#austin class

CL-154 class, the improved Juneau class AA cruiser, and the ultimate evolution of the Atlanta Class design.

"When we took a gander at the Worcester class cruiser, we saw how it was intended to combine the best features of the 6" Cleveland class and the 5" Atlanta class. However, even with the development of the large and powerful Worcester class, the United States Navy was not entirely finished with the Atlanta class."

Note: an earlier version of class was added to World of Warships as the Austin class, although they were never given a class name. I've added some renders to give an idea of what the ships might have looked like in service.

"Seeing the value of a light cruiser devoted to anti-aircraft firepower, the United States began the development of a new cruiser armed with the latest 5 inch guns.

During World War 2 (first records appearing in 1942), the United States was working on an improved version of the 5 inch/54 gun (Similar to the ones used on the Montana and Midway classes). This gun, while retaining the excellent ballistics of the 5 inch/54 caliber gun would also have the advantage of a new mounting with automatic loading.

Several preliminary designs were developed, all of them resembled the Atlanta class, with three twin turrets forward and three aft. Turrets 2,3,4, & 5 were superfiring, giving the cruiser exceptional firing arcs. Some preliminary designs had two additional 5 inch/54 caliber guns in twin turrets amidships while other designs swapped them with quadruple 40 mm Bofors. Interestingly, like the initial cruisers of the Atlanta family, two quadruple torpedo launchers were carried.

While the Atlanta class cruisers were overweight, the new design had the advantage of a larger, more stable hull. The preliminary designs from 1944 were 580 foot in length and displaced 8550 tons, larger than the Atlanta class at 541 foot and 6718 tons. A powerplant of 100,000 shp would propel the ships at speeds approaching 35 knots.

However, experiences with Kamikaze attacks influenced the anti-aircraft cruiser design further. The initial light anti-aircraft battery of 40 mm and 20 mm weapons was to be removed (In addition to the torpedo tubes). The space would then be used for the 3 inch/70 caliber Mark 26 guns then in development. These weapons were further improvements of the 3 inch/50 caliber guns, featuring better ballistics and a higher rate of fire. Six to eight twin mounts were to be carried.

These new weapons added additional weight and the cruiser had to be slightly enlarged. Twelve 5 inch and potentially up to sixteen 3 inch anti-aircraft guns (Some of the final designs still have a small number of 20 mm guns as well) required a hull of 610 foot in length. Full load displacement was not calculated to be almost 12,000 tons at full load. The powerplant was enlarged (producing 110,000shp) to maintain speed.

Six cruisers of the new design, designed the CL-154 class, were ordered initially. However, the anti-aircraft cruisers were given a lower priority compared to the Worcester class and their 6 inch automatic guns. In addition, a new class of destroyer leaders, armed with rapid-fire 5 inch guns, was designed alongside the cruisers. This class, eventually becoming the Mitscher class, was seen as cheaper and almost as useful as the anti-air cruisers.

Due to these factors, the CL-154 class went through a tumultuous period during 1945 when they were cancelled and then reordered several times. It was only at the end of 1945 with the end of World War 2, that the cruisers were canceled entirely. Unlike the other new cruisers (Worcester and Des Moines class), no examples of the CL-154 cruisers were ever built.

The photo [above] shows one of the earlier preliminary designs of the CL-154 class, prior to the change to 3"/70 secondary guns."

Information from the Navy General Board Facebook page: link

"The Super Atlanta Scheme 1945 Variant 1" and 2 by Tzoli: link, link

"World of Warships Austin" by RealWorldOfWarships: link, link

Naval History and Heritage Command: S-511-66

CL-154 Class posted on Ship Bucket by dalamace: link