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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 82722-KN:  USS Columbus off San Diego, California, 19 February 1965

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

USS Columbus (CG-12, previously CA-74), 1945-1977

The 13,600-ton heavy cruiser Columbus (CA-74) underwent a massive conversion to a guided missile cruiser (CG-12) between May 1959 and late 1962. This work, carried out at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton, Washington, involved removing all her guns and original upper decks structure, plus much of her interior, and erecting a new, very high superstructure to carry an extensive array of radar antennas and other electronics. Launchers and magazines for long-range Talos missiles were installed fore and aft, while a smaller launcher for Tartar missiles was fitted on each side, and a launcher for ASROC anti-submarine rockets was located amidships. The ship's appearance, and capabilities, were thus completely altered.

Columbus, now a member of the three-ship 13,700-ton Albany class, was recommissioned at the beginning of December 1962. She conducted extensive trials and training operations for more than a year, and in August 1964 deployed to the Western Pacific for a cruise that ended in February 1965, just prior to the full-scale U.S. entry into the Vietnam war. However, Columbus was to play no further role in that conflict. She transferred to the Atlantic Fleet in January 1966 and in October of that year began her first deployment to the Mediterranean Sea.

Following the end of that Sixth Fleet tour early in 1967 Columbus operated in the Caribbean and off the U.S. East Coast. She operated again in the Mediterranean in January to July 1968, December 1968 to May 1969, October 1969 to March 1970, and August 1970 to February 1971. The 1970-71 cruise included service during the Jordanian crisis. The cruiser received a major shipyard overhaul during much of the rest of 1971, then made another MedTour during May-October 1972, a time of expanding Soviet Navy activity in the area. Columbus conducted her final Sixth Fleet deployment between November 1973 and May 1974. That summer she began inactivation preparations. The ship was decommissioned at the end of January 1975. Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in August 1976, Columbus was sold for scrapping in August 1977.

This page features all the views we have related to USS Columbus (CG-12) following her 1959-1962 conversion to a guided-missile cruiser.

For images related to this ship before she became a guided missile cruiser, see:

  • USS Columbus (CA-74, later CG-12), 1945-1977.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

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

    Photo #: NH 98460

    USS Columbus (CG-12)


    Maneuvering during a readiness demonstration by Task Force 10 for President John F. Kennedy on 25 May 1963. The President was then embarked on USS Kitty Hawk (CVA-63), operating in the eastern Pacific.
    Photographed by PHC R.W. Smith, of USS Kitty Hawk.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 127KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98673

    USS Columbus (CG-12)
    , at left, and
    USS Oklahoma City (CLG-5)

    Moored to Buoys 21, 22 & 23, at San Diego, California, 14 March 1964.
    Photographed by PH2 R.D. Fennell, USN.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 82722-KN (color)

    USS Columbus (CG-12)

    Steaming off San Diego, California, 19 February 1965.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: KN-11658

    USS Columbus (CG-12)


    Fires a Tartar guided missile.
    Note the single Talos missile on the ship's after launcher, and the variety of radar antennas pointed to port.
    This photograph was received by the Naval Photographic Center on 5 October 1965.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 610 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-KN-11658.
    Though reproductions of this photo from the Naval Historical Center's collections are available in black & white only, those from the National Archives should be available in color.

     
    Photo #: NH 98461

    USS Columbus (CG-12)


    Steams astern of USS Independence (CVA-62), while operating in the Mediterranean Sea with Task Group 60.2, December 1970.
    Photographed by PH3 J. Rose, of USS Independence.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 81595

    USS Columbus (CG-12)


    Underway in the Mediterranean Sea, during her last Sixth Fleet cruise, 1974.
    This photograph was received from the ship's Executive Officer in December 1974.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 96639

    USS Columbus (CG-12)


    Refueling from USS Seattle (AOE-3), November 1970.
    Note Columbus' name spelled out on a line above the 26-foot motor whaleboat, amidships, with the ship's band playing on the deck above.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 550 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98462

    USS Columbus (CG-12)

    Talos guided missiles on one of the cruiser's launchers, 1962.
    This photograph was received by "All Hands" magazine on 27 November 1962.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 61KB; 600 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98463

    USS Columbus (CG-12)


    The cruiser's ASROC (Antisubmarine Rocket) launcher, 1962.
    Note the shipping canister on deck by the launcher, probably containing an ASROC rocket.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 99KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98464

    USS Columbus (CG-12)


    Ship's Doctor examines a patient in the sick bay, during the filming of a movie by a Johns Hopkins University film crew, 2 April 1965.
    Photographed by PH2 Rodo Fennell.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 94KB; 595 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 69600-KN (Color)

    Insignia: USS Columbus (CG-12)

    Cloth jacket patch featuring the emblem adopted in 1962, as the ship completed conversion to a guided missile cruiser.

    Courtesy of Captain G.F. Swainson, USN, 1970.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 174KB; 605 x 765 pixels

     


    In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold many other views of USS Columbus (CG-12). The following list features some of these images:

    The images listed below are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
    DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".



    Note: The 1962-1963 views listed show Columbus before installation of SPS-30 radar antennas atop her forward and after superstructure.

  • Photo #: USN 1064959
    USS Columbus (CG-12) underway in Puget Sound, Washington, while on trials late in her conversion to a guided missile cruiser, 25 June 1962.
    Starboard bow low aerial view.

  • Photo #: KN-4767-C (color)
    USS Columbus (CG-12) at rest in Dabob Bay, Washington, 5 March 1963.
    Starboard quarter low aerial view.

  • Photo #: KN-4768-A (color)
    As KN-4767-C, but port bow aerial view (rather more to the side than the bow).

  • Photo #: KN-4768-B (color)
    As KN-4767-C, but port bow aerial view.

  • Photo #: USN 1072923
    USS Columbus (CG-12) at rest or underway a very low speed, 20 May 1963.
    Starboard bow low surface view, taken from very tight on the bow.

  • Photo #: USN 1072927
    As USN 1072923, but less tight on the bow.

  • Photo #: USN 1072929
    As USN 1072923, but more distant and much less tight on the bow.

  • Photo #: USN 1075432
    USS Columbus (CG-12) underway at sea, 3 June 1963.
    Starboard bow surface view, taken from a height about halfway up her forward superstructure. The ship is making good speed, with a considerable wave thrown up alongside.

  • Photo #: KN-5294 (color)
    USS Columbus (CG-12) steaming with Task Group 10.1 off San Diego, California, 3 June 1963, while preparing for a demonstration for President John F. Kennedy.
    Port bow surface view.

  • Photo #: KN-5291 (color)
    USS Columbus (CG-12) operating with Task Group 10.1, while awaiting the arrival of President John F. Kennedy, off San Diego, California, 6 June 1963. Her crew is manning the rail.
    Starboard broadside surface view.

  • Photo #: KN-5184 (color)
    USS Columbus (CG-12) underway at low speed, 14 July 1963.
    Port bow aerial view.


    Note: The view listed below shows Columbus after installation of SPS-30 radar antennas atop her forward and after superstructure.

  • Photo #: USN 1110939
    USS Columbus (CG-12) returning home from the Western Pacific, 6 February 1965. Photographed by PH1 Jeffries, of squadron VU-7.
    Port bow low aerial view.


    Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • For images related to this ship before she became a guided missile cruiser, see:

  • USS Columbus (CA-74, later CG-12), 1945-1977.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    Page made 27 April 2003
    New image added 29 August 2003