USS HOUSTON (CA-30, originally CL-30), 1930-1942
From the DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-h/ca30.htmUSS Houston, a 9050-ton Northampton class light cruiser, was built at Newport News, Virginia. She was commissioned in June 1930 and reclassified as a heavy cruiser a year later, at which time her hull number was changed from CL-30 to CA-30. After initial operations in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, Houston steamed to the western Pacific in early 1931 to become flagship of the Asiatic Fleet. She served in that role until November 1933, spending considerable time in Chinese waters protecting U.S. interests during the conflict between China and Japan.
Following her Asiatic Station tour, Houston crossed the Pacific to join the Scouting Force. During the rest of the decade, she regularly partcipated in exercises, including the periodic Fleet Problems that tested the Navy's war plans and readiness. She was flagship of the United States Fleet during September-December 1938 and also carried President Franklin D. Roosevelt on a number of occasions in 1934, 1935, 1938 and 1939.
In November 1940, Houston returned to the Philippines for her second deployment as Asiatic Fleet flagship. When Japan escalated its disputes with the U.S. into open warfare in December 1941, the cruiser was sent south to Australian and Netherlands East Indies waters. As the heaviest unit of the Allied naval force in that area, she was actively employed in the desperate struggle against the Japanese East Indies' offensive. A enemy bomb disabled her after gun turret on 4 February 1942, but she remained in the combat zone, fighting off air raids and taking part in the Battle of the Java Sea on 27 February.
The next day, with the situation in the East Indies now hopeless, Houston was ordered to leave the area. Steaming in company with the Australian light cruiser Perth, she encountered a strong Japanese navy force supporting an amphibious landing on western Java, near the Sunda Strait. In a valiant night battle against overwhelming odds, Houston and Perth were sunk by enemy gunfire and torpedos.
Here are only 7 pictures from the above URL:
Z489---Photo #: NH 81592
USS Houston (CA-30)
In Manila Bay, Philippine Islands, in 1940-41, after her final modifications.
Courtesy of Robert I. Martin, 1975.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Z490---Photo #: NH 94180
USS Houston (CA-30)
Ship's officers and crew, circa 1931-1933, with her band seated on deck in front.
Houston's Commanding Officer, Captain Robert A. Dawes, is seated in the center, behind the life ring.
Note that most of the bandsmen appear to be Orientals.
Courtesy of Lieutenant Oscar W. Levy, USN (Supply Corps), (Retired).
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Z491---Photo #: NH 53590
USS Houston (CA-30)
The ship's starboard 5"/25 guns in action, during anti-aircraft battle practice off Chefoo, China, 1932-33.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Z492---Photo #: NH 93163
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Seated in the well deck of USS Houston (CA-30), with a shark he caught in Sullivan Bay, Galapagos Islands, July 1938.
A sailfish is being hoisted up in the left distance.
Courtesy of Otto Schwartz, USS Houston Association, 1982.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Z493---USS Houston (CA-30)
Ship's baseball team, circa 1940-41, while she was flagship of the Asiatic Fleet.
Men identified include (Standing): Parker (2nd from left); Bain (4th from left); Stefanek (6th from left); O'Brien (8th from left); Dingler (4th from right); and Erler (right).
(Kneeling): Jarvis (left); Burger (2nd from left) and Hobush (right).
(Seated): Wisecup (right).
Courtesy of Otto Schwartz, USS Houston Association, 1982.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.
Z495---Photo #: NH 43649
USS Houston (CA-30) (right center)
At Darwin, Australia, probably on 15 or 18 February 1942. The destroyer astern of Houston may be USS Peary (DD-226). Among the ships in the background, to the left, are HMAS Terka and the SS Zealandia.
The donor was on board HMAS Tolga, then used as a water carrier for ships in Darwin harbor.
Courtesy of Arthur W. Thomas.
U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.