USS Minneapolis (CA-36)

History of USS Minneapolis (CA-36)

The USS Minneapolis was purchased and built before the United States was involved in World War II. She was the third ship in the New Orleans Seven, which included New Orleans, Astoria, Tuscaloosa, San Francisco, Quincy and Vincennes. The ship participated in many major battles in the Pacific Rim during the war.

Due to their outstanding service during the conflict, the USS Minneapolis and its combatants have earned no less than 17 Battle Stars -- more than enough to attest to any warship.

Leave early

After launching in 1933, the USS Minneapolis underwent a typical "reshuffle" voyage to find any flaws in its design. She was commissioned and commissioned in May 1934. As such, it was deployed throughout Europe from July to September 1934.

After doing some extra work at her home shipyard, she moved to the US West Coast via the Panama Canal. She arrived in San Diego, California, on April 18, 1935, and was assigned to the Reconnaissance Force Cruiser Division 7 ("CruDiv7").

From there, she took on peacetime patrols off the coast of the United States, made a detour to the Caribbean in 1939, and - in response to growing tensions with Japan - found her new home in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in 1940. p]

Pearl Harbor

In order to deliver a decisive blow to American naval power in the Pacific, Imperial Japan developed a complex tactical plan. The plan usually revolves around attacking the Pacific Fleet while they remain (and unsuspecting) anchored in port. The main goal was to eliminate the American carrier force, which was nowhere to be found at the time of the actual attack on Pearl Harbor. Nonetheless, on the morning of December 7, 1941, Imperial Japanese Navy units blew up from their aircraft carriers, attacking military targets throughout the port. The end result resulted in the sinking or destruction of 8 battleships, 3 cruisers, 4 destroyers, 1 seaplane supply ship, 1 target ship, 1 repair ship, 1 tugboat, and Drydock 2. Key targets such as aircraft carriers and oil reserves remain unaffected.

Japan has awakened a sleeping giant whose actions will pay dearly in the long run.

World War II

Fortunately for the USS Minneapolis and her crew, she was separated for firing practice and found herself about 20 miles from port during the attack. Following the December incident, she was refitted and sent to active patrol the following January. She later joined the carrier task force, which included the USS Lexington, and assisted in the impending attacks on Gilbert and the Marshall Islands.

In her early operations, she recorded three confirmed aircraft fatalities while protecting the Lexington. From February to early March, Minneapolis opened its Man Guns to anger over Japanese shipping's attempts to resupply Gilbert and Marshall's Army garrisons.

Her next prominent action was in the Battle of the Coral Sea. The fighting lasted from May 4 to May 8 and involved carrier battle groups from both sides. Once again, Minneapolis was asked to protect the Lexington during the battle, and she again hit three enemy planes.

However, the USS Lexington was severely damaged by two direct torpedo hits and two other dive bombs. Minneapolis went into action to rescue as many Navy sailors as possible. The Lexington was sunk by the American destroyer USS Phelps to avoid capture.

Regardless, the USN enjoyed their victory that day -- but the victory came at a heavy price.

The Minneapolis had to be refitted and sailed to Bremerton, Washington. After repairs and supplies (including a new barrel), she returned to the station, this time in Subic Bay in the Philippines. By this time the atomic bombs had been dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and Japan officially surrendered to the Allies. On September 9, 1945, Japan formally surrendered Korea to Minneapolis. The ship then oversaw several Marine landings during postwar occupation operations in China and South Korea before resuming patrols in the Yellow Sea.

Their last effort in the war was to send American veterans back to the states on the west coast of the United States. She eventually crossed the Channel back to Philadelphia, where she was granted reserve status on May 21, 1946.

She was officially decommissioned on February 10, 1947 (WWII), with an unremarkable ending, and was sold to Union Metals and Alloys as scrap on August 14, 1959 - for a rather moody ship , which is a rather quiet ending.

Tour USS Minneapolis

As a heavy cruiser, the USS Minneapolis was built for a combination of speed and firepower. Her main guns were concentrated in the bow, with two triple turret positions followed by a triple turret position aft.

This enables the ship to bring six main guns to forward targets and use all nine main guns for broadside salvos. The bridge is assigned to the superstructure in front, with a view of what is going on ahead. This is followed by two funnels located in the stern. The rear superstructure was installed in front of the third turret. A network of anti-aircraft guns and machine guns protected her from aircraft attacks.

Minneapolis carried as many as four reconnaissance seaplanes, which were launched via two midship ejection systems and recovered by cranes. The Minneapolis displaces 9,950 tons and holds about 1,650 tons of fuel oil. It has a staff of 708, including officers and recruits.

Armor Protection

Armor protection measures approximately 5 inches along her midship belt and 1.5 inches front and rear. The deck itself is protected up to 5 inches, while her turret enjoys a protection level of over 6 inches. Her conning tower received 8 inches of armor protection.

Weapons

Minneapolis deploys three 9 x 8 in/55 cal guns above her three main turrets. Anti-aircraft protection is provided by 8 x 5"/25 caliber anti-aircraft guns and 8 x .50 caliber machine guns.

Driving

The USS Minneapolis is powered by 4 Westinghouse gear turbines. This is thanks to her 8 x Babcock and Wilcox boilers providing a whopping 107,000 shaft horsepower to her four axles. Under ideal conditions, she can maintain a top speed of up to 32 knots.

Basics

The aircraft carrier USS Minneapolis (CA-36) was laid on June 27, 1931 and launched on September 6, 1933. On May 19, 1934, she officially entered service under the command of Captain Gordon W. Haines. She was built by the Philadelphia Navy Yard and was the second U.S.

Navy ship to be named Minneapolis after the North American city. At the time of construction, the USS Minneapolis cost U.S. taxpayers about $11. $5 million to complete.

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