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USSOklahoma City(CL-91)

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For other ships with the same name, seeUSS Oklahoma City.

USSOklahoma City(CLG-5) in theSea of Japan,August 1974.
History
United States
NameOklahoma City
NamesakeCity ofOklahoma City,Oklahoma
BuilderCramp Shipbuilding Co.,Philadelphia
Yard number534
Laid down8 December 1942
Launched20 February 1944
Sponsored byMrs. Anton H. Classen
Commissioned22 December 1944
Decommissioned30 June 1947
Refit1957–1960
Recommissioned7 September 1960
Decommissioned15 December 1979
Reclassified
  • CLG-5, 23 May 1957
  • CG-5, 1 July 1975
Stricken15 December 1979
Identification
Honors and
awards		2 ×battle starsforWorld War II
FateSunk as target with a torpedo by Republic ofKorea SubmarineLee Chun(SS 062)on 27 March 1999
Badge
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeCleveland-classLight cruiser
Displacement
  • 11,744 long tons (11,932 t) (standard)
  • 14,131 long tons (14,358 t) (max)
Length
  • 610 ft 1 in (185.95 m)oa
  • 608 ft (185 m)pp
Beam66 ft 4 in (20.22 m)
Draft
  • 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m) (mean)
  • 25 ft (7.6 m) (max)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed32.5 kn (37.4 mph; 60.2 km/h)
Range11,000 nmi (20,000 km) @ 15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h)
Complement1,255 officers and enlisted
Armament
Armor
  • Belt:3+1⁄2–5 in (89–127 mm)
  • Deck:2 in (51 mm)
  • Barbettes:6 in (150 mm)
  • Turrets:1+1⁄2–6 in (38–152 mm)
  • Conning Tower:2+1⁄4–5 in (57–127 mm)
Aircraft carried4 ×floatplanes
Aviation facilities2 ×sterncatapults
General characteristics (1960 rebuild)
Class and typeGalveston-classguided missile cruiser
Complement1,426 officers and enlisted
Armament
  • 1 × triple 6 in (150 mm)/47 caliber Mark 16 guns
  • 1 × dual 5 in (130 mm)/38 caliber anti-aircraft guns in Mark 32 mount
  • 1 × twin-rail Mark 7TalosSAMlauncher, 46 missiles
Aircraft carried

USSOklahoma City(CL-91/CLG-5/CG-5)was one of 27United States NavyCleveland-classlight cruiserscompleted during or shortly afterWorld War II,and one of six to be converted toguided missile cruisers.She was the first US Navy ship to be named forOklahoma City, Oklahoma.Commissioned in late 1944, she participated in the latter part of thePacific Warin anti-aircraft screening and shore bombardment roles, for which she earned twobattle stars.She then served a brief stint with the occupation force. Like all but one of her sister ships, she was retired in the post-war defense cutbacks, becoming part of thePacific Reserve Fleetin 1947.

In the late 1950s she was converted to aGalveston-classguided missile cruiser,which involved removing all her guns except for her forward 6-inch (152 mm) turret and 5-inch (127 mm) mount, and rebuilding her entire superstructure to accommodate theTalosmissile system andflagshipoffice spaces and accommodation. Like her threesister ships(Providence,Little Rock,andSpringfield) of theCleveland-class ships converted to missile ships, she was also extensively modified forward to become a flagship. This involved removal of most of her forward armament to allow for a greatly enlarged superstructure. She was recommissioned in 1960 asCLG-5(and in 1975 redesignatedCG-5).

In her second career she served extensively in the Pacific, playing a prominent role in theVietnam War,including participation in the evacuation of Saigon.Oklahoma Citywas worked hard in shore bombardment duty during the war. As she was extensively well fitted with flagship accommodations and communications, there were plans for an extensive overhaul (of both her andLittle Rock) starting in 1977. The ship would have received two 8-cell NATOSea Sparrowsurface-to-air missile (SAM) launchers and two Vulcan PhalanxCIWSsystems, in addition to extensive rehabilitation of her propulsion systems, electrical systems, her hull and superstructure. This would have given her an additional 10 years of service life. While this work package was formally planned, and funding was appropriated, it was diverted elsewhere. She received enough maintenance to soldier on for a few more years and was decommissioned for the last time in December 1979. At the time of her decommissioning, she was the lastCleveland-class ship in service, and had served longer (a total of 21 years and 10 months) than any other ship of that class.

Oklahoma Citywas sunk during a weapons training exercise, Tandem Thrust 99, on 26 March 1999.

Construction and commissioning[edit]

Oklahoma Citywaslaid downon 8 December 1942, byCramp ShipbuildingofPhiladelphia;launchedon 20 February 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Anton H. Classen; andcommissionedon 22 December 1944.[1]

Service history[edit]

World War II[edit]

Oklahoma Cityduring World War II.
USS Oklahoma City (CL-91) stern with SC Seahawks c. 1945
USSOklahoma City(CL-91) stern with SC Seahawks c. 1945
USS Oklahoma City (CL-91) at sea c. 1945
USSOklahoma City(CL-91) at sea c. 1945

Followingshakedown,Oklahoma Citytransited thePanama Canaland reported to Commander Cruisers Pacific Fleet (ComCruPac) for duty, arriving atPearl Harboron 2 May 1945. She conducted local operations until 22 May, when she sailed forUlithi,thence to rendezvous on 6 June, withCarrier Task Group 38.1for operations in support of theOkinawacampaign. For the rest of June, and into July, she screened3rd Fleetcarriers during their intensified air operations againstJapaneseforces. On 18 July, she formed a bombardment group with other cruisers and destroyers, then rejoined the carrier task group for continued action against the Japanese home islands. At the end of hostilities, she continued to patrol off the coast of Japan and it was not until 10 September, after seventy-two days of continuous steaming, that she finally enteredTokyo Bay.Oklahoma Cityremained on occupation duty until relieved on 30 January 1946, when she departed for the United States. She arrived atSan Franciscoon 14 February, where she remained until 15 August, when she entered theMare Island Navy Yardfor inactivation. On 30 June 1947, she was placed out of commission in reserve, assigned to the San Francisco Group, US Pacific Reserve Fleet.[1]

Conversion toGalveston-class cruiser[edit]

Oklahoma Cityin 1960.

On 7 March 1957,Oklahoma Cityarrived at theBethlehem Steel Corp.Pacific Coast Yard, San Francisco, where conversion to aGalveston-classguided missile light cruisercommenced on 21 May, her hull classification and number being changed two days later toCLG-5.Her conversion having completed on 31 August 1960, she was towed toHunter's Pointwhere she recommissioned on 7 September.[1]

During her shakedown training,Oklahoma Citybecame the first combatant unit of theUS Pacific Fleetto fire aTalosguided missile successfully. Following shakedown, she participated in several major training exercises while serving asflagshipfor Cruiser Division 3 (CruDiv 3) and Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla 9 (CruDesFlot 9), then departed 1 December, for a six-month deployment in WestPac. She arrived inYokosuka,Japan, on 24 December, where, six days later, she became flagship for Commander, US7th Fleet.The ship participated inSEATOtraining operations, received two awards for operational excellence, and served as an ambassador of good will to several cities in the Far East. She then returned toLong Beach, California,on 12 June 1962, and spent the next several months conducting local training operations and upkeep work. On 14 December, she entered theLong Beach Naval Shipyardfor restricted availability followed by an extensive overhaul.[1]

Vietnam[edit]

In early 1964,Oklahoma Citybegan refresher training in Southern California waters to prepare for a lengthy deployment, then departed for Yokosuka where she arrived on 7 July, to assume her duties again as 7th Fleet flagship. Shortly thereafter,North Vietnamesegunboatsattacked a US destroyerin theTonkin GulfandOklahoma Cityquickly began a 25-day alert in the Gulf. Training exercises and operational visits to various ports in the Far East followed, then in June 1965, she began gunfire support missions offVietnam.When the level of hostilities increased, she began to spend more and more time in theSouth China Seaand eventually participated in operations "Piranha","Double Eagle","Deckhouse IV ", and" Hastings II. "After serving as 7th Fleet flagship for two and one-half years,Oklahoma Cityreturned toSan Francisco Bay Naval Shipyardon 15 December 1966, for an overhaul.[1]

Performing fire support off Vietnam.

Following her yard period, she began refresher training in the Southern California operating area in July 1967, and continued those exercises and intermittent calls to West Coast ports until she deployed again to the Western Pacific (WestPac) 7 November 1968. She arrived at Yokosuka 20 December, and into August 1969, was again contributing to the strength of the 7th Fleet.[1]The ship provided naval gunfire support for troops inSouth Vietnam,gunfire operations against coastal targets in North Vietnam andanti-aircraftoperations in North Vietnam. In April 1969,Oklahoma Citywas sent to theSea of Japanwiththree carrier groupsafter North Koreashot down an EC-121 spy plane.[2]

As of 1 July 1969,Oklahoma Citywas under the administrative control of Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force, US Pacific Fleet andCommander Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla Nine.[3]Both Commanders had their headquarters in San Diego, California.Oklahoma Citywas flagship and under the operational control of Commander Seventh Fleet. Also, while in the Western Pacific,Oklahoma Cityreported to Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group Seventh Fleet for administrative purposes. As Flagship for Commander Seventh Fleet,Oklahoma Citywas designated flagship Group TG 70.1 with the Commanding Officer as Commander of the Group.Oklahoma Cityalso served as a unit of TG 70.8.9 while providing gunfire support off the coast of Vietnam. The ship was homeported in Yokosuka, Japan, at the time.

Upon arrival at Yankee Station in September 1969,Oklahoma Cityconducted helicopter operations.[4]She also refueled from the replenishment shipAshtabulaand was visited byRear AdmiralIsaman, Commander Carrier Division Seven and Rear Admiral McClendon, Commander Carrier Division Nine. En route to Okinawa,Oklahoma Cityexperienced a drop in chemical readings in number 4 boiler caused by a leak in tube Y-36. Upon arrival Okinawa, the ship conducted Exercise Z-3l-GM, short range Talos missile firing exercise, in Okinawa operating area W-173.

On 4 February 1972,Oklahoma Cityfired the first successful combat surface-to-surface missile shot in US Navy history, using the new Talos RIM-8H anti-radiation missile to destroy a North Vietnamese mobile air control radar van. On 19 April 1972, the cruiser wasattackedby one of twoVietnam People's Air Force(VPAF)MiG-17s,flown by pilots Le Xuan Di and Nguyen Van Bay (akaBay B), both from the VPAF 923rd Fighter Regiment. Each MiG was armed with two 500 pounds (227 kg) bombs,[5]Van Bay's target was the light cruiser. Van Bay made two passes on the cruiser, having overshot his target on the first run, dropped his two bombs nearOklahoma City,but caused only light damage.[6]Another accompanying ship, thedestroyerHigbeewas damaged by a direct hit from the second MiG flown by pilot Le Xuan Di, which destroyed her aft 5–inch gun mount.[7]

In April 1975,Oklahoma Cityparticipated inOperation Frequent Wind,the evacuation of Saigon, Vietnam.[8]Following this she was slated for a massive overhaul, as her flagship facilities, as well as her 6-inch guns made her an attractive asset to retain in service. Her now obsolete Talos system would be removed and twoSea SparrowSAM systems, and twoPhalanx CIWSmounts would be fitted. Her machinery and hull would also be repaired and renewed. While funding for this work was appropriated byCongress,it was diverted to other ships, and minimal repairs were made to keepOklahoma Cityoperational until 1979.

Decommissioned and sunk[edit]

Oklahoma Citywas decommissioned on 15 December 1979, and remained in theReserve FleetinSuisun Bayuntil 9 January 1999, when she was towed toPearl Harbor,where some usable material was donated for use in outfitting thebattleshipMissourias a museum ship.[9]Oklahoma Citywas then expended as a target during February–March. After being used as a target for air-launched missiles she was hit during Tandem Thrust '99 exercise southwest ofGuamby torpedoes from theSouth KoreansubmarineLee Chun,broke in two and sank on 27 March 1999.

Oklahoma Citywas the lastCleveland-class cruiser in service and had the longest service history of all ships in the class. Accumulating some 13 battle stars for Vietnam-era engagements as flagship of theUnited States Seventh Fleet,Oklahoma Cityhas been commemorated at theNational Museum of the Pacific Waroriginally named theAdmiral NimitzMuseum located inFredericksburg, Texas.Two plaques honor her service in World War II and Vietnam. On 22 September 2006, the World War II plaque was dedicated. The Vietnam Plaque was dedicated on 11 April 2008, and calls her the "Haze grey Ghost of the Western Pacific".

Awards[edit]

World War II[edit]

American Campaign Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star
 Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medalwith two battle stars.
World War II Victory Medal
also awarded theNavy Occupation Medal

Post World War II[edit]

Gold star
 Combat Action Ribbon
Navy Unit Commendation
Bronze star
 Meritorious Unit Commendationwith one bronze star
National Defense Service Medal
Bronze star
Bronze star
 Armed Forces Expeditionary Medalwith two bronze stars
Silver star
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
 Vietnam Service Medalwith 11 stars, two silver and one bronze
Humanitarian Service Medal
Vietnam Gallantry Cross(with Palm)
Vietnam Campaign Medal

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdef"Oklahoma City I (CL-91)".Naval History and Heritage Command. 19 August 2015.Retrieved12 December2015.
  2. ^"Korea shootdown of Navy EC-121 in 1969".Willy Victor. Archived fromthe originalon 18 July 2011.Retrieved21 May2007.This site compiles information fromPacific Stars and Stripes,Washington Postarticles, andCryptolog,a veteran's association newsletter.
  3. ^USS Oklahoma City Command History for the period 1 July through 31 December 1969,Command Organization and Relationship
  4. ^USS Oklahoma City, Command History 1969, Part III, p.4
  5. ^Toperczer p. 54 & 55
  6. ^Toperczer p. 54/55
  7. ^Sherwood, John (2009).Nixon's Trident: Naval Power in Southeast Asia, 1968-72.Naval History & Heritage Command. p.37.ISBN9780945274582.
  8. ^"By Sea, Air and Land: An Illustrated History of the U.S. Navy and the war in Southeast Asia Chapter 5: The Final Curtain, 1973–1975".Archived fromthe originalon 27 June 2007.Retrieved6 February2010.
  9. ^Warship International,No. 4, 2000, p. 426.

External links[edit]

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