USS Salem (CA-139)

• Flagship of the Sixth Fleet: USS Salem (CA-139) served as the flagship for the United States Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean from 1950 to 1956, playing a central role in American naval presence during the early Cold War. • Last All-Gun Heavy Cruiser: Salem is the world’s last surviving heavy cruiser with an all-gun main battery, marking the end of an era before guided missile cruisers became standard. • Never Fired in Anger: Despite her advanced armament and active service, Salem never fired her big 8-inch guns in combat, serving mainly as a deterrent and flagship. • Humanitarian Mission: In August 1953, Salem provided emergency medical assistance and relief supplies to survivors of a devastating earthquake in the Ionian Islands, Greece. • Advanced Automation: The ship featured one of the most automated main batteries of its time, allowing rapid and sustained fire from her 8-inch/55-caliber Mark 16 guns. • Nickname “Sea Witch”: Salem earned the nickname “Sea Witch” due to her imposing presence and the sleek, formidable silhouette she cut through the water. • Hollywood Connection: The ship has appeared in several films and TV documentaries, including serving as a stand-in for the battleship in the movie “The Finest Hours.” • Preserved as a Museum Ship: Since 1994, USS Salem has been preserved as a museum ship in Quincy, Massachusetts, at the former Fore River Shipyard where she was built. • Wartime Hospital: Her sick bay was used as a field hospital during the 1953 Greek earthquake relief, with her medical team treating hundreds of casualties ashore and aboard. • Part of the “Des Moines” Class: Salem was the second ship of the Des Moines-class heavy cruisers, featuring innovations in fire control, radar, and crew accommodations over previous classes.