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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # NH 97970:  USS Omaha in harbor, 8 December 1923

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

USS Omaha (CL-4), 1923-1946

USS Omaha, first of a ten-ship class of 7050-ton light cruisers, was built at Tacoma, Washington. Commissioned in February 1923, she served in both the Atlantic and Pacific areas during the seventeen peacetime years that followed, often as a flagship, and made a cruise to the Mediterranean Sea during the later 1930s. After the outbreak of World War II in Europe in September 1939, Omaha participated in Neutrality Patrols in the Atlantic. While so engaged near the Equator on 6 November 1941, she participated in the capture of the German blockade runner Odenwald, which had disguised herself as the U.S. merchant ship Willmoto.

Once the United States formally entered the Second World War in December 1941 Omaha continued her South Atlantic operations. Based in Brazil with other cruisers and destroyers of what came to be called the Fourth Fleet, she took part in surveys of possible base sites and actively searched for Axis commerce raiders and blocade runners. On 4 and 5 January 1944, while serving as flagship of Task Force 41, Omaha and her companion destroyer, USS Jouett (DD-396), intercepted two German blockade runners, Rio Grande and Burgenland. Both enemy ships were sunk and their survivors rescued.

During August 1944, Omaha participated in the invasion of Southern France, firing her guns against targets ashore in the Toulon area. After the conclusion of that operation she returned to her South Atlantic beat and remained on duty there until Japan capitulated in August 1945. Decommissioned in November 1945, USS Omaha was scrapped at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1946.

This page features selected views of USS Omaha (CL-4).


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 97970

USS Omaha (CL-4)


In harbor, 8 December 1923.

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

Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 43053

USS Omaha (CL-4)


Passing the San Diego Naval Station, circa 1925-1926.
Note the F5L seaplanes in the foreground.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 575 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97971

USS Omaha (CL-4)


Underway, circa the early 1930s.
The original photograph is dated 20 October 1936, but it was actually taken prior to Omaha's 1933 overhaul, during which her topmasts were reduced and a "bathtub" machinegun platform was fitted atop her foremast.

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

Online Image: 127KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 97972

USS Omaha (CL-4)


Off the New York Navy Yard, 10 February 1943.

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

Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 510 pixels

 
Photo #: 19-N-40594

USS Omaha (CL-4)


In New York Harbor, 10 February 1943.

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

Online Image: 114KB; 740 x 615 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 93507

USS Omaha (CL-4)


View of the ship's forward superstructure, taken after overhaul at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, 29 August 1933.
Note newly installed machine gun "bathtub" atop Omaha foremast, rangefinders and other fire control facilities on and about the mast, voice tubes running down from the masthead, 6"/53 guns in casemate mountings, and Battle Efficiency "E" painted on the pilothouse.

Courtesy of Don S. Montgomery, USN (Retired).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 83KB; 600 x 725 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 43061

USS Omaha (CL-4)


Aground in the Bahamas, 18 July 1937.
Note lighthouse at right and vessels alongside Omaha.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 69KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 96029

USS Omaha (CL-4)


Ship's Commanding Officer, Captain Wallace L. Lind (3rd from left, seated) with some of her officers and men, while Omaha was serving in the Mediterranean Sea, circa 1938-1939.
Commander Norman C. Gillette, Omaha's Executive Officer, is seated in the center, just to right of Captain Lind.
The ship's forward twin 6"/53 gun turret is just behind the men.

Collection of Commodore Norman C. Gillette, USN.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 111KB; 740 x 565 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 49935

Odenwald Incident, November 1941


USS Omaha (CL-4), in right center, standing by the German blockade runner Odenwald, which has a U.S. boarding party on board, in the South Atlantic, 6 November 1941.
Photographed from USS Somers (DD-381).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-464023

Odenwald Incident, November 1941


Crewmembers of USS Omaha (CL-4) pose with U.S. and German flags, on board the captured German blockade runner Odenwald, in the South Atlantic.
Life rings are present bearing the names Odenwald of Hamburg, and Willmoto of Philadelphia. The German ship had attempted to disguise herself as the Willmoto, an American-flag merchant steamer.
Odenwald was captured by Omaha and USS Somers (DD-381) on 6 November 1941. This photograph is dated 18 November 1941.

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

Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-220683

First Lady Anna Eleanor Roosevelt

(standing, upper right center)

Addresses the crew of USS Omaha (CL-4), April 1944.
Standing beside her, to the left, is Rear Admiral Oliver M. Read, USN, Commander Surface Patrol Force (Task Force 41), Fourth Fleet.

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

Online Image: 109KB; 535 x 765 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-256278

USS Omaha (CL-4)


Photographed from USS Philadelphia (CL-41), during the landings in Southern France, August 1944.
In the distance are (from left to right): a French Navy destroyer, a French light cruiser, and USS Augusta (CA-31).
Note SOC seaplanes on Philadelphia's starboard catapult and hangar hatch cover.

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

Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 


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 June 2002