Wichita (CA-45) had her keel laid down on 28 October 1935 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Based on the design of the Brooklyn class light cruisers, Wichita's design was the transition to the later heavy cruisers. She was part of a single-ship class. She was launched on 16 November 1937, being sponsored by Mrs. William F. Weigester, the daughter of the Honorable W. A. Ayres, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. Wichita was commissioned on 16 February 1939, with Capt. Thaddeus A. Thomson in command.
The designs of both ships were heavily influenced by the treaty restrictions then in effect.
Click here to see blueprints that were used in the contruction of Tuscaloosa.
Here is a chart comparing some basic statistics of Tuscaloosa, Wichita and other ships:
| World War II Era Heavy Cruiser | World War II Era Heavy Cruiser | World War II Era Battleship | World War II Era Destroyer | Modern Guided Missile Cruiser - AEGIS system | |
| Name | Tuscaloosa | Wichita | Massachusetts | Madison | Port Royal |
| Hull No. | CA-37 | CA-45 | BB-59 | DD-425 | CG-73 |
| Class | New Orleans | Wichita | South Dakota | Benson | Ticonderoga |
| Year Launched | 1933 | 1937 | 1941 | 1939 | 1992 |
| Year of Commission | 1934 | 1939 | 1942 | 1940 | 1994 |
| Displacement | 9,950 tons | 10,000 tons | 35,000 tons | 1,620 tons | 9,695 tons |
| Length | 588' 2" | 608' 10" | 680' 10" | 347' 7" | 567' |
| Beam | 61' 9" | 61' 9" | 108' 2" | 36' 11" | 55' |
| Draft | 19' 5" | 19' 10" | 29' 3" | 11' 9" | 32.2' |
| Speed | 32.7 knots | 32.5 knots | 27 knots | 35 knots | 30+ knots (the Navy does not publish actual speeds) |
|
Crew size
(approx. wartime) |
708
(1200) | 929
(1300) |
1739
(2300)
|
235
(300) |
364 |
| Primary and Secondary Weapons |
9 x 8"
8 x 5" |
9 x 8"
8 x 5" |
9 x 16"
20 x 5" |
5 x 5"
5 x 21" torpedo tubes |
2 x 5"
Standard Missile Anti-Submarine Rocket Tomahawk Cruise Missile Harpoon Missile MK-46 Torpedoes 2 x Phalanx Close-in Weapons Systems |
|
Propulsion
(hp = horsepower) |
107,000 hp, steam turbines, 8 boilers, 4 shafts | 100,000 hp, geared turbines, 8 boilers, 4 shafts | 130,000 hp, steam turbines, 8 boilers, 4 shafts | 42,800 hp, high pressure super heated boilers, geared turbines with twin screws | 86,000 hp, 4 gas turbines, 2 shafts |
| Aircraft | 4 scouting and observation floatplanes, 2 catapults | 2 scouting and observation floatplanes, 2 catapults | 4 scouting and observation floatplanes, 2 catapults | 0 | 2 helicopters |
See the Glossary for an explanation of the size measurement terms and a description of the larger warships in WWII.
Additional statistics for Tuscaloosa:
Displacement: 9,950 tons (standard); 12,000+ tons (full)
Fuel: capacity of 1241-1861 tons of oil
Range: 10,000 nautical miles at 15 knots
Belt Armor: 5"
Deck Armor: 2-1/4"
Conning Tower Armor: 5"
Barbette Armor: 8"