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Photo # NH 95814:  USS Helena at a South Pacific base, circa 1943

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

USS Helena (CL-50), 1939-1943

USS Helena, a 10,000-ton Saint Louis class light cruiser built at the New York Navy Yard, was commissioned in September 1939. After serving in the Atlantic in 1939-40, she was transferred to the Pacific, where she spent the rest of a short, eventful career. While tied up alongside 1010 dock at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Helena was hit by a single torpedo during the Japanese raid of 7 December 1941, flooding an engine room and boiler room. Repair and modification work at the Pearl Harbor and Mare Island Navy Yards lasted through June 1942.

In the summer of 1942, Helena was sent to the South Pacific, where she participated actively in the Guadalcanal campaign. She rescued survivors of USS Wasp (CV-7) when that carrier was sunk by an enemy submarine on 15 September. Twice, in the 11-12 October Battle of Cape Esperance and the 13 November 1942 Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Helena engaged in night surface combat, making important contributions to thwarting Japanese bombardments of vital Henderson Field. In January 1943, late in the Guadalcanal campaign, she twice shelled Japanese bases on New Georgia and Kolombangara islands.

Following a quick overhaul at Sydney, Australia, Helena returned to the combat zone in March 1943. She again bombarded enemy positions before and during the invasion of New Georgia and Rendova. In the early morning of 6 July 1943, Helena was part of a task force that fought Japanese destroyers in the Battle of Kula Gulf. Hit by three torpedoes in that action, the cruiser was broken into three parts and sunk, with the loss of nearly 170 of her crewmen.

This page features selected views of USS Helena (CL-50).

For photographs included in an intelligence report prepared by USS Helena in February 1940, see:

  • Admiral Graf Spee (German Armored Ship, 1936-1939) -- Views of the Ship's Wreck; and
  • Admiral Graf Spee (German Armored Ship, 1936-1939) -- Views of the Ship's Wreck (Part II).


    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 95815

    USS Helena (CL-50)


    Anchored in President Roads, Boston, Massachusetts, 15 June 1940.
    Taken by a USS Wasp (CV-7) photographer.

    Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photograph Collection, Annapolis, Maryland.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 106KB; 740 x 590 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 95816

    USS Helena (CL-50)


    At anchor in President Roads, Boston, Massachusetts, 15 June 1940.
    Taken by a USS Wasp (CV-7) photographer.

    Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photograph Collection, Annapolis, Maryland.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 95812

    USS Helena (CL-50)


    Photographed circa 1940.

    Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photograph Collection, Annapolis, Maryland.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 57KB; 740 x 515 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 95813

    USS Helena (CL-50)


    Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, following battle damage repairs and overhaul, 1 July 1942.
    This image has been retouched to censor radar antennas from the gun directors and masts.

    Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photograph Collection, Annapolis, Maryland.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 95814

    USS Helena (CL-50)


    At a South Pacific base, between battles, circa 1943.
    This image has been retouched to remove radar antennas from the gun directors and masts.

    Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photograph Collection, Annapolis, Maryland.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 52KB; 740 x 540 pixels

     
    Photo #: 19-N-31213

    USS Helena (CL-50)


    View of the starboard side amidships, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 27 June 1942, following repair of combat damage and an overhaul.
    Note the ship's redesigned forward superstructure, including an open bridge and reduced lower bridge wings. Mark 34 main battery gun director, with antenna for an FC gunfire control radar, is immediately in front of the foremast. The other director, just behind the open bridge, is a Mark 33, with antenna for an FD radar mounted on its front.
    Weight traversing gear on the main deck, between the forward superstructure and 6"/47 gun turret # 3, indicates that Helena is undergoing an inclining experiment to determine her stability.

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

    Online Image: 149KB; 610 x 765 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: NH 76496

    Munda-Vila Bombardment, 13 May 1943


    USS Helena (CL-50) firing during the night bombardment, as seen from USS Honolulu (CL-48). Gunfire causes wavy pattern of tracers.

    Collection of Vice Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 50KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-57074

    Central Solomons Campaign, 1943


    Light cruisers maneuvering off Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, during exercises on 20 June 1943, ten days before the invasion of New Georgia.
    Ships are USS Saint Louis (CL-49), at left; USS Helena (CL-50), at right; and USS Honolulu (CL-48) in the center distance.

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

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-54553

    Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943


    USS Helena (CL-50), in the center, firing during the Battle of Kula Gulf, just before she was torpedoed and sunk.
    The next ship astern is USS Saint Louis (CL-49).
    Photographed from USS Honolulu (CL-48).

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

    Online Image: 33KB; 740 x 625 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-52813

    Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943


    Wet and oil-covered survivors of USS Helena (CL-50) go over papers after their rescue from the waters of the Central Solomons, 6 July 1943.
    Photographed on board another U.S. Navy warship, possibly USS Nicholas (DD-449).
    Helena had been sunk by Japanese torpedos on the previous night.

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

    Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: 80-G-54566

    Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943


    Marines aboard USS Honolulu (CL-48) fire a salute during funeral services for a casualty from the sunken USS Helena (CL-50), following the Battle of Kula Gulf.
    Note Chaplain at right and audio equipment in left center, atop the cruiser's hangar cover.

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

    Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 610 pixels

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

     


    For photographs included in an intelligence report prepared by USS Helena in February 1940, see:

  • Admiral Graf Spee (German Armored Ship, 1936-1939) -- Views of the Ship's Wreck; and
  • Admiral Graf Spee (German Armored Ship, 1936-1939) -- Views of the Ship's Wreck (Part II).


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


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    Page made 10 October 2000
    Links added 7 October 2006