Topeka (CLG 8) - Naval Cruise Book

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CQILI33 ,G-Q 4,4 K 10191 THE GUIDED MISSILE CRUISER TCPEKA, IS A FAR CRY FROM THE EARLIER TOPEKA. TODAY WE HAVE TERRIER MISSILES, A PRoVEN ACCURATE AIR DEFENSE CAPABILITY, IN ADDITION TO SIX G INCH AND SIX S INCH GUNS. THE CLG-8 IS MANNED BY A CREW OF oVER 1,000 OFFICERS AND MEN, THE FIRST U. S . NAVYSHIP NAMED ToPEKAALSo HADSIX GUNS, 4-INCH CANNONS, AND CARRIED FCURTEENOFFICERSAND153NlEN- SHEWAS ORIGINALLYBUILTIN 1881 IN KIEL, GERMANY, SOLD TO THE BRITISH , AND PURCHASED BY THE UNITED STATES IN 1898 IN TIME TO SEE ACTION IN THE CUBAN THEATER OF THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. AS THE PG-35 , AGUNBOAT, THE oRIGINALToPEKA SERVEDAT HER VARIED CAREER UNTIL 1930. SHE SERVEDASATRAINING SHIP IN CARIBBEAN WATERS AND PIONEERED IN WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY DURING THE 19oo'S. SHE FURTHER LED A RATHER PRoSAIC LIFE AS A PRISON SHIP AND HARBOR PROTECTOR AT PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE. SHEASSISTED IN PROTECTING AMERICAN INTERESTS DURINGACIVIL DISTURBANCE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, AND DURING WORLD WAS I SHE SERVED BOTH AS A TRAINING SHIP AND PATROL SHIP OFF'THE COAST OF MEXICO, FINALLY IN 1930 SHE WAS SOLD TO THE UNION SHIBUILDING COMPANY OF BALTIMORE. TCPEKA WAS CCNSTRUCTED BY BETHLEHEM STEEL COMPANYAT QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS. THE KEEL WAS LAID ON 24 APRIL 1943 AND SHE WAS LAUNCHED ON 19 AUGUST 1944, UNDER THE SPONSORSHIPOF MRS , FRANK WARREN, WIFE OF THE MAYOR OF ToPEKA, KANSAS , THE SHIP WAS PLACED IN COMMISSION AS CL-G7 IN BOSTON ON 23 DECEMBER 1944, UNDER THE COMMAND OF CAPTAIN THOMAS L. WATTLES, U. S, NAVY. ToPEKA WENT THROUGH A RAPID AND INTENSIVE SHAKEDOWNANDTRAINING PERIOD ToARRIVE IN PEARLHARBQR IN MAY 1945, HEADING FOR TOKYO. .IM