USS Astoria (CA-34)

USS Astoria (CA-34), operating in Hawaiian waters during battle practice, 8 July 1942. She appears to be recovering floatplanes from off her starboard side. Note booms rigged below the forward superstructure to tow aircraft recovery mats, and starboard crane swung out.
History
United States
NameAstoria
NamesakeCity of Astoria, Oregon
Ordered13 February 1929
Awarded
  • 12 July 1929 (date assigned to ship yard)
  • 2 June 1930 (beginning of construction period)
BuilderPuget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington
Cost$11,951,000 (limit of price)
Laid down1 September 1930
Launched16 December 1933
Sponsored byMiss Leila C. McKay
Commissioned28 April 1934
ReclassifiedCA-34, 1 July 1931
Identification
Nickname(s)"Nasty Asty"[1]
Honors and
awards
3 × battle stars
FateSunk during the Battle of Savo Island 9 August 1942
General characteristics (as built)[2]
Class and typeNew Orleans-class cruiser
Displacement9,950 long tons (10,110 t) (standard)
Length
  • 588 ft (179 m) oa
  • 574 ft (175 m) pp
Beam61 ft 9 in (18.82 m)
Draft
  • 19 ft 5 in (5.92 m) (mean)
  • 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m) (max)
Installed power
Propulsion
Speed32.7 kn (37.6 mph; 60.6 km/h)
CapacityFuel oil: 1,650 tons
Complement104 officers 795 enlisted
Armament
Armor
  • Belt: 3–5 in (76–127 mm)
  • Deck: 1+142+14 in (32–57 mm)
  • Barbettes: 5 in (130 mm)
  • Turrets: 1+12–8 in (38–203 mm)
  • Conning Tower: 5 in (130 mm)
Aircraft carried4 × floatplanes
Aviation facilities2 × Amidship catapults
General characteristics (1942)[3]
Armament
  • 9 × 8 in (200 mm)/55 caliber guns (3x3)
  • 8 × 5 in (130 mm)/25 caliber anti-aircraft guns
  • 2 × 3-pounder 47 mm (1.9 in) saluting guns
  • 12 × single 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons
  • 4 × quad 1.1 in (28 mm)/75 caliber anti-aircraft guns

The second USS Astoria (CL/CA-34) was a New Orleans-class cruiser of the United States Navy that participated in both the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway, but was then sunk in August 1942, at the Battle of Savo Island. Astoria was the first New Orleans-class cruiser to be laid down but launched after and received a hull number higher than the lead ship New Orleans.

Immediately after the months-long Guadalcanal campaign ended in February 1943, the remaining ships of the class would go through major overhauls to lessen top-heaviness due to new electrical and radar systems and advanced anti-aircraft weaponry. In doing so the ships took on a new appearance, most notably in the bridge.

  1. ^ "Ship Nicknames". zuzuray.com. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  2. ^ "Ships' Data, U. S. Naval Vessels". US Naval Department. 1 July 1935. pp. 16–23, 338. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  3. ^ "US Cruisers List: Light/Heavy/Antiaircraft Cruisers, Part 1". Hazegray.org. 22 January 2000. Retrieved 6 October 2015.