USS Oregon City

45.3521485°N 122.6132664°W / 45.3521485; -122.6132664

USS Oregon City underway on 17 June 1946
History
United States
NameOregon City
NamesakeOregon City, Oregon
BuilderBethlehem Steel
Laid down8 April 1944
Launched9 June 1945
Commissioned16 February 1946
Decommissioned15 December 1947
Stricken1 November 1970
Identification
Honors and
awards		See Awards
FateScrapped, 17 August 1973
NotesBell at the Museum of the Oregon Territory
General characteristics
Class and typeOregon City-class cruiser
Displacement13,700 tons
Length673 ft 5 in (205.26 m)
Beam70 ft 10 in (21.59 m)
Draft26 ft 4 in (8.03 m)
PropulsionGE turbines 120,000 horsepower
Speed32.4 kn (60.0 km/h)
Complement1,142 officers and enlisted
Armament
Aircraft carriedFour amphibious scout planes

USS Oregon City (CA-122), the lead ship of the Oregon City class of heavy cruisers, was laid down 8 April 1944 by Bethlehem Steel Company, Quincy, Massachusetts; launched 9 June 1945; sponsored by Mrs. Raymond P. Canfield, wife of the City Commissioner of Oregon City, Oregon. Newspapers showed pictures of celebrated radio, film and television personality Bing Crosby adding a bit of glamor to the launching. The Oregon City was commissioned 16 February 1946.[1]

USS Oregon City (CA-122) tows USS Saipan (CVL-48) in the Caribbean Sea, in 1947
Oregon City tows the aircraft carrier USS Saipan in the Caribbean Sea, in 1947

Oregon City was named for the city in the state of Oregon. Oregon City departed Boston 31 March 1946 for shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, then returned to Boston in mid-May.

Oregon City became flagship of the United States Fourth Fleet on 3 July and the following month began dockside training of reservists in Philadelphia. From 6 to 19 October she made a post-war Reserve Training Cruise, to Bermuda, then sailed to Boston and remained until the following March with a somewhat reduced complement. Reassigned to the 2nd Fleet in January 1947, Oregon City's crew had returned to full strength by the time she sailed for Guantanamo Bay 30 March. After three weeks of exercises she returned to Boston, not sailing again until 6 June. She embarked midshipmen at Annapolis on the 21st, then sailed for the Canal Zone and the Caribbean on an annual summer training cruise.

Oregon City debarked her midshipmen at Norfolk in mid-August and sailed for Philadelphia and deactivation. She was decommissioned on 15 December 1947. She was the only Oregon City-class ship to be decommissioned soon after completion, and was not selected for conversion to a missile ship. Her bell was sent back to Oregon where it is on display at the Museum of the Oregon Territory in Oregon City, Oregon. She was stricken 1 November 1970, and sold 17 September 1973 to Union Minerals and Alloys Corporation, NYC, and scrapped in Kearny, New Jersey the following year. Her 5" gun houses could still be seen well into the 90s at Philadelphia Navy Yard.

The bell originally from USS Oregon City was presented to Portland Area Naval Reserve through the people of Oregon City, Oregon on 8 March 1975 and it is now on display at Museum of Oregon Territory. A model of her is also on displayed there.[2]

Oregon City among ships awaiting scrapping on Hackensack River, 1974
  • USS Oregon City Lifecycle
  • Oregon City underway in 1946.
    Oregon City underway in 1946.
  • Oregon City mothballed at Philadelphia in 1959.
    Oregon City mothballed at Philadelphia in 1959.

Awards

References
  1. "Cruiser Photo Index CA 122 USS OREGON CITY – Navsource – Photographic History of the U.S. Navy". navsource.org. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  2. "Model Ship and Bell – Picture of Museum of the Oregon Territory, Oregon City – Tripadvisor". tripadvisor.com. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
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