About this Unit
USS Des Moines (CA-134) was a United States Navy heavy cruiser and the lead ship of her class, commissioned in 1948. As one of the first cruisers equipped with automatic 8-inch guns, she represented a significant advancement in naval firepower during the post-World War II era. Although she saw no combat in World War II, Des Moines served extensively in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, including as flagship for the 6th Fleet, supporting American interests during the early Cold War. Decommissioned in 1961, she remained in reserve until being scrapped in the 2000s.
Historical Facts
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Flagship of the 6th Fleet: The USS Des Moines (CA-134) served as the flagship for the United States 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean for much of her active career, symbolizing American naval power during the early Cold War.
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Lead Ship of Her Class: Des Moines was the lead ship of her class of heavy cruisers, introducing the advanced rapid-fire 8-inch/55 caliber gun turrets, which were state-of-the-art at the time.
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Commissioned Post-WWII: Although laid down during World War II, the USS Des Moines was not commissioned until 1948, making her one of the last all-gun heavy cruisers built by the United States.
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Advanced Automatic Guns: The ship’s main battery featured the first automatic 8-inch guns ever installed on a warship, capable of a much higher rate of fire than earlier designs.
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Presidential Visit: President Dwight D. Eisenhower visited the USS Des Moines during his 1959 trip to France, using the ship as a secure base while attending international meetings.
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Cold War Tensions: While serving in the Mediterranean, Des Moines played a visible role in several Cold War crises, including providing a show of force during regional tensions in the Middle East.
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Never Saw Combat: Despite being heavily armed and serving during turbulent times, Des Moines never fired her guns in anger, as she was never deployed in direct combat.
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Homeport in Newport: The cruiser was homeported in Newport, Rhode Island, and was a familiar sight along the East Coast and in the Mediterranean during her years of service.
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Decommissioning and Preservation Attempts: Decommissioned in 1961, she was held in reserve for many years. Several efforts were made to preserve her as a museum ship, but these ultimately failed, and she was scrapped in 2006.
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Legacy in Naval Engineering: The Des Moines-class’s automatic gun technology influenced future naval gun design and represented the peak of the all-gun heavy cruiser before the advent of guided missiles.
