This is a 3D printed resin sculpt of the Des Moines heavy cruiser by EBard Models.
The Des Moines-class cruisers were the last, and biggest, of the all-gun heavy cruisers for the US Navy. Twelve ships of the class were planned, but only three were completed: Des Moines (CA-134), Salem (CA-139) and Newport News (CA-148). The 9 other ships of the class were cancelled at the end of World War 2. Of these, only the USS Dallas (CA-140) was started before cancellation.
The class was derived from the previous Baltimore-class design, with upgraded machinery and auto-loading, rapid-fire 8" guns. The main guns were capable of sustaining 8 shots per minute, about twice the rate of fire of previous heavy cruisers. The auto-loading mechanism could function at any elevation, giving some degree of anti-aircraft capability. The Des Moines class also carried a stronger battery of smaller caliber anti-aircraft guns, including 12 twin 3-inch/50 Mk27 and later Mk33 guns, that were considered superior to the quad-mounted 40mm Bofors. Their top speed of 33 knots made them valuable to escort carrier groups. The Newport News was the first completely air-conditioned surface ship in the U.S. Navy.
Des Moines and Salem were decommissioned in 1961 and 1959, respectively, but Newport News remained in commission until 1975, serving during the Vietnam War providing valuable gunfire support from 1967 to 1973.
Salem is a museum ship in Quincy, Massachusetts. Newport News was laid up at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and scrapped in 1993, and Des Moines was scrapped in 2006–2007. Dallas (CA-140) and
Two were decommissioned by 1961 but the Newport News (CA-148), served until 1975. USS Salem is a museum ship in Quincy, Massachusetts; the other two were scrapped.
Ships of Class:
CA-134 Des Moines
CA-139 Salem
CA-140 Dallas
CA-148 Newport News
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