Chicago's final form shows the fighting system that replaced the gun cruiser. Guided-missile launchers fore and aft dominate the layout, while ASROC supplies an anti-submarine weapon. Retained five-inch/38 mounts preserve a limited conventional gun battery even though they are difficult to pick out in the photograph. The comparison makes the change in mission visible: the rebuild exchanged heavy surface firepower for a missile-centered air-defense and escort role.
Chapter · 7:11-9:03
Chicago's weapons fit defines the new mission
The finished Chicago shows how missiles, ASROC, and retained five-inch guns replaced a heavy cruiser's main battery with an air-defense and escort system.