The USS Wichita was a heavy cruiser, the only ship in the Wichita class. It was laid down on 28 October 1935 at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, launched in 1937, and commissioned on 16 February 1939. Initially, it was planned to be a New Orleans-class heavy cruiser but received an improved hull derived from the Brooklyn-class light cruisers. During its service, the USS Wichita was part of the Atlantic Squadron after the outbreak of World War II in Europe, in the Caribbean Patrol, and the North Atlantic Patrol through the end of 1941. In 1942 it was assigned to Task Force 99 and made significant operations with the British in the Atlantic theater. The ship took part in the invasion of Okinawa in 1945. The USS Wichita received 13 battle stars for its service during World War II. It was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register and sold for scrapping in 1959. Asbestos was heavily present in the shipbuilding industry from the 1930s through the 1970s, and asbestos-containing products were used in the construction of many Navy ships. Because the effects of asbestos exposure may not show for 10 to 40 years, Navy veterans should undergo medical tests as soon as possible.
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