USS Providence (CLG-6)

USS "Providence" (CL–82), a "Cleveland"-class light cruiser was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named after the city of Providence, Rhode Island.

Construction and commissioning

She was laid down 27 July 1943 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, Mass.; launched 28 December 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Mary Roberts; and commissioned 15 May 1945, Capt. W. B. Jackson in command. Departing Boston 13 June 1945, "Providence" completed shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Upon arrival at Newport, R.I., 4 September, she trained prospective cruiser and carrier crews until 6 October.

Service

1940s

Departing Boston in November, she visited Piraeus, Greece, in December, Istanbul with "Missouri" (BB–63) 5 April to 9 April 1946, and Alexandria, Egypt, in May. Leaving the Mediterranean 16 June, she arrived at Philadelphia on the 25th. Following departure from the Delaware Capes in October and training out of Guantanamo Bay and Norfolk, Va., she left Hampton Roads for the Mediterranean 3 February 1947. After exercises and port visits in the Mediterranean, she departed Athens, Greece, in May, and arrived at Boston later that month.

Departing Newport, R.I., in November, she operated in the Mediterranean from 20 November 1947 to 2 March 1948, visiting Naples in December, Taranto in January, and Trieste and Venice in February, returning to Newport in March. Sailing from Newport in September 1948, she served the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean from 23 September 1948 to 14 January 1949, visiting Thessalonika in October, Marseilles in November, Trieste and Venice in December, and Oran in January, returning to Newport later in January. She decommissioned at Boston 14 June 1949, and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.

1950s

Reclassified CLG–6 on 23 May 1957, she commenced conversion to a "Providence"-class guided missile light cruiser at Boston in June 1957. Provided with modern missiles, command ship facilities, and a nuclear weapons capability, she recommissioned 17 September 1959, Capt. Kenneth L. Veth in command. As a missile cruiser, she retained the #1 6" gun turret. The #2 turret was replaced with a dual 5"/38 cal mount; the aft armament was wholly replaced by missiles and the after side of the superstructure completely rebuilt.

1960s

Following shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay, "Providence" arrived at her new home port of Long Beach, California, 29 July 1960. After a six month tour of duty with the 7th Fleet, she returned to Long Beach 31 March 1961. Following exercises off the West Coast, she arrived at Yokosuka, Japan, in May 1962, and relieved "Oklahoma City" (CLG–5) as flaghip of the 7th Fleet. During 1962 and 1963 she participated in 7th Fleet exercises. During a three day visit to Saigon in January 1964, she hosted South Vietnamese and American dignitaries, and delivered more than 38 tons of Project Handclasp materials to local humanitarian organizations. Departing Yokosuka in July 1964, she returned to Long Beach in August. In October 1964 she began exercises in the Eastern Pacific. During January to June 1965, she received modern communications equipment. Spending the remainder of 1965 off the West Coast with the 1st Fleet, she participated in exercises and visited various West Coast ports.

Deployed to WestPac 12 November 1966, she again relieved "Oklahoma City" (CLG–5) as flagship of the 7th Fleet on 1 December 1966 at Yokosuka, Japan. She contributed to a major bombardment of enemy positions in Vietnam 1 April 1967. She duelled with an enemy shore battery off the DMZ on 25 May. In July she provided gunfire support for amphibious operations. She bombarded enemy storage areas south of Da Nang 10 October.

During 1968, she provided gunfire support off Vietnam during each month except June and December. In February 1968 the Providence was involved in the Tết Offensive. She contributed by shelling the wall around "The Citadel" in Huế "(pronounced 'way')", in the Battle of Hue, a breach in the wall was opened, allowing the United States Marine Corps to break the stalemate at Huế. After this, the "Providence" along with 3 carrier groups headed for the Sea of Japan as the USS|Pueblo|AGER-2 was captured by North Korea.

During 1969 she operated with the 1st Fleet off the West Coast.

Decommissioning

"Providence" was decommissioned on 31 August 1973. She was stricken on 30 September 1978 and subsequently scrapped.

Awards

World War II Service

Vietnam Era Service

Besides the Viet Nam Gallantry Cross with Palm device, the following medals were awarded:

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-p/clg6.htm Navy photographs of "Providence" (CLG-6)]
* [http://www.hullnumber.com/CLG-6 CLG-6 Personnel Roster at HullNumber.com]