View source for USS Wichita (CA-45)

{{Short description|US Navy unique heavy cruiser}}
{{Other ships|USS Wichita}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=USS Wichita CA-45.jpg
|Ship caption=USS ''Wichita'' (CA-45), 22 April 1942
}}
{{Infobox ship class overview
|Name=
|Builders=*[[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard]]
|Operators= {{naval|United States}}
|Class before=*{{sclass|New Orleans|cruiser|4}}
|Class after={{sclass|Baltimore|cruiser|4}}
|Total ships planned=1
|Total ships completed=1
|Total ships retired=1
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United States
|Ship flag={{USN flag|1947}}
|Ship name= ''Wichita''
|Ship namesake= City of [[Wichita, Kansas|Wichita]], Kansas
|Ship laid down=28 October 1935
|Ship launched=16 November 1937
|Ship commissioned=16 February 1939
|Ship decommissioned=3 February 1947
|Ship struck=1 March 1959
|Ship honors=13 × [[Battle star#Navy warships|battle stars]]
|Ship fate=Sold for scrapping, 14 August 1959
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=title
|Header caption=
|Ship type=[[Heavy cruiser]]
|Ship displacement=*Standard: {{convert|10589|LT|MT|abbr=on}}
*Full load: {{convert|13015|LT|MT|abbr=on}}
|Ship length=*{{convert|600|ft|abbr=on}} [[Waterline|wl]]
*{{convert|608|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|oa]]
|Ship beam={{convert|61|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft={{convert|23|ft|9|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=
*8 × [[Babcock & Wilcox]] [[boiler]]s
*{{convert|100000|shp|MW|abbr=on|lk=in}}
|Ship propulsion=*4 × [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] [[steam turbine]]s
*4 × screws
|Ship speed={{convert|33|kn|abbr=on|lk=in}}
|Ship range={{convert|10000|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|15|kn|abbr=on}}
|Ship crew=929 officers and enlisted
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*9 × [[8"/55 caliber gun|8 in/55 Mk 12]] guns
*8 × [[5"/38 caliber gun|5 in/38 Mk 12]] guns
*24 × [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm]] guns (4×4, 4×2)
*18 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon]]
|Ship armor=*[[Belt armor]]: {{convert|6.4|in|abbr=on}}
*[[Deck (ship)|Deck]]: {{convert|2.25|in|abbr=on}}
*[[Gun turret|Turrets]]: {{convert|8|in|abbr=on|0}}
*[[Conning tower]]: {{convert|6|in|abbr=on}}
|Ship aircraft=4 × [[scout plane]]s
|Ship aircraft facilities=2 × [[Aircraft catapult|catapults]]
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''USS ''Wichita''''' was a unique [[heavy cruiser]] of the [[United States Navy]] built in the 1930s. The last American cruiser designed to meet the limits of the [[London Naval Treaty]], she was originally intended to be a {{sclass|New Orleans|cruiser|0}} heavy cruiser, accordingly with the maximum main armament of three triple {{convert|8|in|0|adj=on}} gun turrets. These were instead placed on an improved hull derived from the [[Brooklyn-class cruiser|''Brooklyn''-class light cruisers]], with increased armor. This design would go on to form the basis for the later [[World War II]]–era heavy cruisers such as the {{sclass|Baltimore|cruiser|4}}. The ship was authorized by the 1929 [[Cruiser Act]], laid down at the [[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard]] in October 1935, [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] in November 1937, and [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] into the US Navy in February 1939.

Following her commissioning, ''Wichita'' was assigned to [[Neutrality Patrol|neutrality patrols]] in the Atlantic. After the United States entered World War II, the ship saw heavy service throughout the conflict. She was first assigned to convoy escort duty on the [[Murmansk Run]] in early 1942, and supported amphibious landings during [[Operation Torch]] in November 1942. During the [[Naval Battle of Casablanca]], ''Wichita'' engaged several French [[Coastal artillery|coastal batteries]] and warships, including the [[battleship]] {{ship|French battleship|Jean Bart|1940|2}}. In 1943, ''Wichita'' was transferred to the [[Pacific War|Pacific Theater]], where she remained for the rest of the war. She frequently provided antiaircraft defense for the [[Fast Carrier Task Force]] during operations in the central Pacific, including the Battles of [[Battle of the Philippine Sea|the Philippine Sea]] and [[Battle of Leyte Gulf|Leyte Gulf]] in 1944. During the latter engagement, ''Wichita'' assisted in the sinking of the Japanese [[aircraft carrier]] {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Chiyoda||2}}.

''Wichita'' was heavily engaged during the [[invasion of Okinawa]], where she provided heavy gunfire support to ground troops ashore. After the [[Surrender of Japan|Japanese surrender]], the ship served as part of the occupation force in Japan and assisted in the repatriation of American military personnel under [[Operation Magic Carpet]]. After returning to the United States, she was decommissioned and placed in the [[Reserve fleet|"mothball" fleet]] in 1947. She remained in reserve until 1959, when she was stricken from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] and sold for [[Ship breaking|scrapping]] in August 1959.

==Design==
In the early 1930s, the [[Secretary of the Navy]], [[Curtis D. Wilbur]], pushed for a new construction program for light and heavy cruisers.<ref name=H65>Hammond, p. 65</ref> Wilbur succeeded in passing the [[Cruiser Act]] in 1929, which authorized several new cruisers.<ref>Hammond, pp. 109–110</ref> Five heavy cruisers, the last of which was ''Wichita'', were ordered between 1931 and 1934.<ref name=H65/> ''Wichita'' was the last heavy cruiser permitted under the terms of the [[London Naval Treaty]] in 1930, which limited the US to 18 heavy cruisers with a maximum standard displacement of {{convert|10000|LT|0}}.<ref name=Conways>Friedman, p. 117</ref> The ship was originally intended to be built to the design of the {{sclass|New Orleans|cruiser|4}}, but the design was reworked before construction began.<ref name=T129>Terzibaschitsch, p. 129</ref> Instead, the design for ''Wichita'' was based on the {{sclass|Brooklyn|cruiser|4}} of light cruisers. The ''Brooklyn'' design was modified heavily, to give the new ship higher [[Freeboard (nautical)|freeboard]] and better stability, and an increased cruising radius. The secondary battery of eight {{convert|5|in|adj=on|sigfig=3}} guns was identical in number to the light cruisers, but was arranged to give better fields of fire. The main battery of nine {{convert|8|in|adj=on|0}} guns was mounted in a new [[gun turret]] design that rectified problems discovered in earlier cruisers.<ref name=Conways/>

''Wichita'' was laid down at the [[Philadelphia Naval Shipyard]] on 28 October 1935, and launched on 16 November 1937. By the time she was completed, in February 1938, ''Wichita'' was nearly over the 10,000-ton limit; as a result, she was completed with only two of the eight 5-inch guns to keep her under the displacement restriction. When the rest of the 5-inch guns were installed, it was found that the ship was too top-heavy, and so {{convert|200.4|LT}} of [[pig iron]] had to be added to her bottom to balance the cruiser. ''Wichita'' was commissioned into the US Navy on 16 February 1939 and was assigned the [[hull number]] CA-45.<ref name=Conways/> Her first commander was Captain [[Thaddeus A. Thomson]].<ref name=DANFS>{{cite web|title=Wichita|url=http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/w/wichita-i.html|publisher=[[Naval History & Heritage Command]]|access-date=23 January 2012}}</ref>

===General characteristics===
''Wichita'' was {{convert|600|ft|sp=us|1}} [[length at the waterline|long at the waterline]] and {{convert|608|ft|4|in|abbr=on}} [[length overall|long overall]]. She had a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|61|ft|9|in|abbr=on}} and a [[draft (hull)|draft]] of {{convert|23|ft|9|in|abbr=on}}. She displaced {{convert|10589|LT}} at standard displacement and {{convert|13015|LT}} at full combat load. The ship had a crew of 929 officers and enlisted men. She was equipped with four [[seaplane]]s and a pair of [[aircraft catapult]]s and a crane for handling the aircraft which were mounted on the stern. ''Wichita'' was powered by four [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] [[steam turbine]]s and eight [[Babcock & Wilcox]] oil-fired [[water-tube boiler]]s. The propulsion system was rated at {{convert|100000|shp|lk=in}} and a top speed of {{convert|33|kn|lk=in}}. She carried {{convert|1323|to|1984|LT}} of fuel oil, which gave her a maximum cruising range of {{convert|10000|nmi|lk=in|-1}} at {{convert|15|kn|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Conways/>

The hull was protected by a waterline [[armored belt]] composed of Class A armor that was {{convert|6.4|in|abbr=on}} thick [[amidships]]. It was reduced to {{convert|4|in|abbr=on}} thick on either end. The belt was backed with {{convert|.63|in|abbr=on}} of [[special treatment steel]]. The Class A steel was significantly more effective than the Class B armor used in earlier cruisers; 8-inch guns had to be within {{convert|10000|yd}} to penetrate the belt, as opposed to {{convert|16400|yd|abbr=on}} for the earlier armor. ''Wichita'' had a {{convert|2.25|in|abbr=on}} thick deck, which was immune to 8-inch fire inside {{convert|22000|yd|abbr=on|-1}}. The [[conning tower]] had {{convert|6|in|abbr=on|0}} thick sides and a 2.25&nbsp;in thick roof. The ship's main battery turrets had {{convert|8|in|abbr=on|0}} thick faces, {{convert|3.75|in|abbr=on}} thick sides, {{convert|1.5|in|abbr=on}} thick rears, and {{convert|2.75|in|abbr=on}} thick roofs. The turrets were mounted on armored [[barbette]]s protected with {{convert|7|in|abbr=on|0}} of armor plating.<ref name=Conways/>

===Armament===
''Wichita'' was armed with a main battery of nine [[8"/55 caliber gun|8-inch /55 Mark 12]] guns mounted in three 3-gun turrets. The guns fired a {{convert|335|lb|adj=on}} [[projectile]]s at a [[muzzle velocity]] of {{convert|2500|ft/s}}. Maximum elevation of the guns was 41&nbsp;degrees; this provided a maximum range of {{convert|30050|yd|abbr=on}}. [[Rate of fire]] was approximately one salvo every fifteen seconds.<ref>Campbell, p. 129</ref> The turrets allowed each gun to elevate and fire individually.<ref name=T130>Terzibaschitsch, p. 130</ref> Her secondary battery consisted of eight [[5"/38 caliber gun|5-inch /38 Mark 12]] [[dual-purpose gun]]s, four in single, enclosed Mark 30 high-angle mounts, and four in open mounts. These guns fired {{convert|55|lb|abbr=on}} projectiles at a rate of 20 rounds per minute. Muzzle velocity was {{convert|2600|ft/s|abbr=on}}; against aerial targets, the guns had a ceiling of {{convert|37200|ft|abbr=on}} at 85&nbsp;degrees. At 45&nbsp;degrees, the guns could engage surface targets at a range of {{convert|18200|yd|abbr=on}}.<ref>Campbell, p. 139</ref> ''Wichita'' was the first cruiser in the US Navy to be equipped with the new 5-inch /38 gun.<ref name=T129/>

By August 1945, the ship had been equipped with numerous smaller guns for close-range anti-aircraft defense. Sixteen [[Bofors 40 mm Automatic Gun L/60|Bofors 40 mm]] guns were placed in quadruple mounts, and another eight were in dual mounts. She also carried eighteen [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|Oerlikon 20&nbsp;mm]] guns in single mountings.<ref name=Conways/> The 40&nbsp;mm guns had a ceiling of {{convert|22800|ft|abbr=on}} at 90&nbsp;degrees elevation and a maximum rate of fire of 160&nbsp;rounds per minute.<ref>Campbell, pp. 147–149</ref> The 20&nbsp;mm gun had a rate of fire of 465–480&nbsp;rounds per minute; they had a ceiling of {{convert|10000|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>Campbell, pp. 75–76</ref> By the end of the war, the ship was armed with a variety of fire control systems for her guns, including Mark 34 fire control gear and Mark 13 and Mark 28 fire control radars.<ref name=T130/>

==Service history==
[[File:USS Wichita May 1940.jpg|thumb|''Wichita'' in pre-war light gray, on 1 May 1940]]
''Wichita'' departed Philadelphia after her commissioning, bound for [[Houston, Texas]]. She arrived on 20 April 1939 and took part in the dedicatory and memorial service at the [[San Jacinto Monument|San Jacinto Battle Monument]] and War Relic Museum. The ship left Houston on 1 May for her shakedown cruise, during which she visited the [[Virgin Islands]], [[Cuba]], and the [[Bahamas]] before she returned to Philadelphia for post-shakedown repairs. On 25 September, a few weeks after the outbreak of [[World War II]] in Europe, ''Wichita'' was assigned to [[Cruiser Division 7]] in the [[Atlantic Squadron]], based in the [[Hampton Roads]]. She conducted her first [[Neutrality Patrol|neutrality patrol]] on 4–9 October. After returning to port, she went into dock at the [[Norfolk Naval Shipyard|Norfolk Navy Yard]] for maintenance, which lasted until 1 December. On 4 December, ''Wichita'' steamed to [[Guantanamo Bay Naval Base|Guantanamo Bay]], Cuba, arriving on the 8th. There, Thomson assumed command of the newly formed Caribbean Patrol, which included ''Wichita'' and the cruiser {{USS|Vincennes|CA-44|2}}, and the destroyers {{USS|Borie|DD-215|2}}, {{USS|Broome|DD-210|2}}, {{USS|Lawrence|DD-250|2}}, {{USS|King|DD-242|2}}, and {{USS|Truxtun|DD-229|2}}, and Navy patrol squadrons [[VP-33]] and [[VP-51]]. Over the course of the next three months, the force conducted a series of training maneuvers in the Caribbean. At the end of February, ''Wichita'' returned to Norfolk via Philadelphia, where she participated in further training through May.<ref name=DANFS/>

Starting in June, ''Wichita'' and {{USS|Quincy|CA-39|2}} conducted a goodwill cruise to South America; ''Wichita'' carried Rear Admiral [[Andrew C. Pickens]], the commander of Cruiser Division 7. Included in the ports of call were [[Rio de Janeiro]] and [[Santos, São Paulo|Santos]] in Brazil, [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina, and [[Montevideo]], Uruguay. The cruise ended in late September; the two cruisers arrived in Norfolk on the 24th.<ref>Cressman, pp. 25–31</ref> Over the next three months, ''Wichita'' served as a training ship for [[United States Naval Reserve|Naval Reserve]] midshipmen and conducted gunnery practices off the Virginia capes. On 7 January 1941, ''Wichita'' departed Hampton Roads for Guantanamo, arriving four days later. She participated in fleet maneuvers in the Caribbean through March and took part in practice amphibious landings at Puerto Rico. She returned to the United States, docking at the [[New York Navy Yard]], on 23 March. ''Wichita'' went to sea again on 6 April, bound for [[Bermuda]]; she reached her destination two days later. She then joined the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|Ranger|CV-4|2}} and the heavy cruiser {{USS|Tuscaloosa|CA-37|2}} for a patrol in the North Atlantic, during which the ships sailed to within {{convert|800|nmi}} of Ireland.<ref name=DANFS/><ref>Rohwer, p. 68</ref>

''Wichita'' then returned to the New York Navy Yard on 17 May and went into drydock on 21 June. Repairs were completed on 2 July, after which ''Wichita'' was transferred to [[Naval Station Newport|Newport, Rhode Island]]. She sortied again on 27 July bound for [[Iceland]] as part of Task Force 16 under [[Operation Indigo II]], the [[Iceland during World War II|occupation of Iceland]].<ref name=DANFS/> ''Wichita'' arrived in [[Reykjavík]] on 6 August, along with the carrier {{USS|Wasp|CV-7|2}} and the [[battleship]] {{USS|Mississippi|BB-41|2}}. The task force landed a contingent of US Army troops and fighter aircraft to provide air support.<ref>Cressman, pp. 48–49</ref><ref>Rohwer, p. 91</ref> The cruiser returned to the United States by 20 August. ''Wichita'' returned to Iceland in September, arriving in Reykjavík on 28 September. Two days prior to ''Wichita''{{'}}s arrival, the US Navy ordered the units of the [[United States Atlantic Fleet|Atlantic Fleet]] to protect all ships engaged in commerce in United States defensive waters. The orders authorized the Navy to patrol, escort merchantmen, and attack any German or Italian naval forces encountered. ''Wichita''  was assigned to Task Group 7.5, which was engaged in patrolling Icelandic waters through the end 1941. On 7 December 1941, the Japanese [[Attack on Pearl Harbor|attacked Pearl Harbor]], bringing the United States into World War II; on the day of the attack, ''Wichita'' lay at anchor at [[Hvalfjörður]], Iceland.<ref name=DANFS/>

===Atlantic theater===
{{main|Battle of the Atlantic}}
[[File:USS Wichita (CA-45) underway during a winter storm off Iceland in January 1942.jpg|thumb|left|''Wichita'' weathering a storm off Iceland]]

''Wichita'' left port on 5 January 1942 for training and a patrol in the [[Denmark Strait]]; she returned to Hvalfjörður on 10 January.<ref name=DANFS/> On the 15th, a powerful storm, with sustained winds of {{convert|80|kn}} and gusts up to {{convert|100|kn|abbr=on}}, hit Iceland. ''Wichita'' was damaged by the storm, including a collision with the freighter {{SS|West Nohno||2}} and the British [[Naval trawler|trawler]] {{HMS|Ebor Wyke||2}}. She then ran aground off Hrafneyri Light.<ref>Cressman, p. 69</ref> The following day, the ship's crew evaluated her condition; she had suffered minor damage from the collisions, including some leaks, and damage to the hull from the grounding. Temporary repairs were effected in Iceland to allow ''Wichita'' to return to the New York Navy Yard for more thorough repairs. She arrived on 9 February, and repairs lasted until 26 February, when she left port for training maneuvers off Maine in early March.<ref name=DANFS/>

On 26 March, ''Wichita'', assigned to Task Force 39, departed the United States to reinforce the British [[Home Fleet]] based in [[Scapa Flow]]. Task Force 39, commanded by Rear Admiral [[John W. Wilcox, Jr.]], included ''Wasp'', the battleship {{USS|Washington|BB-56|2}}, the cruiser ''Tuscaloosa'', and eight destroyers. While en route, Wilcox was swept overboard in a heavy sea and lost. Rear Admiral [[Robert C. Giffen]], who flew his flag in ''Wichita'', took command of the task force.<ref>Cressman, p. 84</ref> After arriving in Scapa Flow, ''Wichita'' and the other American ships spent several weeks training with their British counterparts.<ref name=DANFS/> On 28 April, ''Wichita'' departed on her first major operation with the British. She was assigned to the Allied escort for the [[Arctic convoys of World War II|Arctic convoy]]s [[Convoy QP 11|QP 11]] and [[Convoy PQ 15|PQ 15]]. The American component, organized as Task Force 99, comprised ''Washington'', ''Wichita'', ''Tuscaloosa'', and four destroyers. The British assigned the carrier {{HMS|Victorious|R38|2}}, the battleship {{HMS|King George V|41|2}}, a light cruiser, and five destroyers.<ref>Cressman, p. 90</ref><ref>Rohwer, p. 154, 162</ref> After successfully escorting the convoys, ''Wichita'' returned to Hvalfjörður, arriving on 6 May.<ref name=DANFS/>

[[File:USS Wichita (CA-45) and USS Wasp (CV-7) in Scapa Flow in April 1942.jpg|thumb|right|USS ''Wichita'' and USS ''Wasp'' in Scapa Flow in 1942]]

''Wichita'' sortied on 12 May to relieve ''Tuscaloosa'', which was patrolling the Denmark Strait. ''Wichita'' returned to Hvalfjörður a week later, before putting to sea as part of another Allied convoy escort protecting one leg of the movement of Murmansk-bound convoy [[Convoy PQ 16|PQ 16]] and eastbound [[Convoy QP 12|QP 12]]. She put into Scapa Flow on 29 May after completing the mission. While in Scapa Flow, King [[George VI]] inspected ''Wichita'' on 7 June. ''Wichita'' left Scapa Flow on 12 June, bound for Hvalfjörður, and arrived 14 June. She then relieved the British cruiser {{HMS|Cumberland|57|2}} on patrol in the Denmark Strait. While on patrol on 17 June, ''Wichita'' spotted a German [[Focke-Wulf Fw 200]] reconnaissance bomber and opened fire, though without result. Three days later, she engaged another Fw 200, again without success.<ref name=DANFS/>

After returning to Hvalfjörður, ''Wichita'' steamed to [[Seyðisfjörður|Seidisfjord]] at the end of June, where she joined ''Tuscaloosa'' and three destroyers. They were assigned to the escort for the [[convoy PQ 17]].<ref>Cressman, p. 107</ref> The convoy escort also included ''Washington'', ''Victorious'', and the battleship {{HMS|Duke of York|17|2}}. The Germans organized a powerful task force, centered on the battleship {{ship|German battleship|Tirpitz||2}} and three heavy cruisers, to attack the convoy; the operation was codenamed [[Operation Rösselsprung (1942)|''Rösselsprung'']] ([[Knight (chess)#Movement|Knight's Move]]). Swedish intelligence had meanwhile reported the German departures to the [[British Admiralty]], which ordered the convoy to disperse. Aware that they had been detected, the Germans aborted the operation and turned over the attack to [[U-boat]]s and the Luftwaffe. The scattered vessels could no longer be protected by the convoy escorts, and the Germans sank 21 of the 34 isolated transports.<ref>Garzke & Dulin, pp. 253–255</ref> The next day, while south of [[Spitzbergen]], the ships were spotted and shadowed by a pair of Fw 200s. Both ''Wichita'' and ''Tuscaloosa'' opened fire with their antiaircraft guns, but the Fw 200s escaped without damage.<ref name=DANFS/>

In late July, ''Wichita'' went into drydock at the Royal Navy base in [[Rosyth]], Scotland. Repairs, which included correcting a propeller shaft vibration, lasted from 24 July until 9 August. The repairs to the propeller shaft were ineffective, however, which necessitated a return to the United States. She reached the New York Navy Yard on 22 August for repairs, which lasted until 5 September. She completed a round of post-repair sea trials before conducting gunnery exercises in the [[Chesapeake Bay]]. ''Wichita'' conducted training off the Virginia Capes for the rest of the month, after which she steamed to [[Casco Bay]] in Maine for further maneuvers.<ref name=DANFS/>

====Operation Torch====
[[File:USS Wichita (CA-45) under fire off Casablanca on 8 November 1942.jpg|thumb|''Wichita'' in a gunnery duel with [[French battleship Jean Bart (1940)|''Jean Bart'']]]]
{{main|Operation Torch}}
At the end of October, ''Wichita'' was assigned to Task Group 34.1, under the command of Rear Admiral [[H. Kent Hewitt]], who flew his flag in {{USS|Augusta|CA-31|2}}.<ref name=DANFS/> The Task Group also included the battleship {{USS|Massachusetts|BB-59|2}} and ''Tuscaloosa''.<ref>Tomblin, p. 19</ref> The ships were assigned to provide gunfire support for Operation Torch, the invasion of French North Africa. ''Wichita'' participated in the [[Naval Battle of Casablanca]], which began early on the morning of 8 November. The ships were tasked with neutralizing the primary French defenses, which included coastal guns on El Hank, several submarines, and the incomplete battleship {{ship|French battleship|Jean Bart|1940|2}} which lay at anchor in the harbor. ''Wichita'' and ''Tuscaloosa'' initially engaged the French batteries on El Hank and the French submarine pens, while ''Massachusetts'' attacked ''Jean Bart''. French naval forces, led by the cruiser {{ship|French cruiser|Primauguet|1924|2}}, put up a stubborn defense.<ref name=R20910>Rohwer, pp. 209–210</ref><ref>Tomblin, pp. 30–32</ref>

In response, the French launched a pair of attacks to break up the American landings. During the first French attack, either ''Wichita'' or ''Tuscaloosa'' damaged the French destroyer {{ship|French destroyer|Milan||2}} and forced it aground. A second French attack was also defeated; one of the two cruisers sank the destroyer {{ship|French destroyer|Fougueux||2}} and damaged {{ship|French destroyer|Frondeur||2}}. ''Wichita'', ''Tuscaloosa'', and ''Massachusetts'' also engaged ''Jean Bart''.<ref name=R20910/><ref>Cressman, p. 129</ref> At 11:28, ''Wichita'' was hit by a {{convert|194|mm|abbr=on}} shell, fired by a gun on El Hank. The shell penetrated her deck and exploded below, injuring fourteen men. Hewitt broke off the attack temporarily, but by 13:12, several American warships began firing on French vessels exiting the harbor. ''Wichita'' and ''Tuscaloosa'' closed on the port to engage the cruisers ''Primauguet'' and {{ship|French cruiser|Gloire|1935|2}}, still in the harbor. Heavy fire from El Hank forced the American cruisers to retreat shortly after 15:00.<ref>Tomblin, pp. 37–38</ref> For the remainder of the operations off North Africa, ''Wichita'' patrolled between Casablanca and Fedhala. Her part in the amphibious assault complete, ''Wichita'' departed the area on 12 November, bound for New York for repairs; she arrived on 19 November.<ref name=DANFS/>

===Pacific theater===
[[File:US cruisers of Task Force 18 at sea en route to Guadalcanal on 29 January 1943.jpg|thumb|{{USS|Louisville|CA-28|2}} and {{USS|Chicago|CA-29|2}}, photographed from ''Wichita'', off [[Rennell Island]]]]
{{main|Pacific War}}
Shortly after repairs were completed, ''Wichita'' was transferred to the Pacific theater.<ref name=DANFS/> She was assigned to Task Force 18, commanded by Rear Admiral Giffen, and tasked with operations off [[Guadalcanal]]. She was joined by the heavy cruisers {{USS|Louisville|CA-28|2}} and {{USS|Chicago|CA-29|2}}, the [[light cruiser]]s {{USS|Montpelier|CL-57|2}}, {{USS|Cleveland|CL-55|2}}, and {{USS|Columbia|CL-56|2}}.  In addition, the [[escort carrier]]s {{USS|Chenango|CVE-28|2}} and {{USS|Suwannee|CVE-27|2}}, and eight destroyers were present in the task group.<ref>Crenshaw, p. 62</ref> On the night of 29 January 1943, the Task Force was steaming off [[Rennell Island]]; wary of the threat from Japanese submarines, which Allied intelligence indicated were likely in the area, Giffen arranged his cruisers and destroyers for anti-submarine defense, not expecting an air attack. The cruisers were aligned in two columns, spaced {{convert|2500|yd|m|abbr=on}} apart. ''Wichita'', ''Chicago'', and ''Louisville'', in that order, were to starboard, and ''Montpelier'', ''Cleveland'', and ''Columbia'' were to port. The six destroyers were in a semicircle {{convert|2|mi|nmi km|abbr=on}} ahead of the cruiser columns.<ref>Frank, p. 578</ref> That evening, the ships came under attack from Japanese torpedo bombers. In the ensuing [[Battle of Rennell Island]], ''Chicago'' was hit by several torpedoes and sunk; ''Wichita'' was hit by one torpedo, though it failed to explode.<ref>Rohwer, p. 224</ref>

''Wichita'' then steamed to [[Efate]] in the [[New Hebrides]] for a training period. She then departed on 7 April, bound for Pearl Harbor and arriving there a week later. On 18 April, she steamed out of Pearl Harbor for [[Adak, Alaska]], again flying Giffen's flag, for Task Group 52.10.<ref name=DANFS/> In early May, ''Wichita'' was assigned to the amphibious force tasked with liberating the [[Aleutian Islands]] from Japanese control. She served as the flagship of the northern covering force, along with the cruisers ''Louisville'' and {{USS|San Francisco|CA-38|2}} and four destroyers.<ref>Rowher, p. 249</ref> On 6 July, ''Wichita'', three other cruisers, and four destroyers bombarded Japanese positions on the island of [[Kiska]].<ref name=R260>Rohwer, p. 260</ref> The bombardment convinced the Japanese that the Americans intended to invade the island in the near future; they therefore planned an evacuation by July.<ref>Garfield, pp. 358–359</ref>

[[File:US cruisers bombarding Kiska in July 1943.png|thumb|left|''Wichita'' leading a column of cruisers bombarding [[Kiska]] on 22 July]]
On 19 July, a powerful American fleet, including the battleships {{USS|New Mexico|BB-40|2}}, {{USS|Idaho|BB-42|2}}, and ''Mississippi'' joined ''Wichita'' to conduct another attack on Kiska three days later.<ref>Garfield, 361</ref> Five days later, malfunctioning radar equipment led to a battle with radar phantoms (the "[[Battle of the Pips]]"); ''Wichita'', two battleships, and two other cruisers expended over a thousand rounds of ammunition from their main batteries on the empty sea. That same day, the Japanese successfully evacuated the island, which was invaded by American troops two weeks later.<ref name=R260/> The morning after the assumed engagement, ''Wichita'' launched a seaplane to reconnoiter the area, but found no evidence of Japanese forces.<ref>Garfield, p. 367</ref>

''Wichita'' participated in exercises off Hawaii for the remainder of the year. On 16 January 1944, she departed to take part in the invasion of the [[Marshall Islands]]. She was assigned to Task Group 58.3, under the command of Rear Admiral [[Frederick C. Sherman]].<ref name=DANFS/> The Task Group included the fleet carrier {{USS|Bunker Hill|CV-17|2}}, the [[light carrier]]s {{USS|Cowpens|CVL-25|2}} and {{USS|Monterey|CVL-26|2}}, the fast battleships {{USS|North Carolina|BB-55|2}}, ''Massachusetts'', {{USS|Alabama|BB-60|2}}, and {{USS|South Dakota|BB-57|2}}, and several destroyers.<ref>Rohwer, p. 306</ref> ''Wichita'' provided anti-aircraft support for the carriers while they conducted air strikes on [[Kwajalein]] and [[Eniwetok]] on 29–31 January. On 4 February, ''Wichita'' arrived at [[Majuro]]; she was transferred to Task Group 58.2. The force departed Majuro on 12 February and conducted [[Operation Hailstone]], a major air strike on the Japanese base at [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk]], four days later.<ref name=DANFS/>

On the night of 16 February, Japanese aircraft launched an attack on the Task Group and torpedoed the carrier {{USS|Intrepid|CV-11|2}}. Task Unit 58.2.4, which included ''Wichita'', was detached to escort ''Intrepid'' back to safety and repairs. The ships reached Majuro on 20 February, and departed for Hawaii eight days later. The ships arrived in port on 4 March, and on the 9th, ''Wichita'' became the flagship of Cruiser Division 6. On 15 March, Cruiser Division 6 departed Hawaii to return to Majuro, arriving on 20 March. After arriving, she joined the screen for the [[Fast Carrier Task Force]], which struck Japanese bases on [[Yap]], [[Woleai]], and in the [[Palau]]s. ''Wichita'' supported strikes on [[Jayapura|Hollandia]] in [[New Guinea]] on 13–22 April. The task force returned to the seas off Truk on 29 April for a second round of airstrikes on the port. While the carriers were striking Truk, ''Wichita'' and several cruisers and destroyers shelled Japanese targets on [[Satawan]] Island in the Nomol group of the [[Caroline Islands]].<ref name=DANFS/>

[[File:USS Wichita (CA-45) underway in the Central Pacific on 2 May 1944.jpg|thumb|''Wichita'' underway in the Pacific, in May 1944]]
On 4 May, ''Wichita'' returned to Majuro for a month of training. In June, she returned to the fleet, which was gathering at Kwajalein in preparations for operations against the [[Mariana Islands]]. ''Wichita'' was assigned to Task Unit 53.10.8, which shelled [[Saipan]] on 13 June. The next day, ''Wichita'' bombarded Japanese gun positions on [[Guam]], before returning to Saipan later that day. On 17 June, she joined Task Group 58.7; the force patrolled to the west of the Marianas over the next three days in an attempt to intercept the large Japanese carrier force known to be approaching. On 19 June, the Japanese carriers struck at the American fleet, starting the [[Battle of the Philippine Sea]]. ''Wichita'' contributed to the antiaircraft screen; her gunners claimed to have assisted in the destruction of two [[Nakajima B5N]] torpedo bombers. The ship was detached to cover troop transports and escort carriers off Saipan on 25 June. This duty lasted through the first week of July. Now part of Task Unit 53.18.1, ''Wichita'' bombarded Japanese positions on Guam on 8–12 July, and again starting on 18 July.<ref name=DANFS/><ref>Rohwer, p. 335</ref>

''Wichita'' departed Guam on 10 August, bound for Eniwetok. She arrived three days later and remained there until 29 August, when she put to sea to join Task Group 38.1. She screened for the fast carrier task group while they launched airstrikes on Japanese targets in Palau, the Carolines, the [[Philippines]], and [[Dutch East Indies]].<ref name=DANFS/> On 28 August, TG 38.1 raided targets in Palau and [[Morotai]].<ref>Rohwer, p. 354</ref> By mid-September, TG 38.1 provided air support for the [[Battle of Morotai|assault on Morotai]]; the operation lasted until 21 September. The following day, the carriers launched an airstrike on [[Manila]] in the Philippines. Early on 22 September, Japanese aircraft launched a counterattack. At 07:34, ''Wichita'' shot down a bomber approximately 50 yards from her. She shot down another bomber at 07:45. She continued to provide antiaircraft defense for the carriers while they struck Japanese installations on [[Cebu (island)|Cebu]], [[Negros (island)|Negros]], and [[Coron Island|Coron]].<ref name=DANFS/>

====Operations off the Philippines====
''Wichita'' got underway to support a raid on [[Okinawa Island|Okinawa]] on 2 October. On 10 October, the fleet reached the waters off Okinawa and launched the strike. The following day, the fleet struck [[Aparri]] on [[Luzon]]. The fleet then raided [[Taiwan|Formosa]], where they targeted Japanese airfields to prepare for the upcoming assault against the Philippines.<ref name=DANFS/> On 13 October, Japanese bombers attacked the fleet and badly damaged the cruiser {{USS|Canberra|CA-70|2}}. ''Wichita'' took ''Canberra'' under tow, though she was relieved by the ocean-going tug {{USS|Munsee|ATF-107|2}} on 15 October.<ref>Cressman, p. 262</ref> ''Wichita'' joined the screen for ''Canberra''; the squadron was joined by the badly damaged cruiser {{USS|Houston|CL-81|2}}. The ships were attacked again the following day, and ''Houston'' was torpedoed again. ''Wichita'' left the damaged ships on 21 October, after they had successfully reached safer waters. ''Wichita'' then rejoined the fleet off Luzon, assigned to Task Force 34 under Vice Admiral [[Willis A. Lee]].<ref name=DANFS/>

''Wichita'' was present during the [[Battle of Leyte Gulf]], which started on 23 October. On 25 October, the Fast Carrier Strike Force had steamed north, to attack the Northern Force commanded by [[Jisaburō Ozawa]]. ''Wichita'' again screened for the carriers, which sank or damaged several Japanese carriers. Task Force 34 was detached to finish off several of the crippled Japanese ships with gunfire; ''Wichita'' and three other cruisers sank the light carrier {{ship|Japanese aircraft carrier|Chiyoda||2}} and the destroyer {{ship|Japanese destroyer|Hatsuzuki||2}}.<ref>Rohwer, p. 366–367</ref><ref>Cressman, p. 267</ref> ''Wichita'' expended twenty-two percent of her armor-piercing rounds at the two ships, which amounted to 148 rounds at ''Chiyoda'' and 173 against ''Hatsuzuki''.<ref>O'Hara, p. 276</ref> In the aftermath of the battle, ''Wichita'' returned to screening for the carriers off [[Samar]]. On 28 October, she provided gunfire support to troops ashore on [[Leyte]]. Two days later, she defended against a Japanese airstrike on the fleet.<ref name=DANFS/>

On 31 October, ''Wichita'' left the area, bound for [[Ulithi]], reaching her destination on 2 November. After replenishing her ammunition and stores, she returned to Leyte for several days, until the middle of November. Her crew detected severe vibrations in her No. 4 engine; the propeller shaft had broken and the propeller was trailing. She was therefore detached on 18 November for repairs in California, via Ulithi. While in Ulithi, divers discovered cracks in a strut for No. 3 propeller shaft; now only two screws were operational. She reached [[San Pedro, Los Angeles|San Pedro]] in California on 15 December. She entered the [[Terminal Island]] Navy Yard shortly after reaching port. Repairs lasted until 8 February 1945, and by 28 February, she departed for Pearl Harbor. ''Wichita'' arrived in Hawaii on 6 March, before departing five days later for Ulithi.<ref name=DANFS/>

====Invasion of Okinawa====
''Wichita'' arrived in Ulithi on 20 March, and was assigned to [[Okinawa naval order of battle#Gunfire and Covering Force (Task Force 54)|Task Force 54]] (TF 54) the next day. She put to sea to take part in the [[Battle of Okinawa|invasion of Okinawa]]. The ship was placed in Task Unit 54.2.3 to cover [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweepers]] off Okinawa on 25 March. On the afternoon of the following day, ''Wichita'' bombarded Japanese positions on the island, from 13:50 to 16:30. Japanese aircraft attacked the ships early the next morning; ''Wichita''{{'}}s gunners shot down one of the aircraft. Later that day, the ship resumed bombardment duties in preparation for the amphibious invasion. She continued to shell the island through 28 March. The next day, she retired to [[Kerama Retto]] to replenish her ammunition. The ship then returned to Okinawa later that day to cover [[underwater demolition team]]s as they cleared beach obstacles. ''Wichita'' continued to support the demolition teams the next day, as well as shelling targets ashore. On 31 March, ''Wichita'' bombarded the sea wall to create a breach in preparation for the landings.<ref name=DANFS/>

[[File:USS Wichita (CA-45) firing broadside c1944.png|thumb|left|''Wichita'' firing a broadside]]

The invasion began on 1 April, and ''Wichita'' provided gunfire support to the landing troops on the southern beaches. At around 12:00, she left the firing line to replenish her ammunition. She resumed bombardment the following day and resupplied again on 3 April before covering minesweepers on 4 April. During the night of 4–5 April, ''Wichita'' shelled the Japanese defenders on Okinawa. The ship was assigned to join Task Group 51.19 the next day to bombard [[Tsugen Shima]] in company with ''Tuscaloosa'' and the battleships {{USS|Maryland|BB-46|2}} and {{USS|Arkansas|BB-33|2}}. Japanese aircraft appeared, which forced the cancellation of the mission. Nevertheless, ''Wichita'' shelled Japanese shore batteries at [[Chiyama Shima]] that evening.<ref name=DANFS/>

Late on 6 April, an A6M Zero attempted to attack ''Wichita''. The fighter came down through a break in the clouds on ''Wichita''{{'}}s port side. The ship's anti-aircraft gunners immediately opened fire; a burst from one of the 20&nbsp;mm guns shot away the Zero's tail. The plane veered away, out of control, and dropped its {{convert|500|lb|adj=on}} bomb, which fell approximately {{convert|50|ft}} from the ship. The Zero's wing clipped the deck before the plane crashed into the sea. Eleven men were wounded in the attack, though the ship remained undamaged.<ref>Sloan, pp. 102–103</ref> The following day, ''Wichita'' steamed into [[Nakagusuku Bay]] to shell a coastal battery. Shells from the Japanese guns landed close to the ship, but no hits were scored before ''Wichita'' neutralized the battery. Over the next two days, the ship continued to bombard Japanese defenses on the island, until she retired to replenish ammunition on 10 April.<ref name=DANFS/>

''Wichita'' continued to provide gunfire support throughout the rest of the month. On 27 April, a small caliber shell penetrated a fuel oil tank five feet below the waterline. After temporary repairs while still off Okinawa proved unsuccessful, ''Wichita'' returned to Kerama Retto where the damage was repaired on 29–30 April. ''Wichita'' then returned to the gun line.<ref name=DANFS/> On 12 May, the ship was damaged by friendly fire.<ref>Cressman, p. 319</ref> A 5-inch round struck the port aircraft catapult; shell fragments hit the shield of an antiaircraft director, killing one man and injuring eleven others. She departed the area to rest and refit at Leyte, returning to Okinawa on 18 June.<ref name=DANFS/> ''Wichita'' continued to provide gunfire support to the troops on Okinawa through July, as part of Task Unit 2.<ref>Rohwer, p. 423</ref> On 15 August, the ship's crew received word that the war with Japan was over. ''Wichita'' was awarded 13 [[battle star]]s for her service during World War II.<ref name=DANFS/>

===Post-war===
[[File:USS Wichita (CA-45) at Nagasaki in September 1945.png|thumb|''Wichita'' and {{USS|Haven|AH-12|2}} in Nagasaki harbor]]
''Wichita'' was assigned to the occupying force shortly after the end of the war. She departed Okinawa on 10 September for [[Nagasaki, Nagasaki|Nagasaki]], arriving the following day as part of Task Group 55.7.<ref name=DANFS/> ''Wichita'' was one of the first major warships to reach Japan; she was escorted by a destroyer, a pair of [[destroyer escort]]s, two minesweepers, and the [[hospital ship]] {{USS|Haven|AH-12|2}}.<ref>Sloan, p. 349</ref> ''Wichita'' was transferred to [[United States Fleet Activities Sasebo|Sasebo]] on 25 September for four days before she returned to Nagasaki on 29 September. She returned to Sasebo shortly thereafter, and while she was there, a severe [[typhoon]] struck the area on 9–11 October. ''Wichita'' was not damaged during the storms. While at Sasebo, ''Wichita''{{'}}s crew inspected the Japanese ships and harbor installations to ensure Japanese compliance with the terms of surrender.<ref name=DANFS/>

On 5 November, ''Wichita'' was assigned to [[Operation Magic Carpet]], the repatriation of American military personnel. She refueled in Tokyo before departing for San Francisco. The ship reached San Francisco on 24 November, where she went into drydock at the [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]] two days later. Repairs and modifications for further Magic Carpet duty were completed by 1 December. ''Wichita'' departed for Hawaii on 6 December, reaching Pearl Harbor on 12 December before proceeding to the Marianas. There, the ship loaded servicemen from Saipan and steamed back to San Francisco, arriving on 12 January 1946. She left port on 27 January bound for the east coast of the United States; she transited the [[Panama Canal]] on 5–9 February and reached Philadelphia on 14 February. There, she was assigned to the [[United States Sixteenth Fleet|Sixteenth Fleet]] and was placed in reserve on 15 July. ''Wichita'' was decommissioned on 3 February 1947 and laid up at Philadelphia.<ref name=DANFS/>

In the late 1940s, the Navy considered converting ''Wichita'' into a guided-missile cruiser, but {{USS|Boston|CA-69|2}} and ''Canberra'' were chosen instead.<ref name=T129/> On 1 March 1959, the ship was stricken from the [[Naval Vessel Register]] and sold on 14 August to the [[Union Minerals and Alloys Corporation]].<ref name=DANFS/>

==Notes==
{{Reflist|20em}}

==References==
* {{cite book|last=Campbell|first=John|title=Naval Weapons of World War II|year=1985|location=London|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|isbn=0-87021-459-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Crenshaw|first=Russell Sydnor|year=1998|title=South Pacific Destroyer: The Battle for the Solomons from Savo Island to Vella Gulf|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis|isbn=1-55750-136-X}}
* {{cite book|last=Cressman|first=Robert|title=The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II|url=https://archive.org/details/TheOfficialChronologyOfTheUSNavyInWorldWarII|publisher=US Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis|year=2000|isbn=1-55750-149-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Frank|first=Richard B.|author-link=Richard B. Frank|year=1990|title=Guadalcanal: The Definitive Account of the Landmark Battle|publisher=[[Penguin Group]]|location=New York|isbn=0-14-016561-4|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/guadalcanal00rich}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|chapter=United States of America|pages=86–166|editor-last1=Gardiner|editor-first1=Robert|editor-last2=Chesneau|editor-first2=Roger|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|location=Annapolis|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1980|isbn=0-87021-913-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Garfield|first=Brian|title=The Thousand-Mile War: World War II in Alaska and the Aleutians|url=https://archive.org/details/thousandmilewarw00garf_0|url-access=registration|publisher=University of Alaska Press|location=Fairbanks|year=1995|isbn=0-912006-83-8}}
* {{cite book|last=Hammond|first=James W.|title=The Treaty Navy: The Story of the US Naval Service Between the World Wars|publisher=US Trafford|location=Victoria|year=2001|isbn=1-55212-876-8}}
* {{cite book|last=O'Hara|first=Vincent P.|title=The U.S. Navy Against the Axis: Surface Combat, 1941–1945|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis|year=2007|isbn=978-1-59114-650-6}}
* {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|author-link=Jürgen Rohwer|title=Chronology of the War at Sea, 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|publisher=US Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis|year=2005|isbn=1-59114-119-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Sloan|first=Bill|title=The Ultimate Battle: Okinawa 1945—The Last Epic Struggle of World War II|year=2008|location=New York|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=978-0-7432-9247-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Terzibaschitsch|first=Stefan|title=Cruisers of the US Navy 1922–1962|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis|year=1984|isbn=0-87021-974-X}}
* {{cite book|last=Tomblin|first=Barbara|title=With Utmost Spirit: Allied Naval Operations in the Mediterranean, 1942–1945|publisher=University Press of Kentucky|location=Lexington|year=2004|isbn=0-8131-2338-0}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category inline|USS Wichita (CA-45)}}

{{USS Wichita (CA-45)}}
{{WWII US ships |state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wichita (Ca-45)}}
[[Category:Wichita-class cruisers| ]]
[[Category:1937 ships]]
[[Category:Ships built in Philadelphia]]
[[Category:Ships of the Aleutian Islands campaign]]
[[Category:World War II cruisers of the United States]]