The USS Minneapolis (CA-36) was an American heavy cruiser the keel of which was laid in 1931, launched in September 1933, and commissioned with the US Navy in 1934. The total length of the ship was 179 m, width 18.8 m, and standard displacement - at the time of launching - 10,100 tons. The maximum speed was up to 32.7 knots. The main armament at the time of the launch was 9 203 mm guns in three turrets of three guns each, and the secondary armament was mainly 8 127 mm guns.
USS Minneapolis (CA-36) was one New Orleans-class cruiser (originally: Astoria-class). These types of units were built to the tonnage limit imposed by the Washington Treaty, but marked a decisive step forward compared to the previous classes of American cruisers. First of all, the armor and the overall strength of the structure were significantly improved, which proved its great advantages during the fights in the Pacific. In addition, for the first time in the US Navy, 203 mm main artillery was used in real turrets. The maximum possible speed was also taken care of. Undoubtedly, ships of this class were very successful units, able to compete with their Japanese counterparts without any problems. USS Minneapolis (CA-36) at the time of the Japanese attack on the base in Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) was within a radius of several kilometers from it, conducting artillery exercises. In May 1942, the ship took part in the Battle of the Coral Sea and indirectly participated in the Battle of Midway in June of the same year. After these struggles, he was directed to the Mariana Islands and Guadalcanal Island. Here, in November 1942, he took part in the Battle of Tassafaronga, suffering very heavy damage, which excluded him from operations until August 1943. In June 1944, the USS Minneapolis took part in the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and shortly thereafter in the naval struggle of the Battle of Leyte Bay. The cruiser, after this last battle, later supported American operations in the Philippines. The USS Minneapolis was decommissioned in 1947 and sold for scrap in 1959.