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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS OMAHA (CL 4)


       
Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: Nan - Item - Sail - Love
CLASS - OMAHA
Displacement 7,050 Tons, Dimensions, 555' 6" (oa) x 55' 4" x 20' (Max)
Armament 12 x 6"/53, 2 x 3"/50AA, 10 x 21" tt.
Armor, 3" Belt, 1 1/2" Deck, 1 1/2 Conning Tower.
Machinery, 90,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 35 Knots, Crew 458.
Operational and Building Data
Keel laid on 06 DEC 1918 at Todd Dry Dock & Construction Co. Tacoma, WA
Launched 14 DEC 1920
Commissioned 24 FEB 1923
Collision with USS Milwaukee (CL 5) 31 MAY 1943
Decommissioned 01 MAY 1945
Stricken 28 NOV 1945
Fate: Scrapped in FEB 1946 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Combat Action Ribbon - American Defense Service Medal w/A Device
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (1) - World War II Victory Medal


                                               
Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Omaha
0400428
368k

Miss Louise Bushnell White, sponsor, stands on the launching platform to pose for pictures on 14 December 1920 after smashing the customary bottle of champagne on the USS Omaha (CL 4) at Todd Shipyards in Tacoma. Miss White was chosen to represent her home town of Omaha, Nebraska, partially because she was a descendant of David Bushnell, inventor of the Revolutionary War one man submarine. Posing with her on the platform are (order unknown) C.W. Wiley of Seattle, president of Todd Drydocks Inc, William H. Todd of NYC, president of Todd Shipyards Corporation and J.A. Eves, General Manager of Todd Shipyards. The Omaha, the 27th launching at the Todd Yard, is the longest ship built in the Northwest and it is the first to be launched bow first.

Tacoma Public Library, Marvin D. Boland Collection, BOLAND-B3345

Mike Green
Omaha
0400412
NR

USS Omaha (CL 4) Takes To The Water At Tacoma

Image and text provided by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE.
Photo courtesy of Omaha Daily Bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 30 January 1921, ROTOGRAVURE SECTION, Image 31, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Omaha
0400435
NR

Explosion Damages USS Omaha (CL 4)


Crap Game Is Blamed for Wrecking Boiler and Stack of Largest Scout Cruiser in the American Navy
Trial Trip Is Started
Omaha Is Finest Ship Afloat, Says Captain
Image and text provided by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE.
Photo courtesy of The Omaha Morning Bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 31 January 1923, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Omaha
0400439
NR

Captain of USS Omaha (CL 4) Congratulated


Commander Frank Kidgely, who read the instructions of acceptance when the new cruiser, Omaha, was commissioned at Bremerton, Wash., February 33, congratulating Capt. David C. Hanrahan, who took charge of thevship. H. Becker, 518 Park avenue, Omaha, Neb., who witnessed the commissioning ceremonies, writes that "She surely is a beautiful boat.
Image and text provided by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE.
Photo courtesy of The Omaha Morning Bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 03 March 1923, Image 6, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Omaha
0400405
726k

New Cruiser USS Omaha (CL 4) Making 36 Knots.

National Archives Identifier: 300885523
Local Identifier: 24-RSB-044
Photo catalog.archives.gov
Omaha
0400401
NR

The Fastest Navy Ship Afloat The US Scout Cruiser USS Omaha (CL 4)
Broadside view of the Omaha: Note the guns forward. One of these six-inch guns can throw a 100-pound steel shot half way across the county. The radio gear makes the top of the vessel look like a clothes line......
Captain David Carlisle Hanrahan, Commanding Officer of the ship. One of the jolliest sailors in the Navy, they say, and oh yes girls, he's a bachelor!

Image and text provided by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE.
Photo courtesy of The Omaha Morning Bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 18 March 1923, ROTOGRAVURE SECTION, Image 35, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Omaha
0400418
466k Article about the USS Mississippi (BB 41) being overhauled and the launching of the USS Omaha (CL 4). Tommy Trampp
Omaha
0400419
112k Port side view while underway date and location unknown. John Spivey
Omaha
0400415
58k

Dress Ship while moored, port side to, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, 24 May 1923.

National Archives, Seattle Branch, Record Group 181.

Tracy White
Omaha
0400432
NR

U. S. CRUISER MAKES WORLD’S RECORD

The scout cruiser USS Omaha (CL 4), of the United States Navy, hung up a new world’s record between Honolulu, Hawaiian Island, and San Francisco, making the voyage in 75 hours and 40 minutes, covering the 2,101 miles at average speed of 27.74 knots. She can log 35 knots. This record clips more than a full day off the best merchant liner record. Miss Margaret Carnegie Schuh was most anxious that the vessel break records, and she was waiting at the dock for her sweetheart. Captain Leon A DesPland Jr, an army officer, who came as a passenger on a 17-day leave of absence to marry her.

Image and text provided by Alaska State Library Historical Collections.
Photo courtesy of The Alaska Daily Empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1912-1926, 31 May 1923, Image 8, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Omaha
0400430
NR

SCOUT CRUISER OMAHA, UNCLE SAM’S FASTEST SHIP

This speedy looking craft is Uncle Samuel’s newest and fastest man o’ war, the scout cruiser USS Omaha (CL 4), which recently made a record run with mail from Honolulu to the Pacific Coast in a little less that 3.5 days, the mail then going forward by train and air plane to Washington. Seated in his "remote control station, Capt. D. C. Hanrahan, U. S. N.. skipper of the Omaha, recently delivered a message from the vessel in the harbor of Hilo to the people of Honolulu, the first radio phone conversation between the two cities.

Image and text provided by Alaska State Library Historical Collections.
Photo courtesy of Seward Daily Gateway. [volume] (Seward, Alaska) 1923-1933, 26 June 1923, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Omaha
0400433
1.60k

Omaha (CL 4) passing through the Panama Canal, circa 1925-1926.

Photo NH 43054 via history.navy.mil
Omaha
0400431
1.22k

Omaha (CL 4) class cruiser.

National Archives Identifier: 100996530
Local Identifier: 185-G-975
Photo catalog.archives.gov
Omaha
0400441
NR

Ordered to Mexican Waters

8 Warships of U. S. Off for Mexico

1100 Bluejackets Are Aboard Cruiser USS Omaha (CL 4) and Six Destroyers Bound for Veracruz.

Image and text provided by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE.
Photo courtesy of Omaha Daily Bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 20 January 1924, CITY EDITION, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Omaha
0400427
289k

USS Omaha (CL 4) in Commencement Bay at the end of July 1924. The Omaha, a 550-foot 'scout cruiser', had steamed into the bay for a week's stay, accompanied by a squadron of six destroyers. The Omaha was the first of a ten ship class of 7,050 ton light cruisers. The ship was built at Todd Dry Dock of Tacoma and launched on 14 December 1920.

Tacoma Public Library, Marvin D. Boland Collection, BOLAND-B10599.

Mike Green
Omaha 116k

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 #NH 43053.

USNHC
Omaha
0400416
476k

Excellent photo of USS Omaha (CL 4), taken in San Diego Bay. Date is not stated, but from a photo collection which is all dated between 1925 and 1929.

U.S. Navy Photo.

David Buell
Omaha 134k Starboard bow view, 1926 Jon Burdett
Omaha
0400414
60k

USS Omaha Liberty Men at Lava Beds at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii in 1932.

National Archives, Seattle Branch, Record Group 181.

Tracy White
Omaha
0400413
56k

View looking aft during Omaha's record setting run (at the time) from Honolulu to San Francisco. The run, which occurred in 1932, was completed in 75 Hours and 40 minutes.

National Archives, Seattle Branch, Record Group 181.

Tracy White
Omaha
0400423
265k

As temporary flagship (she flies a four-star flag at the main) for Adm. Richard H. Leigh, the USS Omaha (CL 4) is off Diamond Head, Honolulu, T.H., 20 October 1932. Close investigation of the image reveals a black-hulled admiral’s barge in skids to port of her no.2 stack.

U.S. National Archives, Photo #80-CF-2142

USNHC
Omaha 127k

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 #NH 97971.

USNHC
Omaha 83k

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 #NH 93507.

USNHC
Omaha
0400420
59k

USS Omaha (CL 4) grounded in the Bahamas, 18 July 1937.

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #NH 43062

USNHC
Omaha 542k

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 #NH 43061.

USNHC
Omaha
0400434
NR

2 NAVY OFFICERS MOVED DOWN ON PROMOTION LIST
Action Result of Neglect in Grounding Ship

Capt. Howard B. Mecleary, commanding officer of the cruiser USS Omaha (CL 4), and Lieut. Comdr. Edgar R. Winckler, the ship’s navigator, today were placed far down on the Navy’s promotion lists for negligence in causing the cruiser to run aground in the Bahmas in July.
SWANSON ORDER
Upholding the verdict of the court-martial that both were guilty of neglect of duty, Secretary of the Navy Swanson ordered that Mecleary’s name be reduced 25 numbers on the promotion list for officers of his rank, or almost to the end, and Winckler’s name be dropped 75 numbers or to about the center of the list.
HEAVY DAMAGE
In running aground the cruiser suffered damage costing $200,000, the Navy Department said.

Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo courtesy of The Washington Times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 18 November 1937, Image 12, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Omaha
0400436
NR

CAPT. LIND IN COMMAND OF CRUISER USS OMAHA (CL 4)

Ship to Become New Flagship of Temporary Squadron in Europe
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo courtesy of Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 09 February 1938, Image 5, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Omaha
0400425
139k

Aerial view of the USS Omaha (CL 4) released 10 March 1938, showing clearly the groups of .50 caliber antiaircraft machine guns in the foretop and on the after superstructure, and two Seagulls on her catapults.

U.S. National Archives, Photo #19-N-17951

Mike Green
Omaha
0400429
NR

Cruiser to Barcelona for Evacuation of Americans
U. S. Warships Take American Refugees Safely From City

Bomb Falls 100 Feet from Americans Before Naval Vessels take Them Away; Government Troops Are Still Holding Out in Barcelona Proper
With fall of Barcelona imminent, the U. S. cruiser USS Omaha (CL 4) was ordered to Caldetas, 20 miles north of the beleaguered city, to evacuate American refugees. Of the American group only about thirty are native born. The others are Filipinos, Puerto Ricans or of Spanish origin.

Image and text provided by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library, Chapel Hill, NC.
Photo courtesy of Henderson Daily Dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 25 January 1939, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Omaha
0400438
NR

AMERICANS RESCUED UNDER REBEL BOMBS


This unusual photograph, taken from the cruiser USS Omaha (CL 4), shows scene in Caldetas Harbor while American refugees from Barcelona were being removed to the United States destroyer Badger (DD-126) and the Omaha. The picture shows an anti-air craft shell (upper right) from a French destroyer bursting over the port while bombs from insurgent planes menaced the Americans, as well as French and British refugees. Note waterspouts raised by two bombs falling in the harbor, also the French destroyers Simoun and Siroco, one of which opened fire. Picture was telephotoed to London and radioed from there to New York.
A. P. Wirephoto.
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo courtesy of Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 27 January 1939, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Omaha
0400417
206k The body of the U.S. Ambassador to Cuba, J. Butler Wright, arrives in at the Washington Navy Yard on 11 December 1939 aboard the USS Omaha (CL 4).

Library of Congress, Photo No. LC-H22-D-7984

Mike Green
Omaha 71k

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 #NH 49935.

USNHC
Omaha
                0400437
NR              

THE U. S. NAVY TAKES A PRIZE AT SEA

Released by the Navy Department, this photo shows the capture of the German ship Odenwald by the cruiser USS Omaha (CL 4) in the South Atlantic on 6 November. A boarding party is nearing the ship, which is flying the American flag and sailing under the name of “Wilmoto of Philadelphia.”
Members of the crew of the disguised ship try to flee in lifeboats as a boarding party from the Omaha (foreground) approaches. As the boarding party reached the side there were two explosions set by the crew in an attempt to scuttle the merchantman. She was taken to San Juan by the cruiser, however.

           
Official Navy Photos.
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo courtesy of Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 27 November 1941, Image 4, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Omaha
0400400
NR

Swastika Hangs High as Spoils of War

First flag captured by the American Navy in the Battle of the Atlantic,this Swastika hangs as a souvenir in the office of Secretary of Navy Knox in Washington. It was taken from the German freighter Odenwald, although the Odenwald was flying the Stars and Stripes—not the Swastika when captured.

Image and text provided by University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA.
Photo courtesy of Imperial Valley Press. (El Centro, Calif.) 1907-current, 01 December 1941, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Omaha
0400443
1.46k

Omaha (CL 4) in Miami in 1941.

Photo courtessy of William A (Adrian) Winget via his grandson, Kingston Winget.
Omaha
0400444
1.43k

Omaha (CL 4) port bow view while pierside in Miami in 1941.

Photo courtessy of William A (Adrian) Winget via his grandson, Kingston Winget.
Omaha 114k

USS Omaha (CL 4) in New York Harbor, 10 February 1943.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives #19-N-40594.

National Archives
Omaha 68k

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 #NH 97972.

USNHC
Omaha
0400426
162k

Omaha (CL 4) underway at speed, as seen from a plane flying out of NAS Coco Solo, 19 March 1943.

U.S. National Archives, Photo #80-G-567157

Mike Green
Omaha
0400440
NR

Charles Doyle Leffler, Jr., Commanded cruiser USS Omaha (CL 4)


Capt. Leffler of the Omaha, a native of Sanford, Fla., attended the Miami High School and the Army and Navy Preparatory School in Washington before entering the Naval Academy in 1914. After wide service in ships all over the world, including the Yangtze patrol in China, he was assigned to duty in the Bureau of Navigation, Navy Department, where he remained from 1939 to 1942. He assumed command of the Omaha in February, 1943. He is 43 years old.
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo courtesy of Evening Star. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 04 February 1944, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Omaha
0400442
NR

A RECORD PRIZE
was trapped by three American warships. Including the cruiser USS Omaha (CL 4), above, when a trio of Nazi blockade runners, en route from far eastern Japanese ports, were intercepted and sunk in the South Atlantic, The enemy vessels, laden with thousands of tons of rubber, tin, fats and ores, were sunk in attempting to sneak across the South Atlantic. Hundreds of tons of baled rubber, found floating in the debris, was recovered and sent to the United States. In addition to the Omaha, the U. S. destroyers Somers (DD-381) and Jouett (DD-396) took part in the action.

Image and text provided by Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library
Photo courtesy of The Ypsilanti Daily Press. ( (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 08 February 1944, Image 8, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Omaha
0400424
143k

USS Omaha (CL 4) recovers U-177 survivors after they had been rescued by one of the cruiser’s whaleboat crews, 6 February 1944.

U.S. National Archives, Photo #80-G-358559

Mike Green
Omaha
0400421
131k

USS Omaha (CL 4) during the invasion of Southern France, as seen from USS Philadelphia (CL 41) (one of the latter’s Curtiss SOC Seagulls can be seen in the right foreground), in an image received on 1 September 1944.

U.S. National Archives, Photo #80-G-256278

Mike Green
Marblehead
0401220
145k Ex-Marblehead (CL 12) being scrapped in Dry Dock No. 4 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on January 10, 1946. To the left is ex-Cincinnati (CL 6), behind left is ex-Raleigh (CL 7) and behind right is ex-Omaha (CL 4).

Library of Congress, HAER PA,51-PHILA,709D—20

Mike Green
Omaha
0400422
448k

Scrapping ex-USS Omaha (CL 4) proceeds at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, 10 January 1946. The ex-USS Raleigh (CL 7) is also being scrapped, lying next to the Omaha.

USS Omaha DANFS Ship's History Files

Mike Green
Marblehead
0401221
166k Scrapping of ex-Marblehead (CL 12), ex-Cincinnati (CL 6), ex-Omaha (CL 4), and ex-Raleigh (CL 7). Naval Shipyard Philadelphia. February 18, 1946. Mike Green

Commanding Officers
Name/Rank Final Rank Dates
Hanrahan, David Carlisle, CAPT   02/24/1923 - 06/14/1924
Horne, Frederick Joseph, CAPT ADM 06/14/1924 - 01/16/1926
Cole, Cyrus Willard, CAPT RADM 01/16/1926 - 08/25/1927
Buchanan, Allen, CAPT   08/25/1927 - 06/11/1929
Downes, John, CAPT RADM 11/06/1929 - 05/22/1930
Pickens, Andrew Calhoun, CAPT RADM 05/22/1930 - 05/14/1932
Dowell Jr., Jonathan Stuart, CAPT   05/14/1932 - 06/04/1934
Woods, James Sterett, CAPT   06/04/1934 - 12/14/1935
Jones, Herbert Aloysius, CAPT   12/14/1935 - 09/10/1936
Mecleary, Howard Blaine, CAPT   09/10/1936 - 01/17/1938
Lind, Wallace Ludwig, CAPT   01/17/1938 - 02/01/1939
Davidson, Lyal Ament, CAPT VADM 02/01/1939 - 09/01/1939
Powell, Paulus Prince, CAPT RADM 09/01/1939 - 10/15/1941
Chandler, Theodore Edson, CAPT RADM 10/15/1941 - 04/01/1943
Leffler Jr., Charles Doyle, CAPT   04/01/1943 - 03/10/1944
Tillson, Elwood Morse, CAPT   03/10/1944 - 06/23/1945
Freseman, William Langfitt, CAPT   06/23/1945 - 09/24/1945
Lucas, Albert Davis, CDR   09/24/1945 - 11/01/1945

(Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves - Photos courtesy of Bill Gonyo)


USS OMAHA (CL 4) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
CL 4 - SSN 692

Contact Name: Mr. Mel Schaefer
Address: 1113 Coach Rd Papillon, NE, 68046-2903
Phone: 402-592-0587
E-mail: None


Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Cruiser Pages By Andrew Toppan.
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