She was laid down on 23 December 1942 in San Francisco, California, by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation; launched on 3 September 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Emmett S. Claunch, Sr.; and commissioned on 3 February 1945.

She, along with the surviving Atlanta-class, was reclassified a light antiaircraft cruiser (CLAA) on 18 March 1949, prior to her decommissioning on 18 June 1949.

[4] Tucson joined the fast carriers just in time to participate in their final rampage against the Japanese Empire and its inner defenses.

She interrupted her training duties periodically to represent the Navy at special events held in various ports on the Pacific coast.

[4] On 6 September, she entered the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for a three-month overhaul to get ready for duty under the Commander, Destroyers, Pacific Fleet.

However, she got underway again on 18 March to participate in the fruitless search to the northwest of Hawaii for survivors of the wrecked SS Fort Dearborn.

[4] On 27 March, Tucson returned to San Diego and resumed normal west coast operations until late summer.

She again departed the west coast on 28 July and proceeded, via Pearl Harbor, to the Far East, arriving at Yokosuka, Japan, on 15 August.

Tucson returned to Yokosuka on 19 October, stayed overnight, and sailed the next day for the United States, arriving at San Diego on 6 November.

[citation needed] This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.