Keel of the U.S. Navy light cruiser San Juan (CL 54) at the Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, in May 1940.

The U.S. Navy light cruisers USS San Diego (CL 53) and USS San Juan (CL 54) under construction at the Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, circa in early 1941.

U.S. Navy light cruiser San Juan (CL 54) continues to slide down the ways at the Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, on 6 September 1941.

Hull # 1478, otherwise known as Massachusetts (BB 59), and some new additions to Uncle Sam's arsenal rise from the outfitting dock waters of Bethlehem Steel, Quincy, MA. on 8 October 1941. To the right of Massachusetts is Sinclar Superflame, Hull # 1490, San Diego (CL 53), Hull # 1479 & San Juan (CL 54), Hull # 1480.

Bureau of Ships photo # 29559.

Pieter Bakels & Robert Hurst

USS San Juan (CL 54) crewmen at general quarters, while the ship was at sea, circa 1942. View looks aft from the after superstructure. Note flash-protection clothing worn by the men, 1.1" quadruple anti-aircraft machine gun mount in left center, 5"/38 guns beyond, and depth charges on "K-gun" throwers by the main deck edge. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Vice Admiral James E. Maher, USN, who was San Juan's Commanding Officer at the time of this photograph.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 83072.

Aerial photo taken in 1942, location unknown. Note the K-Gun launchers on the fantail.

USN Photo

Port bow view while at anchor, location unknown, 1942.

USN Photo.

USS San Juan (CL 54) Off Boston, Massachusetts, 11 April 1942.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives #19-N-29078.

Starboard quarter view while at anchor taken 31 May 1942, off Boston Navy Yard.

USN Photo.

David Buell

USS San Juan (CL 54) Off Norfolk, Virginia, 3 June 1942.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives #19-N-31525.

Starboard quarter view off Norfolk, Virginia, 3 June 1942.

U.S. Navy photo

Starboard side view off Norfolk, Virginia, 3 June 1942.

U.S. Navy photo

USS San Juan (CL 54) Probably at Noumea, New Caledonia, as seen from USS Wasp (CV-7) on the eve of the Guadalcanal-Tulagi invasion. Photo is dated 3 August 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-555.

(Caption correction by Rick E. Davis) This photo is of USS SAN JUAN (CL 54). The photo was taken from USS SOUTH DAKOTA (BB 57) with USS ENTERPRISE (CV 6) TF 16 and contrary to what is on the mounting at NARA, this is USS SAN JUAN also with TF 16. All of the photos credited with being taken by USS SOUTH DAKOTA were taken prior to when USS JUNEAU joined TF 16 on 26 October 1942. By the time USS JUNEAU did join TF 16, there was no more attacks by IJN aircraft on TF 16. Author of the book on USS JUNEAU (Floating Drydock Press), Rod Dickson, had come to this conclusion back in 1993 and my own research of the timeline of the battle and movements of the ships involved including USS JUNEAU War Diaries verified that conclusion.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, National Archives photo #80-G-33331.

USS San Juan (CL 54) In a South Pacific harbor, 30 August 1943. Taken by a USS Saratoga (CV 3) photographer.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97818.

USS San Juan (CL 54) Photograph taken circa 1943-44.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 50246.

Aft plan view of USS San Juan (CL 54) at Mare Island on 31 December 1943. San Juan was in overhaul at Mare Island from 15 December 43 until 2 January 44. The USS Indianapolis (CA 35) is berthed to the left.

U.S. Navy photo #8453-43.

Forward plan view of USS San Juan (CL 54) at Mare Island on 31 December 1943. San Juan was in overhaul at Mare Island from 15 December 43 until 2 January 44. The USS Indianapolis (CA 35) is berthed to the right.

U.S. Navy photo #8456-43.

Bow on view of USS San Juan (CL 54) off San Francisco on 1 January 44. Oakland Bay Bridge is in the background.

U.S. Navy photo #16-44.

Stern view of USS San Juan (CL 54) off San Francisco on 1 January 44.

U.S. Navy photo #19-44.

Broadside view of USS San Juan (CL 54) off San Francisco on 1 January 44.

U.S. Navy photo #18-44.

Post refit photo taken 1 January 1944 off San Francisco. Additions include; a true open bridge and an aft mounted quadruple 40mm AA gun. Her boat crane, originally mounted in front of the aft stack, was removed as a weight savings consideration.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97819.

135 degree off centerline post refit photo taken 1 January 1944 off San Francisco. Additions include; a true open bridge and an aft mounted quadruple 40mm AA gun. Her boat crane, originally mounted in front of the aft stack, was removed as a weight savings consideration.

Mare Island Navy Yard photograph #17-44

Camouflage Measure 33, Design 22D (Starboard side)

Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for light cruisers of the CL 51 (Atlanta) class. This plan, approved by Captain Torvald A. Solberg, USN, is dated 18 April 1944. It shows the ship's starboard side, exposed decks and superstructure ends. USS San Juan (CL 54) and USS Flint (CL 97) were painted in this camouflage pattern. However, photographs of the ships indicate that the paints actually used were the darker colors of Measure 32 (Dull Black, Ocean Gray and Light Gray) rather than the Measure 33 paints (Navy Blue, Haze Gray and Pale Gray) shown in this drawing.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph #80-G-173267, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Camouflage Measure 33, Design 22D (Port side)

Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for light cruisers of the CL 51 (Atlanta) class. This plan, approved by Captain Torvald A. Solberg, USN, is dated 18 April 1944. It shows the ship's port side. USS San Juan (CL 54) and USS Flint (CL 97) were painted in this camouflage pattern, though photographs of the ships indicate that the paints actually used were the darker colors of Measure 32 (Dull Black, Ocean Gray and Light Gray) rather than the Measure 33 paints (Navy Blue, Haze Gray and Pale Gray) shown in this drawing. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph #80-G-173266, now in the collections of the National Archives.

USS San Juan (CL 54) Off San Francisco, California, 14 October 1944. She is wearing camouflage Measure 33, Design 22d.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives #19-N-90941.

USS San Juan (CL 54) Off San Francisco, California, 14 October 1944. Her camouflage is Measure 33, Design 22d.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives #19-N-90942.

The USS San Juan (CL 54) and the ex-destroyer? USS Moosehead (IX 98) together in a refueling operation off the Pacific coast on 24 October 1944.? San Juan? is in camouflage scheme 32/22 and the vertical colors are dull black (BK), ocean gray (5-O) and light gray (5-L), while the? Moosehead? is in Measure 21 scheme, all navy blue.

National? Archives, Photo #80-G-285356, courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, usndazzle.com.

As seen from the USS Ancon (AGC 4), a port forward view of the USS San Juan (CL 54) underway in Tokyo Bay in late-August/September, 1945.

Life Magazine Archives, - John Florea photographer, as shared by Peter DeForest.