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 . The Northamptons aimed to remedy several defects found in the preceding , it was felt that the preceding design sacrificed too much in the way of freeboard and aircraft handling in order to mount ten guns.Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, pp. 126-127
The Northamptons mounted nine 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.Friedman, Naval Firepower, p. 196 These were eventually replaced by two more modern Mark 34 directors in the surviving ships.Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, p. 333
Initially the secondary battery consisted of four 5-inch dual-purpose guns spread around the aft superstructure, as in the preceding class.Friedman, U.S. Cruisers p. 129 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.Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, pp. 132-134 The Mark 19 directors were replaced by more modern Mark 33 directors on the surviving ships during the war.Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, p. 338
Initially no light anti-aircraft weaponry was installed,Friedman, U.S. Cruisers p. 472 however the installation of eight .50-cal machine guns was approved in 1933.Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, p. 133 These were intended to be supplemented by up to four quadruple anti-aircraft guns, however initially only guns were available, with the ships beginning to exchange their 3-inch and .50 caliber guns for 1.1" guns and Oerlikon respectively in early 1942.Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, pp. 337-338 During the war the 1.1" guns began getting replaced by 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).
Two triple 21-inch torpedo tubes were initially carried, however they were ordered removed in 1934 and had been removed by 1936.Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, p. 133
Although armor was increased, the Northamptons turned out nearly 1,000 tons below the treaty limitations.Friedman, U.S. Cruisers, p. 127 Freeboard was increased in the Northamptons by adopting a high forecastle, which was extended aft in the last three for use as flagships.Friedman, U.S. Cruisers p. 130 These ships were also the first U.S. ships to adopt a hangar for aircraft, and bunks instead of hammocks.Friedman, U.S. Cruisers p. 129 Their lighter-than-expected weight caused them to roll excessively, which necessitated the fitting of deep bilge keels.Friedman, U.S. Cruisers p. 130
Ships in class + Construction data Ship name Builder Laid down Launched Commissioned Decommissioned FateCA-26Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts12 April 19285 September 192917 May 1930Sunk in the Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942CA-27New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey6 March 19283 July 192924 June 193010 June 1946Struck 1 March 1959; Sold for scrap, 11 August 1959CA-28Puget Sound Navy Yard4 July 19281 September 193015 January 193117 June 1946Struck 1 March 1959; Sold for scrap, 14 September 1959CA-29Mare Island Naval Shipyard10 September 192810 April 19309 March 1931rowspan=2 Sunk during the Battle of Rennell Island, 30 January 1943CA-30Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company1 May 19287 September 192917 June 1930Sunk in the Battle of Sunda Strait, 1 March 1942CA-312 July 19281 February 193030 January 193116 July 1946Struck 1 March 1959; Sold for scrap, 9 November 1959
See also List of cruisers of the United States Navy
References
External links
Global Security.org – Northampton class cruiser Global Security.org – Northampton class cruiser specifications