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Her keel was originally laid as the 4th of the Oregon City Class but construction
was stopped on August 12 1945, when 56.2% complete. Construction was resumed
under a new design, July 1 1948. Capable of acting as either a fleet flagship
or an amphibious force flagship, she had an extra deck added to her hull
for command and control spaces. She was converted into a National Emergency
Command Post Afloat (NECPA) in 1961. |
NORTHAMPTON As Command and Control ship
CLC-1
1951 - 1961 |
 |
73k |
Seen here as completed. |
USN |
 |
65k |
Starboard bow view, date unknown. |
Edward C. Shaw, USN (Ret.) |
 |
68k |
Starboard side view while at anchor, date unknown. |
Edward C. Shaw, USN (Ret.) |
0412509 |
141k |
Starboard side view while underway, date and location unknown. |
Robert Hurst |
0412511 |
68k |
Excellent port bow view while underway, date and location unknown.
Note that the 3"/50RF turrets have been replaced with the 3"/70RF.
U.S. Navy Photo.
|
David Buell |
 |
103k |
Shown off in Boston on March 3, 1954, the full array of
radars and antennas are easily seen in these two views. Armed with 5"/54
caliber rapid fire guns and 3"/50 light weight A.A. weapons (until the
twin 3"/70 gun was became available), these seem small as they are dwarfed
by the massive amount of electronics. All of these height finder, hemispheric-scan,
radio and wire radars and antennas are necessary for her command cruiser
role. |
USN |
 |
116k |
Shown off Boston on March 3, 1954, the full array of radars
and antennas are easily seen in these two views. Armed with 5"/54 caliber
rapid fire guns and 3"/50 light weight A.A. weapons (until the twin 3"/70
gun was became available), these seem small as they are dwarfed by the
massive amount of electronics. All of these height finder, hemispheric-scan,
radio and wire radars and antennas are necessary for her command cruiser
role. |
USN |
 |
141k |
Starboard quarter view, rafting on USS
Albany CA-123 which is tied up to pier 5 at Norfolk Unidentified
carrier across the pier. USS
Wisconson BB-64 (right) is tied up to pier 7. Summer of 1954.
Note that the hull of Northampton is identical to Albany
except that it has one more deck added. Also at that time, the foremast
on Northampton was the tallest unstayed mast on any ship. |
Larry Bohn |
0412508 |
141k |
Seen here as Task Force Command Ship while underway in1960,
location unknown. |
Robert Hurst |
NORTHAMPTON As Command and Control ship
CC-1
1961 - 1970 |
0412510 |
661k |
Replentishment at sea between USS Northampton (CC-1) and USS
Alstede (AF-48), location unknown, 4 June 1964. Taken by Knapp,
C.F., PH1.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph #USN 1103939
|
David Buell |
 |
174k |
Seen here in early 1970, shortly before her decommissioning,
the Northampton served as a "national emergency command post afloat"
(NECPA) from 1961. She was to serve as a command post for the President
and his advisors in the event of a nuclear war. Her armament has been
reduced to a single 5"/54 turret aft due to the demand for command and
control spaces. Her forward superstructure has been enlarged to accommodate
these personnel. The NECPA program was expensive and satellites were taking
over the long distance communication role, making both the ship and her
function obsolete. |
USN |
 |
79k |
Philadelphia Naval Base, Pennsylvania - Three stricken cruisers await
disposal in the Reserve Basin, October 1978. The ships, whose hull numbers
have been painted out, are (from left to right): ex-Newport
News (CA-148); ex-Springfield
(CG-7); and ex-Northampton (CC-1).
Official U.S. Navy Photograph #K-121961.
|
National Archives |
