Baltimore Class Heavy Cruiser Summary

This is the injection molded plastic Baltimore sculpt by Historical Board Gaming.

The Baltimore class of heavy cruisers contained 14 ships. The ships were fast and heavily armed and were mainly used to protect the fast aircraft carriers from air attack. Additionally, their 8-inch main guns and secondary 5-inch guns were regularly used to bombard land targets in support of amphibious landings.

The versatility of the Baltimore design is best demonstrated by the number of other ship classes that were based from it. The Oregon City-class cruisers differed only slightly from Baltimores, because they were originally planned as Baltimore-class cruisers but were constructed based on modified plans. Though nine ships were planned, only three were completed. A somewhat enlarged design resulted in the Des Moines-class cruiser. While the basic deck layout was unchanged, this class carried the first fully automated high-caliber guns on a warship, though none was constructed in time to take part in World War II. The plans for the Saipan-class light aircraft carrier were adapted from the drafts of the Baltimore hull design, and the layout of the engines was transferred as well. 

The Baltimore heavy cruisers also served in the Korean War, and four were refitted and converted into guided missile cruisers. The last of these was decommissioned in 1980.

Customer Reviews

No Reviews Posted Yet - be the first! (write review)