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Photo # NH 715:  USS Chicago off New York City, 31 May 1934

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Chicago (CA-29, originally CL-29), 1931-1943

USS Chicago, a 9300-ton Northampton class heavy cruiser, was built at the Mare Island Navy Yard. Commissioned in April 1931, she made a shakedown cruise to Hawaii, Tahiti and American Samoa soon thereafter and was reclassified from a light cruiser (CL) to a heavy cruiser (CA) in July. In August 1931, Chicago steamed to the U.S. Atlantic coast, where she became flagship of Commander Cruisers, Scouting Force. During the rest of the decade and into the early 1940s, she regularly participated in the exercises and Fleet Problems of the United States Fleet. On 31 May 1934 she was present during the naval review held for President Franklin D. Roosevelt off New York City. Later in the year the cruiser changed her base to San Pedro, California, her home until September 1940, when she was transferred to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

When the Pacific War erupted on 7 December 1941, Chicago was operating at sea. She participated in patrol and search missions during the first weeks of the conflict, and in early February was sent to the south Pacific to protect Allied positions and shipping there against the Japanese Navy's great offensive. She participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea in early May, mainly as a component of a surface force intended to intercept Japanese invasion forces bound for Port Moresby, New Guinea. While performing that mission on 7 May, Chicago was lightly damaged in an enemy air attack.

Remaining in the south Pacific area, Chicago participated in the August invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi, in the southern Solomon Islands. On the night of 8-9 August, she was patrolling between Guadalcanal and Savo Island with HMAS Canberra and two destroyers when they were attacked by a force of Japanese cruisers. Chicago was torpedoed in the extreme bow in this brief action and withdrew from the area the following day with the rest of the invasion force. Repaired on the U.S. west coast, she returned to the combat zone in January 1943. While en route to Guadalcanal with a task force of cruisers and destroyers on 29 January, she was twice torpedoed by Japanese aircraft during the Battle Of Rennell Island. While being towed clear of the danger zone, USS Chicago was sunk in another torpedo attack in the evening of 30 January 1943.

This page features selected views of USS Chicago (CA-29, originally CL-29).

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 70635

USS Chicago (CL-29)


At the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, in April 1931, soon after she was commissioned.

Courtesy of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 1970.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 93457

USS Chicago (CL-29)


At Tutuila, American Samoa, during her shakedown cruise, 1931.

Courtesy of Wiley H. Smith, 1981.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 84KB; 740 x 485 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 715

USS Chicago (CA-29)


Underway off New York City, during the 31 May 1934 fleet review.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 147KB; 740 x 595 pixels

 
Photo #: 19-N-39212

USS Chicago (CA-29)


Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, at the end of her last overhaul, 20 December 1942.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 620 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 19-N-39220

USS Chicago (CA-29)


At the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 14 December 1942.
Circles mark alterations made during her last overhaul, including the repair of her torpedo-damaged bow.
Note railway cars on the pier, including one full of scrap material. Barges alongside the pier at right include YF-388 (furthest right) and YF-349.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives.

Online Image: 119KB; 610 x 765 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 93459

USS Chicago (CL-29)


Crewmen enjoy "swim call" at Papeete, Tahiti, during the cruiser's shakedown cruise, 1931.
View looks aft from the boat deck, on the port side. Note boat boom in use as a diving platform, and boat skids in the foreground.

Courtesy of Wiley H. Smith, 1981.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 99KB; 470 x 765 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-451165

USS Chicago (CA-29)
-- at right

Turning in formation with three other Scouting Force heavy cruisers, to create a "slick" for landing seaplanes, during exercises off Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 31 January 1933. Planes are landing astern of the middle cruisers.
The other ships are (from front to back): USS Louisville (CA-28), USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) and USS Northampton (CA-26).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 605 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-462565

USS Chicago (CA-29)


Firing a torpedo in practice, during the early 1930s.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-386 (Color)

Guadalcanal Landings, August 1942

Ships maneuvering off Tulagi, Solomon Islands, on 9 August 1942. Photographed from USS Ellet (DD-398). USS Chicago (CA-29) is at right, with a destroyer's stern and wake in the foreground.
Column of smoke in the left center distance, beyond the two destroyers, may be from the burning USS George F. Elliott (AP-13).
The original color transparency was a 35mm slide.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 75KB; 740 x 505 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: 80-G-34685

Battle of Savo Island
, 9 August 1942

USS Chicago (CA-29) off Guadalcanal the day after the action, showing crewmen cutting away damaged plating to enable the ship to get underway. She had been torpedoed at her extreme bow during the night action of 9 August 1942.
View looks forward along her port side, with # 1 eight-inch gun turret in the upper right. Note life rafts hung on the turret side and destroyers in the distance.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 610 pixels

Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

 
Photo #: NH 55141

USS Chicago (CA-29)


Low in the water on 30 January 1943, after she had been torpedoed by Japanese aircraft during the Battle of Rennell Island.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 70789

USS Chicago (CL-29)


Being prepared for launching, at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, on 8 April 1930.
Note her "clipper" bow and bulbous underwater forefoot.

Courtesy of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 1970.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 100KB; 560 x 765 pixels

 


If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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Page made 26 October 2001