The USS Rochester Association is comprised of naval veterans who served on the USS Rochester (CA 124) while it was commissioned. The association publishes a quarterly newsletter and has a reunion every 2 years. Welcome to their internet home. The third USS Rochester (CA-124), an Oregon City-class heavy cruiser, was laid down 29 May 1944 by Bethlehem Steel Co., Quincy, Mass.; launched 28 August 1945; and commissioned 20 December 1946 at the Boston Navy Yard, Capt. Harry Guthrie in command. A number of Rochester veterans have written about their experiences on board and in the Navy. Enjoy their stories. The veterans of the USS Rochester also provided hundreds of photos showing their times on the ship and ashore.
The U.S.S ROCHESTER [CA 124] was the third ship in the U. S. Navy to be commissioned with the name ROCHESTER. One of the OREGON CITY CLASS, it was a single funnel cruiser which was designed to reduce the top heaviness cruisers had. In order to obtain these gains the two funnels were compressed into one and the after superstructure was lowered. By reducing the number of funnels and lowering the after decks, they were able to implement more AA fire power and increase the area of AA fire. Originally eight cruisers of this class were planned but only three were launched before the war’s end. Although the Oregon City was the lead ship of this class it saw very little service. Oregon City, [CA 122] was commissioned 16 Feb. 1946 and decommissioned 15 Dec. 1947. The second ship of this class was the U.S.S. ALBANY [CA 123] was commissioned 15 June 1946 and operated with the 2nd and 6th fleets deployed in the Mediterranean. The Albany was converted to a guided missile heavy cruiser and carried the new ship’s number CG10. The third ship of the Oregon City Class was the U.S.S. ROCHESTER [CA 124] and the only ship of the Oregon City Class to see action.
The U.S.S. ROCHESTER was commissioned 20 Dec. 1946. Subsequent to dock trials and measured runs, the ROCHESTER departed Provinceton, MA. From Feb.47 until Apr. 47, she completed her shakedown cruises off the coast of Cuba. Capt. Harry A. Gutherie, (Annapolis, ’21) in command. On board when leaving for her shakedown cruises were four guests of Navy Secretary Forrestal: Vernon Croop of the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Howard Hosmer of the Rochester Times Union, Gunnar Wilig and Charles Silverson of radio station WHEC and WHAM, respectively. During the trip to Cuba the ROCHESTER weathered three separate gales in which 90 knot wind gusts pounded the cruiser. Her toughness saw her through the boiling seas and driving snow and kept her afloat as she rolled 36-37 degrees. Skipper Guthrie, a one-time submariner, stuck to his bridge for four consecutive nights, never even changing his clothes. Executive Officer Commander F. M. Peters Jr., USN, stated, “She rolls like a lamb.”
After completing the shakedown, the ROCHESTER completed a total of 9 training cruises for reservists and midshipmen. Then, their tours began!
