Built by New York Shipbuilding Co. in Camden, New Jersey, and commissioned on August 17, 1934, the U.S.S. Tuscaloosa (CA 37) was a New Orleans Class heavy cruiser with a displacement of 9,975 tons, 107,000 HP steam turbines, a speed of 32.7 knots, a length of 588 feet, a crew of 708, and armament of nine 8 inch / 55 caliber guns and eight 5 inch / 25 caliber dual purpose guns. From the beginning of U.S. involvement in World War II through 1944, she operated in the European Theater, participating in convoy protection, the invasion of North Africa, the first carrier strikes in Norway, and the invasions of Normandy and South France. In 1945 she operated in the Pacific Theater and participated in the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She fought in four of the most crucial battles of the war and was awarded seven Battle Stars. The U.S.S. Tuscaloosa was decommissioned in 1946.