The third USS Astoria was a Cleveland-class light cruiser of the United States Navy. The ship was laid down on 6 September 1941 at William Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Company, Philadelphia, as Wilkes-Barre. It was subsequently renamed to Astoria in honor of the heavy cruiser Astoria (CA-34) which was sunk on 9 August 1942 during the Battle of Savo Island. Astoria was launched on 6 March 1943, sponsored by Mrs. Robert Lucas (wife of the editor of the Astorian-Budget), and commissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on 17 May 1944, Captain George Carroll Dyer in command.