|
|
 |
|
The USS Northampton CLC1
|
|
|
Official History:
The USS Northampton CLC-1
was originally laid down as CA-125 on August 31, 1944 by the Fore River Yard, Bethlehem Steel Corporation in
Quincy,
Massachusetts. Work was suspended between August 11, 1945 and July 1, 1948 and
she was launched as CLC-1 on January 27, 1951. Northampton
was sponsored by Mrs. Edmond J. Lampron, and commissioned as CLC-1 on March 7, 1953 with Captain William D.
Irvin in command. Following shakedown, Northampton reported for duty to Commander Operational Development Forces, Atlantic Fleet.
For seven months she conducted extensive tests of her new equipment. Evaluation completed in September 1954, she reverted
to the operational control of Commander Battleship-Cruiser Force, Atlantic Fleet. She next demonstrated her capabilities as
a tactical Command Ship by serving as flagship, first for Commander Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet (October-November 1954)
and then for Commander 6th Fleet (December 1954-March 1955). Between 1 September and 22 October she served as flagship for
Commander Strike Force, Atlantic, a position she was to hold frequently over the next fifteen
years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
On 24 February 1956, Northampton emerged from her
first overhaul, at the Portsmouth, Va., Naval Shipyard, and
after refresher training off Cuba, participated,
as a unit of the Navy's first guided missile division afloat, CRUDIV 6, in the first public demonstration of the Terrier missile.
In April, she steamed east for 6 months with the 6th Fleet, and, during the summer of 1957, resumed midshipmen training cruises.
But, between that time and 1961, she returned only infrequently to European waters. Deployed on those occasions for NATO and
Fleet exercises and People to People visits the command ship was visited by high government officials of various European
countries, including King Baudouin of the Belgians and King Olav V of Norway.
The Northampton was redesignated CC-1
on April 15, 1961, Northampton remained in the western Atlantic
until decommissioning in February 1970. Her cruises ranged from Canadian to Panamanian waters as she extensively tested and
evaluated new communications equipment and played host to visiting national and international dignitaries, including Presidents
Kennedy and Johnson.
|
|
|
|