The USS Canberra (CA-70 later CAG-2), a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser, is the only U.S. cruiser to bear the name of a foreign city. Launched in April 1943, she was scheduled originally to receive the name Pittsburgh but was renamed to commemorate the Australian cruiser lost during the Battle of Savo Island, which took place during the Solomon Islands campaign of World War II. The Canberra (CA-70) was commissioned on 14 October 1943, under the command of Captain A.R. Early.
Following a brief shakedown cruise, the Canberra joined the Pacific fleet in early 1944. During her first eight months in service, the Canberra participated in 18 engagements with enemy forces, including operations with fast carrier task forces against Wake, Marcus, Palau, Yap, Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam Islands. During her Marianas operations, the Canberra participated in the First Battle of the Philippine Sea – known as the Marianas Turkey Shoot – in which 325 enemy planes were shot down with no damage to U.S. ships.
On 13 October 1944 during a fast carrier task force strike on Formosa, five Japanese torpedo aircraft attempted to attack the Canberra. All five planes were shot down, but the last plane launched its torpedo. The explosion killed 23 men and stopped the Canberra dead in the water. Taken under tow and protected by a screening force, the Canberra then underwent temporary repairs at the Caroline Islands and eventually arrived under her own power – at Boston Navy Yard on 16 February 1945. The Canberra rejoined the Pacific fleet in October 1945. She was decommissioned and placed in reserve on 7 March 1947.
Following five years of inactivity, the Canberra was selected in 1952 for major conversion to a guided-missile heavy cruiser. After extensive modifications, including the fitting of Terrier surface-to-air missiles, the Canberra was recommissioned as the world’s second guided-missile cruiser (CAG-2) on 15 June 1956. In the spring of 1958, the Canberra served as the ceremonial ship where Medal of Honor recipient Hospitalman First Class William R. Charrette made the final selection of the Unknown Soldier of World War II.
On 1 May 1968, the Canberra was reclassified as CA-70. Two years later, on 16 February 1970, the Canberra was once again decommissioned and placed in reserve. She was stricken from the Navy vessel register in July 1978.