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

Photo # 19-N-67553:  USS Richmond off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, 24 June 1944

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

USS Richmond (CL-9), 1923-1947

USS Richmond, a 7050-ton Omaha class light cruiser, was built at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Following commissioning in July 1923, her shakedown cruise took her to Europe, Africa and South America. At the end of 1923, the new ship joined the Atlantic-based Scouting Force. During the next three years, she participated in Fleet Problems and other exercises, rescued survivors of the wrecked gunboat Tacoma (January 1924), protected U.S. interests along the turbulent east coast of Mexico, supported a flight around the World by Army Air Corps aviators (mid-1924), and steamed across the Pacific during the U.S. Fleet's 1925 cruise to Australia and New Zealand. Richmond deployed to Asiatic waters for a year, beginning in early 1927, spending most of her time there in Chinese waters. She then served briefly on the Pacific Coast before returning to the Atlantic, where she was mainly employed well into the 1930s.

With brief exceptions to participate in exercises, Richmond operated in the Pacific from mid-1934 to the end of her service. She was flagship of the U.S. Fleet's Submarine Force during 1938-40 and carried the Commander of the Scouting Force in the first half of 1941, while based in Hawaii. Later in that year and during the first year of World War II, she patrolled along the Latin American west coast and escorted convoys in the southeastern Pacific.

Richmond went to the North Pacific in January 1943 and was soon heavily engaged in the then-active Aleutians campaign. She bombarded Japanese-held Attu in February, participated in the Battle of the Komandorski Islands on 26 March and took part in the recovery of Attu and Kiska in May and August 1943. Serving in the Aleutians area for the next two years, Richmond's activities included active patrolling and, beginning in February 1944, bombardments of the Kuril Islands. After the fighting ended in August 1945, she briefly supported the occupation of Northern Japan. In October, the old cruiser transited the Panama Canal, en route to Philadelphia, where she was decommissioned late in the year. USS Richmond was sold for scrapping late in 1946 or early in 1947.

This page features selected views of USS Richmond (CL-9).


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 63573

USS Richmond (CL-9)


Steaming at high speed during her builders' trials, 1923.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 585 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 64631

USS Richmond (CL-9)


At anchor in a harbor, probably circa the later 1920s.
Note that the ship still carries twelve six-inch guns. The after lower casemate guns were removed sometime between 1929 and 1931.
Donation of Franklin Moran, 1967.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 85KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-1023013

USS Richmond (CL-9)
,

Underway, during the later 1930s.
Note that she is carrying SOC floatplanes.

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

Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 575 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 19-N-52421

USS Richmond (CL-9)


Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 15 September 1943.

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

Online Image: 63KB; 740 x 625 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 19-N-67552

USS Richmond (CL-9)


Off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, 24 June 1944.
Her camouflage is Measure 32, Design 3d.

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

Online Image: 56KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 19-N-67553

USS Richmond (CL-9)


Off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, 24 June 1944.
Her camouflage is Measure 32, Design 3d.

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

Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 600 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 50203

USS Richmond (CL-9)


In Gatun Lake, Panama Canal, on 11 October 1945.

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

Online Image: 100KB; 640 x 675 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 880

U.S.Army "Around the World" Flight, 1924


Three of the U.S. Army Air Corps flyers on board USS Richmond (CL-9), explaining their route to Sailors. Photographed at Hunters Bay, Orkney Islands, Scotland, circa mid-1924.
The flyers are Lieutenants Arnold, Smith and Wade.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 121KB; 740 x 580 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 100457

Vought O2U "Corsair"
Floatplane,
of Scouting Squadron Six

Is catapulted from USS Richmond (CL-9), circa the later 1920s.

Collection of Vice Admiral Dixwell Ketcham.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 77423

USS Macon (ZRS-5)


Some of the airship's officers on board USS Richmond (CL-9) on the morning after her crash. Macon went down during the night on 12 February 1935. Present are (left to right):
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) George W. Campbell,
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Gerald L. Huff,
Lieutenant Anthony L. Danis,
Lieutenant Harold B. Miller,
Lieutenant Commander George H. Mills,
Lieutenant Commander Calvin M. Bolster, Construction Corps,
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Earl K. Van Swearingen, Lieutenant Howard N. Coulter,
Chief Boatswain William A. Buckley, and
Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Leroy C. Simpler.

Courtesy of Harold B. Miller, 1973.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 570 pixels

 
Photo #: 19-N-52426

USS Richmond (CL-9)


Plan view, forward, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 15 September 1943.
Note: crewmen in formation beside the forward 6"/53 gun turret; paravane on deck; life rafts; rangefinder; tripod foremast; FD and SG radar antennas at the masthead; and boat boom.
USS Honolulu (CL-48) is in the background.

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

Online Image: 107KB; 740 x 620 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 19-N-52427

USS Richmond (CL-9)


Plan view, aft, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 15 September 1943.
Note: triple torpedo tubes, with a loading practice machine for 6"/53 guns on deck between them; 40mm twin gun mounts on the centerline of the after superstructure; and life rafts.
Among the barges in the distance are YOS-1; YF-390 and YF-466.

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

Online Image: 126KB; 740 x 615 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 23 July 2002