USS Pittsburgh CA-72

The USS Pittsburgh was a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser. She was the third ship to be named for the city in Pennsylvania. Construction began on the vessel February 3, 1943, and she launched February 22, 1944 under the sponsorship of Mrs. Cornelius D. Scully. She was then commissioned on October 10, 1944 under the command of Captain John Edward Gingrich.

History

The USS Pittsburgh had her training in the Caribbean and along the east coast before reporting to duty in the Pacific in January 1945. She joined Task Force 58 in Ulithi on February 13 and from there set out to attack Iwo Jima, Tokyo, and Nansei Shoto in the early spring.

In mid-March, the USS Pittsburgh left Ulithi to attack Kyushu. During the battle, the USS Franklin was hit, and the USS Pittsburgh helped rescue the survivors. She helped tow the ship to safety while her crew worked on restoring power, and the USS Franklin was able to make it to port on her own.

From late March into April, the USS Pittsburgh assisted with the invasion of Okinawa, repelling enemy attacks and launching scout planes. On June 4, she was struck by a typhoon, and her bow structure was torn off. The crew was able to keep her afloat and avoided collision with the bow structure before sailing to Guam after the storm for repairs. The bow was later salvaged and given the name McKeesport after a suburb of Pittsburgh. With a temporary bow in place, the USS Pittsburgh left Guam for the Puget Sound Navy Yard for repairs where the ship remained until the end of the war. She was then placed in commission on reserve on March 12, 1946 and was decommissioned the next year.

The USS Pittsburgh was re-commissioned for the Korean War on September 25, 1951 under the command of Captain Preston V. Marcer. She left for the Panama Canal in late October for training out of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and then was sent to Norfolk. She joined the 6th Fleet in February 1952, and upon her return in May, joined the Atlantic Fleet. The USS Pittsburgh headed back to the Mediterranean in early December, and in January 1953 went on a good will cruise of the Indian Ocean.

In May, the USS Pittsburgh returned to Norfolk for a major overhaul. She rejoined the 6th Fleet on January 19, 1954 and worked out of the Indian Ocean until the end of May. Throughout the summer, she worked along the east coast and in the Caribbean. She collided with another ship on July 29 while in the Saint Lawrence River, but was quickly repaired. In late October, she was sent to join the Pacific Fleet out of Long Beach, California.

From Long Beach, the USS Pittsburgh headed to the Far East, arriving in Yokosuka on November 26. There she joined the 7th Fleet in the defense of the Tachen Islands and the evacuation of civilians. She returned to the west coast in February 1955 and worked locally until the end of October when she was inactivated. The USS Pittsburgh was then placed in reserve on April 28, 1956 and decommissioned August 28, 1956. She was removed from the Navy list on July 1, 1973 and sold for scrap the following year.

Asbestos Risks

The USS Pittsburgh faced many risks as a wartime ship and fortunately survived two major wars without any major incidents. However, she had other risks that were not associated with her wartime duties. These risks were prevalent because she was built using asbestos.

Most of the Navy ships built during the same era as the USS Pittsburgh were manufactured using asbestos. Asbestos was commonly used as insulation because it is naturally resistant to heat and fire. It could be found throughout the ships, particularly in areas like the boiler and engine rooms and around wiring and steam pipes.

While asbestos was commonly used as a building material, crew members were often unaware of the dangers associated with exposure to the mineral. When asbestos is disturbed tiny particles can break off and contaminate the air. When inhaled, these particles can become lodged in the linings of the major organs. This can lead to inflammation, which over time may lead to the development of asbestos-related illnesses such as the cancer mesothelioma for which there is no cure.

The workers and sailors that worked around and on the ships were not warned about the risks associated with asbestos, nor were they given any protective gear to wear while they were working with the mineral.

Thousands of veterans and shipyard workers have become diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases as a result of exposure aboard cruisers and other vessels. If you served aboard the USS Pittsburgh or worked on the vessel and wish to learn more about asbestos-related diseases, causes, treatment and legal information, please fill out the complimentary packet request form at the top, right of this page.

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