- USS Los Angeles (CA-135)
The third USS "Los Angeles" (CA-135) was a
Baltimore class cruiser , laid down by thePhiladelphia Navy Yard ,Philadelphia , on the28 July 1943 and launched on20 August 1944 . She was sponsored by Mrs. Fletcher Bowron and commissioned22 July 1945 , with Capt. John A. Snackenberg in command.After shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay,
Cuba , "Los Angeles" sailed15 October for the Far East via the west coast and arrivedShanghai ,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 theMarianas . She returned toSan Francisco , Calif.,21 January 1947 ; decommissioned at Hunters Point9 April 1948 ; and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet "Los Angeles" recommissioned27 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 East14 May and joined naval operations off the eastern coast ofKorea 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 fromHungnam in the east toHaeju in the west while her guns pounded enemy coastal positions. After returning to theUnited States 17 December for overhaul and training, she made her second deployment to Korean waters9 October 1952 and participated11 October in a concentrated shelling of enemy bunkers and observation points atKoji-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 theSea of Japan with fast carriers of the 7th Fleet. While participating in the bombardment ofWonsan 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 on15 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 andSouth China Sea s; and with units of the mighty 7th Fleet she steamed to American bases in thePhilippines andOkinawa , as well as to Allied bases In South Korea,Hong Kong ,Australia , and Formosa. During theQuemoy-Matsu crisis in 1956, she patrolled theFormosa 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 Beach15 November 1963 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at San Diego.The
flying bridge of the Los Angeles is on display at theLos Angeles Maritime Museum inSan Pedro, CA .In media
USS "Los Angeles" was featured in the classic Tintin comic book
The Red Sea Sharks written and drawn byHergé . She is shown patrolling in theRed Sea and is involved in the rescue of Tintin and his friends from a post-warU-Boat operated by slave traders.Awards
"Los Angeles" received five
battle star s for service during the Korean conflict.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.