cobra on December 18 which resulted in the sinking of three U.S. destroyers. The deck plates of her ship buckled but the strong hull remained intact unlike Pittsburgh where bow damage occurred. Baltimore demonstrated exceptional durability by avoiding crew casualties from enemy attacks while operating as both a bombardment ship and escort vessel during the chaotic victory at Leyte.

Late War: Formosa, Okinawa, and Victory

In 1945, Baltimore continued her relentless campaign. Between January 3 and 21 she repeatedly attacked Formosa and Luzon with her 8-inch guns destroying airfields and her 5-inch guns shooting down five Kamikazes. The vessel attacked Okinawa on January 22 to eliminate defenses ahead of the April invasion. Between February 16 and 17 she supported military operations against Honshu and conducted a bombardment of Iwo Jima from February 19 to March 5, where she fired 800 shells to support Marine operations. Her guns focused on Kyushu Kamikaze bases throughout the Okinawa campaign from March 18 to June 10 and succeeded in destroying seven enemy planes. She joined the occupation force at Sasebo, Japan between November 29, 1945, and February 17, 1946 to represent U.S. victory. The USS Baltimore earned nine battle stars through her operational fortitude without suffering enemy casualties which enabled her to lead every primary Pacific campaign from 1943 to 1945 with her weapons and radar systems.

What Made Baltimore Special

The distinguishing features of Baltimore included her cutting-edge design together with her record of no battle-inflicted damage and multiple operational roles. Baltimore-class engineering featured 33 knots speed and nine 8-inch guns with 6-inch armor which surpassed Japan's Takao-class ships built with ten 8-inch guns and 5-inch armor while her advanced radar systems provided the precision Japan lacked. From Makin to Okinawa battleship Baltimore’s Mark 8 radar helped destroy more than 20 planes while her 8-inch guns fired over 5,000 shells. The expertise of her 1,142-member crew ensured perfect damage control which prevented the ship from sustaining damage after the Canberra was torpedoed in 1944. The Roosevelt mission served as a rare distinction that demonstrated her trustworthiness as a diplomatic cruiser during wartime. Baltimore earned nine battle stars and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for her steadfast service without suffering a sinking compared to Indianapolis which was sunk in 1945. The heavy cruiser known as “Salty Balty” represented U.S. industrial dominance throughout history while remaining untouched by enemy fire.

Legacy of the Salty Balty

After decommissioning on July 8, 1946 at Bremerton Baltimore rejoined active service in 1951 during the Korean War and Mediterranean deployments before she received further accolades and decommissioned permanently on May 31, 1956. The Navy removed her from the list on February 15, 1971 and she was scrapped in 1972 but 200 tons of her armor plate found new use at Fermilab. The Baltimore-class cruiser Baltimore stood alone with nine WWII battle stars and maintained an unscathed service record. Her durability and firepower proved decisive when measured against Japan’s Chōkai which sank in 1944. The American warship Baltimore serves as a historical representation of U.S. resilience through its effective bombardment and escort missions while remaining undefeated throughout its service which is documented through naval archives and commemorated by its crew.

final thoughts: Baltimore’s Unbroken Triumph

While USS Baltimore didn't stand out as the most dazzling warship the conflict produced she embodied a powerful story of quiet determination. The ship traveled from Makin’s shores to Japan’s surrender while providing both firepower and protection in flawless precision. The "Salty Balty" earned an enduring place in the Pacific War's history through her advanced systems, intact hull during battle, and notable Roosevelt voyage which defined her as a distinctive heavy cruiser.