USS Oakland (CL-95)

USS Oakland (August 1943)
History
United States
NameOakland
NamesakeCity of Oakland, California
BuilderBethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, California
Laid down15 July 1941
Launched23 October 1942
Sponsored byDr. Aurelia Henry Reinhardt
Commissioned17 June 1943
Decommissioned1 July 1949
ReclassifiedCLAA-95, 18 March 1949
Stricken1 March 1959
Identification
Honors &
awards
9 × battle stars
FateSold for scrap, 1 December 1959
General characteristics (as built)
Class & typeAtlanta-class light cruiser
Displacement
  • 6,718 long tons (6,826 t) (standard)
  • 8,340 long tons (8,470 t) (max)
Length541 ft 6 in (165.05 m) oa
Beam53 ft (16 m)
Draft
  • 20 ft 6 in (6.25 m) (mean)
  • 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m) (max)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed32.5 kn (37.4 mph; 60.2 km/h)
Complement802 officers and enlisted
Armament
Armor
  • Belt: 1.1–3+34 in (28–95 mm)
  • Deck: 1+14 in (32 mm)
  • Turrets: 1+14 in (32 mm)
  • Conning Tower: 2+12 in (64 mm)
General characteristics (1945)
Armament
  • 12 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 caliber Mark 12 guns (6×2)
  • 4 × quad 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors anti-aircraft guns
  • 4 × twin 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors anti-aircraft guns
  • 16 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons
  • 6 × depth charge projectors
  • 2 × depth charge tracks

USS Oakland (CL-95), was a modified Atlanta-class light cruiser, the first of a group of four sometimes referred to as the "Oakland-class". She was laid down by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, California, on 15 July 1941; launched on 23 October 1942; sponsored by Dr. Aurelia Henry Reinhardt, president of Mills College, Oakland, California; and commissioned on 17 July 1943. She was named for the city of Oakland, California. Like the Atlanta class, the Oakland class was designed as an anti-aircraft cruiser, with a main battery of dual-purpose guns, the principal difference between the two classes being that the Oakland-class did not have the Atlanta class's two-beam twin 5 in (127 mm)/38 cal gun turrets. They were removed for the sake of stability and the limited arcs of fire experienced by the wing turrets on the Atlantas. Oakland sustained three casualties during World War II.