USS Worcester, lead ship of a class of two 14,700-ton light cruisers built at Camden, New Jersey, was commissioned in June 1948. After a year of service in the western Atlantic, she deployed to the Mediterranean Sea during September-December 1949 for the first of seven Sixth Fleet tours. Worcester returned to the "Med" in May 1950, but this cruise was cut short by the outbreak of the Korean War in late June. Accompanied by four destroyers, she transited the Suez Canal on 29 July 1950, en route to the Far East.
From late August to late October 1950, Worcester operated with the Seventh Fleet off Korea, escorting Task Force 77's aircraft carriers and using her six-inch guns to bombard enemy targets in support of the Inchon Invasion and the Wonsan Landings. The cruiser returned to the U.S. east coast in late November, having steamed around the World on this extended deployment. During the next half decade, Worcester made five more trips to the Mediterranean and, on two occasions, also visited ports in northern Europe.
Worcester was transferred to the Pacific Fleet in January 1956, subsequently going twice to the Western Pacific for Seventh Fleet service. She decommissioned at Mare Island, California, in December 1958, joining the Reserve Fleet there. Later shifted to Bremerton, Washington, Worcester remained in "mothballs" until December 1970, when she was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register. She was sold for scrapping in July 1972.
This page features all the views we have concerning USS Worcester (CL-144).
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 97333 USS Worcester (CL-144) Off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 24 June 1948, two days before she was commissioned. Several civilian tugs are alongside. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 600 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 97334 USS Worcester (CL-144) Off San Juan, Puerto Rico, circa 1949-51. A HO3S helicopter is flying overhead. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 87KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 91832 USS Worcester (CL-144) Underway in the Mediterranean with other ships of the Sixth Fleet, June 1950. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 139KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 97336 USS Worcester (CL-144) "reposes at anchor among the gondolas in the harbor at Venice, Italy." (Quoted from the original caption). Photograph is dated 13 December 1951. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 590 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 91831 USS Worcester (CL-144) Underway, with her crew at quarters during Memorial Day services, 31 May 1952. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 159KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 97335 USS Worcester (CL-144) Testing her anti-nuclear radiation "washdown" system, 7 July 1954. The original caption reads: "USS Worcester ... steaming under a protective water screen during atomic defense maneuvers. The ship employs its salt water system to cleanse itself of radioactive debris resulting from an atomic attack. The water carrying the radioactive debris is shown being discharged into the sea." Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 148KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 97337 USS Worcester (CL-144) "A powder charge is carried to the lift to be carried from the magazine to mount" (quoted from the original caption). This view, taken during the later 1940s or during the 1950s, shows crewmen handling propellant charges for her 6"/47 guns. The Photograph is credited to Lt. E.C. Hayes, PIO, MSTS Pac. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 118KB; 595 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 97338 USS Worcester (CL-144) Takes blue water over the bow, as ice forms on board during North Atlantic operations, circa 1948-50. Original print bears a date stamp of 4 April 1950. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 96KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 97339 USS Worcester (CL-144) Tied up at Long Beach, California, in October 1956. USS Helena (CA-75) is in the left background. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 84KB; 615 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: USN 1143678 Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington Ships laid up in reserve at Bremerton, 19 March 1970. They are, from left to right: USS Fort Marion (LSD-22), USS Missouri (BB-63), USS Roanoke (CL-145) and USS Worcester (CL-144). Official U.S. Navy Photograph. Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 510 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1143678. |
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In addition to the views presented above, the following pictures show USS Worcester at a distance, and show her helicopter aboard another ship: |
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 20 September 2000
Link corrected and coding updated 8 June 2006