USS Saint Paul (CA-73)

 

The Last Big Gun to Roar in Anger — USS Saint Paul (CA-73), She was the final voice of an era — when heavy cruisers ruled the waves and 8-inch guns wrote history. 

 

USS Saint Paul (CA-73), a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser, was commissioned in 1945, just in time to fire her guns during the final stages of  World War II. But her journey was far from over.

 

Saint Paul served with distinction in three wars:

– In WWII, she bombarded Japan’s coast during the last battles.

– In Korea, she became the last American heavy cruiser to fire her guns in combat, unleashing devastating firepower in shore bombardments.

– In Vietnam, she returned once more, proving that steel and discipline still had a place in modern warfare.

 

Nicknamed "The Fighting Saint", she was a symbol of endurance, firepower, and American naval presence in the Pacific. With her 8-inch guns and imposing silhouette, she delivered both shock and precision, supporting ground troops and dominating the coastlines.

 

Decommissioned in 1971, Saint Paul’s name still echoes among sailors and historians alike — the last of her kind to fire in anger.