USS Salem, a 17,000-ton Des Moines class heavy
cruiser, was built at Quincy, Massachusetts. Commissioned in May
1949, she spent her decade-long active career alternating between
service in the Atlantic and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea
as flagship of the Sixth Fleet. Salem made her first "Med"
cruise in May-September 1950. Subsequent annual deployments took
place in March-September 1951, April-September 1952, April-October
1953, May-September 1954 and May-September 1955.
In 1956, Salem was designated as "permanent"
Sixth Fleet flagship, and began her seventh Mediterranean tour
in May. During this long cruise, she was present during crises
over Suez in 1956 and Jordan in 1957. After more than two years
abroad, the cruiser departed for the United States in June 1958.
The 1958 Lebanon crisis interrupted her planned inactivation.
After briefly serving as flagship of the Second Fleet in the Atlantic,
Salem made a final short visit to the Mediterranean Sea
in September. She was decommissioned in January 1959 and placed
in the Reserve Fleet at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Salem
remained in "mothballs" there for over three decades.
Stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in July 1991, in October
1994 she began a new career as a museum ship at Quincy, Massachusetts.
This page features nearly all of our views of USS Salem (CA-139).
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 97604 USS Salem (CA-139) At anchor in Palmas Bay, Sardinia, on 19 May 1950, two days after she became flagship of the Sixth Fleet. She is dressed with flags and flies the three-star flag of Commander, Sixth Fleet, from her foremast. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: 80-G-K-11921 (Color) USS Salem (CA-139) At Toulon, France, 18 June 1951. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 505 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: 80-G-K-12025 (Color) USS Salem (CA-139) Moored in the Canal della Guidecca, during a visit to Venice, Italy, on 23 August 1951. Salem was then flagship of the Sixth Fleet. Note decorated awning rigged forward, probably for entertaining visiting dignitaries. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 515 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 97605 USS Salem (CA-139) Underway in the Mediterranean Sea, en route to Trieste, on 16 June 1952. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 115KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 97606 USS Salem (CA-139) Underway in the Mediterranean, bound for Trieste, 16 June 1952. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 97607 USS Salem (CA-139) Silhouetted against the Sun, while steaming toward Trieste during her third Mediterranean deployment, 16 June 1952. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 157KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: USN 1040195 USS Salem (CA-139) Anchored in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 25 March 1956. The cruiser was then working up for her final tour as flagship of the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1040195. |
![]() |
Photo #: 80-G-K-11913 (Color) The Sixth Fleet Band, led by Chief Musician Eugene H. Albert, USN Performs on the quarterdeck of USS Salem (CA-139), as the Sixth Fleet's flagship was visiting Toulon, France, early in her 1951 Mediterranean deployment. The photograph was received by the Naval Photographic Center on 18 June 1951. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 600 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 97609 Piasecki HUP-2 "Retriever" Helicopter (Bureau # 128533), of Helicopter Utility Squadron Two (HU-2) Lowers guard mail to the foredeck of USS Salem (CA-139), during operations in the Mediterranean Sea, 29 April 1957. In the background, USS Caloosahatchee (AO-98) is refueling USS Lake Champlain (CVA-39) and a destroyer. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 97608 USS Salem (CA-139) The crew of the cruiser's after eight-inch gun turret pose with Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, Chief of Naval Operations, as he visited the Sixth Fleet flagship on 26 June 1957. Admiral Burke is congratulating the Turret Captain, Gunner's Mate First Class Aleckson S. Bedrosian, for his turret crew's performance in winning the Gold "E" award during surface target practice in the Mediterranean Sea on 8 June. The Gold "E", awarded to outstanding gun crews, is seen here painted on the turret side. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 74KB; 590 x 765 pixels |
![]() |
Photo #: NH 97610 USS Salem (CA-139) Crewmen use roller tracks to move supplies on board the Sixth Fleet flagship, after they were transferred to her from a stores ship during underway replenishment operations in the Mediterranean Sea, 1957. The stores ship's superstructure is visible in the background. The original photograph bears the rubber stamped date 4 June 1957. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
![]() |
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 15 May 2001
Minor text correction 6 June 2001