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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Los Angeles (CA-135), 1945-1975

USS Los Angeles, a 13,600-ton Baltimore class heavy cruiser built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, was commissioned in July 1945. She went to the Far East late in 1945, serving there a year. The cruiser then returned to the U.S. and was decommissioned in April 1948.

Los Angeles was brought back to commissioned status in January 1951, in response to an urgent need for more heavy gun ships during the Korean War. She made two combat tours, in May-December 1951 and in October 1952 - May 1953, during which her 8" and 5" guns were actively employed supporting United Nations ground forces and in bombarding enemy targets along the coast of North Korea.

In 1953-63, Los Angeles deployed eight more times to the Western Pacific to "show the flag" in a frequently troubled region. She was modernized during the later 1950s, receiving the capability to launch "Regulus" surface-to-surface guided missiles, and in early 1960s to better fit her for flagship service with a heavier foremast and long-range radar. Decommissioned in November 1963, USS Los Angeles was laid up on the west coast until May 1975, when she was sold for scrapping.

This page features selected views of USS Los Angeles (CA-135).

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 93207 USS Los Angeles (CA-135) Photographed 21 March 1951 by PH1c Cooper. Collection of Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 135KB; 740 x 605 pixels
Photo #: NH 97387 USS Los Angeles (CA-135) Operating off Korea with Task Force 77, August 1951. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 600 pixels
Photo #: NH 97386 USS Los Angeles (CA-135) "Returns to the Korean theater for its second tour of combat duty with UN Naval Forces". Text quoted from the original picture caption, released by Commander Naval Forces Far East under date of 13 October 1952. Note that the ship's Jack and National Ensign are flying at half-mast. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 615 pixels
Photo #: NH 97388 USS Los Angeles (CA-135) "Officers and men of U.S.S. Los Angeles honor U.S. dead at Midway" (quoted from the original photo's caption). Photo was presumably taken off the Midway Islands. The original print bears a stamped date of 27 April 1959. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.
Photo #: NH 97389 USS Los Angeles (CA-135) "At anchor off Beppu, Japan. Beppu is a health resort city famous for natural hot baths." (quoted from the original photo caption) The original print bears a stamped date of 12 February 1962. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 520 pixels
Photo #: NH 97390 USS Los Angeles (CA-135) "The first phase of reactivation work began today (Tuesday, December 5) aboard the heavy cruiser USS Los Angeles (CA-135) at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard. Today, Yard workmen removed the ship's gun covers and prepared for all-out reactivation. When the ship is re-commissioned, probably during mid-January 1951, special ceremonies will be held and it is hoped by local Navy officials that the Honorable Fletcher Bowrow, Mayor of Los Angeles, will be present." Text quoted from the original photo caption, which was released on 5 December 1950. The ship recommissioned on 27 January 1951, following reactivation work at Hunter's Point, San Francisco, California, where this photograph was taken. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 88KB; 600 x 765 pixels
Photo #: 80-G-437667 USS Los Angeles (CA-135) Fires her forward 8-inch guns during a night bombardment of the North Korean coast. Photograph is dated 8 June 1951. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 52KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: NH 97393 USS Los Angeles (CA-135) Fires a 5"/38 gun during a bombardment of Wonsan harbor, Korea, circa mid-1951. Note smoke ring, a feature frequently seen when firing 5"/38 guns. Some of the cruiser's 40mm guns are in the foreground. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 88KB; 740 x 605 pixels
Photo #: 80-G-434530 USS Los Angeles (CA-135) Firing her forward 8-inch guns on enemy targets at Wonsan, North Korea. Photograph is dated 15 October 1951. Note ship's hull number ("135") painted atop turret # 2. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 134KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: NH 97391 USS Los Angeles (CA-135) "West Coast Cruisers Capable of Nuclear Assault -- A Regulus I boils white smoke from booster charges as it roars away from its launcher aboard the heavy cruiser USS Los Angeles off San Diego. The launch, a routine evaluation 'shoot', was conducted during the time that 600 members of the Institute of Aeronautical Science were embarked aboard the attack carrier USS Ticonderoga (CVA-14), right. The demonstration, which included a 'Terrier' guided missile interception of the Regulus, power exhibition, carrier operations, and a HUK exercise, was highlighted by the Regulus launching. The Terrier was fired at the Regulus from the USS Norton Sound (AVM-1), background, on August 7." Text quoted from the original photo caption, which was released by Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, on 9 August 1957. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 605 pixels
Photo #: NH 97392 USS Los Angeles (CA-135) "Color Guard -- A four-man U.S. Marine color guard from the heavy cruiser Los Angeles participated in opening ceremonies at the Los Angeles Colosseum during the World Series this week. The four Marines were: (from left to right) Private First Class R.D. Ott ..., Staff Sergeant R.L. Scroggin ..., Sergeant R.C. Robinson ... and Private First Class S.M. Green ..." Text quoted from the caption of the original photo, which was released on 8 October 1959. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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18 October 2000