Table of Contents
Boxer Class Battlecruisers
The Boxer class battlecruisers was a series of six battlecruisers of the United States Navy which served during the Global War. Even with a Democrat administration in place the US Congress was weary of new construction plans put forward by the Navy. Consequently and over objections of President Hearst, these ships were limited to 32,000tons, Congress intended that this encourage foreign navies to limit ship sizes in the future. Armaments of 9 14“ and even 9 16” were considered however the former would have left them at a range disadvantage with the latest battleships and the latter would have meant a reckless reduction in armor. Three twin 16“ guns was the compromise. They were felt to be on par with the RN Formidable class having a third more weight of broadside from fewer main guns but they were inferior to battleships building in Japan.
The ships entered service in 1926, serving in the Caribbean and the Atlantic Fleets during the 1920's and 1930's. They were in the Atlantic Fleet at the beginning of the Global War, being used for neutrality patrols and convoy escort duty before being ordered to the Pacific Fleet in early 1937. The lost of the Constellation class left the Pacific Fleet without any available battlecruisers and the ships crossed the Nicaragua Canal to reinforce that fleet.
After the war they were upgraded between 1942 to 1945, with their aft turrets removed and replaced by Bulldog AA missiles. They served as AA escort for the carriers until being decommissioned in 1956, with two units being send to China, one to South Mexico and one to Puerto Rico while the two remaining units being send to the reserve fleet. That last units were finally scrapped in 1966.
Ships
General Characteristics
Displacement: 32,100 tons Length: 700 feet Beam: 102 feet Draft: 30.5 feet Speed: 28 knots Armament: six 16-inch(3×2), 10 five-inch, two 21-inch torpedo tubes.