Ship Statistics
U.S.S. DES MOINES CA-134 - HEAVY CRUISER
A SYMBOL OF FREEDOM - PROTECTOR OF PEACE
Builder: Bethlehem Steel Company, Boston, MA
Laid Down: 28 May 1945
Launched: 27 Sep 1946
Commissioned: 16 Nov 1948
Decommissioned: 14 Jul 1961
The Des Moines class (including the USS Salem CA-139 and USS Newport News CA-148) represents the final heavy cruiser (8 inch gun) design. These are the largest cruisers constructed by any Navy.
They were completed too late for service in World War II, but were employed extensively as fleet flagships during their active careers. The Des Moines was completed with two stern catapults and
embarked four floatplanes; the catapults were subsequently removed. All ships operated utility helicopters.
The first USS Des Moines was commissioned in 1902, served as a Peace Force in the Atlantic, crossed the equator on October 30, 1920, and was decommissioned in 1930.
The second USS Des Moines weighed 21,000 tons, was 716 feet long and had a maximum width and draft of 76 feet and 26 feet respectively. She had nine 8 inch 55 caliber guns, twelve 5 inch 38 caliber
guns and sixteen 3 inch 50 caliber guns. Four geared turbines generated 120,000 horsepower, producing ship-handling speeds in excess of 30 knots. The ship was home to 1500 officers and men who had
all the basic conveniences of a small community; i.e. crew's lounge, library, retail store, dental and medical spaces, post office, barber shop, soda fountain and laundry. The Des Moines also published it's own
bi-monthly newspaper, and movies were presented nightly. She served as the peace keeping flagship of the Sixth Fleet in the North Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean Seas, with the home port
VilleFranche.
The Des Moines was also host to many dignitaries including: President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth of England and the Duke of Edinburgh, King Paul and Queen Fredrika of
Greece, Ali Kahn, Prince Albert of Belgium, Former US Secretary of the Navy Charles S. Thomas, First Lord of the British Admiralty Lord Selkirk, Vice Admiral Ruge of the Navy of the Federal Republic
of Germany, and many more.
In February 1949 the Des Moines made her maiden voyage to Guantanomo Bay, Cuba, under the command of Captain A. D. Chandler. In September of that year she sailed to the Mediterranean Sea for
the first time. After returning to Norfolk, VA, she returned to the Mediterranean where she became the Flagship of the US Sixth Fleet under Vice Admiral J.J. Ballentine. After an overhaul period in Boston
she returned to the Med, assumed the duties of Flagship of the Sixth Fleet, and engaged in maneuvers with NATO national units. The Des Moines was the first United States warship to visit Yugoslavia since
World War II, steaming through the Adriatic Sea to Rijoka. During the next couple of years the Des Moines, Salem and Newport News shared duties of Flagship of the Sixth Fleet. During the summer of
1958, while serving as Flagship of the Sixth Fleet, she saw duty off the Lebanon coast during the Lebanese crisis.
During the spring of 1961 she returned to Norfolk, Virginia. She is now sitting in the shipyards at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, waiting to take, hopefully, one more voyage - to a port somewhere to become a
museum honoring all veterans of all wars.
Ship Movement
U.S.S. DES MOINES CA-134
(AKA, DAISY MAE)
Tuesday, 8/22/06
We have received many emails informing us that the USS Des Moines CA-134 has now left the Philadelphia shipyard. She left on Monday, August 21, 2006, at approximately 1700 hours. She was being
towed by the USNS GRASP, and was being pushed by four tugs. She was taken up the Schuykill River then onto the Delaware. The Des Moines is scheduled to arrive at the Port of Brownsville, Texas, on
or about September 6, 2006.
Ray Miller, AMS3, USN, 1964-1967, sent us an email saying that he now resides on the shores of the Delaware River in Paulsboro, NY. He gave her a final salue and had his flags flying in tribute as she
went by. Said she looked worn but proud!
The USS Des Moines CA-134, aka Daisy Mae, has arrived in Brownsville, TX. We have received numerous pictures.
Click on the links below to see several pictures and articles of the Des Moines that were emailed to us.
PICTURES SUBMITTED BY DAVE BOONE
PICTURES SUBMITTED BY ED ZAJKOWSKI
USS KEPPLER DD-765 1963-1966
PICTURES SUBMITTED BY RAY MILLER
AMS3 USN 1964-1967
PICTURES SUBMITTED BY LEN PEROTTI
ARTICLE (LOG BOOK ENTRY)
ARTICLE SUBMITTED BY
YNCS DON HARRIBINE, USN (RET)
PICTURES OF SHIPMATES
ATTENDING CEREMONY
PICTURES SUBMITTED BY
DWIGHT DACHONOWICZ
OF USS DES MOINES CA-134 ARRIVING IN TX
PICTURES SUBMITTED BY
BERNIE CORTEZ
OF USS DES MOINES CA-134 ARRIVING IN TX
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