27 August 1938 - Helena had an armor belt below the waterline; her magazines were well below the waterline forward and she had a strake of side armor to cover them. The two belts met at about the middle of the photograph.

USS Helena (CL-50) Photographed circa 1940. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photograph Collection, Annapolis, Maryland.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 95812.

USS Helena (CL-50) At anchor in President Roads, Boston, Massachusetts, 15 June 1940. Taken by a USS Wasp (CV-7) photographer. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photograph Collection, Annapolis, Maryland.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 95816.

USS Helena (CL-50) Anchored in President Roads, Boston, Massachusetts, 15 June 1940. Taken by a USS Wasp (CV-7) photographer. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photograph Collection, Annapolis, Maryland.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 95815.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (#80-G-474789).

View looking down Pier 1010 toward the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard's Drydock Number One, in center, which holds the battleship USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) and the burning destroyers Cassin (DD-372) and Downes (DD-375). Alongside Pier 1010, in the center middle distance, are the light cruiser Helena (CL-50), listing slightly from a torpedo hit, and the capsized minelayer USS Oglala (CM-4).
Taken on 7 December 1941.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (80-G-32953).

USS Helena (CL-50) View of the starboard side amidships, taken at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 27 June 1942, following repair of combat damage and an overhaul. Note the ship's redesigned forward superstructure, including an open bridge and reduced lower bridge wings. Mark 34 main battery gun director, with antenna for an FC gunfire control radar, is immediately in front of the foremast. The other director, just behind the open bridge, is a Mark 33, with antenna for an FD radar mounted on its front. Weight traversing gear on the main deck, between the forward superstructure and 6"/47 gun turret # 3, indicates that Helena is undergoing an inclining experiment to determine her stability.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives #19-N-31213.

USS Helena (CL-50) Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, following battle damage repairs and overhaul, 1 July 1942. This image has been retouched to censor radar antennas from the gun directors and masts. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photograph Collection, Annapolis, Maryland.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 95813.

USS Helena (CL-50) At a South Pacific base, between battles, circa 1943. This image has been retouched to remove radar antennas from the gun directors and masts. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute Photograph Collection, Annapolis, Maryland.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 95814.

Munda-Vila Bombardment, 13 May 1943 - USS Helena (CL-50) firing during the night bombardment, as seen from USS Honolulu (CL-48). Gunfire causes wavy pattern of tracers. Collection of Vice Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 76496.

Central Solomons Campaign, 1943 - Light cruisers maneuvering off Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, during exercises on 20 June 1943, ten days before the invasion of New Georgia. Ships are USS Saint Louis (CL-49), at left; USS Helena (CL-50), at right; and USS Honolulu (CL-48) in the center distance.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-57074.

Battle of Kula Gulf, 5-6 July 1943 - USS Helena (CL-50), in the center, firing during the Battle of Kula Gulf, just before she was torpedoed and sunk. The next ship astern is USS Saint Louis (CL-49). Photographed from USS Honolulu (CL-48).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-54553.