Design
These ships were planned as a follow-on class to the Northampton class. The Portland-class was the third U.S. Navy class of "Washington Treaty" 10,000-ton heavy cruisers. The general layout followed the Northampton-class, using the same three triple-turret layout for their 8-inch (203 mm) guns. However, the torpedo tubes were deleted. After commissioning of the Northamptons it was discovered that they were about a thousand tons lighter than allowed. This was corrected in the design of the Portland-class, using the extra weight for a better protection of the machinery spaces and the magazines. The main difference were measures to reduce topweight. The masts were much lower and the aft tripod mast was much lighter. Both ships were fitted out as flagships, providing enough room for an admiral and his staff. They were extensively modified in mid-1943 in a way that was later used to modernize the Northampton-class, making it sometimes difficult to distinguish the classes.
Six ships were originally planned for the Portland-class, but the cruisers CA-32, CA-34, and CA-36 were built using a modified design which became the New Orleans class.
Read more about this topic: Portland Class Cruiser
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