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From: swilliam@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Steve Williams)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: CGN/DLGN Classification
Message-ID: <1991May21.024313.13393@amd.com>
Date: 20 May 91 12:52:25 GMT
References: <1991May18.050738.10372@amd.com>
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From: swilliam@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Steve Williams)


>Actually, "CA" stands for "Armored Crusier", not "Heavy Cruiser."

CA defined as "armoured cruiser" - I can't find anything to support
your statement. This term might have been used unofficially, who knows?

CA used to be "heavy cruiser"; now it is called "gun cruiser."
(now, isn't it getting more confusing?)

There are two CAs in the U.S. Navy:

	     USS DES MOINES (CA-134)
	     USS SALEM      (CA-139)

These cruisers are largest and most powerful 8 in gun cruisers ever
built.  Completed too late for the Second World War, they were employed
primarily as flagships for the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean and
the Second Fleet in the Atlantic.  SALEM was decommissioned on 30 January
1959 and DES MOINES on 14 July 1961.  Both laid up at Philadelphia.

At one stage their reactivation in lieu of MISSOURI (BB 63) and WISCONSIN
(BB 64) was under active consideration by Congress without any support
from the Defense department.  It was eventually dropped when proved
to be "non-cost-effective."

1985-86 and 1990-91 editions of Jane's Fighting Ships define CA as gun
cruiser; 1974-75 edition of Jane's Fighting Ship defines CA as heavy
cruiser.

Source: Jane's Fighting Ship 1974-75, 1985-86 & 1990-91

Steve Williams