Providence-class cruiser

{{Short description|Class of American warships (1959–1974)}}

{{no footnotes|date=January 2013}}

{{Infobox ship begin}} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:USS Topeka (CLG-8) in South China Sea 1964.jpg | Ship caption = USS Topeka in 1964 }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Builders = | Operators = {{naval|United States}} | Class before = {{sclass|Galveston|cruiser|4}} | Class after = {{USS|Long Beach|CGN-9|2}} | Subclasses = {{sclass|Cleveland|cruiser|4}} | Built range = | In commission range = 1959–1974 | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = | Total ships completed = 3 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = 3 |Total ships scrapped=3 | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Guided missile cruiser | Ship displacement = 15,025 tons | Ship length = 608 ft (185.3 m) | Ship beam = 64 ft (19.5 m) | Ship draught = | Ship draft = 23 ft 6 in (7.1 m) | Ship propulsion = * 4 634 psi boilers steam turbines 4 shafts 100,000 shp | Ship speed = 32.5 knots (60 km/h) | Ship range = | Ship complement = 1,120 officers and enlisted | Ship sensors = *Providence and Springfield: AN/SPS-8B height-finding radar AN/SPS-10 surface-search radar AN/SPS-29 early-warning radar AN/SPG-49 fire-control radar AN/SPS-42 reflector antenna AN/SRN-6 TACAN AN/URD-4 direction finder antenna Topeka: AN/SPS-10 surface-search radar AN/SPS-30 height-finding radar AN/SPS-43 air-search radar AN/SPG-49 fire-control radar] AN/SPS-42 reflector antenna AN/SRN-6 TACAN | Ship EW = | Ship armament = *Providence and Springfield: 1 × triple 6-inch/47-caliber gun 1 × dual 5"/38 caliber guns 1 × dual Mark 9 RIM-2 Terrier missile launcher Topeka: 2 × triple 6"/47 cal guns 3 × dual 5"/38 cal guns 1 × dual Mark 9 RIM-2 Terrier missile launcher | Ship armour = | Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = | Ship aircraft facilities = Helipad | Ship notes = }}

Originally built as {{sclass|Cleveland|cruiser|0}} light cruisers (CL) in the United States Navy during World War II, in 1957 three ships were re-designated as Providence-class guided missile light cruisers (CLG) and fitted with the Terrier surface-to-air missile system. During the two year refit under project SCB 146, the aft superstructure was completely replaced and all aft guns were removed to make room for the twin-arm Terrier launcher and a 120 missile storage magazine. Three large masts were also installed in order to hold a variety of radars, missile guidance, and communications systems. Providence and Springfield were simultaneously converted into fleet flagships under SCB 146A, which involved removing two forward dual {{convert|5|in|mm|0|adj=on|sigfig=3}} and one triple {{convert|6|in|mm|0|adj=on|sigfig=3}} turrets, and replacing them with a massively rebuilt and expanded forward superstructure. Topeka, in the non-flagship configuration, retained the Cleveland-class's standard forward weapons: three dual {{convert|5|in|mm|0|adj=on|sigfig=3}} and two triple {{convert|6|in|mm|0|adj=on|sigfig=3}} turrets.{{cite book |last=Friedman|first=Norman |author-link= |title=U.S. Cruisers: An Illustrated Design History |publisher=United States Naval Institute |year=1984|location=Annapolis, Maryland |pages=386–393 |url= |doi= |isbn=0-87021-739-9}}

A similar pattern was followed in converting three other {{sclass|Cleveland|cruiser|0}} ships (Galveston, Little Rock, and Oklahoma City) to operate the Talos surface-to-air missile system, creating the {{sclass|Galveston|cruiser|4}}. Little Rock and Oklahoma City were outfitted as fleet flagships, but Galveston was not.

Like the Galveston class cruisers, the Providence class ships suffered from serious stability problems caused by the topweight of the missile system, requiring the use of ballast to improve stability. The cruisers also suffered from hogging of the hull.

All three Providence-class ships were decommissioned to the reserve fleet between 1969 and 1974. In the 1975 cruiser realignment, Providence and Springfield were reclassified as guided missile cruisers (CG). The ships were stricken from the Naval Vessel Register between 1974 and 1980, and eventually sold for scrap.