USS Providence ( CL - 82 ) USS " Providence " ( CL – 82 / CLG - 6 / CG - 6 ) , a " Cleveland " - class light cruiser was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named after the city of Providence , Rhode Island . " Providence " was commissioned between 1945 and 1949 . From 1957 to 1959 , she was converted to a guided missile cruiser and Flagship . She served in that role from 1959 to 1973 . After her decommissioning she was finally scrapped in 1980 . Construction and commissioning . She was laid down 27 July 1943 by Bethlehem Steel Co . , Quincy , Mass . ; launched 28 December 1944 ; sponsored by Mrs . Mary Roberts ; and commissioned 15 May 1945 , Capt . Thomas John Ryan in command . Departing Boston 13 June 1945 , " Providence " completed shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay , Cuba . Upon arrival at Newport , R . I . , 4 September , she trained prospective cruiser and carrier crews until 6 October . Service . 1940s . Departing Boston in November , she visited Piraeus , Greece , in December , Istanbul with from 5 to 9 April 1946 , and Alexandria , Egypt , in May . Leaving the Mediterranean 16 June , she arrived at Philadelphia on the 25th . Following departure from the Delaware Capes in October and training out of Guantanamo Bay and Norfolk , Va . , she left Hampton Roads for the Mediterranean 3 February 1947 . After exercises and port visits in the Mediterranean , she departed Athens , Greece , in May , and arrived at Boston later that month . Departing Newport , R . I . , in November , she operated in the Mediterranean from 20 November 1947 to 2 March 1948 , visiting Naples in December , Taranto in January , and Trieste and Venice in February , returning to Newport in March . Sailing from Newport in September 1948 , she served the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean from 23 September 1948 to 14 January 1949 , visiting Thessalonika in October , Marseilles in November , Trieste and Venice in December , and Oran in January , returning to Newport later in January . She decommissioned at Boston 14 June 1949 , and entered the Atlantic Reserve Fleet . 1950s . Reclassified CLG – 6 on 23 May 1957 , she commenced conversion to a " Providence " - class guided missile light cruiser at Boston in June 1957 . Provided with RIM - 2 Terrier missiles , command ship facilities , and a nuclear weapons capability , she recommissioned 17 September 1959 , Capt . Kenneth L . Veth in command . As a missile cruiser , she retained the # 1 6 - inch gun turret . The # 2 turret was replaced with a dual 5 " / 38 caliber mount ; the aft armament was wholly replaced by missiles and the after side of the superstructure completely rebuilt . 1960s . Following shakedown out of Guantanamo Bay , " Providence " arrived at her new home port of Long Beach , California , 29 July 1960 . After a six - month tour of duty with the 7th Fleet , she returned to Long Beach 31 March 1961 . Following exercises off the West Coast , she arrived at Yokosuka , Japan , in May 1962 , and relieved as flagship of the 7th Fleet . During 1962 and 1963 she participated in 7th Fleet exercises . During a three - day visit to Saigon in January 1964 , she hosted South Vietnamese and American dignitaries , and delivered more than 38 tons of " Project Handclasp " materials to local humanitarian organizations . Departing Yokosuka in July 1964 , she returned to Long Beach in August . In October 1964 she began exercises in the Eastern Pacific . During January to June 1965 , she received modern communications equipment . Spending the remainder of 1965 off the West Coast with the 1st Fleet , she participated in exercises and visited various West Coast ports . Deployed to WestPac 12 November 1966 , she again relieved " Oklahoma City " ( CLG – 5 ) as flagship of the 7th Fleet on 1 December 1966 at Yokosuka , Japan . She contributed to a major bombardment of enemy positions in Vietnam 1 April 1967 . She duelled with an enemy shore battery off the DMZ on 25 May . In July she provided gunfire support for amphibious operations . She bombarded enemy storage areas south of Da Nang 10 October . During 1968 , she provided gunfire support off Vietnam during each month except June and December . In February 1968 the " Providence " was involved in the Tết Offensive . She contributed by shelling the wall around " The Citadel " in Huế " ( pronounced ' way ' ) " , in the Battle of Hue , a breach in the wall was opened , allowing the United States Marine Corps to break the stalemate at Huế . After this , the " Providence " along with three carrier groups headed for the Sea of Japan as the was captured by North Korea . During 1969 she operated with the 1st Fleet off the West Coast . 1970s . " Providence " left the Port Of San Diego to provide NGFS off the coast of Viet Nam from April to December 1972 . For her service in Vietnam , she received a Navy Unit Commendation in 1973 : " The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Unit Commendation to USS Providence ( CLG - 6 ) for service as set forth in the following citation : < br > For exceptionally meritorious service from 20 April 1972 to 1 December 1972 while participating in combat operations off the coast of North and South Vietnam . In her primary role of providing naval gunfire support to allied forces in Vietnam , USS Providence inflicted serious losses on the enemy . Her outstanding support of South Vietnamese forces played a significant role in containing the North Vietnamese invasion . During the South Vietnamese counteroffensive , Providence time and again provided the firepower when and where it was needed by the forces ashore . Providence was also called upon on numerous occasions to participate in operations to interdict the flow of supplies in North Vietnam . She accomplished this mission with daring and skill , often coming under intense hostile fire . Providence took part in the first multi - cruiser strike since World War II . This daring and successful raid on military targets in the Haiphong harbor area demonstrated superior teamwork and professionalism by the officers and men of USS Providence . Their sustained superior performance reflected great credit upon themselves , their ship , and the United States Naval Service . < br > John W . Warner , Secretary of the Navy , 14 May 1973 " . Decommissioning . " Providence " was decommissioned on 31 August 1973 . She was stricken on 30 September 1978 and sold to National Steel Corp . , Terminal Island , CA Sale # 160018 on 15 July 1980 , removed from custody 31 July 1980 and scrapped . Awards . Besides the Vietnam Navy Gallantry Cross with Palm device , the following medals were awarded :