A Rare Deckside Perspective: USS Salem (CA-139) at Rest Among Sisters

Standing on the bow of the mighty USS Salem (CA-139), peering aft toward her forward superstructure, one is presented with a scene at once utilitarian and historic—where steel giants rest together between missions and the ever-present discipline of readiness is tangibly on display.

This view, captured in a moment of peacetime or preparedness, offers rich details for ship enthusiasts and historians alike. At the heart of the picture is the USS Salem herself, a Des Moines-class heavy cruiser—sleek, modern, and the pride of the post-World War II U.S. Navy. Her hull bristles with weaponry and technology, purposefully designed for the changing tides of naval warfare in the Atomic Age.

Shielded for Safety: The “Cacoon” Over the 3”/50 Caliber Gun Mount

The eye is first drawn amidships, where an unusual sight presents itself—the distinctive “cacoon,” a weatherproof covering draped over the exposed 3”/50 caliber forward gun mount. These open-mount anti-aircraft guns, lacking the armored shrouds of larger naval weapons, were vulnerable to the harsh elements of salt, sea, and sun. In port or at anchor, they would be carefully swaddled in this heavy-duty protective cover, affectionately known to sailors as a “cacoon.” It was a practical preparation—an effort to shield delicate equipment from corrosion and preserve the gun’s quick-readiness in the Navy’s stringent world of constant maintenance.

The presence of this cacoon says much about the life of a warship at rest. Even while docked, her crew never ceased working to ensure that every system on board remained ready for instant action. As in all things naval, appearances—like coverings—held deep practical meaning.

Among Titans: Newport News and Des Moines in Port

Swing your gaze to the left (port), and there towers the unmistakable silhouette of USS Newport News (CA-148), another Des Moines-class cruiser with lines and proportions matching Salem’s—her superstructure stacked high with radars, masts, and sleek command bridges. Her proximity reminds us that these ships operated as a fleet, not in isolation—each vessel a node in an intricate network of power projection, diplomacy, and deterrence during the Cold War.

To the right (starboard), the elegant lines of USS Des Moines (CA-134)—the lead ship of her class—complete this rare assembly of postwar naval might. Together, these three sister ships embodied the striking advances of the age: powerful automatic 8” guns, innovative electronics, and a peacetime mission that ranged from gunnery exercises to goodwill port visits across the globe.

Their close berthing, perhaps during a fleet review or a spell in home waters, emphasizes both the scale of the U.S. Navy’s heavy cruiser force in the early 1950s and the camaraderie forged among crews who lived and served in such floating cities.

Looking Down the Deck: The World of the Deck Division

Beneath your feet, the bow stretches long and clean, swept of clutter—a testament to the hard work of the deck division, ever busy with painting, chipping, and polishing. Here, sailors scrambled to man the anchor during arrival or break out lines for refueling at sea, their world defined by both the grand scale of steel and the close detail of hard manual labor.

The standing superstructure aft reveals the fortress-like complexity of a heavy cruiser—a maze of ladders, decks, and reinforced turrets. Forked radar masts and communications aerials rise above, ever vigilant for the signals of friend or foe.

The Sense of Presence

Photographs and memories of this view from the bow of the Salem resonate with a special energy—calm, alert, and powerful. Docked between her sisters, with her open guns “cacooned” for protection, the USS Salem is strongly anchored in time, embodying a legacy of readiness and strength. Here is a microcosm of the nation’s might: elegantly engineered for war, built for peace, and always prepared for what might come next.

Today, USS Salem is preserved as a museum ship in Quincy, Massachusetts, her decks open to visitors who can stand at her bow and look aft, just as sailors once did. Here, history becomes real—you can almost hear the creak of lines, the clang of tools, and imagine the unseen hands who tended those guns, ready at a moment’s notice to cast off the cocoon and bring Salem’s formidable firepower to bear.

The view from the Salem’s bow looking aft is not just a perspective—it’s a living memory, a bridge from one era of sea power to another, preserved in steel, salt, and silent watchfulness among sisters.