USS Quincy (CA-71)

The third USS "Quincy" (CA-71), a "Baltimore" class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy, was authorized 17 June 1940; laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Company, Shipbuilding Division, Quincy, Massachusetts as "St. Paul" 9 October 1941; renamed "Quincy" 16 October 1942 to perpetuate that name after destruction of the second "Quincy" at the Battle of Savo Island 9 August 1942. She was launched 23 June 1943; sponsored by Mrs. Henry S. Morgan, a daughter of Charles Francis Adams, and commissioned at the U.S. Naval Drydock, South Boston Massachusetts on 23 June 1943, with Capt. Elliot M. Senn in command.

World War II

After shakedown cruise in the Gulf of Paria, between Trinidad and Venezuela, the new cruiser was assigned on 27 March 1944 to Task Force 22 and trained in Casco Bay, Maine, until she steamed to Belfast, Northern Ireland, with TG 27.10, arriving on 14 May and reporting to Commander, 12th Fleet for duty. General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander Allied (Expeditionary) Force, accompanied by Rear Admiral Alan G. Kirk, inspected the ship’s company in Belfast Lough on 15 May 1944.

"Quincy" stood out of Belfast Lough on 20 May for the Clyde and anchored off Greenock, Scotland to begin special training in shore bombardment. She then returned to Belfast Lough and began final preparations for the invasion of Europe. At 0537, 6 June 1944, as part of Task Force 125, she engaged shore batteries from her station on the right flank of Utah Beach, Baie de la Seine. VCS-7, a U.S Navy Spotter Squadron flying Supermarine Spitfire VBs and Seafire IIIs, was one of the units which provided targeting coordinates and fire control. [ [http://spitfiresite.com/history/articles/2008/01/spitfires-in-us-navy.htm VCS-7] ]

During the period 6 through 17 June, in conjunction with shore fire control parties and aircraft spotters, "Quincy" conducted highly accurate pinpoint firing against enemy mobile batteries and concentrations of tanks, trucks, and troops. She also neutralized and destroyed heavy, long range enemy batteries, supported minesweepers operating under enemy fire, engaged enemy batteries that were firing on the crews of USS "Corry" (DD–463), USS "Glennon" (DD–620), and USS "Rich" (DE-695) during their efforts to abandon their ships after they had struck mines. She then participated in the reduction of the town of Quineville on 12 June 1944.

"Quincy" steamed the Isle of Portland, England on 21 June and joined TF 129. She departed Portland on 24 June for Cherbourg, France. The bombardment of the batteries surrounding the city commenced in conjunction with the Army’s assault at 1207. Nineteen of the twenty-one primary targets assigned the task force were successfully neutralized or destroyed, thus enabling Army troops to occupy the city that day.

The heavy cruiser sailed for Mers-el-Kebir, North Africa, on 4 July, arriving there on 10 July. She proceeded to Palermo, Sicily, on 16 July, arriving two days later. "Quincy", based at Palermo through 26 July, conducted shore bombardment practice at Camarota in the Gulf of Policastro. She then steamed to Malta via the Straits of Messina. Between 27 July and 13 August, the cruiser participated in training exercises at Malta and Camarota, Italy.

On the afternoon of 13 August, in company with four British cruisers, one French cruiser, and four American destroyers, Quincy departed Malta for the landings on the southern coast of France, arriving Baie de Cavalaire 15 August. For three days, the group provided fire support on the left flank of the Third U.S. Army. "Quincy" transferred on 19 August to TG 86.4, and until the 24 August engaged the heavy batteries at Toulon, St. Mandrier, and Cape Sicie. She steamed westward the afternoon of 24 August to support minesweepers clearing the channel to Port de Bone in the Marseilles area.

"Quincy" was detached from European duty on 1 September and steamed for Boston, arriving one week later. She remained at Boston for refit and the installation of new equipment through 31 October, when she got underway for training in Casco Bay. After fitting out at Boston for a Presidential cruise, "Quincy" steamed for Hampton Roads, Virginia on 16 November.

President Roosevelt and his party embarked in "Quincy" 23 January 1945 at Newport News, Virginia, for passage to Malta, arriving there on 2 February. After receiving calls by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and other dignitaries, President Roosevelt departed "Quincy" and continued on to the Crimea by air."Quincy" departed Malta on 6 February and arrived Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal two days later, after calling at Ismalia, Egypt. The President and his party returned on 12 February, and the next day received Farouk, King of Egypt, and Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia. President Roosevelt received Ibn Saud, King of Saudi Arabia, on 14 February. After a call at Alexandria and a final meeting between President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill, "Quincy" steamed for Algiers, arriving there on 18 February. Following a presidential conference with the American ambassadors to Britain, France, and Italy, the cruiser steamed for the United States, arriving at Newport News on 27 February.

"Quincy" stood out of Hampton Roads 5 March attached to Task Group 194.5, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 20 March. After training in the Pearl Harbor area, she steamed for Ulithi via Eniwetok, joining the 5th Fleet there on 1 April. Two days later, she departed Ulithi and joined Rear Admiral Lloyd J. Wiltse’s Cruiser Division 10, in Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher’s Fast Carrier Task Force. From 16 April "Quincy" supported the carriers in their strikes on Okinawa, Amami Gunto, and Minami Daito Shima. She returned to Ulithi with units of the task force on 30 April.

In company with units of Task Force 58, "Quincy" departed Ulithi on 9 May for the area east of Kyūshū, arriving on 12 May for carrier strikes against Amami Gunto and Kyūshū. Before dawn on 14 May, the cruiser splashed a Japanese plane. Her own aircraft strafed targets in Omonawa on Tokune Shima on 19 May. "Quincy" continued to support carrier aircraft strikes against Okinawa, Tokuno Shima, Kikai Jima, Amami Gunto, and Asumi Gunto until the force returned to base on 13 June. En route, "Quincy" safely rode out the severe typhoon of 5 June.

During the period of replenishment and upkeep at Leyte, Rear Admiral Wiltse, ComCruDiv 10 transferred to "Quincy". The cruiser departed Leyte on 1 July with Task Force 38 to begin a period of strikes at Japan’s home islands which lasted until the termination of hostilities. She supported carriers in strikes in the Tokyo Plains area, Honshū, Hokkaidō, and Shikoku.

"Quincy" joined the Support Force, 23 August, and four days later, helped occupy Sagami Wan, Japan, and entered Tokyo Bay 1 September.

Rear Admiral Wiltse transferred his flag 17 September to USS "Vicksburg" (CL–86), and on 20 September, "Quincy" joined the 5th Fleet as a unit of the Eastern Japan Force, Task Force 53, basing in Tokyo Bay.

Korean War and decommissioning

"Quincy" was decommissioned on 19 October 1946 in the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington. She was assigned to the Bremerton Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet until 31 January 1952, when she recommissioned to serve in the 7th Fleet in support of United Nations Forces in Korea. Following fitting out and readiness training, she served in the screen of the Fast Carrier Task groups ranging off the coastline of Korea from 25 July 1953 through 1 December 1953. She again decommissioned 2 July 1954.

Awards and other recognition

"Quincy" received four battle stars for World War II service. Crew members also received campaign medals for both the Atlantic & Pacific theaters.

In honor of the meeting between Saudi's King Abdul Aziz and Franklin D. Roosevelt aboard the "Quincy", the official residence of the American ambassador to Saudi Arabia is named Quincy House, and is located on the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh. In 1995, to commemorate 50 years since the meeting occurred, then-U.S. Ambassador Ray Mabus unveiled a detailed model of the meeting on the "Quincy", paid for with private donations, and this model is still on display today at Quincy House. [ [http://www.dallasbar.com/members/headnotes.asp?item=540 Interview with Ambassador Bob Jordan, 2002] ]

The "Quincy's" ship bell has been preserved, and is on display at Constitution Common in Quincy, Massachusetts.

References

External links

* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4788853355888980089&q=owner%3Anara+type%3Aworld_war_II Video of 1945 meeting on "Quincy" between Roosevelt and heads of state]