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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Photo # NH 50354:  USS Pittsburgh underway during the middle 1950s

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

USS Pittsburgh (CA-72), 1944-1974

USS Pittsburgh, a 13,600 ton Baltimore class heavy cruiser built at Quincy, Massachusetts, was commissioned in October 1944. Following shakedown in the Atlantic area she passed through the Panama Canal in January 1945 to join the war against Japan. Pittsburgh's first combat operation took place in mid-February, when she screened aircraft carriers during strikes on the Japanese home islands. During the next month she supported the invasion of Iwo Jima and took part in additional raids on Japan. On 19 and 20 March 1945 the cruiser towed the badly damaged carrier Franklin to help get that ship away from the threat of further enemy action.

Pittsburgh's next task was as a carrier escort during the extended campaign to seize Okinawa. This work began in late March 1945 and continued into June. On 4 June the fleet encountered a typhoon and, on the following day, while she was fighting high winds and powerful waves, Pittsburgh's bow broke off in front of her forward eight-inch gun turret. In a remarkable feat of seamanship and damage control the ship rode out the storm and steamed to Guam, where she received temporary repairs. Installation of a new bow at the Puget Sound Navy Yard lasted into 1946, after which Pittsburgh was placed in reserve. She formally went out of commission in March 1947.

The Korean War crisis called the cruiser back to active duty. Pittsburgh recommissioned in September 1951 and was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet. During 1952 and 1953 she twice deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, with the second cruise also involving a visit to the Indian Ocean. Following modernization work she made another Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean tour in 1954. Pittsburgh then returned to the Pacific, deploying to the Far East between November 1954 and February 1955. After operations along the West Coast, in August 1956 she was decommissioned at Bremerton, Washington. USS Pittsburgh remained in the Pacific Reserve Fleet until stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in July 1973. She was sold for scrapping one year later.

This page features, or provides links to, selected views related to USS Pittsburgh (CA-72).

For more images concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Pittsburgh (CA-72) -- Loss of Bow, 5 June 1945.


    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 #: USN 1035735

    USS Pittsburgh (CA-72)


    Underway in November 1944.
    Her camouflage is Measure 33, Design 18d.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph.

    Online Image: 135KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1035735.

     
    Photo #: NH 98247

    USS Pittsburgh (CA-72)


    In Boston harbor, Massachusetts, 9 October 1944.

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

    Online Image: 72KB; 740 x 575 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-441562

    USS Pittsburgh (CA-72)


    Anchored in Suda Bay, Crete, 8 May 1952.
    Photographed from a USS Midway (CVB-41) aircraft.
    Pittsburgh's gun directors still have World War II era fire control radars.

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

    Online Image: 167KB; 740 x 595 pixels

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

     
    Photo #: NH 50353

    USS Pittsburgh (CA-72)


    Underway at sea during the middle 1950s, after she had been refitted with 3"/50 anti-aircraft guns and new radars.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 100KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 50354

    USS Pittsburgh (CA-72)


    Underway during the middle 1950s, after she had been refitted with 3"/50 anti-aircraft guns and new radars.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 106KB; 605 x 675 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98248

    USS Pittsburgh (CA-72)


    Underway, 11 October 1955.

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

    Online Image: 110KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97072

    USS Pittsburgh (CA-72)


    Crewmen swab down the top of the cruiser's number two eight-inch gun turret, in preparation for chipping and repainting. She is at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, during her initial post-reactivation trials, circa September 1951. She was recommissioned on 25 September.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 179KB; 595 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97073

    USS Pittsburgh (CA-72)


    Crewmen slip anchor stoppers in preparation for anchoring. On the order "let go", the anchor detail will knock out the single remaining stopper with a sledge hammer, starting the anchor on its way.
    Pittsburgh is at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, during her initial post-reactivation trials, circa September 1951. She was recommissioned on 25 September.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 620 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 97071

    USS Pittsburgh (CA-72)


    Signalmen bend on flags to halyard, in preparation for hoisting a signal, during the ship's first post-reactivation trials, at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, circa September 1951. She was recommissioned on 25 September.
    Note fittings at left, used to prevent halyard chaffing.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 139KB; 605 x 765 pixels

     


    In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold other views of USS Pittsburgh (CA-72). The following list features some of these images:

    The images listed below are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
    DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • Photo #: 80-G-289717
    USS Pittsburgh (CA-72) on 1 November 1944, probably off Boston, Massachusetts. Photographed from a blimp of squadron ZP-11
    Port bow aerial view.

  • Photo #: 80-G-289718
    As above, but starboard bow high aerial view.


  • Photo #: USN 1045589
    USS Pittsburgh (CA-72) underway, circa 1951-1953.
    Port quarter surface view.

  • Photo #: 80-G-634084
    USS Pittsburgh (CA-72), flagship of Vice Admiral Jerauld Wright, pays a four-day visit to Karachi, Pakistan. Photo is dated 5 February 1954.
    Starboard bow surface view, taken from another ship, showing Pittsburgh as she entered Karachi harbor.


    Reproductions of these images should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The images listed in this box are NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain them using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • For more images concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Pittsburgh (CA-72) -- Loss of Bow, 5 June 1945.


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


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    Page made 17 December 2002