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Photo # NH 78368:  USS Houston off Tsingtao, China, 4 July 1933

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

USS Houston (CA-30, originally CL-30), 1930-1942

USS Houston, a 9050-ton Northampton class light cruiser, was built at Newport News, Virginia. She was commissioned in June 1930 and reclassified as a heavy cruiser a year later, at which time her hull number was changed from CL-30 to CA-30. After initial operations in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, Houston steamed to the western Pacific in early 1931 to become flagship of the Asiatic Fleet. She served in that role until November 1933, spending considerable time in Chinese waters protecting U.S. interests during the conflict between China and Japan.

Following her Asiatic Station tour, Houston crossed the Pacific to join the Scouting Force. During the rest of the decade, she regularly partcipated in exercises, including the periodic Fleet Problems that tested the Navy's war plans and readiness. She was flagship of the United States Fleet during September-December 1938 and also carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt on a number of occasions in 1934, 1935, 1938 and 1939.

In November 1940, Houston returned to the Philippines for her second deployment as Asiatic Fleet flagship. When Japan escalated its disputes with the U.S. into open warfare in December 1941, the cruiser was sent south to Australian and Netherlands East Indies waters. As the heaviest unit of the Allied naval force in that area, she was actively employed in the desperate struggle against the Japanese East Indies' offensive. A enemy bomb disabled her after gun turret on 4 February 1942, but she remained in the combat zone, fighting off air raids and taking part in the Battle of the Java Sea on 27 February.

The next day, with the situation in the East Indies now hopeless, Houston was ordered to leave the area. Steaming in company with the Australian light cruiser Perth, she encountered a strong Japanese navy force supporting an amphibious landing on western Java, near the Sunda Strait. In a valiant night battle against overwhelming odds, Houston and Perth were sunk by enemy gunfire and torpedos.

This page features selected views of USS Houston (CA-30, originally CL-30).

For pictorial coverage on Houston's last Commanding Officer, who was killed in action during her final battle, see:

  • Captain Albert H. Rooks, USN.


    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 53586

    USS Houston (CL-30)


    Probably photographed in 1930, at the time of her completion.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53588

    USS Houston (CA-30)


    Photographed during the early or middle 1930s.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 415 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 78368

    USS Houston (CA-30)


    At Tsingtao, China, on 4 July 1933, "dressed overall" for the holiday. She is flying the four-star flag of Admiral Montgomery M. Taylor, Commander in Chief Asiatic Fleet, at her forepeak.

    Courtesy of Chief Radioman W.R. Lucas, USN (Retired), 1973.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53582

    USS Houston (CA-30)


    Off San Diego, California, in October 1935, with President Franklin D. Roosevelt on board.
    She is flying an admiral's four-star flag at her foremast peak, and the Presidential flag at her mainmast peak.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 130KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-CF-21337-1

    USS Houston (CA-30)


    At anchor off San Pedro, California, 18 April 1935.
    A New Orleans class heavy cruiser is in the right background.

    Photograph from Department of the Navy collections in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 119KB; 740 x 595 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: NH 81592

    USS Houston (CA-30)


    In Manila Bay, Philippine Islands, in 1940-41, after her final modifications.

    Courtesy of Robert I. Martin, 1975.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 94180

    USS Houston (CA-30)


    Ship's officers and crew, circa 1931-1933, with her band seated on deck in front.
    Houston's Commanding Officer, Captain Robert A. Dawes, is seated in the center, behind the life ring.
    Note that most of the bandsmen appear to be Orientals.

    Courtesy of Lieutenant Oscar W. Levy, USN (Supply Corps), (Retired).

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 600 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 53590

    USS Houston (CA-30)


    The ship's starboard 5"/25 guns in action, during anti-aircraft battle practice off Chefoo, China, 1932-33.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 144KB; 740 x 595 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 93163

    President Franklin Delano Roosevelt


    Seated in the well deck of USS Houston (CA-30), with a shark he caught in Sullivan Bay, Galapagos Islands, July 1938.
    A sailfish is being hoisted up in the left distance.

    Courtesy of Otto Schwartz, USS Houston Association, 1982.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 93KB; 740 x 560 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 93160

    USS Houston (CA-30)


    Ship's baseball team, circa 1940-41, while she was flagship of the Asiatic Fleet.
    Men identified include (Standing): Parker (2nd from left); Bain (4th from left); Stefanek (6th from left); O'Brien (8th from left); Dingler (4th from right); and Erler (right).
    (Kneeling): Jarvis (left); Burger (2nd from left) and Hobush (right).
    (Seated): Wisecup (right).

    Courtesy of Otto Schwartz, USS Houston Association, 1982.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 108KB; 740 x 555 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 82480

    USS Houston (CA-30)


    An Tjilatjap, Java, 6 February 1942, seen from USS Marblehead (CL-12), which was passing close aboard.
    Houston's colors are half-masted pending return of her funeral party, ashore for burial of men lost when a bomb hit near her after eight-inch gun turret two days earlier during a Japanese air attack in Banka Strait. The disabled turret is visible in the center of the view, being trained to port.

    The original photograph came from Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison's World War II history project working files.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 76KB; 740 x 450 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 43649

    USS Houston (CA-30)
    (right center)

    At Darwin, Australia, probably on 15 or 18 February 1942. The destroyer astern of Houston may be USS Peary (DD-226). Among the ships in the background, to the left, are HMAS Terka and the SS Zealandia.
    The donor was on board HMAS Tolga, then used as a water carrier for ships in Darwin harbor.

    Courtesy of Arthur W. Thomas.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 575 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 12 March 2002