View source for USS Albany (CA-123)

{{Short description|Heavy cruiser of the United States Navy}}
{{other ships|USS Albany}}
{{redirect|CA 123|the highway in California|California State Route 123}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{coord|42.6542579|-73.7481442|display=title}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=File:USS Albany (CA-123) underway 1955.jpg
|Ship caption= ''Albany'' during her visit to [[Copenhagen]] in June 1951
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1980}}
|Ship name=''Albany''
|Ship namesake=[[Albany, New York]]
|Ship ordered=
|Ship awarded=
|Ship builder=[[Bethlehem Steel Company]], [[Quincy, Massachusetts]]
|Ship original cost=
|Ship yard number=
|Ship way number=
|Ship laid down=6 March 1944
|Ship launched=30 June 1945
|Ship sponsor= Elizabeth F. Pinckney
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed=
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=15 June 1946
|Ship decommissioned=30 June 1958
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=yes
|Ship reclassified=CG-10, 1 November 1958
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=yes
|Ship recommissioned=3 November 1962
|Ship decommissioned=1 March 1967
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=yes
|Ship recommissioned=9 November 1968
|Ship decommissioned=29 August 1980
|Ship maiden voyage=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship renamed=
|Ship reclassified=
|Ship refit=
|Ship struck=30 June 1985
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship identification=*[[Maritime call sign|Callsign]]: NHRF
*{{ICS|November}}{{ICS|Hotel}}{{ICS|Romeo}}{{ICS|Foxtrot}}
*[[Hull number]]: CA-123
|Ship motto=''Assiduity''
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honors=[[USS Albany (CA-123)#Awards|See ''Awards'']]
|Ship fate=[[Ship breaking|Scrapped]], 12 August 1990
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=[[File:USS Albany (CG-10) insignia, in the 1960s (NH 102463-KN).png|150px]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass|Oregon City|cruiser|0}} [[heavy cruiser]]
|Ship type=
|Ship displacement=13,700 tons
|Ship length={{convert|673|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|70|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draft={{convert|26|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth=
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=
|Ship speed={{convert|32.6|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range=
|Ship boats=
|Ship capacity=
|Ship complement=1,969 officers and enlisted
|Ship crew=
|Ship time to activate=
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*9 × [[8-inch/55-caliber gun]]s
*12 × [[5-inch/38-caliber gun]]s
*40 × [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|40 mm]] guns
*20 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm]] guns
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft=
|Ship aircraft facilities=
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
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|Header caption=
|Ship class= {{sclass|Albany|cruiser|0}} [[guided-missile cruiser]] (1962–1980)<
|Ship type= 
|Ship displacement=17,500 tons full load
|Ship length={{convert|673|ft|5|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|70|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship height=
|Ship draft={{convert|26|ft|11|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship depth=
|Ship power=
|Ship propulsion=Geared [[turbine]]s, {{cvt|120000|shp}}
|Ship speed={{convert|32.5|kn}}
|Ship range=
|Ship boats=
|Ship capacity=
|Ship complement=*1,010
*As [[flagship]] with staff embarked 1,205
|Ship crew=
|Ship time to activate=
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*2 × [[5-inch/38-caliber gun]]s
*2 × Mark 12 [[RIM-8 Talos]] [[missile launcher]]s
*2 × [[Mark 11 missile launcher|Mark 11]] [[RIM-24 Tartar]] missile launchers
*1 × Mark 16 [[RUR-5 ASROC]] launcher
*6 × [[torpedo tube]]s (two triple mounts)
|Ship armor=
|Ship aircraft= None
|Ship aircraft facilities=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''USS ''Albany'' (CA-123)''' was a [[United States Navy]] {{sclass|Oregon City|cruiser|0}} [[heavy cruiser]], later converted to the [[guided missile cruiser]] '''CG-10'''. The converted cruiser was the [[lead ship]] of the new [[Albany-class cruiser|''Albany'' guided missile cruiser class]]. She was the fourth ship to carry the name ''Albany''.

The ship was laid down on 6 March 1944 at [[Quincy, Massachusetts]], by the [[Bethlehem Steel Company]], launched on 30 June 1945, sponsored by Mrs. Elizabeth F. Pinckney, and commissioned on 15 June 1946 at the [[Boston Navy Yard]].

==Service history==
Following outfitting and a [[shakedown cruise]] in the vicinity of [[Casco Bay]], [[Maine]], ''Albany'' began operations along the east coast of the [[United States]] punctuated with cruises to the [[West Indies]]. During the ensuing months, the cruiser made a number of voyages for the purpose of training naval reservists and [[NROTC]] [[Midshipman|midshipmen]]. ''Albany'' continued to perform such duty until 11 September 1948, when she stood out of [[Chesapeake Bay]] for her first tour of duty with the [[United States Navy|American naval forces]] operating in the [[Mediterranean Sea]], recently made a permanent establishment as the [[United States Sixth Fleet|6th Fleet]]. That deployment set the tone for the next decade. The cruiser alternated five assignments to the 6th Fleet with operations along the east coast of the United States and in the West Indies and made three cruises to [[South America]]n ports. During one of the South American voyages, ''Albany'' carried the official United States representative to the inauguration of the President of [[Brazil]] in January 1951.<ref>Stefan Terzibaschitsch: ''Kreuzer der U.S. Navy''. Koehler, Herford 1984. p. 242 {{ISBN|3-7822-0348-8}}</ref>

For two years, stretching at least until the autumn of 1955, ''Albany'' served as [[flagship]] for Commander, Battleship-Cruiser Force, Atlantic.<ref>John B. Hattendorf, Adm Richard G. Colbert: Pioneer in Building Global Maritime Partnerships, Naval War College Review, Summer 2008, Vol. 61, No. 3, 115.</ref>

===Conversion to guided missile cruiser===
On 30 June 1958, ''Albany'' was placed out of commission at the [[Boston Naval Shipyard]] to begin conversion to a [[guided missile cruiser]]. On 1 November 1958, she was redesignated '''CG-10'''. The warship spent the next four years at Boston undergoing very extensive modifications as part of the conversion; stripped down to her [[Hull (watercraft)|hull]] to be fitted with a new [[superstructure]]. ''Albany'' was recommissioned at Boston on 3 November 1962. For almost five years, she alternated deployments to European waters – both to the Mediterranean Sea and to the [[North Atlantic]] – with operations along the east coast and in the [[West Indies]]. During that time, the cruiser visited many foreign ports and participated in a number of exercises with units of friendly navies. On 1 March 1967, she was decommissioned at the Boston Naval Shipyard once again to undergo extensive modifications. Some 20 months later, on 9 November 1968, ''Albany'' was placed back in commission at Boston. In 1973, the ship was again decommissioned for overhaul at the [[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard]]. It was recommissioned in May 1974 and homeported in Norfolk, VA. Shortly thereafter, it became the flagship of the [[United States Second Fleet|2nd Fleet]].

Between 1976 and 1980, ''Albany'' was the [[flagship]] of the 6th Fleet, and homeported in [[Gaeta]], [[Italy]].

==Decommissioning and disposal==
''Albany'' was [[Ship decommissioning|decommissioned]] on 29 August 1980 and laid up on the [[Elizabeth River (Virginia)|Elizabeth River]] across from the [[Norfolk Navy Yard]]. She was stricken from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] on 30 June 1985, but she remained at her berth and held for possible donation as a museum ship in her name sake city for a further five years. Though there was serious interest in saving the ship, a feasible museum and financial plan was never realized, and she was sold for scrapping on 12 August 1990.

==Commemoration==
A portion of ''Albany''{{'}}s [[Bow (watercraft)|bow]] resides at the [[Albany County, New York|Albany County]] Fairgrounds in [[Altamont, New York|Altamont]], [[New York (state)|New York]].<ref>Stefan Terzibaschitsch: ''Kreuzer der U.S. Navy''. Koehler, Herford 1984. p. 280 {{ISBN|3-7822-0348-8}}</ref>

The original 14-foot-long ([[1:48 scale]]) brass model of the ship built by the [[United States Navy]] to help determine where antenna arrays would go on the actual-size ships was restored in 2013 and is on display at the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Restored-to-former-glory-4781813.php|title=Restored to former glory|author=Matthew Hamilton|date=3 September 2013|work=Times Union}}</ref> ''Albany''{{'}}s [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]] equipments like the [[Ship's wheel|ship wheel]], clock, window, telephone, dining silver sets, items from crew members, shipbuilder plaque, [[Ship's bell|bell]], and more are all on display at [https://ussalbany.org/ USS Albany Heritage Exhibit].[https://ussalbany.org/exhibit-photo-gallery-walk-thru-history/]

== Awards ==

*[[Navy Unit Commendation]] with 2 awards
*[[Navy E Ribbon|Navy "E" Ribbon]] with 3 awards
*[[World War II Victory Medal (United States)|World War II Victory Ribbon]]
*[[Navy Occupation Service Medal|World War II Occupation Medal]] with "Europe" clasp
*[[National Defense Service Medal]] with 2 awards
Battenburg Cup

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths=180 caption="USS ''Albany'' lifecycle">
File:Launch of USS Albany (CA-123) at the Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts (USA), on 30 June 1945.jpg|''Albany'' at [[Fore River Shipyard]] on 30 June 1945.
File:HO3S landing on turret of USS Albany (CA-123) c1951.jpg|[[Sikorsky H-5|HO3S]] landing on turret of ''Albany'' in c1951.
File:USS Albany (CA-123) at Copenhagen, in June 1951 (NH 96634).jpg|''Albany'' at [[Copenhagen]] in June 1951.
File:USS Albany (CA-123) anchored off Cannes 1954.jpg|''Albany'' anchored off [[Cannes]] in 1954.
File:USS Albany (CA-123) at the Boston Naval Shipyard, Massachusetts (USA), circa in 1959.jpg|''Albany'' at [[Boston Navy Yard|Boston Naval Shipyard]] in 1959.
File:USS Albany (CG-10) in Boston harbor, 26 November 1968 (NH 96627).jpg|''Albany'' in [[Boston Harbor]] on 26 November 1968.
File:HMS London (D16), USS Albany (CG-10) and USS Lawrence (DDG-4) at anchor at Malta, in 1971.jpg|{{HMS|London|D16|6}}, USS ''Albany'' and {{USS|Lawrence|DDG-4|6}} anchored at [[Malta]] in 1971.
File:USS Albany (CG-10) and USS Columbus (CG-12) at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, in 1972.jpg|USS ''Albany'' and {{USS|Columbus|CA-74|6}} at [[Roosevelt Roads Naval Station|Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico]] in 1972.
File:USS Little Rock (CG-4) and USS Albany (CG-10) docked at the refueling pier at Geata, Italy, 1976.jpg|{{USS|Little Rock|CL-92|6}} and USS ''Albany'' docked at the refueling pier at [[Gaeta|Gaeta, Italy]] in 1976.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite journal|last1=Wright|first1=Christopher C.|year=1977|title=The Tall Ladies...Columbus, Albany & Chicago|journal=Warship International|volume=XIV|issue=2|pages=104–134|issn=0043-0374}}

==Further reading==
*Albany (Ship : CA-123). ''USS Albany CA-123: Mediterranean Cruise of 1951''. [Place of publication not identified]: [publisher not identified], 1951. {{OCLC|30880411}}
*Albany (Ship : CA-123). ''The USS Albany: 1955 Mediterranean Cruise''. [Place of publication not identified]: [publisher not identified], 1955. {{OCLC|30881092}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|USS Albany (CA-123)}}
*[https://www.ussalbany.org USS ''Albany'' Association homepage]
*{{navsource|04/123/04123}}
*{{Naval Vessel Register URL|id=CG10|title=Naval Vessel Register entry for ''Albany''}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090612153116/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/usw/issue_15/ekelund.html Entry for Ekelund Range]

{{DANFS|https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/a/albany-iv.html}}

{{Oregon City class cruiser}}
{{Albany class cruiser}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Albany (Ca-123)}}
[[Category:Oregon City-class cruisers]]
[[Category:Ships built in Quincy, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:1945 ships]]
[[Category:Albany-class cruisers]]
[[Category:Cold War cruisers of the United States]]