Naval War #5: American

USS Scorpion (SS-278) launch in 1942.

USS Houston.

USS South Dakota BB-57.

PT-170 in dazzle camouflage.

Convoy WS-12: A Vought SB2U Vindicator scout bomber from USS Ranger (CV-4) flies anti-submarine patrol over the convoy, while it was en route to Cape Town, South Africa, 27 November 1941. The convoy appears to be making a formation turn from column to line abreast. Two-stack transports in the first row are USS West Point (AP-23), left; USS Mount Vernon (AP-22) and USS Wakefield (AP-21). Heavy cruisers, on the right side of the first row and middle of the second, are USS Vincennes (CA-44) and USS Quincy (CA-39). Single-stack transports in the second row are USS Leonard Wood (AP-25) and USS Joseph T. Dickman (AP-26).

USS Cuttlefish (SS-171), underway, circa mid-1943, while serving on training duty out of New London, Connecticut.

One of our Navy’s mighty Iowa-class battleships, the Missouri, is shown as her sixteen-inch guns fire in salvo from the forward turret. At the upper right six projectiles are shown in flight.

USS Barracuda (SS-163).

USS Yorktown (CV-5) at Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego, California, in June 1940, embarking aircraft and vehicles prior to sailing for Hawaii. Aircraft types on her flight deck include TBD-1, BT-1, SBC-3, F3F-2, F3F-3, SB2U, JRF, J2F and JRS-1. Some of these planes were on board for transportation, while others were members of the ship's air group. Three Torpedo Squadron Five (VT-5) TBDs at the after end of the flight deck are painted in experimental camouflage schemes tested during Fleet Problem XXI.

Aichi E13 wreck on the beach at Palawan, Philippines, as LST-806 unloads, March 24, 1945.

Aichi E13A wrecks, Palawan, Philippines, 1945. Most likely the same Jake as seen in the previous two photos. LCI-224 in background and another LCI.

USS Enterprise in action, battle of Santa Cruz, October 26, 1942. Japanese bomb splashes astern of the U. S. carrier as the enemy plane pulls out of its dive directly above the carrier. Another enemy plane is pictured (center) after making an unsuccessful dive on the carrier. A flash of the battleship’s batteries may be observed, and a destroyer can be seen astern of the battleship. The cruiser from which this picture was taken leaves a curving white wake as she turns rapidly. The Enterprise, known in the fleet as the “Big E,” established a proud fighting record.

Battle of Midway, June 1942. Diorama by Norman Bel Geddes, depicting the attack by USS Nautilus (SS-168) on a burning Japanese aircraft carrier during the early afternoon of 4 June 1942, as seen through the submarine's periscope. Nautilus thought she had attacked Soryu, and that her torpedoes had exploded when they hit the target. Most evidence, however, is that the ship attacked was Kaga, and that the torpedoes failed to detonate. The ship shown in this wartime diorama does not closely resemble either of those carriers.

A vertical aerial view of the drydock area of the U.S. Navy Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, 28 July 1942. Floating drydock YFD-2 is at left, with USS Alywin (DD-355) inside. The small drydock in center holds USS Growler (SS-215) and USS Nautilus (SS-168). USS Litchfield (DD-336) and an ARD floating drydock are in Drydock No. 2, in the right center. Drydock No. 1, at right, contains USS West Virginia (BB-48). The submarines partially visible alongside 1010 Dock, in the extreme upper right, are USS Trout (SS-202) and USS Pollack (SS-180). Note anti-torpedo nets and booms protecting this area.

SS A. J. Cassatt on delivery from Bethlehem-Fairfield in August 1944.

Early morning photograph showing two Lapwing class minesweepers in the foreground, closest being USS Bololink (AM-20) as the crews watch the submarine V2 ( later re-named USS Bass (SS-164) in 1931 ) pass on its way outbound. Undated photo, but before March 1931 and no location given.

Escort carrier rolling in heavy weather. Note no one in the picture seems frightened.

Kamikaze Oscar about to impact on the USS Savo Island (CVE-78) at about 5 p.m. on 5 January 1945.

The U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Long Island (AVG-1) underway on 8 July 1941, with two Brewster F2A fighters parked at the forward end of her flight deck. Note flight deck markings: LI. The ship is painted in Camouflage Measure 1, with heavy weathering of paint evident on the hull side.

The flight deck of the carrier USS Ticonderoga burns after being struck by the one kamikaze (out of eight launched) that was not shot down by Navy gunners and fighters. East of Formosa, 21 January 1945.

Surviving crew members of the USS Indianapolis are transported back to the United States aboard the escort carrier USS Hollandia.

USS Wisconsin in her two-color paint scheme towards the end of the war. The ship's name on the stern transom has been painted over. Note the two 40mm anti-aircraft mounts on the sponsons on either side of the aircraft handling crane. The SK radar antenna is carried on her foremast, the SC-2 and SG antennas are installed on her aft pole mast.

USS Chester was one of a class of heavy cruisers (CA) of about 9,050 tons standard displacement completed in 1930-31. The class consisted of the USS Chester, USS Augusta, and USS Louisville. They had a length of 569 feet, a beam of 66 feet, a speed of 32.7 knots, and a wartime complement of 1,200 men. They were armed with nine 8 inch and eight 5-inch guns, plus thirty-two 40mm and twenty-seven 20mm anti-aircraft guns.

USS Honolulu (CL-48), pre-war photo without radars.

Kleinheinz Hall (old Sheep Barn) at 1815 Linden Drive on University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Building was used as housing for United States Navy Radio School students during World War II 1941-1945. 1 March 1945. Otherwise building was used to house University of Wisconsin School of Agriculture Short Course students.

Navy personnel sitting at typewriters wearing headphone learning code, probably during World War II. The sailors are in an auditorium or gymnasium, possibly the Field House on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. After April 1943.

USS Takanis Bay under construction.

Gunboat USS Vixen (PG-53) pictured during the 1940s. Vixen was originally built as the German yacht Orion in 1929 (Krupp). The U.S. Navy received the ship on November 13, 1940.

USS Roper, August 5, 1943.

Omaha class light cruiser USS Richmond (CL-9) off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington on 24 June 1944. Her camouflage is measure 32, design 3d.

American gunboat and former yacht USS Nourmahal (PG 72) at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba, sometime between April and December 1943.

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) 1930, probably during builder's trials.

The U.S. heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) at Brisbane, Australia, 5 August 1941. Note her false bow wave camouflage (no. 5 scheme) on no. 1 scheme. She carries one of the early CXAM radars on her mainmast.

The U.S. heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) (right) attempting to tow the aircraft carrier Hornet (CV-8) after the latter had been damaged by Japanese air attacks on 26 October 1942 during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands.

USS Omaha (CL-4) in New York Harbor, 10 February 1943.

Crew members of USS Omaha (CL-4) pose with U.S. and German flags, on board the captured German blockade runner Odenwald, in the South Atlantic. Life rings are present bearing the names Odenwald of Hamburg, and Willmoto of Philadelphia. The German ship had attempted to disguise herself as the Willmoto, an American-flag merchant steamer. Odenwald was captured by Omaha and Somers (DD-381) on 6 November 1941. This photograph is dated 18 November 1941.

USS Hunter Liggett (AP-27). She arrived off Guadalcanal the night of 6 August 1942. In this assault, America’s first amphibious operation since 1898, the ship was assigned to a later wave but sent her boats to aid in the initial landings, on 7 August. Air attacks began on the day after the landing, sinking fellow transport George F. Elliott, Hunter Liggett’s gunners shot down several of the attackers as she remained off the beaches. Early on the morning of 9 August, men in the transport area could see the flashes of light from an engagement off Savo Island. As the Japanese attempted to reinforce their Solomons garrison and destroy the transports they surprised an American Task Force and inflicted heavy losses. The Hunter Liggett and the other vulnerable transports got underway but soon returned to the transport area. After noon on 9 August, they began the grim job of rescuing survivors from the sunken cruisers Vincennes, Astoria, and Quincy. That afternoon the transport sailed with the wounded, in company with the damaged Chicago, to Noumea, where she arrived 2 days later. With the Guadalcanal campaign began the refinement of amphibious techniques which was to pay off so handsomely as the war progressed.

USS Cassin (DD-372) (capsized, right) and USS Downes (DD-375) (left) in Drydock Number One at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard on 7 December 1941, immediately following the Japanese attack. Both ships had been severely damaged by bomb hits and the resulting fires. In the background, also in Drydock Number One, is Pennsylvania, which had received relatively light damage in the raid.

USS Downes burned out in Pearl Harbor Navy Yard’s Drydock #1, soon after the Japanese attack of 7 December 1941. View shows the ship’s forward 5”/38 guns and her demolished pilothouse, seen from off her starboard bow.

USS Downes, nearest to camera, and USS Cassin, capsized against Downes in Drydock Number One at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, 8 December 1941, the day after they were wrecked by Japanese bombs and the resulting fires.

Japanese suicide plane goes down off Okinawa while attempting to attack USS Wake Island (CVE 65) during the Okinawa Campaign, 3 April 1945. This Japanese Zero is possibly one of the four that attacked her on that date. First in a series of four photos. Photograph taken by USS Tulagi (CVE 72). Photographed by Photographer’s Mate First Class C.G. Gemmil.

Japanese suicide plane goes down off Okinawa while attempting to attack USS Wake Island (CVE 65) during the Okinawa Campaign, 3 April 1945. This Japanese Zero is possibly one of the four that attacked her on that date. Second in a series of four photos. Photograph taken by USS Tulagi (CVE 72). Photographed by Photographer’s Mate First Class C.G. Gemmil.

Japanese suicide plane goes down off Okinawa while attempting to attack USS Wake Island (CVE 65) during the Okinawa Campaign, 3 April 1945. This Japanese Zero is possibly one of the four that attacked her on that date. Third in a series of four photos. Photograph taken by USS Tulagi (CVE 72). Photographed by Photographer’s Mate First Class C.G. Gemmil.

Japanese suicide plane goes down off Okinawa while attempting to attack USS Wake Island (CVE 65) during the Okinawa Campaign, 3 April 1945. This Japanese Zero is possibly one of the four that attacked her on that date. Fourth in a series of four photos. Photograph taken by USS Tulagi (CVE 72). Photographed by Photographer’s Mate First Class C.G. Gemmil.

USS Ticonderoga.

USS Ticonderoga CV-14 listing after being hit by a kamikaze plane on the port side, with the destroyer USS Fletcher standing by, 21 January 1945.

USS Ticonderoga has brought her deck fires under control due to quick maneuvering and thinking from her Captain, Dixie Kiefer. The carrier has been intentionally listed to port in order to pour flaming aviation gasoline overboard. Miami, the source of this image, has taken position ahead of the damaged carrier.

Photo taken from USS Ticonderoga CV-14 entering Ulithi Lagoon on 8 December 1944 shows the famous "Murderers Row" shot from a different perspective.

USS Ticonderoga CV-14 Essex class aircraft carrier in 1944.

Original wooden, straight decked USS Ticonderoga CV-14 as she appeared at commissioning in 1944.

USS Tennessee after reconstruction, May 1943. Radars either have not been equipped or have been erased by the censors.

American troops landing at Anzio from an LST. The two vehicles in the foreground are gasoline tankers (note the "GASOLINE" signs on the front of the vehicles) each pulling two gasoline tank trailers.