Missile Loadouts: US Cruiser Conversions (1955-1980)
The United States Navy's first four classes of guided missile cruisers were conversions of WWII-era gun cruisers of the Baltimore , Cleveland , and Oregon City -classes and were armed with the first-generation Terrier, Talos, and Tartar missiles . While short lived and and ultimately a dead end in warship design, these vessels were revolutionary when commissioned. Boston-class The two ships of the Boston -class were converted from Baltimore -class heavy cruisers to become the world's first operational guided missile warships. They retained much of their original gun armament, losing only their rearmost 8" and 5" turrets. These two turrets were replaced with a pair of twin rail Mk 4 launchers with magazines for a staggering one-hundred and forty-four Terrier missiles. Boston in 1955: 144x Terrier Galveston-class and Providence-class The next round of cruiser conversions switched to the smaller but more numerous Cleveland -class light cruisers. Six ships were con...