USS Providence (CL-82/CLG-6/CG-6) was a light cruiser and the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named after the city of Providence, Rhode Island. Providence was commissioned between 1945 and 1949. From 1957 to 1959, she was converted to a guided missile cruiser and flagship. She served in that role from 1959 to 1973. After her decommissioning, she was finally scrapped in 1980.

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. 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

thumb|left|Providence (CL-82) as a gun cruiser in the late 1940s.

Departing Boston in November 1945, she visited Piraeus, Greece, on 6 December, making the first cruise intended to expand American prestige through naval visits lasting until 1947. Then, Istanbul with from 5 to 9 April 1946, and Alexandria, Egypt, in May, where she ran aground. 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.

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. She appeared as the fictional U.S.S Almira in the motion picture "The Honeymoon Machine" (1961) using stock footage taken of her at anchor in harbor.

Following exercises off the West Coast, she arrived at Yokosuka, Japan, in May 1962, and relieved as flagship 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.

References

  • USS Providence (CL-82)
  • Navy photographs of Providence (CLG-6)
  • from Chief Engineer Willard Searle, aboard the Providence from 1959 to 1961