USS Wichita — U.S. Heavy Cruiser with 13 Battles Stars USS Wichita (CA‑45) was the U.S. Navy’s only ship of her class, a treaty‑limited heavy cruiser armed with nine 8‑inch guns in three triple turrets. Commissioned in 1939, she combined the firepower of earlier “tin‑clad” cruisers with stronger armor and protection developed just before World War II. #usswichita, #wichita, #ca45, #heavycruiser, #uscruiser, #usnavy, #worldwar2, #ww2ships, #navalhistory | ww2visualarchive