>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1970) Vol. 5, p.361.





PORTSMOUTH



CL-102

Displacement:  10,000 t.

Length:  610’1”

Beam:  66’6”

Draft:  20’ (mean)

Speed:  33 k.

Complement:  992

Armament:  12 6”; 12 5”; 16 40mm; 10 20mm

Class: CLEVELAND



	The third PORTSMOUTH (CL-102) was laid down by the 

Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, 

Va., 28 June 1943; launched 20 September 1944; sponsored by 

Mrs. Marian M. Dale and Mrs. Sarah B. Leigh; and 

commissioned 25 June 1945, Capt. Heber B. Brumbaugh in 

command.



	Following shakedown off Cuba, PORTSMOUTH, based at 

Norfolk, was employed with the Operational Development Force 

until the spring of 1946.  In May, she departed on a 

goodwill cruise to Africa and after visiting Capetown, 

Lagos, Freetown, Monrovia, Dakar, and Casablanca, steamed 

into the Mediterranean for calls at Naples, and Palermo 

before heading home.  On 25 November, PORTSMOUTH got 

underway to return to the Mediterranean.  Arriving at Naples 

7 December, she shifted around the peninsula to Trieste at 

the end of the month and until February 1947 cruised in the 

politically turbulent Adriatic.  The following month she 

returned for another two weeks at Trieste and in April she 

sailed for the United States.  The following November she 

again steamed east to the Mediterranean, returning to the 

east coast for overhaul at Boston 11 March 1948.  On 

completion of overhaul she resumed type exercises off the 

eastern seaboard and conducted Naval Reserve training 

cruises to the Caribbean.  On 9 March 1949, she entered the 

Philadelphia Naval Shipyard for inactivation overhaul.  

Decommissioning 15 June 1949, she joined the Atlantic 

Reserve Fleet and into 1970 remains a unit of that fleet, 

berthed at Philadelphia.



	[Stricken from the Navy Register on 15 January 1971, 

PORTSMOUTH was sold on 21 March 1974.  

K. Jack Bauer and Stephen S. Roberts, “Register of Ships of 

the U.S. Navy, 1775-1990; Major Combatants;” p.151.]





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com