A HISTORY OF USS LOS ANGELES CA-135

This history is a collection of data contributed by USS LA shipmates, plus a DANFS history (see bottom of page).  The real USS LA lives on in the hearts of her crew, so this website presents only a quick glimpse into her history.  The crew's input to this website is primarily in the Photo History section, but shipmates have contributed to all sections.  The Visitor Log shows the cross section of shipmates that have contributed and/or browsed these pages.

Commissioning  

The USS Los Angeles (CA-135) was laid down by the Philadelphia Naval Yard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on 28 July  1943 and was launched 20 August 1944, and commissioned on 22 July 1945; Capt. John A. Snackenberg in command.  The ship was sponsored by Mrs. Fletcher Bowron, wife of the former City of Los Angeles Mayor.     For more info, see 1943-1945history &  Commissioning Ceremony

China 1945-1947  

After a shakedown cruise out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Los Angeles sailed on 15 October 1945 for the Far East via the U.S. west coast and arrived in Shanghai, China, on 3 January 1946.  During the next year, she operated with the U.S. Seventh Fleet along the coast of China and in the Western Pacific to the Marianas.  She returned to San Francisco, California, on 21 January 1947.    For more info about the China cruise, see 1945-1951 History &  1945 to 1948 Photos.

China Service Streamer with one bronze star

           

USS Los Angeles CA-135 anchored at Long Beach, CA, August 7, 1947.

   

The Los Angeles was decommissioned at Hunter's Point on 9 April 1948 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Korean War  1951-1953    

In response to the American effort to thwart Communist aggression in the Republic of South Korea, the Los Angeles was recommissioned on 27 January 1951 with Capt. Robert N. McFarlane in command.  Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz was the senior officer present at the Commissioning Ceremony.  She sailed for the Far East on 14 May 1951 and joined Naval Operations off the eastern coast of Korea on 31 May 1951 as the Flagship for Rear Admiral Arleigh A. Burke's Cruiser Division Five.      During the next 6 months, she ranged the coastal waters of the Korean Peninsula from Hungnam in the east, to Haeju in the west while her guns pounded enemy coastal positions.      After returning to the United States on 17 December 1951 for overhaul and training, she made her second deployment to Korean waters on 9 October 1952, and participated in the 11 October concentrated shelling of enemy bunkers and observation points at Koji-ni.      During the next few months, she continued to provide offshore gunfire support for American ground operations and, in addition, she cruised the Sea of Japan with the fast carriers of the Seventh Fleet.      During the bombardment of Wonsan late in March and early April 1953, she was hit twice by enemy shore batteries.  No lives were lost, but twelve men were wounded when an enemy shell struck the ship's mainmast.  The men were awarded Purple Hearts; see Purple Hearts and this video.  She continued operations until sailing for the United States west coast in mid April.  She arrived in Long Beach, California, on 15 May 1953.      While serving two tours of duty in Korea, she fired about 25,000 rounds of ammunition at enemy shores (see Navy message below).  She was the first U.S. Navy vessel to take enemy fire in Korea, and established a record for the longest-sustained bombardment ever logged by an American warship. For more info on the Korean War cruises, see: 1945-1951 History 1952-53 Korean War Events Log 1950 to 1954 Photos 1953 Purple Hearts & video of ceremony 1951 Korean War Events Log

FROM: LOS ANGELES CA 135                                             19 April 1953  TO: COMNAVFE  INFO: COM7THFLT/CTF 77/SECNAV/CINCPACFLT/CTG 77.1/COMCRUDIV FIVE  NAVY PRESS X ABOARD USS LOS ANGELES IN KOREAN WATERS X 19 APRIL X LOS ANGELES THIS MORNING COMPLETED WHAT IS PERHAPS LONGEST BOMBARDMENT IN US NAVAL HISTORY FOR A SINGLE SHIP 31 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF CALL FIRE AND HARRASSMENT AND INTERDICTION MISSIONS AS WELL AS FIRE ON ASSIGNED TARGETS IN BOMBLINE AREA AND GUNSTRIKES ON WONSAN X CRUISER 8 AND 5 INCH GUNS FIRED MORE THAN 5000 ROUNDS DURING PERIOD MAKING TOTAL OF 17,000 ROUNDS FOR CURRENT TOUR IN THEATER AND APPROXIMATELY 25,000 ROUNDS SINCE FIRST TOUR OF DUTY BEGAN IN MAY 1951 Contributed by Bill Allen, SKSN, S-1 Div. (on LA '52-'53)

    The USS Los Angeles (CA-135) received five battle stars for service during the Korean Conflict.

Korean Service Streamer with one silver star (equals 5 bronze stars)

1953-1959 Cruises    

Between November 1953 and July 1959, the Los Angeles made six more deployments to the Far East where she served as a Cruiser Division Flagship with the Seventh Fleet in support of "keeping the peace" operations in that troubled part of the world.  Her operations sent her from the Coast of Japan to the Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea, and the East and South China Seas.  With the units of the mighty Seventh Fleet, she steamed to American bases in South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, and Formosa.  See Time-Line for a details about all the ship's cruises & activities from 1943 to 1974, including Westpac maps.      In 1954, the Los Angeles began modifications to deploy a stern-launched, sub-sonic REGULUS I guided missile system.  The first Operational Suitability Test for REGULUS I took place on 15 February 1955 with the successful launch of the first operational tactical missile system (minus nuclear components) from the USS Los Angeles (CA-135) near Hawaii.  The Los Angeles deployed soon after to the Western Pacific, carrying three tactical missiles, each armed with W-5 nuclear warheads.      On 27 August 1958, the Los Angeles made an emergency deployment to Formosa (now Taiwan), departing from Long Beach with only 24 hours notice.  Known as the Quemoy-Matsu Crisis, Los Angeles joined Task Group 77.6 of the Seventh Fleet on 10 September, 35 miles from Formosa, to protect Formosa from a possible invasion by Communist China.       Significantly, the Chinese Communists ceased firing on the islands on the day the Los Angeles took station opposite the Island of Quemoy, only to begin again after the cruiser left the area!   On 5 October 1958, with USS Los Angeles stationed 14 miles from Quemoy and performing air control duties, the Chinese bombardment of Formosa ended and a cease fire was declared.      After departing the Taiwan Straits, the ship participated in the Black Ship Festival in Shimoda, Japan, and paid goodwill visits to Yokosuka, Nagoya, Kobe, and Hong Kong.  For more photos of this time period, see  1955 to 1959 Photos.

    For service in Taiwan (Quemoy and Matsu Crisis), she was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with two battle stars.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Streamer with 2 bronze stars

 

	US flag & USS Los Angeles flag Marine color guard onboard USS Los Angeles. From left,  PFC R.D. Ott, S.Sgt R.L. Scroggin, Sgt R.C. Robinson & PFC S.M. Greer. US Navy photo, Long Beach, CA, Oct. 1959. (click on the photo to see a larger size) This photo is from a fine collection of USS LA photos at the Naval Historical Center website: <www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-l/ca135.htm>

USS Los Angeles at Seal Beach USS Los Angeles at Seal Beach in 1959 to off-load ammuntion prior to overhaul at Long Beach Shipyard. (click on the photo to see a larger size) US Navy photo (Photo provided by Seal Beach Weapons Station)

 
1960-1963 Cruises    

In August of 1960 after an overhaul, the Los Angeles served as U.S. First Fleet Flagship and as host ship for the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet Change of Command Ceremony at Pearl Harbor.     The Los Angeles deployed on her last two cruises in 1961 & 1962.  She returned to Long Beach from her final Far East deployment on 20 June 1963.  For more photos of this time period, see 1960 to 1963 Photos.   Also, see Time-Line for a details about all the ship's cruises & activities from 1943 to 1974, including Westpac maps.

1963 Decommissioning & Mothball Fleet    

Decommissioning Program

The ship was decommissioned at Long Beach on 15 November 1963 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet at San Diego.  She was stricken from Navy records in January 1974.

USS LA mothballed & ready for tow, 1963 Thanks to Rodger Dana for these 2 photos of the USS LA under tow.  Rodger is a member of the National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors. (NAFTS.com)

USS LA being towed to San Diego by the fleet tug, USS Chowanoc, ATF-100

USS LA mothballed at San Diego Thanks to Terry Urbanis for the above photo.

Final voyage of USS LA (LA Times, June 12, 1975)    

On 30 Apr 1975, the ship was sold to Terminal Island's National Metal and Steel Company, San Pedro for $1,864,380.21.  On 2 June 1975, she was returned under tow to San Pedro.  The Salvage Officer for the National Metal and Steel Company was Mr. I. Roy Coats who is now an honorary lifetime member of the USS Los Angeles (CA-135) Association.  Much of the ship's memorabilia now on display was due to his persistent efforts. Click on photo to view a larger size

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USS Los Angeles CA-135 Memorials    

USS Los Angeles (CA-135) Naval Monument

Resurrected from the scrap heap amid the last vestiges of bicentennial patriotism, the main mast of the USS Los Angeles (CA-135) once again stands tall.  Cornered by her anchors, it forms the USS Los Angeles (CA-135) Naval Monument in the John S. Gibson, Jr. Park, just north of the old Ferry Building (now the Los Angeles Maritime Museum) in San Pedro, California.  On 1 Dec 1977, the USS Los Angeles Naval Monument was dedicated.      Across the street at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum (LAMM), other ship's artifacts are on display including the bow section and ship's bell.  Many other items including the flying bridge and memorabilia from shipmates are displayed inside the LAMM.   See  CA-135 Memorials Page for pictures of these items.