The United States Navy's Boston class were the first guided missile cruisers in the world. Both ships in this experimental class were originally heavy cruisers that had been decommissioned after World War II, but were redesignated as guided missile heavy cruisers (CAGs) and entered refit in 1952. The lengthy conversion and modernization project ( SCB 48) involved replacing the aft triple 8-inch gun turret and its supporting structure with two twin launchers for Terrier anti-aircraft guided missiles. The forward two 8-inch gun turrets remained unchanged. The forward superstructure was modified to include the Terrier's associated radars and electronics, the aft superstructure was completely replaced, and the Baltimore class's two funnels were trunked to one.Friedman, Cruisers, pp. 377
Owing to the Boston class's experimental nature, the ships were only partially converted, with a full conversion to be carried out if the new weapon systems were successful. Had the ships been fully converted, the forward 8-inch turrets would have been replaced with additional Terrier launchers.
In 1968 both Boston-class guided missile heavy cruisers were reclassified back to heavy cruisers (CAs), in part due to the extensive use of their 8-inch guns for shore bombardment during the Vietnam War. While they had retained their Terrier missiles, the swift advance of technology had made these pioneering weapons obsolete after little more than a dozen years' service, and the ships' main battery was once again their six remaining 8-inch guns in the forward turrets.
Various proposals for limited modernization or complete reconstruction (including SCB 003.68)Friedman, Cruisers, pp. 380 were considered but ultimately rejected. In 1970 both Boston class ships were decommissioned for the final time, eventually struck from the Naval Vessel Register, and sold for scrap.
Ships in class Ship NameHull No.Converted atLaid downLaunchedCommissionedDecommissionedFateCAG-1New York Shipbuilding Corporation30 June 1941 26 August 1942 1 November 1955 5 May 1970Sold for scrap, 28 March 1975 CAG-23 September 194119 April 1943 15 June 1956 2 February 1970Sold for scrap, 31 July 1980
See also List of cruisers of the United States Navy
References Notes
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External links
hazegray.org US Naval Historical Center