laststandonzombieisland

Happy Columbus Day, folks.

These images seemed to fit, as they are of the third Navy warship to carry the name, the brand new Baltimore-class heavy cruiser USS Columbus (CA-74), at rest on the Hudson some 80 years ago this month, where she was on hand for New York City’s epic Navy Day festivities.

And as we know, NYC is the heart and soul of Columbus Day.

USS Columbus (CA-74) anchored in the Hudson River, off New York City, at the time of the Navy Day Fleet Review, circa late October 1945. A Ford Motor Company facility is in the background. Collection of Warren Beltramini, donated by Beryl Beltramini, 2007. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. NH 105562

USS Columbus (CA-74) hosing down her starboard anchor cable, while in New York Harbor during the post-World War II Navy Day Fleet Review, circa October 1945. Note the harbor oiler at right. Courtesy of Lieutenant Gustave J. Freret, USN (Retired), 1972. NH 81121

Commissioned at Boston on 8 June 1945, Columbus was too late to get any WWII battle stars then served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean during Korea. She was later converted to a Galveston-class guided missile cruiser, CG-12, and served until 1975, getting 30 solid years in, somehow, without seeing major combat operations.

Her place on the Navy List was taken by the 688i-class hunter-killer USS Columbus (SSN-762), which has been in service since 1993, having bested the old cruiser’s service by two years.