USS CA-32 «NEW ORLEANS» (1942) HEAVY CRUISER

Description

USS New Orleans was a United States Navy heavy cruiser, the lead ship of her class. The New Orleans-class represented the last of the Treaty Cruisers, build to the specifications and standards of the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922. Originally the USS Astoria (CA-34) was the lead ship of this class. However, the Astoria received a later hull number than the New Orleans due to the fact she was launched later despite the fact she was laid down first. The class was renamed because the Astoria was sunk at the Battle of Savo Island in 1942. Also, immediately following the Guadalcanal Campaign the remaining ships of the class would go through major overhauls in order to lessen top heaviness of the ships due to new electrical and radar systems as well as more anti-aircraft weaponry which was being added as technology advanced. In doing so the ships took on a new appearance, most notably in the bridge area, and became known as the New Orleans-class. (Scale : 1/700e)