USS Los Angeles (CA-135)

The third USS "Los Angeles" (CA-135) was a Baltimore class cruiser, laid down by the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Philadelphia, on the 28 July 1943 and launched on 20 August 1944. She was sponsored by Mrs. Fletcher Bowron and commissioned 22 July 1945, with Capt. John A. Snackenberg in command.

After shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, "Los Angeles" sailed 15 October for the Far East via the west coast and arrived Shanghai, China, 3 January 1946. During the next year she operated with the 7th Fleet along the coast of China and in the western Pacific to the Marianas. She returned to San Francisco, Calif., 21 January 1947; decommissioned at Hunters Point 9 April 1948; and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet "Los Angeles" recommissioned 27 January 1951, Capt. Robert N. McFarlane in command. In response to the American effort to thwart Communist aggression in the Republic of South Korea, she sailed for the Far East 14 May and joined naval operations off the eastern coast of Korea 31 May as flagship for Rear Adm. Arleigh A. Burke’s CRUDIV 5. During the next 6 months she ranged the coastal waters of the Korean Peninsula from Hungnam in the east to Haeju in the west while her guns pounded enemy coastal positions. After returning to the United States 17 December for overhaul and training, she made her second deployment to Korean waters 9 October 1952 and participated 11 October in a concentrated shelling of enemy bunkers and observation points at Koji-ni. During the next few months, she continued to provide off off-shore shore gunfire support for American ground operations, and in addition she cruised the Sea of Japan with fast carriers of the 7th Fleet. While participating in the bombardment of Wonsan late in March and early in April 1953, she received minor damage from enemy shore batteries, but continued operations until sailing for the west coast in mid-April. She arrived at Long Beach on 15 May.

Between November 1953 and June 1963 "Los Angeles" made eight more deployments to the Far East where she served as a cruiser division flagship with the 7th Fleet in support of “keeping the peace” operations in that troubled part of the world. Her operations sent her from the coast of Japan to the Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea, and the East and South China Seas; and with units of the mighty 7th Fleet she steamed to American bases in the Philippines and Okinawa, as well as to Allied bases In South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, and Formosa. During the Quemoy-Matsu crisis in 1956, she patrolled the Formosa Strait to help protect Formosa from possible invasion from Communist China.

When not deployed in the western Pacific, "Los Angeles" operated out of Long Beach along the west coast and in the Pacific to the Hawaiian Islands. She returned to Long Beach from her final Far East deployment 20 June 1963. She decommissioned at Long Beach 15 November 1963 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at San Diego.

The flying bridge of the Los Angeles is on display at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum in San Pedro, CA.

In media

USS "Los Angeles" was featured in the classic Tintin comic book The Red Sea Sharks written and drawn by Hergé. She is shown patrolling in the Red Sea and is involved in the rescue of Tintin and his friends from a post-war U-Boat operated by slave traders.

Awards

"Los Angeles" received five battle stars for service during the Korean conflict.