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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS SAN FRANCISCO (CA 38)


     

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - India - Juliet - Zulu

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 09 SEP 1931 by the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, CA
Launched 09 MAR 1933
Commissioned 10 FEB 1934
Decommissioned 10 FEB 1946
Stricken 01 MAR 1959
Fate: Sold for scrap to Union Mineral and Alloys Corp. 09 SEP 1959

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Combat Action Ribbon - Navy Presidential Unit Citation - Navy China Service Medal
Second Row - American Defense Service Medal w/Fleet Clasp - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (17)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy World War II Occupation Medal w/JAPAN Clasp - Philippine Presidential Unit Citation


Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
San Francisco
0403893
290k

USS San Francisco (CA 38) under construction on ways #1, Mare Island Navy Yard, California. Looking aft showing results of the first month's work. 9 October 1931.

Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo #NH 70794

Mike Green
San Francisco
0403873
106k

The keel of the San Francisco on 9 October 1931, one month after the start of construction. This view is looking forward from the stern.

San Francisco Mare Island Naval Shipyard Ship Files

Tracy White
San Francisco
0403894
303k

USS San Francisco (CA 38) under construction on ways #1, Mare Island Navy yard, California. Overhead view looking forward showing results of the first month's work. 9 October 1931.

Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo #NH 70796

Mike Green
San Francisco
0403895
316k

USS San Francisco (CA 38) under construction on ways #1, Mare Island Navy yard, California. Overhead view looking forward from gantry crane amidships showing machinery spaces. 30 March 1932.

Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo #NH 70802

Mike Green
San Francisco
0403896
324k

USS San Francisco (CA 38) under construction on ways #1, Mare Island Navy yard, California. Overhead view looking aft from amidships showing machinery spaces. 30 March 1932.

Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo #NH 70804

Mike Green
San Francisco
0403874
150k

The launching of the San Francisco on 9 March 1933.

San Francisco Mare Island Naval Shipyard Ship Files

Tracy White
San Francisco
0403875
70k

The San Francisco, minutes after being launched on 9 March 1933. Note all the debris in the water from the launching. Think of the field day that the naturalist and EPA would have now .

San Francisco Mare Island Naval Shipyard Ship Files

Tracy White
San Francisco 27k Early war image, Undated. USN
San Francisco
0403863
142k

Starboard side view, date and location unknown.

Photo by George Winstead.

Robert M. Cieri
San Francisco
0403864
95k Starboard side view, date and location unknown. Robert M. Cieri
San Francisco
0403865
97k Port side view, date and location unknown. Robert M. Cieri
San Francisco
0403866
115k

Port bow view Caption stated "San Francisco coming home"

U.S. Navy photo.

Robert M. Cieri
San Francisco
0403869
142k

Starboard bow view at anchor, date and location unknown.

George Winstead photo.

Robert M. Cieri
San Francisco
0403871
107k

Port side aerial view, date and location unknown.

U.S. Navy photo.

David Buell
San Francisco
0403872
84k

Port bow view, date and location unknown.

U.S. Navy photo.

David Buell
San Francisco
0403876
63k

The USS San Francisco at Mare Island Navy Yard in 1934. She was here through early 1935 for Gunnery installation and conversion to a flagship.

San Francisco Mare Island Naval Shipyard Ship Files

Tracy White
San Francisco
0403867
136k Port quarter view while at anchor in the Bay of Acapulco, Mexico, 8 May 1934. (caption updated by Marvin Korot) Robert M. Cieri
San Francisco
0403868
160k Starboard quarter view while at anchor in the Bay of Acapulco, Mexico, 8 May 1934. (caption updated by Marvin Korot) Robert M. Cieri
San Francisco
04038103
1.88m

USS San Francisco (CA 38) off Mare Island in March 1934.

Darryl Baker
San Francisco 107k

USS San Francisco (CA 38) At anchor off San Pedro, California, 22 April 1935.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH 50967

USNHC
Chicago 652k

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 3-5 November 1936.

U.S. Navy Photo.

Darryl Baker
San Francisco
0403881
82k * Cruiser Division Seven's South American Cruise, 1939*

A local military official tours USS San Francisco (CA 38), as the cruiser visits a South American port. Commander Cruiser Division 7, Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, USN, is at right, behind the Chief Petty Officer who has his back to the camera. Two Curtiss SOC floatplanes are inside the hangar. The more distant plane, with tail visible, is Bureau # 9957, a SOC-1.

Tracy White
San Francisco 135k Undated, (1942) in the South Pacific, most likely coming into Auckland N.Z. USN
San Francisco 115k

Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 12-15 November 1942 - USS President Jackson (AP 37) maneuvering under Japanese air attack off Guadalcanal, 12 November 1942. In the center background is smoke from an enemy plane that had just crashed into the after superstructure of USS San Francisco (CA 38), which is steaming away in the right center. Photographed from USS President Adams (AP 38). Note the anti-aircraft shell bursts.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives - 80-G-32366

National Archives
San Francisco
0403879
30k

Metal fragments from the Japanese plane that crashed into the San Francisco during the Battle of Guadalcanal on 12 November 1942. The inscription reads:

12 out of 21
8 credited to ships
4 to airplanes
NOV. 12 1942

From the collection of QM3/c Glenn Gash.

Don R. Jordan
San Francisco
0403878
43k The complete USS San Francisco Gunfire Damage Report from the Battle of Guadalcanal (12-13 November 1942) is available for viewing by clicking on the image to the left. You will be taken to Tracy White's excellent website where he posts his research concerning the WWII Pacific Theatre. Tracy White
San Francisco
0403890
601k

Map of estimated enemy strength and location in relation to USS San Francisco (CA 38) on 13 November 1942 during the Battle of Guadalcanal .

Source: Preliminary Design Branch, Bureau of Ships Navy Department, War Loss/Damage Report No.26.

Mike Green
San Francisco
0403891
526k

Gunfire Damage Diagram of the USS San Francisco (CA 38) during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 12-13 November 1942.

Source: Preliminary Design Branch, Bureau of Ships Navy Department, War Loss/Damage Report No.26.

Mike Green
San Francisco
0403889
708k

Projectile Damage Diagram of the USS San Francisco (CA 38) during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 12-13 November 1942.

Source: Preliminary Design Branch, Bureau of Ships Navy Department, War Loss/Damage Report No.26.

Mike Green
San Francisco 182k Seen here December 4 1942, arriving back at Pearl Harbor Hawaii. USN
San Francisco 65k

USS San Francisco (CA 38) At Pearl Harbor, with her crew manning the rails in "Whites", 4 December 1942. She was en route to the west coast for repair of damage received during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, on 12-13 November 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives - 80-G-21099

National Archives
San Francisco
0403892
84k

Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN (center) (Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas) on board USS San Francisco (CA 38) to visit the two senior ship's officers who had survived the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, 12-13 November 1942. Photographed at Pearl Harbor, while San Francisco was en route to California for battle damage repairs. On the left is Commander Herbert E. Schonland, USN, who assumed command after the ship's Captain was killed and led damage control efforts. On the right is Lieutenant Commander Bruce McCandless, USN, the ship's Communications Officer, who took over the conn and subsequently navigated San Francisco to safety. Both Schonland and McCandless received the Medal of Honor for their actions during and immediately after the battle.? 

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, #80-G-40031 now in the collections of the National Archives.

Robert Hurst
San Francisco
0403806
1.5m

USS San Francisco (CA 38) steams under the Golden Gate Bridge to enter San Francisco Bay, California, on a foggy day in December 1942. She was en route to the Mare Island Navy Yard for battle damage repairs.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives - 80-G-40093.

Scott Dyben/Robert Hurst
San Francisco 294k

The USS San Francisco (CA 38) is seen off San Francisco on 11 Dec 1942. The suspension section of the Oakland Bay Bridge is in the background.

US Navy photo #7723-42

Darryl Baker
San Francisco   USS San Francisco (CA 38) is being assisted to her berth at Mare Island Navy Yard on 14 Dec 1942. Darryl Baker
San Francisco 57k

USS San Francisco (CA 38) At the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, for battle damage repairs, 14 December 1942. Circles mark the location of some of the shell hits she received on 13 November 1942, during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-44715

National Archives
San Francisco
0403877
52k Photo taken on the bridge of the USS San Francisco, 20 December 1942. Comment from contributor Tracy White - "The caption on the back is a bit hard to read, as you can see, but I've Id's the two on the left as Medal Of Honor Winners Herbert Emery Schonland, Lt. Cd., USN and Bruce McCandless, Lt. Cd., USN. The third name I can't make out or find, my wife thinks Wilburn, but I've attached the caption card in case you know of a San Francisco guru who might know." An email from the San Francisco Memorial Foundation confirms that the third name is W. W. Wilbourne." Tracy White
San Francisco
0403870
46k Port bow view while underway in early 1943, location unknown. Robert Hurst
San Francisco
0403898
677k

The Commissioning Pennant of the heavy cruiser USS San Francisco (CA 38). The Pennant was recovered from the ship after it returned to Mare Island Shipyard for repairs in 1943, after the Battle of Guadalcanal.

Collection of Curator Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command. Photo # 2010-2-33

Robert Hurst
San Francisco 81k

USS San Francisco (CA 38) Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, following battle damage repairs and overhaul, 15 February 1943.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-41052

National Archives
San Francisco
0403805
1.6m

USS San Francisco (CA 38) silhouetted against a snowy mountain in Kulak Bay, Adak, Aleutian Islands, 25 April 1943.

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

Scott Dyben
Tuscaloosa
0403732
143k

Camouflage Measure 33, Design 13D

Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for heavy cruisers of the CA 32 (New Orleans) class. Ships known to have worn this scheme included USS Tuscaloosa? (CA 37) and USS? San Francisco? (CA 38). This plan, showing the ship's starboard side, superstructure ends and exposed decks, is dated 3 February 1944, and was approved by Captain Logan McKee, USN.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Photo #80-G-105506

Russ Moody
Tuscaloosa
0403733
133k

Camouflage Measure 33, Design 13D

Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for heavy cruisers of the CA 32 (New Orleans) class. Ships known to have worn this scheme included USS Tuscaloosa? (CA 37) and USS? San Francisco? (CA 38). This plan, showing the ship's port side, is dated 3 February 1944, and was approved by Captain Logan McKee, USN.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Photo #80-G-105507

Russ Moody
San Francisco 217k

View of USS San Francisco (CA 38) arriving at Mare Island for overhaul on 16 Aug 1944. She was in overhaul at the yard from 16 Aug until 17 Oct 1944.

U.S. Navy photo 5241-44.

Darryl Baker
San Francisco
04038100
108k

USS San Francisco (CA 38) launches a Curtiss SOC Seagull floatplane, circa 1944-1945.

U.S. Navy photo from the USS San Francisco (CA 38) World War II cruise book.

Robert Hurst
San Francisco
0403899
129k

Starboard side view of USS San Francisco (CA 38) underway on 10 October 1944, taken by an aircraft from squadron ZP-31.

United States National Archives, Photo #80-G-283816, courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, (usndazzle.com).

Mike Green
San Francisco 214k

Flag plot, looking forward, starboard corner aboard USS San Francisco (CA 38) at Mare Island on 10 Oct 44.

U.S. Navy Photo #6135-44.

Darryl Baker
San Francisco 75k

USS San Francisco (CA 38) Off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, following overhaul, 13 October 1944. Her camouflage is Measure 33, Design 13d.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-73588

National Archives
San Francisco 126k

Bow on view of USS San Francisco (CA 38) departing Mare Island on 13 Oct 44 for trials.

U.S. Navy Photo #6183-44.

Darryl Baker
San Francisco 188k

Stern view of USS San Francisco (CA 38) departing Mare Island on 13 Oct 44 for trials.

U.S. Navy Photo #6184-44.

Darryl Baker
San Francisco 352k

Aft radar transmitter room looking aft, port corner aboard USS San Francisco (CA 38) at Mare Island on 14 Oct 44.

U.S. Navy Photo #6234-44.

Darryl Baker
San Francisco 241k

Magnesyn Compass Repeater aboard USS San Francisco (CA 38) at Mare Island on 14 Oct 44..

U.S. Navy Photo #6243-44.

Darryl Baker
San Francisco 362k

Forward plan view of USS San Francisco (CA 38) at Mare Island on 15 Oct 44. She was in overhaul at the shipyard from 16 Aug - 17 Oct 44 and was loading ammunition of this date. USS Baltimore (CA 68) is in the background.

U.S. Navy Photo #6176-44.

Darryl Baker
San Francisco 313k

Aft plan view of USS San Francisco (CA 38) at Mare Island on 15 Oct 44. She was in overhaul at the shipyard from 16 Aug - 17 Oct 44 and was loading ammunition of this date. USS Baltimore (CA 68) is in the background.

U.S. Navy Photo #6177-44.

Darryl Baker
San Francisco
0403888
680k Portside aerial view dated 20 October 1944, taken by an Ensign Hoffman from an airship from Squadron ZP-31. David Buell
San Francisco
04038101
113k

USS San Francisco (CA 38) at sea with USS Gwin (DM 33) alongside taken by ZP 31 on 26 October 1944.

NARA photo #80-G-285354 from USNDazzle.com, colorized by Yu Chu.

Yu Chu
San Francisco
0403882
269k

New Orleans Class heavy cruiser USS San Francisco in Subic, July 1945.

Collection of Alan Meade, RAN 1943-1946 from Kookaburra2011's photostream on Flickr..

Kim Dunstan, RAN (Ret.)
San Francisco 16k

USS San Francisco (CA 38) Off the coast of Korea, 28 September 1945. She is flying from her mainmast a U.S. Ensign that flew over the Capitol Building, in Washington, D.C., during the debate of the United Nations Treaty. Note that she still carries SOC seaplanes.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives - 80-G-495711

National Archives
San Francisco
0403897
140k

Rear Admiral Thomas G. W. Stettle, USN, (center) with a Chinese Communist general and his companions, during the cruiser's operations in Chinese waters, circa September-November 1945.? Note anchor chain.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Photo #: 80-G-391451.

Robert Hurst
San Francisco
04038102
62k

"Charles Weisman (from left), 36, [...]; Charles Cannon, 20, [...]; Norbert J. Kaczynski, 20, [...]; and Harry Reif, 20, [...], hoist the citation burgee to the truck on the USS San Francisco after its arrival here from the Pacific today."

Temple University Libraries, Special Collections Research Center

Michael Mohl
San Francisco
0403880
83k

During the December 1942 repair at Mare Island, it was necessary to extensively rebuild the bridge. The bridge wings were removed as part of that repair, and are now mounted on a promontory in Lands End, San Francisco at Golden Gate National Recreation Area overlooking the Pacific Ocean. They are set on the great circle course from San Francisco to Guadalcanal.

Don R. Jordan
San Francisco
0403884
2.2m

These photos shows a little-known surviving part of the USS San Francisco (CA 38). It is a portion of bulwark from the ship’s aft starboard navigating bridge. According to war damage report no. 26, put out by the Bureau of Ships, this piece of bulwark was hit by an estimated 6” caliber projectile. Officially listed as hit no. 17, fragments resulting from the detonation of this projectile damaged multiple pieces of equipment in the vicinity, including the starboard pelorus and the captain’s target designator. Additionally, much electrical damage was caused by this and other nearby hits. This includes various lighting and communication circuits and equipment related to the 1.1” mount located on the deck above.


This piece of bulwark is noteworthy for two reasons. The first reason is that it retains its original paint which appears to be a dark greenish-grey. The second and most significant reason is that it has survived. The other surviving pieces of the San Francisco on display at Land’s End in the city of San Francisco are well known. This piece is not. It was apparently originally on display in the main administration building at the naval facility on Treasure Island. In the early 1950s it was given to the newly created Maritime Museum in San Francisco, an organization that was then a private nonprofit organization. It appears to have been on display at the museum for some time, but as displays were changed it was eventually rotated out and placed in storage. Over the years this park has transitioned from a private nonprofit park, to a California State Park, and, since the 1980s, as San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park; a unit of the United States National Park system which today retains control of this artifact.

Inboard view #1.

National Park Service, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park museum collection, catalog # SAFR 7896.

Christopher Edwards,
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

San Francisco
0403885
2.6m

Inboard view #2.

Please see description above.

National Park Service, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park museum collection, catalog # SAFR 7896.

Christopher Edwards,
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
San Francisco
0403886
1.8m

Outboard view #1.

Please see description above.

National Park Service, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park museum collection, catalog # SAFR 7896.

Christopher Edwards,
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
San Francisco
0403887
1.9m

Outboard view #2.

Please see description above.

National Park Service, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park museum collection, catalog # SAFR 7896.

Christopher Edwards,
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

Commanding Officers
Name/Rank Class Final Rank Dates
Ingersoll, Royal Eason, CAPT 1905 ADM 02/10/1934 - 06/12/1935
Beck, Willian Lewis, CAPT 1907   06/12/1935 - 05/29/1937
Parker, Ralph Chandler, CAPT 1907   05/29/1937 - 06/19/1939
Yates, Charles Moulding, CAPT 1908 COMO 06/19/1939 - 05/27/1941
Callaghan, Daniel Judson, CAPT 1911 RADM 05/27/1941 - 05/02/1942
Thornhill, Henry Ehrman, CAPT 1918   05/02/1942 - 05/16/1942
McMorris, Charles Horatio (Soc), CAPT 1912 VADM 05/16/1942 - 11/08/1942
Young, Cassin, CAPT 1916   11/09/1942 - 11/13/1942 (KIA)
Schonland, Herbert Emery, LCDR 1925 RADM 11/13/1942 - 11/17/1942
France Jr., Albert Finley., CAPT 1918   11/17/1942 - 12/26/1943
Overesch, Harvey Everett, CAPT 1915 VADM 12/26/1943 - 03/10/1945
Whelchel, John Esten (Billick), CAPT 1920   03/10/1945 - 02/10/1946

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

Updates and additions from The History of the USS San Francisco in World War II by Heber A. Holbrook


USS SAN FRANCISCO (CA 38) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
CA-38 - SSN-711

Contact Name: Mr. Donald Gritz
Address: 156 Elk Dr Sonora, CA, 95370-5534
Phone: 209-532-4719
E-mail: None


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
Hazegray & Underway Cruiser Pages By Andrew Toppan.
Pearl Harbor Attack - USS San Francisco Action Report from the Naval History and Heritage Command.

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