USS Spokane (CL-120)

Career
Ordered:
Laid down:	15 November 1944
Launched:	22 September 1945
Commissioned:	17 May 1946
Decommissioned:	27 February 1950
Fate:	Scrapped in 1973
Struck:	15 April 1972
General Characteristics
Displacement:	6,000 tons
Length:	541 ft.
Beam:	53 ft. 2 in.
Draught:	25 ft. 11 in.
Propulsion:
Speed:	31.8 knots
Range:
Complement:	801 officers and enlisted
Armament:	12 x 5 in (6x2) 28 x 40 mm (7x4)
Aircraft:	None
Motto:

USS Spokane (CL-120) was a United States Navy Atlanta-class light cruiser laid down on 15 November 1944 at the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Kearny, New Jersey; launched on 22 September 1945, sponsored by Miss Patrice Munsel; and commissioned on 17 May 1946, with Captain L. E. Crist in command.

Spokane shifted to Bayonne, New Jersey, and then to Brooklyn, New York, whence she sailed on 24 June for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for her shakedown cruise and to conduct battle practice and weapons firing. She returned to New York on 11 September. The cruiser was assigned to the 2nd Fleet for duty in European waters, and sailed for Plymouth, England, on 7 October.

Spokane operated out of British ports until mid-January 1947. During her tour, she visited Scotland, Ireland, Norway, and Denmark. On 27 January, she stood out of Plymouth and proceeded to the United States via Portugal, Gibraltar, and Guantanamo Bay, where she participated in fleet exercises before arriving at Norfolk, Virginia, on 18 March. Following fleet and bombardment exercises in the Chesapeake Bay during the summer, she had a period of yard availability at the Brooklyn Navy Yard from 22 September to 14 October. The cruiser returned to Norfolk for Navy Day, 27 October, and then prepared for another deployment.

Spokane stood out of Norfolk on the 29th, and rendezvoused with other units of the 2nd Task Fleet for tactical exercises off Bermuda until 8 November, when she sailed for England. She arrived at Plymouth on 16 November, and was assigned to duty with Naval Forces, Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean. Four days later, the ship donned "full dress" in celebration of the marriage of Her Royal Highness, Princess Elizabeth of England. The cruiser visited Bremerhaven, Germany, from 24 to 26 November, and returned to England for tactical operations. In February 1947, the ship called at Rotterdam, The Netherlands, where she was visited by his Royal Highness Prince Bernhard on the 17th. On 1 March, Spokane stood out of Plymouth en route to the east coast, and arrived at Norfolk on 11 March. On the 18th, her designation was changed to CLAA-120.

Spokane's operations along the eastern seaboard during the remainder of the year were broken by an overhaul at the New York Navy Yard from 27 May to 15 September. On 4 January 1949, the ship sortied with Philippine Sea (CV-47) and Manchester (CL-83) for the Mediterranean. On 25 January, at Athens, the cruiser was paid a royal visit by King Paul and Queen Fredrika of Greece. Spokane participated in war games with 6th Fleet units, and visited ports in Turkey, Italy, France, Sardinia, Tunisia, Libya, and Algeria before returning to Norfolk on 23 May.

Spokane acted as a training ship for Naval Reserves of the 4th Naval District during the summer and then participated in training exercises in the Virginia Capes area.

On 24 October 1949, Spokane sailed to New York for inactivation. She was placed in reserve, out of commission, on 27 February 1950, and berthed at New York. On 1 April 1966, she was redesignated AC-191. Spokane was struck from the Navy list on 15 April 1972. She was sold to Luria Brothers & Company, Inc., on 17 May 1973 and scrapped.

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.