Cruisers

A cruiser is another example of a warship, built to carry out raids at sea and to provide protection to other U.S. Naval vessels. Today, cruisers have basically been replaced by destroyers, but during World War II, cruisers played an important part.

A number of cruisers operated during WWII, including the USS Juneau CL-52, which was sunk during the Battle of Guadalcanal, and the USS Salt Lake City, which participated and was victorious in several U.S. vs. Japan sea-based conflicts, such as the Battle of the Komandorski in 1943. Cruisers did face somewhat of a disadvantage during WWII, however, due to their inability to steer quickly enough to avoid enemy aerial attacks. And because aircraft design had advanced and planes were now launching missiles and torpedoes, the slower speed of cruisers meant that they would eventually be phased out and replaced by other classes of vessels. The U.S. Navy continues to build Ticonderoga-class cruisers, however, with 22 still operational as guided-missile cruisers.

U.S. Navy veterans who served on aircraft carriers and cruisers during World War II undoubtedly provided an important service. They also faced a great number of risks, including the risk of exposure to asbestos, which was found within these ships’s piping insulation. Any former crewmember who served on the aircraft carriers or cruisers listed below should monitor their health and talk to their doctor about the possibility of developing mesothelioma, an asbestos cancer.

Cruiser Listing

• USS Indianapolis
• USS Juneau CL-52
• USS Little Rock
• USS Manchester
• USS Saint Paul
• USS Salem
• USS Salt Lake City

Last modified: December 09 2009.