Light Guided Missile Cruisers: Providence Class

[Brian James]

USS Providence pictured post her conversion in 1959.
She was a Cleveland-Class Light Cruiser built at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation's Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts in 1944. From 1957 to 1959, she was converted to a Providence Class Guided Missile Cruiser and flagship. She served in that role from 1959 to 1973. After her decommissioning in 1973 she was finally scrapped in 1980.

[Brian James]

Post her conversion...Providence Class Guided Missile Light Cruiser USS Topeka pictured as she undergoes an inclining experiment at New York Naval Shipyard on April 9th 1960.

[Brian James]

Cleveland Class Light Cruiser USS Springfield pictured during her conversion to a Providence Class Guided Missile Cruiser at Fore River Shipyard of the Bethlehem Steel Co. at Quincy, Massachusetts on July 3rd 1959. Springfield arrived at the Fore River Yard on May 5th 1957 and was recommissioned as CLG-7 on July 2nd 1960.

[Brian James]

Providence Class Guided Missile Light Cruiser USS Topeka pictured at Hampton Roads on June 20th 1960.

[Brian James]

Guided Missile Cruiser USS Providence pictured in the Mare Island Channel, on her way to the Reserve Fleet Berthing Area on February 23rd 1974.

[Brian James]

Cleveland Class Light Cruiser USS Springfield pictured on July 3rd 1959 during her Providence Class Guided Missile Cruiser conversion at Bethlehem Steel Co Shipyards, Quincy, Massachusetts. She was modified to become a flagship, which involved expanding her forward superstructure and removing most of her forward armament. She was recommissioned in 1960 as CLG-7 (later redesignated as CG-7). In her second career, she served entirely in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. She was decommissioned for the final time in 1974 and sold for scrap six years later.

[Brian James]

Providence Class Guided Missile Light Cruiser USS Topeka pictured entering Brooklyn Navy Yard dry dock for an inclination experiment on April 9th 1960.

[Brian James]

Cleveland Class Light Cruiser USS Springfield pictured undergoing her Providence Class Guided Missile conversion at Bethlehem Steel Corporation Fore River Shipyards, Quincy Massachusetts on October 30th 1958, and nearing completion on January 4th 1960.

[Brian James]

Providence Class Guided Missile Light Cruiser USS Springfield pictured as she conducts an inclining experiment at New York Shipbuilding Co Shipyards at Camden New Jersey c1960.

[Brian James]

Cleveland Class Light Cruiser USS Springfield pictured at Bethlehem Steel's Fore River Shipyard at Quincy, Massachusetts on July 3rd 1959, during her Providence Class Guided Missile conversion.