Boston-class cruiser

{{Short description|United States Navy cruiser class}}

{{Infobox ship begin}} {{Infobox ship image |Ship image=USS Canberra (CAG-2) underway at sea on 9 January 1961 (KN-1526).jpg |Ship caption=USS Canberra on 9 January 1961 }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Builders= New York Shipbuilding, NJ (2) |Operators={{naval|United States}} |Class before=N/A |Class after={{sclass|Galveston|cruiser|4}} |Subclasses={{sclass|Baltimore|cruiser|4}} |Built range=1941-1943 |In commission range=1955—1970 |Total ships building= |Total ships planned= |Total ships completed=2 |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active= |Total ships laid up= |Total ships lost= |Total ships retired=2 |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship type= Guided missile cruiser |Ship displacement=13,600 tons |Ship length={{convert|673|ft|3|in|m|abbr=on|1}} |Ship beam={{convert|71|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on|1}} |Ship draught= |Ship draft={{convert|26|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on|1}} |Ship power= {{convert|120000|shp|kW|0|abbr=on}} |Ship propulsion=4 × {{convert|615|psi|MPa|1|abbr=on}} water-tube boilers 4 × General Electric geared steam turbines 4 × shafts |Ship speed={{convert|33|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range= |Ship complement=1,142 officers and enlisted |Ship sensors=*1950s: AN/SPS-6 air-search radar AN/SPS-8A height-finding radar AN/SPS-10 surface-search radar AN/SPS-12 air-search radar AN/SPQ-5 fire-control radar CXRX hemisphere-scan radar 1960s: AN/SPS-13 air-search radar (Canberra) AN/SPS-29 early-warning radar AN/SPQ-5 fire-control radar AN/SPG-35 fire-control radar AN/URN-3 TACAN |Ship EW= |Ship armament=*2 × triple 8"/55 caliber guns 5 × dual 5"/38 caliber guns 4 × dual 3"/50 caliber guns 2 × dual Mark 4 RIM-2 Terrier missile launcher |Ship armour= |Ship armor= |Ship aircraft= |Ship aircraft facilities= Helipad |Ship notes= }}

The United States Navy's Boston class were the first guided missile cruisers in the world. Both ships in this experimental class were originally {{sclass|Baltimore|cruiser|0}} 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 (aka 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.