West Freemason in Norfolk, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

USS Newport News CA-148

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 11, 2010

1. USS Newport News Ca-148 Marker

Inscription. At 0100 hours on October 1, 1972, the USS Newport News was firing a support mission off the coast of South Vietnam. An 8 inch projectile jammed in the center gun of Turret Two. The subsequent implosion and fire killed 20 crewmembers and injured 36 others. It is to our fallen shipmates who gave their lives for their country that this memorial is respectfully dedicated by the USS Newport News Reunion Association. They will be with us in spirit forever.

Erected by USS Newport News Reunion Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Vietnam. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1917.

Location. 36° 50.918′ N, 76° 17.663′ W. Marker is in Norfolk, Virginia. It is in West Freemason. It can be reached from the intersection of Brooke Avenue and Harbour Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Norfolk VA 23510, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Hampton Roads,

specifically in Coastal Virginia,

and in the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Tidewater,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Pentagon (here, next to this marker); USS Kearsarge (CV-33) (here, next to this marker); USS Belknap (CG 26) (here, next to this marker); USS Iowa (BB-61) (here, next to this marker); USS Cole (DDG 67)

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(here, next to this marker); USS Nimitz (CVN-68) (here, next to this marker); Naval Special Warfare (here, next to this marker); USS Scorpion (SSN-589) (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Norfolk.

Also see . . . USS Newport News (CA-148). [Wikipedia] The second USS Newport News (CA–148) was a Des Moines-class heavy cruiser in the United States Navy. Newport News was laid down 1 November 1945; launched on 6 March 1948 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia. The vessel was sponsored by Mrs. Homer L. Ferguson upon commissioning on 29 January 1949, Captain Roland N. Smoot commanding. She was the first air-conditioned surface ship in the United States Navy. (Submitted on October 17, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 11, 2010

2. USS Newport News Ca-148 Marker

USS Newport News CA-148 Marker (Center) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, January 19, 2022

3. USS Newport News CA-148 Marker (Center)

USS Newport News (CA-148) image. Click for full size.

4. USS Newport News (CA-148)

USN Photo

USS Newport News (CA-148) Exhibit image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, April 4, 2024

5. USS Newport News (CA-148) Exhibit

In the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, housed within Nauticus Norfolk opposite Wisconsin Square. The model is the builder's model used to mock up the ship at scale. The name board on the wall is an artifact from the ship herself. The ribbon board is from USS Mathews (AKA-96)

USS Newport News (CA-148) Guns image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Evan Dwyer, October 8, 2023

6. USS Newport News (CA-148) Guns

A trio of 8-Inch, 55-Caliber Mark 16 Mod 0 guns removed from one of the ship's turrets are preserved at the Virginia War Museum in Newport News, Virginia. The gun serial numbers are 896 (at right), 943 (center), and 942 (left).

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 15, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 1,513 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 15, 2011, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 3. submitted on January 22, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 25, 2026, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.