Atlanta class cruiser

The Atlanta class cruisers were United States Navy light cruisers designed originally as flotilla leaders but which ended up gaining recognition as effective anti-aircraft cruisers during World War II. With eight dual 5" gun mounts (six centerline), the first run of "Atlanta" class cruisers had by far the heaviest anti-aircraft broadside of any warship of World War II, at over 17,600 pounds (10,560 kg) per minute of highly-accurate, radar-fuzed VT ordnance. The later ships omitted the two wing mounts, reducing the overall broadside but improving firing arcs.

The lead ship, USS Atlanta (CL-51) was laid down on 22 April 1940, launched on 6 September 1941, and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 24 December 1941.

External links

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/cl-51.htm Global Security.org - Atlanta class cruiser]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/cl-51-specs.htm Global Security.org - Atlanta class cruiser specifications]