Please Report Any Broken Links Or Trouble You Might Come Across To The Webmaster
Please Take A Moment To Let Us Know So That We Can Correct Any Problems And Make Your Visit As Enjoyable And As Informative As Possible.


NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS VINCENNES (CA 44)

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 02 JAN 1934 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company's Fore River plant, Quincy, MA
Launched 21 MAY 1936
Commissioned 24 FEB 1937
Fate: Sunk by Japanese gunfire 09 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/"A" Clasp
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - World War II Victory Medal


Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Vincennes
0404427
NR M'CARL WILL PROBE CRUISER CONTRACT
Will Find if Law Was Violated in Award to Bethlehem Company.

Controller General J. R. McCarl will investigate the Navy Department's award of the building of the heavy cruiser U. S. S. Vincennes, to the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Co., it was learned today, to determine if the law has been violated, as charged by N. P. Alifas, president of District No. 44. International Association of Machinists, which embraces those employed in Government yards.
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 14 September 1933, Image 17, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Vincennes
0404425
NR HONOR FOR VINCENNES
Vincennes, Ind., and the daughter of its Mayor, Joseph W. Kimmell, will share honors when, on a date tentatively set for April 22, Virginia Kimmell (above), will launch the new 10,000-ton scout cruiser Vincennes, at Quincy, Mass. Once before the Indiana city received a similar distinction; the first Vincennes, a speedy war sloop launched in 1826, later took part in the Antarctic expedition of 1838-42, and in the Civil War.
Image and text provided by Indiana State Library.
Photo from The Indianapolis Times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 05 March 1936, Image 11, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Vincennes
0404424
NR Christening Champagne Safe; Some Stays Here
Mayor Joseph W. Kimmel of Vincennes repays Will H. Smith, internal revenue collector, for his care of the case of champagne sent Mr. Kimmel by the Mayor of Vincennes, France, by presenting him with a bottle. Part of the champagne is to be used to christen the new cruiser USS Vincennes (CA 44) at Mass., 21 May.
Image and text provided by Indiana State Library.
Photo from The Indianapolis Times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 24 April 1936, Final Home Edition, Image 16, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Vincennes
0404418
NR 21 May 1936, was a landmark date in Vincennes history.
On that spring day, a delegation from the city was in Quincy, Massachusetts, at the Fore River plant of the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation to witness the christening of the USS Vincennes (CA 44) the second ship to carry the city’s name. Miss Harriet Virginia Kimmell, daughter of Mayor Joseph Kimmell, had the honor of breaking a bottle of champagne from Vincennes, France, over the ship’s bow, sending it down the way.
Image and text suncommercial.com
Vincennes
0404417
NR New Cruiser USS Vincennes (CA 44) Is Launched
The actual launching of the new United States cruiser Vincennes, at the Fore River plant of the Bethlehem Shipbuilding corporation in Quincy, Mass., is pictured above. The 10,000-ton vessel was christened by Miss Harriet Virginia Kimmell, daughter of the mayor of Vincennes, Ind.
Image and text provided by Washington State Library; Olympia, WA.
Photo from White Bluffs Spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 18 June 1936, Image 2, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Vincennes 1.09k

USS Vincennes (CA 44) Making 10.74 knots during trials off Rockland, Maine, 12 January 1937. Photographed while the ship was running south, at 12:58 PM.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-17183

National Archives
Vincennes 1.26k

USS Vincennes (CA 44) Underway at 22.03 knots while on trials off Rockland, Maine, 12 January 1937. The photograph was taken while the ship was running south at 3:47 PM.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH 50844

USNHC
Vincennes 1.42k

USS Vincennes (CA 44) Steaming at high speed, circa February 1937. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland, 1984.

Photo NH 95303 courtesy of history.navy.mil

USNHC
Vincennes
0404426
NR Navy Takes Over The New Cruiser USS Vincennes (CA 44)
In impresive ceremonies at Charlestown nary yard, Boston, where it newest cruiser, the Vincennes, named for Indiana's important city, was officially accepted as one of the nation's defender's....
Rear Admiral Walter R. Gherardl (left) congratulated Captain Burton H. Green on becoming commander of the Vincennes at commissioning ceremonies in Boston.
Image and text provided by Connecticut State Library, Hartford, CT.
Photo from The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 27 February 1937, Image 2, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Vincennes
0404408
97k
USS Vincennes (CA 44) at Portsmouth, England, in June 1937. The ship in the left distance is the catapult trial's ship HMS Pegasus (ex-HMS Ark Royal).
Robert Hurst
Vincennes
0404419
NR Sabotage Reported on U. S. Cruiser Vincennes
BOARD TELLS OF DAMAGE TO SHIP AT DOCK
Other Serious Cases Are Recalled
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from The Washington Times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 13 October 1937, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Vincennes 1.81k

USS Vincennes (CA 44) Passing through the Panama Canal on 6 January 1938, while en route to join the U.S. Fleet in the Pacific. Note crewmen on her deck, watching the airplane from which the photograph was taken.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH 50845

USNHC
Vincennes
0404420
1.32k USS Vincennes (CA 44) circa late 1930's. Photo NH 95305 courtesy of history.navy.mil
Vincennes
0404409
49k From DANFS: "Vincennes steamed to the Azores and visited Ponta Delgada from 4 to 6 June 1940 before she proceeded on for French Morocco to load a shipment of gold for transport to the United States." Carlos Manuel Estrela
Vincennes
0404410
155k WWII era photo painted in Measure 12 camouflage. From the collection of WO1 Myron G. Darst, USN (Ret.). David A. Darst
Vincennes
0404429
1.47 View looking aft and to port from the island of USS Hornet (CV-8)), while en route to the mission's launching point. USS Vincennes (CA 44) is in the distance. Several of the mission's sixteen B-25B bombers are visible. That in the foreground is tail # 40-2261, which was mission plane # 7, piloted by 2nd Lieutenant Ted W. Lawson. The next plane is tail # 40-2242, mission plane # 8, piloted by Captain Edward J. York. Both aircraft attacked targets in the Tokyo area. Lt. Lawson later wrote the book Thirty Seconds over Tokyo. Photo NH-53293 courtesy of history.navy.mil
Vincennes 1.58k

USS Vincennes (CA 44) At Pearl Harbor, circa 26-28 May 1942, prior to departing to take part in the Battle of Midway. A Curtiss SOC floatplane is in the left foreground.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives - 80-G-66128

National Archives

NS020526d
194k

USS Yorktown (CV 5), in the distant left center, being abandoned after suffering torpedo damage, 4 June 1942. A destroyer is standing by off the listing carrier's stern, and USS Vincennes (CA 44) is steaming by in the middle distance.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (photo # 80-G-21664).

Gerd Matthes, Germany
Vincennes 1.14k

USS Vincennes (CA 44) underway during tactical exercises in Hawaiian waters, 8 July 1942.

National Archives photo - 80-G-10116 courtesy of history.navy.mil

National Archives
Vincennes
0404416
85k

Starboard bow view USS Vincennes (CA 44) underway, in Measure 12 (mod) camouflage scheme, near Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands shortly before the landings there. The ship was sunk on 8 August during night battle action off Savo Island.

Australian War Memorial, Photo #P02497.046

Mike Green
Quincy
0403904
754k

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Quincy (CA 39) photographed from a Japanese cruiser during the Battle of Savo Island, off Guadalcanal, 9 August 1942. Quincy, seen here burning and illuminated by Japanese searchlights, was sunk in this action. The flames at the far left of the picture are probably from the USS Vincennes (CA 44), also on fire from gunfire and torpedo damage.

Text courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org
Photo NH-50346 courtesy of history.navy.mil
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
Vincennes
0404412
188k

Outboard profile of USS Vincennes (CA-44) showing gunfire and torpedo 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
Vincennes
0404428
NR CRUISERS REPORTED LOST) The Navy announced last night that three of its heavy cruisers, Quincy (CA-39), Astoria (CA-34) and Vincennes (CA-44), were sunk during the early phase of American occupation of the Solomon Islands. Above: The Quincy and its commander, Capt. Samuel M. Moore, reported among those killed. 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.
Vincennes
0404413
518k A 1/32nd scale model of an SOC-3 Seagull held by it's creator, Tom Doll. It represents an airframe flown by VCS-7, attached to the USS Vincennes (CA 44), circa April 1942. Thomas Doll
Vincennes
0404414
575k A 1/32nd scale model of an SOC-3 Seagull. It represents an airframe flown by VCS-7, attached to the USS Vincennes (CA 44), circa April 1942. Thomas Doll
Vincennes
0404415
533k A 1/32nd scale model of an SOC-3 Seagull. It represents an airframe flown by VCS-7, attached to the USS Vincennes (CA 44), circa April 1942. Thomas Doll
Wreck of USS Vincennes (CA 44) photos by the RV Petrel, 2019
Vincennes
0404421
806k Wreck of the USS Vincennes (CA 44) at a depth of over 3,000 feet. The photo shows the port side propeller cone after it imploded due to the depth. Photo courtesy of facebook.com/rvpetrel.
Text i.d. via Keith Bender.
Vincennes
0404422
746k Wreck of the USS Vincennes (CA 44) at a depth of over 3,000 feet. The photo shows the stern 8 inch turret with a crab on one of the barrels. Photo courtesy of facebook.com/rvpetrel.
Vincennes
0404423
1.04k Wreck of the USS Vincennes (CA 44) at a depth of over 3,000 feet. The photo shows the exit of a shot from the stern. Photo courtesy of facebook.com/rvpetrel.

Commanding Officers
Name/Rank Class Final Rank Dates
Green, Burton Hepburn, CAPT 1905   02/24/1937 - 01/29/1938
Stevens, Lemuel Mussetter, CAPT 1907   01/29/1938 - 07/14/1939
Beardall, John Reginald, CAPT 1908 RADM 07/14/1939 - 04/23/1940
Riefkohl, Frederick Louis (Fritz), CAPT 1911 RADM 04/23/1941 - 08/09/1942

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


USS VINCENNES (CA 44) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information
CA-44 - CL-64

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
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.

Back To The Main Photo Index Back To The Cruiser Photo Index Page

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail Webmaster

This Page Was Created By Paul R. Yarnall And Maintained By Tom Bateman & Michael Mohl
All pages copyright NavSource Naval History