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History of USS Salem (CA-139)

The USS **Salem (CA-139)** was a Des Moines-class heavy cruiser commissioned by the United States Navy in May 1949. Serving primarily with the U.S. 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean during the early years of the Cold War, Salem acted as flagship for both the 6th Fleet and the 2nd Fleet. Though she never saw combat, the ship participated in numerous NATO exercises and displayed American naval power during periods of international tension. Decommissioned in 1959, USS Salem is now a museum ship in Quincy, Massachusetts, preserving her Cold War legacy for future generations.

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ABOUT 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.

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