Wreck of USS Oklahoma City (CL-91/CLG-5/CG-5)

Micronesia / Yap / Fais /
 military, shipwreck, cruiser, United States Navy
Laid down on December 8th, 1942 as a Cleveland Class Light Cruiser, the USS Oklahoma City commissioned into US Navy service on December 22nd, 1944 and steamed for war in the Pacific.

After participating in the invasion of Okinawa, the Oklahoma City sailed with assault groups attacking the Japanese mainland for the rest of the war, and following the cessation of hostilities she monitored the occupation forces entering the islands until early 1946, when she sailed for the US, carrying returning veterans. Like many of her sisters, she was not needed with the peacetime US Navy and was decommissioned into reserve on June 30th, 1947.

After 10 years in reserve, the Oklahoma City was selected for conversion into a Galveston Class Guided Missile Light Cruiser, which at the time was one of the most advanced anti-aircraft warship classes of the time. Entering the shipyard in 1957, she underwent extensive conversion for the operation of TALOS missiles, which included the removal of her Stern guns and the remodeling of her entire superstructure.

Recommissioning into US Navy service on September 7th, 1960, the USS Oklahoma City would go on to serve with distinction in the Vietnam War as the Flagship of the US th Fleet, homeported in Yokosuka. In addition to numerous gunfire support missions, the Oklahoma City fired the first successful combat surface-to-surface missile shot in US Navy history when she destroyed a NVA Radar Van onshore. Following Vietnam, she remained in service until 1979, when she decommissioned as the longest serving member of the Cleveland Class of Light Cruisers. USS Oklahoma City earned two Battle Stars for her WWII service and 13 Battle Stars for her Vietnam War service.

Following her decommissioning, she was held in reserve for almost 20 years before she was selected as a target ship for RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) Naval Exercises. Towed to this location, she was used as a target ship for air attack and surface ship attacks, and withstood several days of punishment. Finally, the South Korean Submarine Lee Chun (SS 062) sank then Veteran Cruiser with a single SST-4 Torpedo which broke the Cruiser in two, sinking it at this location on March 25th, 1999 in 1000 fathoms.

www.navsource.org/archives/04/091/04091.htm
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Oklahoma_City_(CLG-5)
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   10°34'13"N   142°3'36"E

Comments

  • She was decommissioned due to the lack of a sonic and or a dairy queen in the re-fit plans.
  • how deep is it?
  • One fathom is 6 feet, so 6000 feet deep.
  • I was there. An honor to be selected to assist in placing the charges in the inner hull to ensure she went down and did not become a hazard to navigation. A part of Oklahoma City still lives, in mid Michigan.
  • She was built, served valiantly in combat and sunk before I even knew she existed! OKC is my hometown! Nothing like being aware! Good by to a beautiful lady and a brave ship!
  • I was able to watch as our ship (CG-62) put 5" rounds into her hull during the sinkex. (Some looked like they bounced off). She was an impressive looking ship, even as a derelict.
  • Show all comments
This article was last modified 9 years ago