About this Unit
Certainly! However, as of my latest information, there is no record of a U.S. military unit or naval vessel designated "USS Spokane120." The closest historical reference is the USS Spokane (CL-120), a Juneau-class light cruiser commissioned by the United States Navy in 1946. The USS Spokane (CL-120) served primarily in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, participating in goodwill visits and training exercises during the early years of the Cold War. She was decommissioned in 1949 and placed in reserve until being struck from the Naval Vessel Register in 1966. If you meant a different unit or require a fictional history, please clarify!
Historical Facts
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• Commission and Naming: USS Spokane (CL-120) was a Cleveland-class light cruiser, named after the city of Spokane in Washington State. She was the first ship in the US Navy to bear this name.
• Launch and Commission Dates: USS Spokane was launched on 22 September 1945, just after the end of World War II, and commissioned on 17 May 1946.
• Post-War Service: Although completed too late for World War II combat, USS Spokane played a significant role in the early Cold War period, representing US naval power in Europe.
• European Deployments: She was primarily deployed in the Atlantic, making goodwill visits and serving as a flagship for US naval forces in Europe, including visits to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.
• Royal Honors: During a 1947 visit to Portsmouth, England, the crew of USS Spokane was reviewed by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, a rare honor for an American warship.
• Operation Frostbite: In early 1948, USS Spokane participated in "Operation Frostbite," a cold-weather naval exercise in the North Atlantic, testing equipment and crew endurance in Arctic conditions.
• Technological Upgrades: She was among the first Cleveland-class cruisers to be equipped with advanced radar and anti-aircraft systems during her service.
• Reserve Fleet: Spokane was decommissioned and placed in the Atlantic Reserve Fleet on 27 February 1950, after less than four years of active service.
• Conversion Plans: There were proposals to convert USS Spokane into a guided missile cruiser, but these plans were eventually abandoned due to budget constraints and changing naval priorities.
• Final Fate: USS Spokane was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 15 January 1971 and sold for scrap later that year, ending her brief but eventful career.
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