Heavy Cruiser Saint Paul (CA-73)

Saint Paul

Country	United States
Ship Class	Baltimore-class Heavy Cruiser
Hull Number	CA-73
Builder	Bethlehem Fore River Shipyard
Laid Down	3 Feb 1943
Launched	16 Sep 1944
Commissioned	17 Feb 1945
Decommissioned	30 Apr 1971
Displacement	13,600 tons standard; 14,500 tons full
Length	673 feet
Beam	71 feet
Draft	27 feet
Machinery	General Electric geared turbines, 4 screws
Power Output	120,000 shaft horsepower
Speed	32 knots
Crew	1,700
Armament	9x203mm guns, 12x127mm guns, 48x40mm Bofors guns, 24x20mm Oerlikon cannon
Armor	6in belt, 8in turrets, 2.5in deck, 6.5in conning tower
Aircraft	4

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseOriginally laid down as Rochester, the ship under construction was renamed Saint Paul before her 1944 launching. She was commissioned into service in Feb 1945 and held her shakedown cruiser in the Caribbean Sea. She conducted training operations at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii in Jun 1945 and departed for the front on 2 Jul 1945 as a part of Task Force 38 that attacked the Japanese home islands through 10 Aug. In late Aug, she sailed into Sagami Wan southwest of Tokyo, Japan to support Allied occupation operations, followed by her entrance into Tokyo Bay on 1 Sep to participate in the formal surrender ceremony. After the war, she conducted several tours of duty in Shanghai, China, twice as the flagship of her task force. She held the distinction of being the last US warships to fire her guns during the Korean War. In the 1950s, as a part of the US 7th Fleet, she spent an extensive amount of time in Japan and in Taiwan, at times as the flagship of the fleet. She saw action during the Vietnam War. In 1964, she was used for the film "In Harm's Way" starring John Wayne. Decommissioned in 1971, she was placed in reserve with the Puget Sound Group of the Pacific Reserve Fleet. She was sold for scrapping in Dec 1979.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Sep 2012

Heavy Cruiser Saint Paul (CA-73) Interactive Map

Photographs

USS Saint Paul at Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 16 Feb 1945

USS Saint Paul underway in Massachusetts Bay, Massachusetts, United States, 15 Mar 1945, photo 1 of 2

See all 27 photographs of Heavy Cruiser Saint Paul (CA-73)

Saint Paul Operational Timeline

3 Feb 1943	The keel of Rochester was laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Company at Quincy, Massachusetts, United States.
16 Sep 1944	Saint Paul was launched at Quincy, Massachusetts, United States, sponsored by the wife of John J. McDonough.
17 Feb 1945	USS Saint Paul was commissioned into service with Captain Ernest Herman von Heimburg in command.
15 May 1945	USS Saint Paul departed Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
8 Jun 1945	USS Saint Paul conducted training operations in waters off Oahu, US Territory of Hawaii.
30 Jun 1945	USS Saint Paul completed training operations in waters off Oahu, US Territory of Hawaii.
2 Jul 1945	USS Saint Paul departed Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
27 Aug 1945	USS Saint Paul arrived in Sagami Wan southwest of Tokyo, Japan.
1 Sep 1945	USS Saint Paul arrived in Tokyo Bay, Japan.
5 Nov 1945	USS Saint Paul departed Tokyo, Japan.
10 Nov 1945	USS Saint Paul arrived at Shanghai, China.
8 Dec 1945	Captain Harold Baker was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul while at Shanghai, China.
21 Dec 1945	USS Saint Paul and Chinese landing craft LST144 collided at Shanghai, China, causing slight damage to the cruiser's bow.
7 Jan 1946	USS Saint Paul departed Shanghai, China.
26 Jan 1946	USS Saint Paul arrived at Terminal Island Naval Shipyard near Los Angeles, California, United States for repairs.
1 Aug 1946	USS Saint Paul arrived at Terminal Island Naval Shipyard near Los Angeles, California, United States for a scheduled overhaul.
22 Oct 1946	Commander Glover Freguson was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
2 Nov 1946	Captain Burton Biggs was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
1 Feb 1947	USS Saint Paul conducted training operations off San Diego, California, United States.
15 Feb 1947	USS Saint Paul completed training operations off San Diego, California, United States.
16 Aug 1947	Captain Stanley Leith was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
6 Aug 1948	Captain Wells Field was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
26 Jun 1949	Captain Henry Richter was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
19 Jul 1950	Captain Chester Smith was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
27 Aug 1950	USS Saint Paul began patrolling the Taiwan Strait.
1 Nov 1950	USS Saint Paul completed her patrol in the Taiwan Strait.
9 Nov 1950	USS Saint Paul was assigned to Task Force 77 for combat duties off Korea.
17 Nov 1950	USS Saint Paul provided gunfire support for United Nations troops near Chongjin, North Hamgyong Province, Korea; she was struck by a shell from a coastal battery and suffered six wounded.
2 Dec 1950	USS Saint Paul bombarded communist positions near Chongjin, North Hamgyong Province, Korea.
3 Dec 1950	USS Saint Paul entered Wonsan harbor, Kangwon Province, Korea to provide naval gunfire support for the evacuation effort.
24 Dec 1950	USS Saint Paul departed Wonsan, Kangwon Province, Korea.
21 Jan 1951	USS Saint Paul bombarded communist positions north of Inchon, Gyeonggi Province, Korea.
26 Jan 1951	USS Saint Paul was attacked by communist shore batteries near Inchon, Gyeonggi Province, Korea.
31 Jan 1951	USS Saint Paul departed Inchon, Gyeonggi Province, Korea.
7 Apr 1951	USS Saint Paul supported a British Royal Marines raid in Korea.
21 Jul 1951	Captain Roy Gano was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
5 Nov 1951	USS Saint Paul departed California, United States.
27 Nov 1951	USS Saint Paul bombarded communist positions near Wonsan, Kangwon Province, Korea.
21 Apr 1952	USS Saint Paul suffered an accidental explosion in her forward turret while operating off Korea; 30 were killed.
29 May 1952	Captain Frederick Stelter, Jr. was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
24 Jun 1952	USS Saint Paul arrived at Long Beach, California, United States.
28 Feb 1953	USS Saint Paul departed California, United States for Korea.
2 Jul 1953	Captain Charles Parker was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
11 Jul 1953	USS Saint Paul was hit by a coastal gun battery shell off Wonsan, Kangwon Province, Korea, suffering a damaged anti-aircraft gun mount but no casualties.
27 Jul 1953	At 2159 hours, USS Saint Paul became the last US warship to fire her guns during the Korean War.
12 Jul 1954	USS Saint Paul completed a tour of duty in Japanese and Chinese waters.
2 Oct 1954	Captain Claude Ricketts was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
19 Nov 1954	USS Saint Paul began a tour of duty in Japanese and Chinese waters.
15 Aug 1955	USS Saint Paul was named the flagship of the US 7th Fleet based in Japan.
7 Nov 1955	Captain James Davis was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul while in Japan.
10 Jan 1956	USS Saint Paul was relieved as the flagship of the US 7th Fleet based in Japan.
6 Nov 1956	USS Saint Paul departed Long Beach, California, United States.
29 Nov 1956	USS Saint Paul arrived at Yokosuka, Japan and was named the flagship of the US 7th Fleet.
2 Jan 1957	Captain Allan Reed was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
26 Apr 1957	USS Saint Paul departed Japan for the United States.
21 May 1957	USS Saint Paul arrived at Long Beach, California, United States.
29 Aug 1957	Captain Irvin Hartman was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
3 Feb 1958	USS Saint Paul departed Seattle, Washington, United States for Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
9 Mar 1958	USS Saint Paul arrived at Yokosuka, Japan.
25 Aug 1958	USS Saint Paul arrived at Long Beach, California, United States.
10 Sep 1958	Captain Carter Bennett was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
4 May 1959	USS Saint Paul departed Long Beach, California, United States for Yokosuka, Japan.
23 Nov 1959	Captain John Maurer was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
20 Oct 1960	Captain Frederick Schneider, Jr. was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
25 Oct 1961	Captain Albert Church, Jr. was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
3 Nov 1962	Captain Woodrow McCrory was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
28 Sep 1963	Captain Gerald Norton was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
24 Sep 1964	Captain Lloyd Vasey was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
23 Jun 1965	Captain Edward Higgins, Jr. was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
26 Aug 1966	Captain Harry Fischer, Jr. was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
2 Sep 1966	USS Saint Paul was hit by a shell on the stardboard bow off Vietnam, causing slight damage and no casualties.
13 Feb 1968	Captain Ralph Hilson was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
12 Aug 1969	Captain Hugh Nott was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
15 Dec 1969	Commander Donald Knutson, Sr. was named the commanding officer of USS Saint Paul.
7 Dec 1970	USS Saint Paul began inactivation procedures.
1 Feb 1971	USS Saint Paul arrived at Bremerton, Washington, United States.
30 Apr 1971	USS Saint Paul was decommissioned from service at Bremerton, Washington, United States.
31 Jul 1978	Saint Paul was struck from the US Naval Register.
13 Dec 1979	Saint Paul was sold for scrap to Zidell Explorations of Portland, Oregon, United States.

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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. spouse of a Vietnam Vet ,Mrs Hill says:
28 Sep 2016 07:52:41 PM

I need to know if my late husband served in the Navy during the Vietnam War in Vietnam from 9-1962 to 8-1964. Due to a flood all of his military paper work got ruined. Apparently, the VA expects me to show proof he was in Vietnam during the spraying of the herbicide "Agent Orange"...how can I get that proof? And proof he was in Vietnam during those years.

2. Mrs Hill, spouse of a Vietnam vet, who served in Navy says:
28 Sep 2016 07:56:09 PM

I forgot to mention, my late husband served on the USS ST PAUL CA 73...your records don't give me exact locations where the St Paul went during those years (8-1962 to 9-1964)

3. steve voorhees says:
31 Oct 2016 05:41:07 PM

Mrs. Hill

The VA website has a list of ships and deployment dates that qualify for Agent Orange consideration.

The form you need is the DD 214. Your congressman can assist you in getting copies of this. It will list his duty stations and dates, among other info.

4. James Dewitt says:
23 Oct 2017 12:38:12 PM

USS Saint Paul-During Operation "SHAD". Atomic Nuclear Tests=(Pacific Ocean) 1963-64 Home port Hawaii! Bikini Island Still Unlivable=DUE to Radiation Contamination=60 Years Later-'NEWS REPORT'=NEED Crew List**NAMES="Fellow Ship Mates"..

5. James Dewitt says:
23 Oct 2017 12:56:02 PM

"RADIATION EXPOSURE" During Operation=(SHAD) 1963 Atomic Testing=While aboard USS Saint Paul-ca73.

6. James Dewitt says:
23 Oct 2017 01:07:40 PM

Mrs. Hill PLEASE Contact me=James (702)595-3523=Your Husband & I were 'Guinea Pigs' OPERATION (SHAD) Nuclear Atomic Testing=USS Saint Paul-(1963)=Home Port 'Hawaii'

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