USS Quincy CA 71 (1943-1974)
The USS Quincy was commissioned in Massachusetts in December 1943 as a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser. Its shakedown cruise through Caribbean waters was followed by training in the North Atlantic.
Action in World War II
The Quincy provided power for the invasion of Normandy and in 1944, the ship left for European waters as a member of the 12th fleet. It was also a part of the invasion of Southern France in the summer of 1944 and provided gunfire support for the attack on Normandy.
In January and February of 1945, the Quincy transported Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference, a meeting between powers of the Middle East. The cruiser was then deployed to the Pacific to help with the efforts in Asia. It was used in World War II for transporting fast carriers to Japan. These fast carriers performed air strikes on various Japanese targets.
Action in the Korean War
The USS Quincy was decommissioned in 1946 but was re-commissioned in 1952 to aide in the Korean War. The ship was in Asian waters from July to December 1953. It remained in Asian waters until December. After this it was again decommissioned and spent two years in reserve before it was officially removed from the Naval Vessel Register. In 1974, the ship was finally sold for scrap metal.
Asbestos in Navy Ships
Although an essential component of the naval fleet, even today, naval cruisers also pose a lasting health risk to soldiers serving on them. Unfortunately, products containing asbestos were common, especially on older ships, because of the material’s high resistance to heat and fire. Despite its value as an insulator, asbestos fiber intake can lead to several serious health consequences, including mesothelioma, a devastating cancer without cure. Current and former military personnel who came into contact with these ships should seek immediate medical attention in order to detect possible health consequences associated with asbestos exposure.
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