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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS PORTSMOUTH (CL 102)

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Bravo - November - Lima

CLASS - CLEVELAND
Displacement 10,000 Tons, Dimensions, 610' 1" (oa) x 66' 4" x 25' (Max)
Armament 12 x 6"/47, 12 x 5"/38AA, 28 x 40mm, 10 x 20mm, 4 Aircraft
Armor, 5" Belt, 6" Turrets, 2" Deck, 5" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 100,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 32.5 Knots, Crew 1255.
Operational and Building Data
Ordered 15 DEC 1941
Keel laid on 28 JUN 1943 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA
Launched 20 SEP 1944
Commissioned 25 JUN 1945
Decommissioned 15 JUN 1949
Stricken 15 JAN 1971
Fate: Sold for scrap on 26 FEB 1974 to Union Minerals & Alloys Co., Kearney, NJ.
Two of her main engines were used as part of the MARF facility for the S7G nuclear reactor prototype in Ballston Spa, NY.

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - World War II Occupation Medal w/Europe Clasp

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By And/Or Copyright
0410218	1.2m	Preparation for the launching of Portsmouth. U.S. Navy photo.	David Buell
0410219	1.3m	The Portsmouth had 2 sponsors, Left is the wife of the Mayor of Portsmouth, Virginia, Sarah B. Leigh. Right is the wife of the Governor of New Hampshire, representing the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Mrs. Marian M. Dale. U.S. Navy photo.	David Buell
0410220	1.5m	U.S. Navy photo.	David Buell
0410221	1.1m	U.S. Navy photo.	David Buell
0410215	1.2m	Portsmouth sliding down the ways. U.S. Navy photo.	David Buell
0410216	1.1m	Portsmouth sliding down the ways. U.S. Navy photo.	David Buell
0410217	1.2m	Portsmouth sliding down the ways. U.S. Navy photo.	David Buell
0410207	27k	Starboard side midships view while at Newport News Shipyard, 16 June 1945.	Pieter Bakels
0410208	16 June 1945	Port bow view while at Newport News Shipyard, 16 June 1945	Pieter Bakels
0410209	30k	Starboard bow view while at Newport News Shipyard,16 June 1945	Pieter Bakels
0410210	21k	Starboard bow view while at Newport News Shipyard,16 June 1945	Pieter Bakels
0410212	1.6m	Crew and guests awaiting the start of the Commissioning ceremony.	David Buell
0410213	1.3m	Commissioning ceremony. Note the band on turret 4.	David Buell
0410214	1m	What appears to be the Invocation during the Commissioning of the Portsmouth. Captain Brumbaugh is to the left of the Chaplin	David Buell
	60k	USS Portsmouth (CL 102) Off Newport News, Virginia, 25 June 1945, while being delivered to the Navy by her builder, the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland. Collection of James C. Fahey. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 94704.	USNHC
	91k	USS Portsmouth (CL 102) Off the Portsmouth (Norfolk) Navy Yard, Virginia, 22 July 1945. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland. Collection of James C. Fahey. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 94705.	USNHC
	97k	USS Portsmouth (CL 102) Off the Portsmouth (Norfolk) Navy Yard, Virginia, 22 July 1945. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland. Collection of James C. Fahey. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 94706.	USNHC
0410223	1.2m	Captain Brumbaugh on the bridge during the Shakedown Cruise.	David Buell
0410224	1.2m	Captain Brumbaugh on the bridge during the Shakedown Cruise.	David Buell
0410225	1.4m	Captain Brumbaugh on the bridge during the Shakedown Cruise.	David Buell
0410226	981k	Captain Brumbaugh with the Governor of New Hampshire, Charles M. Dale, during the Shakedown Cruise.	David Buell
0410262	949k	Shakedown cruise - full power run.	David Buell
0410263	932k	Shakedown cruise - full power run.	David Buell
0410264	1.1m	Shakedown cruise - full power run.	David Buell
0410265	1m	Shakedown cruise - full power run.	David Buell
0410266	955k	Shakedown cruise - full power run.	David Buell
0410267	940k	Shakedown cruise - full power run.	David Buell
0410268	757k	Shakedown cruise - full power run.	David Buell
0410269	1m	Shakedown cruise - full power run.	David Buell
0410230	951k	Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Main Battery.	David Buell
0410231	991k	Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Main Battery.	David Buell
0410232	1.2k	Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Main Battery.	David Buell
0410233	1m	Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Main Battery.	David Buell
0410234	1.1m	Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries.	David Buell
0410235	1.2m	Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries.	David Buell
0410236	1.2m	Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries.	David Buell
0410237	1.3m	Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries.	David Buell
0410238	985k	Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries.	David Buell
0410239	1.4m	Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries.	David Buell
0410240	1.2m	Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries.	David Buell
0410241	1.3m	Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries.	David Buell
0410253	1.6m	Shakedown Cruise - Flight Ops. Note the crewman standing at the end of the catapult, directing the landing of the aircraft and the recovery mat in the water under him.	David Buell
0410254	1.55m	Shakedown Cruise - Flight Ops.	David Buell
0410257	1.5m	Shakedown Cruise - Flight Ops.	David Buell
0410270	1m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs.	David Buell
0410271	1.3m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs.	David Buell
0410272	1.5m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs.	David Buell
0410273	1.3m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. Note the crewman preparing to take a depth sounding and an early Cleveland-Class (CL 55-63) light cruiser to the right.	David Buell
0410275	1.2m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. Note the early Cleveland-Class (CL 55-63) light cruise to the left.	David Buell
0410276	1.3m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. Note the Omaha class cruiser to the right and the early Cleveland-Class (CL 55-63) light cruise to the left.	David Buell
0410274	1.3m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs.	David Buell
0410277	1.4m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs.	David Buell
0410279	1.1m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs.	David Buell
0410281	1.3m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. Note US Mauvila (YTB 328) and an unidentified tug to starboard.	David Buell
0410282	1.4m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs.	David Buell
0410283	1.4m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs.	David Buell
0410286	1.2m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs.	David Buell
0410287	1.2m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs.	David Buell
0410278	1.1m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs.	David Buell
0410285	1.4m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. Preparing for refueling on the port side.	David Buell
0410280	857k	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. An unidentified Sumner class Destroyer is coming alongside the port side to refuel.	David Buell
0410288	900k	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. An unidentified Sumner class Destroyer is coming alongside the port side to refuel.	David Buell
0410289	1.2m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs.	David Buell
0410290	1.3m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs.	David Buell
0410291	1.6m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs.	David Buell
0410292	855k	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs.	David Buell
0410293	1.3m	Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. Note the crewman firing a Thompson sub-machinegun off the port side.	David Buell
0410242	2.75m	Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection.	David Buell
0410243	2.8m	Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection.	David Buell
0410244	2.2m	Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection.	David Buell
0410245	2.7m	Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection.	David Buell
0410246	2.7m	Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection.	David Buell
0410247	2.7m	Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection.	David Buell
0410248	2.3m	Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection.	David Buell
0410249	2.5m	Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection.	David Buell
0410250	2.8m	Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection.	David Buell
0410251	2.6m	Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection.	David Buell
0410252	2.6m	Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection.	David Buell
0410258	1.4m	Post shakedown drydock availability.	David Buell
0410259	1.5m	Post shakedown drydock availability.	David Buell
0410260	1.4m	Post shakedown drydock availability. I find it interesting that the aircraft (Curtiss SC-1 Seahawks) were left on the catapults while in drydock. I would think that they would have been stored below deck to prevent damage.	David Buell
0410261	1.4m	Post shakedown drydock availability.	David Buell
0410222	1.1m	Captain Brumbaugh and his wife, Nina.	David Buell
0410227	1.1m	Dignitaries touring the ship on Navy Day, 27 October, 1945.	David Buell
0410228	1.3m	Dignitaries touring the ship on Navy Day, 27 October, 1945.	David Buell
0410229	1.2m	Open house aboard ship during Navy Day, 27 October, 1945.
0410211	164k	Photo of the Midway Battlegroup during her first Med deployment. There are three Cleveland-Class cruisers shown. From front to back; USS Portsmouth (CL 102), USS Providence (CL 82), and either USS Little Rock (CL 92) or USS Manchester (CL 83). Two destroyers are also visible. From the collection of Charles J. Beggy, Jr., Electronics Technician Second Class, USN (ret.)	Robert Hurst
	97k	USS Portsmouth (CL 102) Underway at sea, 22 April 1948. Photographed from USS Providence (CL 82). Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland. Collection of James C. Fahey. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 94707.	USNHC
	81k	USS Providence (CL 82); USS Little Rock (CL -92); and USS Portsmouth (CL 102) (listed left to right) At San Juan, Puerto Rico, 15 May 1948. Note the differing radar antenna rigs, and other details of these three Cleveland class light cruisers, each ten numbers apart in the cruiser hull number series. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-343434.	National Archives
	104k	USS Fargo (CL 106) Laid up in the Reserve Basin at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania, in about 1965. USS Portsmouth (CL 102) is at right. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 72660.	USNHC
	102k	USS Fargo (CL 106) Laid up in the Reserve Basin at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania, in about 1965. Photographed from on board the ship, looking forward from the stern, with her after 6"/47 gun turrets in the foreground. USS Portsmouth (CL 102) is at left. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 72662.	USNHC
	51k	Port bow view, moored in Philadelphia, PA with the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, 1971. From the collection of the Naval Record Club.	Richard Leonhardt

Commanding Officers
Name/Rank	Class	Final Rank	Dates
Brumbaugh, Heber Byron, CAPT	1921-A		06/25/1945 - 03/02/1946
Fullinwider, Edwin Gaines, CAPT	1921-A	RADM	03/02/1946 - 03/11/1947
Murdaugh Jr., Albert Christian, CAPT	1923	RADM	03/11/1947 - 12/22/1947
Maher, Arthur Laurence, CAPT	1923	RADM	12/22/1947 - 06/15/1949

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

USS PORTSMOUTH (CL 102) History
View This Vessels DANFS History entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Mr. Joseph C Barber
Address: 70 Maloney Ct Winsted, CT, 06098-1853
Phone: 860-379-5364
E-mail: JRBF87F@prodigy.com

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.

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