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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS ASTORIA (CA 34)


     

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: Negative - Affirmative - Cast - Dog (1931 phonetics)
(Courtesy of John Spivey)


Changed on 1 April 1935 (Dept. of Commerce Radio Service Bulletin # 240) to

     

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: Negative - Easy - Dog - Cast (1931 phonetics)
(Courtesy of RMC Bryan Fisher USCG)


CLASS - NEW ORLEANS
Displacement 9,950 Tons, Dimensions, 588' 0" (oa) x 61' 9" x 22' 6" (Max)
Armament 9 x 8"/55, 8 x 5"/25, 8 x 0.5" 4 Aircraft.
Armor, 5" Belt, 8" Turrets, 2 1/4" Deck, 5" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 107,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 32.0 Knots, Crew 800.
Operational and Building Data
Authorized 13 FEB 1929
Keel laid on 01 SEP 1930 by the Puget Sound Navy Yard
Reclassified CA 34 01 JUL 1931
Launched 16 DEC 1933
Commissioned 28 APR 1934
Fate: Sunk by Japanese gunfire on 9 AUG 1942 during the Battle of Savo Island.


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/Fleet Clasp
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3) - World War II Victory Medal


Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
6m General Plans for Astoria as prepared by New York Navy Yard. Ed Zajkowski
Astoria
0403432
1.3m

Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, The aircraft carriers Lexington (CV 2) and Saratoga (CV 3) at the yard, 8 June 1932. Also present is an old collier at left. Astoria (CA 34) is under construction in drydock, upper right. Photographed from a USAAC plane.

NHHC
Astoria
0403420
NR

This new cruiser, the Astoria (CA 34), is now under construetion in Puget Sound Navy Yard, Washington state, at a cost of more than nine million dollars. It will be launched 16 December. At the same time the present unemployed relief grants of the Roosevelt government total only $3,936,483, much of which will never reach the unemployed after the “overhead” for high salaried officials, etc., is deducted. This relief goes only to three states, Michigan, Arizona ans Illinois. Roosevelt gives a billion dollars for war funds. He ignores the demand of the unemployed for adequate relief and unemployment insurance.

Image and text provided by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL.
Photo from The Daily Worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 10 November 1933, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Astoria
0403401
NR

To Christen Cruiser
Miss Leila C. McKay, greatgranddaughter of one of the founders of Astoria, Ore., will christen the new 10,000 ton cruiser Astoria (CA 34) at Puget Sound, Wash., navy yard 16 December. She is a descendant of Donald McKay, clipper ship builder of Boston.

Associated Press Photo
Image and text provided by Alaska State Library Historical Collections.
Photo from The Daily Alaska Empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 12 December 1933, Image 6, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Astoria
0403439
NR

Powerful Cruiser Is Launched
This is the bow of the United States cruiser Astoria (CA 34) just launched at Seattle. It was built under the terms of the naval treaty and is more powerful than many battleships. The Astoria was christened with champagne by a descendant of the founder of the city for which it is named.

Image and text provided by Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN.
Photo from The Ely Miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 26 January 1934, Image 12, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Astoria
0403429
421k

The sea came up to meet the navy’s newest cruiser, Astoria (CA 34), instead of the vessel sliding down greased ways to the water. The cruiser was constructed in a building dock, similar to dry dock, in the Bremerton, Wash., navy yard and when it was 85 per cent complete valves were opered and the craft floated. The Astoria is a 10,000-ton ship built under the terms of the London Naval treaty. A bottle of champagne was broken across its bow by Leila C. McKay, great-granddaughter of one of Astoria’s founders.

Associated Press photo.

Text provided by Alaska State Library Historical Collections.
Photo from The Daily Alaska Empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 27 December 1933, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Photo courtesy of Dale Hargrave
Astoria
0403436
266k

Astoria (CA 34) fitting out at pier 6, Puget Sound Navy Yard, Washington, 19 December 1933.

Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo #NH 57403

Mike Green
Astoria
0403416
115k

Port side view, date and location unknown.

George Winstead photo.

Robert M. Cieri
Astoria
0403428
169k

Undated pre-war photo while at anchor, location unknown.

U.S. Navy photo

John Spivey
Astoria 107k Anchored off Long Beach, California, during the 1930s. USNHC
Astoria 109k USS Astoria (CA 34) entering Honolulu harbor during her shakedown cruise, 9 July 1934.
Photographed by Tai Sing Loo. Donated by the U.S. Army Military History Institute, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 91726.

USNHC
Astoria
0403437
568k

The New Orleans class heavy cruiser USS Astoria (CA 34), in Farm Cove, Sydney Harbour, Australia, 1 August 1934 during her shakedown cruise of the Pacific after her commissioning. This photo is part of the Australian National Maritime Museum's Samuel J. Hood (1872-1953) Studio collection.Object # 00024254.

Australian National Maritime Museum on The Commons.

Robert Hurst
Astoria
0403421
731k

USS Astoria (CA 34) in Sydney Harbor, in August 1934, during its shakedown cruise in the Pacific after its commissioning.

Australian National Maritime Museum.

Robert Hurst
Astoria
0403417
925k Photographed at Puget Sound Navy Yard, 26 September 1934. USN photo 19-N-14749 courtesy of history.navy.mil
Astoria
0403418
457k Postcard of USS Astoria off Portland, Oregon on 16 July 1937 Mike Brock
Salt Lake City
0402568
537k Portland, Oregon, Willamette River, near the double-deck, vertical-lift bridge called "The Steel Bridge". USS Salt Lake City to the port side of a New Orleans class heavy cruiser, probably the USS Astoria (CA 34) due to the lack of the gun bucklers seen on other photos of this ship of the same period compared to the other ships of the class. David Upton
Astoria
0403419
179k USS Astoria passes under St. John's Bridge en-route to 1937 Portland Rose Festival. Wolfgang Hechler
Astoria 939k

Moored, starboard side to, Puget Sound Navy Shipyard, 08 April 1938.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph NH-96380 history.navy.mil now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

history.navy.mil
Astoria
0403400
NR

U. S. Cruiser Carries Saito’s Ashes to Japan
In a final gesture of friendship, high officials of the Army, Navy and State Department, in an unprecedented ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., pay their respects to the memory of Hirosi Saito, former Japanese Ambassador whose sudden death recently shocked official Washington. Photo shows climax of services, with Saito’s ashes being removed for transfer to the U.S.S. Astoria (CA 34), American cruiser designated to carry the remains to Japan. On left, near the railing, are Mrs. Saito, her children, and Japanese Ambassador Kensuke Horinouchi and his wife. On the extreme right, Yakichiro Suma, counselor of Japanese Embassy, stands at attention.
USS Fairfax (DD 93) appears in the background.

Image and text provided by Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records; Phoenix, AZ.
Photo from Nogales International. [volume] (Nogales, Ariz.) 1926-1 979, 15 April 1939, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Astoria
0403441
900k "Saito still serves" cartoon by Cravath. USN photo NH-76143 courtesy of history.navy.mil
Astoria
0403442
691k Official program of U.S.S. Astoria's (CA 34) visit. USN photo NH-76142 courtesy of history.navy.mil
Astoria
0403405
NR

AWAIT AMBASSADOR’S ASHES
The mother, widow and the two daughters of the late Hlrosi Salto, Japanese Ambassador to the United States, who died in Washington in February. Salto’s ashes were brought back to Japan aboard the heavy cruiser Astoria (CA 34) at the direction of President Roosevelt and the Ambassador) family is shown as the Astoria docked.

Associated Press Photo
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 06 May 1939, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Astoria
0403430
355k

View of fantail, toward the end of the ship's overhaul at Mare Island Navy Yard, on 9 July 1941. Note 1.1"/75-cal. Guns, empty director positions, and crew sunbathing or catnapping, as well as "park benches."

Naval History and Heritage photo #NH 96381.
NHHC
Astoria 126k

Closeup view of the ship's bridge area, taken near the end of an overhaul at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 9 July 1941. Details seen include: main and secondary battery gun directors atop the battle lookout platform; newly-installed sky lookout position and 1.1" quadruple machine gun mounting; and siren on funnel front. Also note demarcation of dark and light grey paint of the ship's Measure 1 camouflage.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 96383.

USNHC
Astoria 755k USS Astoria (CA 34) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 11 July 1941.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives #19-N-25347.

National Archives
Astoria
0403423
184k

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 Astoria underway at sea, as seen from USS Portland. She operated with TF12 from 5 to 13 Dec 1941.

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

John Chiquoine
Astoria
0403424
198k

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 Astoria underway at sea, as seen from USS Portland. She operated with TF12 from 5 to 13 Dec 1941.

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

John Chiquoine
Astoria
0403433
227k

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 Astoria and USS Indianapolis underway at sea as seen from USS Portland. They operated as TF12 from 8 to 13 Dec 1941.

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

John Chiquoine
Astoria
0403434
266k

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 Astoria and USS Indianapolis underway at sea as seen from USS Portland. They operated as TF12 from 8 to 13 Dec 1941.

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

John Chiquoine
Astoria
0403435
218k

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 Astoria and USS Indianapolis underway at sea as seen from USS Portland. They operated as TF12 from 8 to 13 Dec 1941.

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

John Chiquoine
Astoria 79k

Crew of 5"/25 gun # 3 (2nd gun from forward, starboard side) in action during gunnery practice, circa spring 1942. Note anti-flash head-dress and communications gear worn by the man operating the fuse setter; bearing markings on the gun's splinter shield; and old-style battle helmets.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-21946.

National Archives
Astoria 146k

USS Astoria (CA 34) arriving at Pearl Harbor with Task Force 17, 27 May 1942, following the Battle of Coral Sea and shortly before the Battle of Midway. Her crew is in whites, paraded at quarters on the forecastle, and a motor launch is being lowered by her port boat crane. Photographed by Photographer 3rd Class T.E. Collins, USN.

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

National Archives/Scott Dyben
Astoria
0403438
62k While U.S. Navy Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Fisler circles the scene in his Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina, LCdr. Max Leslie prepares to ditch his Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bomber from Bombing Squadron 3 (VB-3) near the heavy cruiser USS Astoria (CA 34) between 1342 and 1348 hrs on 4 June 1942. Lt.(JG) Paul A. Holmberg's plane sinks aft of Astoria as he and his gunner are picked up by the cruiser's No. 2 motor whaleboat. The two VB-3 planes ditched near Astoria after they were unable to land on the damaged aircraft carrier USS Yorktown (CV 5). Note the destroyer at left. Photographed from USS Pensacola (CA 24).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives. Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # 80-G-32235.

Robert Hurst
Astoria 1.95k USS Astoria (CA 34) (center), and USS Minneapolis (CA 36) (left) moored near Aiea Landing, Pearl Harbor, in late June 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph 80-G-K-452, now in the collections of the catalog.archives.gov

National Archives
Astoria 96k

Battle of Midway, June 1942. A Bombing Squadron Three (VB-3) SBD-3 scout bomber, probably flown by Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Paul A. Holmberg, ditches near USS Astoria (CA 34) at about 1342 hrs on 4 June 1942. This was one of two VB-3 planes that ditched near Astoria after they were unable to land on the damaged USS Yorktown (CV 5). A PBY is flying nearby, in right center.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-312004.

National Archives
Astoria 146k

Battle of Midway, June 1942 - An SBD-3 scout bomber, probably flown by the Bombing Squadron Three (VB-3) Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Maxwell F. Leslie, ditches alongside USS Astoria (CA 34) at about 1348 hrs on 4 June 1942. This was one of two VB-3 planes that ditched near Astoria after they were unable to land on the damaged USS Yorktown (CV 5). Photographed from atop Astoria's after superstructure. Note her port aircraft crane, and an SOC floatplane on her port catapult.

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

National Archives/Scott Dyben
Astoria 346k USS Astoria (CA 34) operating in Hawaiian waters during battle practice, 8 July 1942. She appears to be recovering floatplanes from off her starboard side. Note booms rigged below the forward superstructure to tow aircraft recovery mats, and starboard crane swung out.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97682.

USNHC
Astoria 186k USS Astoria (CA 34) firing her after eight-inch guns, during battle practice in Hawaiian waters, circa 8 July 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97683.

USNHC
Astoria 66k

Guadalcanal-Tulagi Invasion, August 1942. USS Astoria (CA 34) joins Task Force 16 as it approaches Tulagi, about 6 August 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-13477.

National Archives
Astoria
0403425
236k

Battle diagram showing ship movement during Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942.

Source: Preliminary Design Branch, Bureau of Ships Navy Department, War Loss/Damage Report No. 29.

Mike Green
Astoria
0403426
269k

Outboard profile battle damage diagram of USS Astoria (CA 34) showing gunfire hits during Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942.

Source: Preliminary Design Branch, Bureau of Ships Navy Department, War Loss/Damage Report No. 29.

Mike Green
Astoria
0403427
442k

Deck plan diagram of USS Astoria (CA 34) showing gunfire hits and location of fires during Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942.

Source: Preliminary Design Branch, Bureau of Ships Navy Department, War Loss/Damage Report No. 29.

Mike Green
Astoria
0403422
NR

Tells Astoria's (CA 34) End
Crew Member, on Visit Here, Describes Escape From Sinking Cruiser, Chase by Sharks

Image and text provided by Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library.
Photo from Detroit Evening Times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 14 October 1942, NIGHT EDITION, Image 2, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Astoria
0403440
NR

First Salvo Hit Astoria as Men Ran to Stations, Survivor Says
Pictured above are the officers who commanded the three heavy cruisers whose loss in the Solomon Islands action of August 8 and 9 the Navy recently announced. The fates of Capt. Frederick L. Riefkohl, of the USS Vincennes (CA 44), and of Capt William Greenman, of the USS Astoria (CA 34), are unknown. Capt. Samuel N. Moore, commander of the USS Quincy (CA 39), is listed as "Killed in Action."

Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 13 October 1942, Image 9, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.

Commanding Officers
Name/Rank Class Final Rank Dates
Root, Edmund Spence, CAPT 1905   04/28/1934 - 08/26/1935
Austin, Charles Morrison, CAPT 1905   08/26/1935 - 03/14/1937
Gill, Charles Clifford, CAPT 1906   03/14/1937 - 07/01/1938
Turner, Richmond Kelly, CAPT 1908 ADM 07/01/1938 - 12/30/1940
Haines, Preston Bennett, CAPT 1910   12/30/1940 - 12/15/1941
Scanland, Francis Worth, CAPT 1909 COMO 12/15/1941 - 06/14/1942
Greenman, William Garrett, CAPT 1912 COMO 06/14/1942 - 08/09/1942

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


USS ASTORIA (CA 34) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
CA 34 - CL-90

Contact Name:
Address:
Phone:
E-mail:


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
USS Astoria website Pages
Hazegray & Underway Cruiser Pages By Andrew Toppan.
USS Quincy CA39, USS Astoria CA34 & USS Vincennes CA44 Loss In Action - Battle of Savo Island 9 August 1942 from the Naval History and Heritage Command.

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