Northampton-class cruiser

USS Northampton (CA-26)
Class overview
NameNorthampton class
Builders
Operators United States Navy
Preceded byPensacola class
Succeeded byPortland class
Built1928-1931
In commission1930-1946
Completed6
Lost3
Retired3
General characteristics (as built)
TypeHeavy cruiser
Displacement9,050 long tons (9,200 t)
Length
  • 582 ft (177 m) wl
  • 600 ft (180 m) oa
Beam66 ft 1 in (20.14 m)
Draft16 ft 4 in (4.98 m)
Propulsion
  • 4 × Parsons turbines
  • 8 × White-Forster boilers
  • 4 × screws
  • 107,000 hp (80,000 kW)
Speed32.5 knots (60.2 km/h; 37.4 mph)
Complement
  • 1,100
  • Officers: 105
  • Enlisted: 995[1]
Sensors &
processing systems
  • 2x Mark 24 GFCS (8in)
  • 2x Mark 19 GFCS (5in)
Armament
Armor
  • Belt 3.75–1 in (95–25 mm)
  • Barbettes 1.5 in (38 mm)
  • Gunhouses 2.5–0.75 in (64–19 mm)
  • Conning tower: 1+1⁄4 in (32 mm)
Aircraft carried4 × Seaplanes
Aviation facilities2 × Amidship catapults and Seaplane hangar

The Northampton-class cruisers were a group of six heavy cruisers built for the United States Navy, and commissioned between 1928 and 1931.

The Northamptons saw much action in World War II. Three (Northampton, Chicago, and Houston) were lost during the war. The other three were decommissioned soon after the end of the war, and scrapped in 1959–1961.

Design

The design of the ships was heavily influenced by the Washington Naval Treaty, which limited cruisers to a maximum of 10,000 tons displacement and a maximum main battery caliber of 8 inches (203 mm). The Northamptons aimed to remedy several defects found in the preceding Pensacola class, it was felt that the preceding design sacrificed too much in the way of freeboard and aircraft handling in order to mount ten guns.[2]

The Northamptons mounted nine 8-inch (203 mm) guns in three triple turrets, two forward and one aft, directed by two Mark 24 gun directors, one on the foretop and one in a protected position abaft the funnel.[3] These were eventually replaced by two more modern Mark 34 directors in the surviving ships.[4]

Initially the secondary battery consisted of four 5-inch dual-purpose guns spread around the aft superstructure, as in the preceding class.[5] The decision to double this to eight guns along with installing a pair of Mark 19 directors for them was approved in 1933, but funds were only released in 1938. The four additional guns were mounted on the flight deck abeam the funnel, near the existing anti-aircraft battery.[6] The Mark 19 directors were replaced by more modern Mark 33 directors on the surviving ships during the war.[7]

Initially no light anti-aircraft weaponry was installed,[8] however the installation of eight .50-cal machine guns was approved in 1933.[9] These were intended to be supplemented by up to four quadruple 1.1 in (28 mm) anti-aircraft guns, however initially only 3 in (76 mm) guns were available, with the ships beginning to exchange their 3-inch and .50 caliber guns for 1.1" guns and 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon respectively in early 1942.[10] During the war the 1.1" guns began getting replaced by 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors guns, with additional Oerlikon guns also being added. By the end of the war the surviving ships had five(Chester and Louisville) or four(Augusta) quadruple Bofors mounts along with 26 Oerlikon in twin mounts(Chester and Louisville) or 22 Oerlikon in single mounts(Augusta).[11]

Two triple 21-inch torpedo tubes were initially carried, however they were ordered removed in 1934 and had been removed by 1936.[12]

Although armor was increased, the Northamptons turned out nearly 1,000 tons below the treaty limitations.[13] Freeboard was increased in the Northamptons by adopting a high forecastle, which was extended aft in the last three for use as flagships.[14] These ships were also the first U.S. ships to adopt a hangar for aircraft, and bunks instead of hammocks.[5] Their lighter-than-expected weight caused them to roll excessively, which necessitated the fitting of deep bilge keels.[14]

Ships in class

Construction data
Ship name Hull no. Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned Fate
Northampton CA-26 Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts 12 April 1928 5 September 1929 17 May 1930 N/a Sunk in the Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942
Chester CA-27 New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey 6 March 1928 3 July 1929 24 June 1930 10 June 1946 Struck 1 March 1959; Sold for scrap, 11 August 1959
Louisville CA-28 Puget Sound Navy Yard 4 July 1928 1 September 1930 15 January 1931 17 June 1946 Struck 1 March 1959; Sold for scrap, 14 September 1959
Chicago CA-29 Mare Island Naval Shipyard 10 September 1928 10 April 1930 9 March 1931 N/a Sunk during the Battle of Rennell Island, 30 January 1943
Houston CA-30 Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company 1 May 1928 7 September 1929 17 June 1930 Sunk in the Battle of Sunda Strait, 1 March 1942
Augusta CA-31 2 July 1928 1 February 1930 30 January 1931 16 July 1946 Struck 1 March 1959; Sold for scrap, 9 November 1959

See also

References

  1. ^ Silverstone, Paul H (1965). US Warships of World War II. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-773-9.
  2. ^ Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, pp. 126-127
  3. ^ Friedman, Naval Firepower, p. 196
  4. ^ Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, p. 333
  5. ^ a b Friedman, U.S. Cruisers p. 129
  6. ^ Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, pp. 132-134
  7. ^ Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, p. 338
  8. ^ Friedman, U.S. Cruisers p. 472
  9. ^ Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, p. 133
  10. ^ Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, pp. 337-338
  11. ^ "ONI 222-US" (PDF). ibiblio.org. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  12. ^ Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, p. 133
  13. ^ Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, p. 127
  14. ^ a b Friedman, U.S. Cruisers p. 130

Public Domain This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.

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