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

Photo # NH 50845:  USS Vincennes in the Panama Canal, 6 January 1938

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

USS Vincennes (CA-44), 1937-1942

USS Vincennes, a 9400-ton New Orleans class heavy cruiser built at Quincy, Massachusetts, was commissioned in February 1937. Beginning in April of that year, she made a shakedown cruise to northern European waters. In early 1938, Vincennes steamed through the Panama Canal to participate in Fleet Problem XIX and other exercises in the Pacific. She returned to the Atlantic in June 1939. Upon the outbreak of war in Europe in September, she began patrols to enforce U.S. neutrality and in June 1940 brought a shipment of gold from Morocco to the United States. In 1941, the cruiser took part in combat readiness exercises in the Caribbean area, including a large amphibious practice landing, conducted more neutrality patrols, brought another gold shipment from South Africa to the U.S. and escorted convoys through the north and south Atlantic.

In March 1942, with the United States now engaged in worldwide war operations, Vincennes transferred to the Pacific. The next month, she escorted the carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) as she launched a deckload of Army B-25 bombers on the Doolittle Raid against targets in Japan. She continued with the carrier force during its abortive voyage to the south Pacific at the time of the Battle of the Coral Sea, then returned to Pearl Harbor in late May, in time to participate in the Battle of Midway on 4-6 June. During that action, she screened USS Yorktown (CV-5) when she was attacked and disabled by Japanese dive and torpedo bombers.

Following repairs and tactical exercises in Hawaiian waters, Vincennes was sent to the south Pacific in mid-July to take part in the upcoming invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi, in the southern Solomon Islands. She was present during the landings on 7-8 August 1942, shelling targets ashore in support of U.S. Marines and providing protection to transports offshore against Japanese aircraft. During the early hours of 9 August Vincennes was patrolling westward from Tulagi with her sister ships Astoria (CA-34) and Quincy (CA-39) when a force of Japanese cruisers attacked. In a brief, intense gunfire and torpedo battle, the three American cruisers were utterly devastated. Vincennes and Quincy sank within an hour, and Astoria followed them under shortly after noon. They, with the Australian cruiser Canberra, were the first large ships lost in a body of water that would soon be known as "Iron Bottom Sound".

This page features selected views of USS Vincennes (CA-44).

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 50844

USS Vincennes (CA-44)


Underway at 22.03 knots while on trials off Rockland, Maine, 12 January 1937.
The photograph was taken while the ship was running south at 3:47 PM.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 610 pixels

 
Photo #: 19-N-17183

USS Vincennes (CA-44)


Making 10.74 knots during trials off Rockland, Maine, 12 January 1937.
Photographed while the ship was running south, at 12:58 PM.

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

Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 95303

USS Vincennes (CA-44)


Steaming at high speed, circa February 1937.

Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland, 1984.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 103KB; 740 x 605 pixels

 
Photo #: NH 50845

USS Vincennes (CA-44)


Passing through the Panama Canal on 6 January 1938, while en route to join the U.S. Fleet in the Pacific.
Note crewmen on her deck, watching the airplane from which the photograph was taken.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 119KB; 740 x 600 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-66128

USS Vincennes (CA-44)


At Pearl Harbor, circa 26-28 May 1942, prior to departing to take part in the Battle of Midway.
A Curtiss SOC floatplane is in the left foreground.

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

Online Image: 44KB; 740 x 595 pixels

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

 
Photo #: 80-G-10116

USS Vincennes (CA-44)


Underway during tactical exercises in Hawaiian waters, 8 July 1942.

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

Online Image: 102KB; 600 x 765 pixels

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

 
Photo #: NH 47010

Convoy to Iceland, September 1941


A Signalman aboard USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37) uses a "long-glass" telescope to read communications from another ship, as Task Force 15 was en route to Iceland. Note signal lamp mounted next to the telescope and electrical hookup at left.
Ships in the distance include USS Vincennes (CA-44) in the center and USS Republic (AP-39) further to the left.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 520 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-21664

Battle of Midway, June 1942


USS Yorktown (CV-5), in the distant left center, being abandoned after suffering torpedo damage, 4 June 1942.
A destroyer is standing by off the listing carrier's stern, and USS Vincennes (CA-44) is steaming by in the middle distance.

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

Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 605 pixels

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

 
Photo #: USMC 530604

Pharmacist's Mate Edward Bykowski, USN


Receives a visit from Lieutenant Joshua L. Goldberg, USNR, Jewish Chaplain for the Third Naval District, on 10 February 1943. Bykowski is telling Lt. Goldberg of his rescue after he had been blown overboard from USS Vincennes (CA-44) when she was sunk on 9 August 1942, during the Battle of Savo Island. Both of his legs were broken.
Looking on is Lieutenant Commander Ferold D. Lovejoy, USNR (Medical Corps).

U.S. Marine Corps Photograph.

Online Image: 68KB; 580 x 675 pixels

 
Photo #: 80-G-K-4510 (Color)

USS Missouri (BB-63)

Gunner's Mate Second Class Charles J. Hansen working on a 40mm quad machine gun mount, during the battleship's shakedown period, circa August 1944.
Note his tattoos, commemorating service on USS Vincennes (CA-44) and shipmates lost with her in the Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942.

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

Online Image: 71KB; 740 x 610 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 19 October 2001