Lead ship of the largest class of heavy cruisers ever built, the USS Baltimore (CA-68), was the lead ship of the Baltimore-class of heavy cruisers, and the fifth U.S. warship to bear that name. Launched on 28 July 1942 by Bethlehem Steel Company, Quincy, Massachusetts, the USS Baltimore was commissioned on 15 April 1943 under the command of Captain W. C. Calhoun.
Soon after entering service, the Baltimore was assigned to the Pacific Fleet where she took part in fire support and covering missions in support of such operations as the Makin Islands landings, the Kwajalein invasion, the raid on Truk, the Eniwetok seizure, the Marianas attacks, air strikes against Marcus and Wake islands, the invasion of Saipan, and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. In mid-1944, the Baltimore embarked President Franklin D. Roosevelt and sailed to Pearl Harbor for a meeting with Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur.
In November 1944, the Baltimore was assigned to the 3rd Fleet, and from 14 December 1944 through 22 January 1945, she participated in the attacks on Luzon, Formosa, the China Coast and Okinawa. Following operations off Okinawa, the Baltimore joined the 5th Fleet, and from February through June 1945 she operated in support of the Honshu Island attacks, the Iwo Jima Operation, and her final wartime mission, the Okinawa operation. The Baltimore received nine battle stars for her services in World War II.
Following the end of World War II, the Baltimore formed part of the “Magic Carpet” fleet and was later a unit of the naval occupation force in Japan from late November 1945 through mid-February 1946. Following these operations, the Baltimore returned to the U.S. West Coast and was placed out of commission, in reserve on 8 July 1946.
The Baltimore was recommissioned on 28 November 1951 and assigned to the Atlantic Fleet and was deployed to the Mediterranean Sea during the summers of 1952, 1953 and 1954. In June 1953, the Baltimore represented the U.S. Navy in the Coronation Naval Review at Spithead. England. In January 1955, she was reassigned to the Pacific fleet and subsequently deployed with the 7th Fleet in the Far East until August 1955. Upon returning from the Far East, the Baltimore was placed out of commission in reserve on 31 May 1956. She was stricken on 15 February 1971.