USS Portland
Contents
Description
The Portland-class, USS Portland (CA-33), 1942 is a rank IV American heavy cruiser
with a battle rating of 5.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.97 "Viking Fury".
General info
Survivability and Armour
- Belt: 3 1⁄4–5 in (83–127 mm)
- Deck: 2 1⁄2 in (64 mm)
- Barbettes: 1 1⁄2 in (38 mm)
- Turrets: 1 1⁄2–2 1⁄2 in (38–64 mm)
- Conning Tower: 1 1⁄4 in (32 mm
Mobility
32.7 kn (60.6 km/h; 37.6 mph)
Armament
Primary armament
x3 8 inch/55 Mark 14 (203 mm) x3 (9 in total) with capable of firing 8 Inch Mk.19 APCBC,
8 Inch Mk.25 HC,
8 Inch Mk.17 SP Common.
Anti-aircraft armament
8x 5 inch/25 Mk.13 AA (127 mm)
Modules
| Tier | Seakeeping | Unsinkability | Firepower | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| l | Dry Dock | Tool Set | 8 Inch Mk.19 APCBC | Anti-Air Armament Targeting | ||
| ll | Rudder Replacement | Fire Protection System | Smokescreen | 8 Inch Mk.25 HC | Auxiliary Armament Targeting | |
| lll | Propeller Replacement | Shrapnel Protection | Ventilation | 5 Inch Mk.28 AAC-VT | Primary Armament Targeting | Improved Rangefinder |
| lV | Engine Maintenance | New Pumps | Ammo Wetting | 8 Inch Mk.17 SP Common | ||
Usage in battles
The Portland is easily one of the worst and most under performing heavy cruisers in War Thunder as of 1.97 "Viking Fury". The combination of 8 inch guns and a huge ship profile with the poor gun accuracy makes this ship perform quite subpar with comparing to other heavy cruisers, with the addition of the extreme repair cost and low rewards in return this ship its a "Last Resort" very late in a match ship...
Due to being a top tier ship at 5.7, all cruisers are a threat to you especially ships such as the Brooklyn and Admiral Graf Spee, which one can whittle down your very low crew amount to a "non-operable" state, and the other one, easily ammo rack you if broadsiding.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- 9, 8-Inch Guns
- Fair Amour Angles
- Decent Speed
- Can Take A Torpedo Hit
Cons:
- Outrageous Repair Cost
- Amour Cannot Withstand Much of Anything.
- Poor Gun Performance
- Huge Profile, Can Easily Be Spotted And Targeted
- Prone to Detonation
- Low Crew Count
History
USS Portland (CL/CA–33) was the lead ship of the Portland class of cruiser and the first ship of the United States Navy named after the city of Portland, Maine. Launched in 1932, she completed a number of training and goodwill cruises in the interwar period before seeing extensive service during World War II, beginning with the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942, where she escorted the aircraft carrier Yorktown and picked up survivors from the sunken carrier Lexington. She screened for Yorktown again in the Battle of Midway, picking up her survivors as well. She then supported the carrier Enterprise during the initial phase of the Guadalcanal Campaign later that year, and was torpedoed during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. The torpedo inflicted heavy damage which put her out of action for six months as she was repaired in Sydney, Australia and later San Diego, California.
Returning to combat in mid-1943, Portland saw action in many of the major engagements of the Pacific War, conducting shore bombardments in support of campaigns at the Aleutian Islands, Gilbert and Marshall Islands, Mariana Islands, and New Guinea. She was involved in the October 1944 Battle of Leyte Gulf, engaging Japanese ships in the decisive Battle of Surigao Strait. She then conducted shore bombardments at Lingayen Gulf and Corregidor Island, and in 1945 supported landings during the Battle of Okinawa until the end of the war.
Following World War II, Portland accepted the Japanese surrender in the Caroline Islands and then undertook several Operation Magic Carpet cruises to bring U.S. troops home. She was decommissioned in 1946 and scrapped by 1962. In her extensive service she accrued 16 battle stars, making her one of the most decorated ships in the U.S. fleet.
Portland was the lead ship of the third class of "treaty cruisers" to be constructed by the United States Navy following the Washington Naval Treaty of 1922, following the two vessels of the Pensacola class ordered in 1926 and the six vessels of the Northampton class ordered in 1927. Ordered for the U.S. Navy in Fiscal Year 1930. Portland was originally designated as a light cruiser, because of her thin armor, and given the hull classification symbol CL-33. She was reclassified a heavy cruiser, because of her 8-inch guns, with the symbol CA-33 on 1 July 1931, in accordance with the London Naval Treaty.
Portland was designed for a standard displacement of 10,258 long tons (10,423 t), and a full-load displacement of 12,755 long tons (12,960 t). However, Portland only displaced 9,800 long tons (10,000 t) when completed. In 1943, a light tripod was added forward of the second funnel on the ship, and a prominent fire-control director was installed aft.
Her four Parsons GT geared turbines each drove a propeller shaft using steam provided by eight Yarrow boilers. Portland's power plant generated 107,000 shaft horsepower (80,000 kW) and she had a designed maximum speed of 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph). The ship reached, however, 32.7 knots (60.6 km/h; 37.6 mph) on sea trials. She rolled badly until fitted with bilge keels. Portland was designed for a range of 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).
The ship was armed with a main battery of nine Mark 9 8"/55 caliber guns arrayed in three triple mounts, a superfiring pair forward and one aft. She was armed with eight 5"/25 caliber guns for anti-aircraft defense, and she also had two QF 3 pounder Hotchkiss saluting guns. In 1945, her anti-aircraft defenses were upgraded, receiving twenty four Bofors 40 mm guns which were arranged in four quad mounts and four twin mounts. Portland was also upgraded with seventeen Oerlikon 20 mm cannons.
She was originally designed with 1 inch (25 mm) of armor for deck and side protection, but during construction her armor was increased. As completed, the ship was protected with 3.25 inches (83 mm) of belt armor which increased to 5 inches (130 mm) around the magazines. Her armor was between 2 inches (51 mm) and 5.75 inches (146 mm) thick on the transverse bulkheads, while armor on her main deck was 2.5 inches (64 mm) thick. Armor on her barbettes was 1.5 inches (38 mm) thick, armor on her gunhouses was 2.5 inches (64 mm) thick, and armor on her conning tower was 1.25 inches (32 mm) thick.
Additionally, the Portland-class cruisers were designed with space to be outfitted as fleet flagships, with accommodations for an Admiral and his staff to operate. The class also featured two aircraft catapult amidships, and she could carry four aircraft which were stored in a hangar. Her total crew complement varied, with a regular designed crew complement of 848, a wartime complement of 952, and a complement 1,229 when the cruiser was operating as a fleet flagship.
Portland was laid down by Bethlehem Steel at its Quincy Shipyard on 17 February 1930. The machinery was provided by the builders. Portland was launched on 21 May 1932 and commissioned on 23 February 1933. She was the first ship named for the city of Portland, Maine, and sponsored by the daughter of Mayor Ralph D. Brooks of Portland, and with Captain Herbert F. Leary as her first commander. Her sailors would later nickname her "Sweet Pea."
Media
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ND64vCasnxo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDkacj4HyJ4
See also
Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:
External links
| USA heavy cruisers | |
|---|---|
| Pensacola-class | USS Pensacola |
| Northampton-class | USS Northampton |
| Portland-class | USS Portland |
| New Orleans-class | USS New Orleans |
| Baltimore-class | USS Baltimore · USS Pittsburgh |
| Des Moines-class | USS Des Moines · USS Newport News |
