The general view of the keel laying of the USS Chicago (CL 29) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 10 September 1928.

U.S. Navy photo.

RADM G. W. Laws, Shipyard Commandant, address the crowd at keel laying of the USS Chicago (CL 29) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 10 September 1928.

U.S. Navy photo.

Mayor Heegler, Vallejo, and Collie Fitzgerald drive the first rivets into the keel of the USS Chicago (CL 29) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 10 September 1928.

U.S. Navy photo.

Bow view of the USS Chicago (CL 29) under construction at Mare Island in late 1929.

U.S. Navy photo.

Bow view of the USS Chicago (CL 29) under construction at Mare Island in late 1929. Note tent over roller path area for turret number 1.

U.S. Navy photo.

Bow view of the USS Chicago (CL 29) at Mare Island on 8 April 1930.

U.S. Navy photo.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 70789.

Bow view of the USS Chicago (CL 29) at Mare Island on 10 April 1930. Good detail of the launch cradle under the ship.

U.S. Navy photo.

The USS Chicago (CL 29) on the ways at Mare Island on the morning of her launching.

U.S. Navy photo.

Miss E. Britten (Chicago's Sponsor) with RADM G. W. Laws (Commandant, Mare Island Navy Yard) are seen about to christen USS Chicago (CL 29) at Mare Island on April 10, 1930.

Photo is courtesy of the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum.

Photo Caption - "The U.S.S. Chicago, new type 10,000 ton light cruiser, was launched at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Cal. today, April 10. The cost of the vessel was approximately $10,000,000. The Chicago is 600 feet over all in length, and was authorized by an act of Congress dated Sept. 18, 1924. The Chicago was christened by Miss Elizabeth Britten of San Francisco, sister of Congressman Fred Britten of Illinois.

Photo shows the U.S.S. Chicago just as she started down the ways at Mare Island Navy Yard, Cal. (SF-FM 3) 4-10-30."

The USS Chicago (CL 29) is about half way down the ways during her launching at Mare Island on 10 Apr 1930.

U.S. Navy photo.

The USS Chicago (CL 29) is waterborne after her launching at Mare Island on 10 Apr 1930.

U.S. Navy photo.

The USS Chicago (CL 29) is at her outfitting berth shortly after launching at Mare Island on 10 Apr 1930.

U.S. Navy photo.

The commissioning ceremony, Mare Island, 15 March 1931. The caption reads:

Admiral G. W. Laws handing over to Captain Manly Simons the new war vessel built at Mare Island, Calif., which is to become the flagship of the United States Battle Fleet under Admiral J. V. Chase.

Mare Island Navy Yard (9 March 1931) – Captain Manley Hale Simons, the first commanding officer  of the super cruiser USS Chicago and Rear Admiral George William Laws, commandant of the Mare Island Navy Yard, join together in attending  the commissioning  ceremony.

Photo courtesy of the Acme Newspictures.

USS Chicago (CL 29) At the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, in April 1931, soon after she was commissioned. Courtesy of the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, 1970.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 70635.

Undated, Pre-war image.

George Winstead collection.

George Winstead collection.

Port quarter WWII image, date and location unknown.

U.S. Navy photo.

Undated, pre-war, starboard side view, location unknown. The puffs of smoke to port and the crew at quarters could indicate a that a salute is being rendered.

Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum

USS Chicago (CL 29) At Tutuila, American Samoa, during her shakedown cruise, 1931. Courtesy of Wiley H. Smith, 1981.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 93457.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-462565.

View taken from the deck atop the aircraft hangar of USS Chicago (CA 29, circa 1932, and shows in line astern formation: USS Salt Lake City (CA 25), USS Louisville (CA 28), USS Northampton (CA 26), USS Pensacola (CA 24), USS Chester (CA 27), and USS Augusta (CA 31).

Naval History and Heritage Command, Catalog No. NH 51838

0402988

0402988a

323k

233k

Turning in formation with three other Scouting Force heavy cruisers, to create a "slick" for landing seaplanes, during exercises off Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, 31 January 1933. Planes are landing astern of the middle cruisers. The other ships are (from front to back): USS Louisville (CA 28), USS Salt Lake City (CA 25) and USS Northampton (CA 26).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-451165.

Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Oahu, Hawaii - Scouting Force ships at, and off, the yard, 2 February 1933. Cruisers tied up at 1010 Dock are (from left to left center) Augusta (CA 31), Chicago (CA 29) and Chester (CA 27). USS Northampton (CA 26) is alongside the dock in the center, with USS Kane (DD 235) in the adjacent Marine Railway and USS Fox (DD 234) tied up nearby. USS Louisville (CA 28) is in the center distance. Moored off her bow and at the extreme right are USS Salt Lake City (CA 25) and USS Pensacola (CA 24).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph #80-G-451164, now in the collections of the National Archives.

The damaged USS Chicago (CA 29) is entering Mare Island Navy Yard on 25 Oct 1933 after her collision with the British freighter Silver Palm. The collision killed 3 officers.

U.S. Navy Photo.

The damaged USS Chicago (CA 29) with Mare Island's diving barge alongside at Mare Island Navy Yard on 25 Oct 1933 after her collision with the British freighter Silver Palm.

U.S. Navy Photo.

Inspecting the damage from the collision with British freighter Silver Palm while moored at Mare Island Navy Yard on 25 Oct 1933.

NARA San Francisco Branch, Record Group 181, Mare Island Naval Shipyard Ship Files.

A close-up of the damage to USS Chicago (CA 29) at Mare Island Navy Yard on 25 Oct 1933 after her collision with the British freighter Silver Palm.

U.S. Navy Photo.

Another view of the damage from collision with the British freighter Silver Palm. Looking down from above, wooden gantries are where the hull would normally be.

NARA II, "Commander of Battleships & Cruisers, Pacific Fleet, 1942-45 files"

The Heavy Cruiser USS Chicago (CA 29) underway off New York City, during the 31 May 1934 fleet review.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph # NH 715.

The USS San Francisco (CA 38) is forward of the USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) on the left and the USS Houston (CA 30) is forward of the USS Chicago (CA 29) at Mare Island Navy Yard between Nov 3rd and 5th in 1936.

U.S. Navy Photo.

USS Chicago (CA 29) at Portland, OR, ca. 1937, while passing USS Oregon (BB 3).

Navy Memorial via Don Kehn, Jr. & Richard Lillie.

The USS Houston (CA 30) is forward of USS Chicago (CA 29) on 10 September 1940 at Mare Island Navy Yard. USS Ramapo (AO 12) is berth alongside of USS Houston and the USS William Ward Burrows (AP 6) and the YD 33 (150 ton crane) are alongside of USS Chicago. In this picture there is a good view of the AA guns added to the Chicago's aft deck house.

U.S. Navy Photo.

The USS Houston (CA 30) is forward of USS Chicago (CA 29) on 10 September 1940 at Mare Island Navy Yard. USS Ramapo (AO 12) is berth alongside of USS Houston and the USS William Ward Burrows (AP 6) and the YD 33 (150 ton crane) are alongside of USS Chicago.

NARA San Francisco, Mare Island Navy Shipyard Ship Files

Late March 1941 - USS Chicago in Sydney.

Collection of Graeme Andrews from Kookaburra2011's photostream on Flickr.

USS Chicago, docked at the South Brisbane wharves, while on a goodwill visit to Brisbane by the U.S. Navy in March 1941. This was the first visit of an American Naval Squadron to Brisbane during World War II . This was prior to the Japanese attack of Pearl Harbor in December 1941.

Photo: Queensland Newspapers Collection, John Oxley Library Queensland, from Kookaburra2011's photostream on Flickr

The squadron was made up of the cruisers USS Chicago, flying the flag of Rear Admiral John H. Newton, and USS Portland, escorted by destroyers Clark, Conyngham, Reid, Cassin and Downes. The ships had arrived from Sydney, having also visited New Zealand.

Photo: Queensland Newspapers Collection, John Oxley Library Queensland, from Kookaburra2011's photostream on Flickr

Two days before the Pearl Harbor attack, a carrier-cruiser group built around USS Lexington (CV 2) departed Pearl Harbor to deliver reinforcement aircraft to Midway. This is USS Chicago (CA 29) underway as seen from USS Portland (CA 33). She operated with TF12 from 5 to 13 Dec 1941.

Two days before the Pearl Harbor attack, a carrier-cruiser group built around USS Lexington (CV 2) departed Pearl to deliver reinforcement aircraft to Midway. This is USS Chicago and USS Lexington underway at sea as seen from USS Portland (CA 33). They operated as TF12 from 5 to 13 Dec 1941. Some censors marks appear.

Photographer Robert Landry, Life Magazine, used for educational and non-commercial purpose.

Two days before the Pearl Harbor attack a carrier-cruiser group built around USS Lexington (CV 2) departed Pearl to deliver reinforcement aircraft to Midway. This is USS Chicago and USS Indianapolis underway at sea as seen from USS Portland (CA 33). Both operated with TF12 from 8 to 13 Dec 1941. Some censors marks appear.

Photographer Robert Landry, Life Magazine, used for educational and non-commercial purpose.

Photo of the artifacts removed from Chicago prior to her departure for war.

U.S. Navy Photo #5851-43.

The Australian cruiser HMAS Canberra (D33) (left), and U.S. Navy cruisers USS Chicago (CA 29) (center) and USS Salt Lake City (CA 25) (right) at anchor at Brisbane, Australia, in May 1942. Two Curtiss SOC Seagull floatplanes fly low past the stern of the Salt Lake City. Along with HMAS Australia (D84) and other ships, they formed Task Force 44 which patrolled the Coral Sea during the battle of the Coral Sea.

This image is available from the Collection Database of the Australian War Memorial under the ID Number: P02497.003.

Robert Hurst

USS Salt Lake City (CA 25) and USS Chicago (CA 29) underway in May, 1942 in the Coral Sea-Solomon Islands area

Museums Victoria Collections, Photo #MM 1112319

Coral Sea, May, 1942. Led by two United States destroyers, four heavy cruisers of Task Force 44 steam in line ahead formation. The cruisers are (L to R) are USS Salt Lake City (CA 25), USS Chicago (CA 29), HMAS Canberra (D 33) and HMAS Australia (D 84). Note the gunnery radar at the peak of the foremast of the two US cruisers. The task force was created on 22 April 1942 from the ANZAC Squadron as part of the South West Pacific Area and comprised RAN and USN warships.

Australian War Memorial Collection, Photo #P02497.005

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Chicago (CA 29) on 31 May 1942 in Sydney Harbor, Australia, at the time of the attack by Japanese midget submarines. Note the aerial for the early CXAM air search radar on the mainmast.

Australian War Memorial, Photo #P00279.004

Allied ships leaving Wellington, New Zealand, on 22 July 1942, en route to take part in the invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi. This photo was taken from the heavy cruiser USS Chicago (CA 29), looking aft along the starboard side from the forward superstructure. The next ship astern is USS Salt Lake City (CA 25). She is followed by the Australian light cruiser HMAS Hobart (D63). A Curtiss SOC Seagull float plane is visible in the foreground.

United States National Archives, Catalog, No. 80-G-13455

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-K-386.

Battle of Savo Island, 9 August 1942 - USS Chicago (CA 29) off Guadalcanal the day after the action, showing crewmen cutting away damaged plating to enable the ship to get underway. She had been torpedoed at her extreme bow during the night action of 9 August 1942. View looks forward along her port side, with # 1 eight-inch gun turret in the upper right. Note life rafts hung on the turret side and destroyers in the distance.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-34685.

Photo taken by members of VCS-4; Chicago's scout plane squadron dated 8-15-1942, probably at Noumea. Note ripples in deck under anchor chain.

National Archives, San Francisco Branch, Mare Island Naval Shipyard General Correspondence files, 1941-47

USS Chicago (CA 29), damage by a Japanese torpedo hit which did not explode. This occurred during 9 August 1942 during an attack off Tulagi, Solomon Islands. Port side view.

NARA II photo #80-G-66501:

Photo taken by members of VCS-4; Chicago's scout plane squadron dated 8-15-1942, probably at Noumea.

National Archives, San Francisco Branch, Mare Island Naval Shipyard General Correspondence files, 1941-47

Australian War Memorial, Photo No.305765

Photo Caption:

"Showing general effect of the explosion in deflecting the structure to port."

This photo was taken while in drydock in Sydney, Australia prior to temporary repairs.

National Archives, San Francisco Branch, Mare Island Naval Shipyard General Correspondence files, 1941-47

Australian War Memorial, Photo No.306404

Drydocked in Sydney showing temporary repairs made to the bow prior to departing for Mare Island.

National Archives, San Francisco Branch, Mare Island Naval Shipyard General Correspondence files, 1941-47

Closeup of temporary repair made in Australia. Dotted line indicates area of the repair. Photo taken 15 October 1942 at Mare Island.

National Archives, San Francisco Branch, Mare Island Naval Shipyard General Correspondence files, 1941-47

Closeup of fully repaired bow. Dotted line indicates area of the repair. Photo taken 27 November 1942 at Mare Island.

National Archives, San Francisco Branch, Mare Island Naval Shipyard General Correspondence files, 1941-47

Text from a report concerning the analysis of the dents seen in this photo taken 15 October 1942 at Mare Island:

"Upon drydocking it was found that what is believed to have been a torpedo struck the ship, without exploding, between frames 95 and 96 on the starboard, side, at about nine feet above the base line. No penetration of the plating occurred and no damage resulted except oil weeps around rivet heads which have been caulked.

From a study of the mark left on the ship as a result of this hit mad as indicated by the photograph it appears that the torpedo hit with a glancing blow from a sharp angle on the bow and was deflected downward at an angle of about 45°, the after body slightly denting the plating at frame 95. The head then appears to have struck the edge of the bilge keel at frame 96-1/2 throwing the tail vane in close to where the head originally hit. There are two well defined adjacent indentations at this point, the larger being 6" deep, the smaller 4" deep. /"

National Archives, San Francisco Branch, Mare Island Naval Shipyard General Correspondence files, 1941-47

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives # 19-N-39220.

USS Chicago (CA 29) off Mare Island Navy Yard on 20 Dec 1942.

U.S. Navy photo #8010-42.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives #19-N-39212.

Battle of Rennell Island, 29-30 January 1943 - Cruisers of Task Force 18 at sea en route to Guadalcanal on 29 January 1943, prior to the Japanese night air attack off Rennell Island. Photographed from USS Wichita (CA 45). USS Chicago (CA 29) is in the right center, with USS Louisville (CA 28) in the distance. Note men on Wichita's deck, working on a paravane.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Shown down hard by the stern and sinking on January 30, 1943 after being struck by 6 torpedoes in two days.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 55141.