these pictures are of USS Wichita-CA45 the only Wichita class heavy cruiser in the USN. commissioned in Feb., 1939 she served through the entire Second World War in both the Pacific and the Atlantic. she was then put in reserve until she was scrapped in 1959. Wichita was armed with a main battery of nine 8" naval rifles and a secondary of eight 5" rifles. her geared turbines put out 100,000shp for a top speed of 32.5kts. the City of Wichita at one time presented the USS Wichita with a set of silver for use on special occasions. after scrapping the set was returned to the City. when i worked in city hall in the late 70's and early 80's the set was on display. amazingly enough it was stolen and to this day no one has been caught for the offense. the first picture is explained by the caption. the second is of Wichita firing her secondary battery of 5" guns. next is a picture of Wichita firing her main battery 8" rifles at the French Battleship Jean Bart off the North African port of Casablanca. fourth is USS Wichita firing her main battery guns perhaps in bombardment of Okinawa. last is the ship as she was as new in her pre-war colors. 
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