To see other video clips of Des Moines go to Med - 1959
This is the last time you will see this!
The world's last heavy cruise - USS Des Moines CA-134
Former US Navy Yard at Philadelphia (Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility)
April 2006 - Picture taken by FTG3 Frank Wood
She was decommissioned on 14 July, 1961 at a very young age having served for only 13 years. Since 1961 she has sat, and waited, and aged, and waited some more. It seems a shame that only one of this class of heavy cruiser – one of the world’s largest ever constructed – has survived when all four of the Iowa Class battleships have become museums.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge fan of gunships and I’m very thankful that the Iowa Class survived in tack. But the Des Moines Class of heavy cruisers were special. Just take a look at these pictures – her lines and curves are graceful. Her combination of length and somewhat narrow girth make it appear she’s a hot knife through butter ready to slice through the water. She doesn’t have a oversized superstructure like most battleships to make her appear top heavy. This characteristic alone makes her 8-in guns look monstrous on her sleek decks.
And speaking of those 8-inch. WOW! 8-inch rapid-fire mounts that, at the closing of WWII, were the envy of the world. Nine barrels of “don’t screw with me”. AND, a secondary battery of twelve 5-in/38-cal and twenty-four 3-in/50-cal.
Take a look at the Des Moines Association Website. They have some great pictures of their ship arriving in Texas in late 2006. Also, take a look at USS Salem Website. The only museum ship (Quincy, Massachusetts) to survive from this class. And finally, take a look at USS Newport News Association Website. A ship that we, of the Mullinnix, proudly served with in Vietnam in 1972.
The 717-foot (ONLY 170 feet shorter than a Iowa Class Battleship) ship left Philly on 21 August, 2006. Esco Marine towed the ship to Brownsville, Texas.
So, farewell Daisy Mae! All we will have left are pictures on our memories. I feel so very fortunate to have stood next to you in April 2006, along with my good friend, FTG3 Mike “MJ Foghat” Tomes. Thank you for your service.
Read The Full Article From SEA CLASSICS
"Farewell, Daisy Mae!"
December 2006 Vol 39/No 12
Tin Can Sailor FTG3 Frank "Woody" Wood with the world's only heavy cruiser
USS Des Moines CA-134 - Philly April 2006
Pictures courtesy of FTG3 Frank Wood
Click on each picture to enlarge
The Des Moines enroute to Texas being pulled by USNS Grasp - 7 Sept 2006
Des Moines on 9 Jan 2007. Boy, it doesn't take the cutters long
The 2 pictures above are courtsey of Michael Martin. Check out his other fine work at Ship Spotting.com and Final Destination. While living in Brownsville, TX, Michael had a unique perspective on the final vogage of many a fine ship. A BIG THANKS goes out to Michael for sharing with the rest of us.
The Mother Of 2 Classes. L to R: USS Forrest Sherman DD-931 (Mother of the Forrest Sherman Class Destroyer) and USS Des Moines CA-134 (Mother of the Des Moines Class Heavy Cruiser)
Former US Navy Yard at Philadelphia (Inactive Ships Maintenance Facility)
Actual Date Unknown
USS Des Moines CA-134
