Northampton-class cruiser

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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 were a reaction to the weight and cost of the immediately preceding , differing in several ways. The Pensacolas mounted a main battery of 10 guns in four turrets, a twin and superfiring triple fore and aft. In contrast, the Northamptons mounted 9 guns in three triple turrets, two forward and one aft, the layout followed in all subsequent U.S. heavy cruisers.

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

Ships in class

Construction data

Ship name	Hull no.	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Decommissioned	Fate
	CA-26	Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts	12 April 1928	5 September 1929	17 May 1930	—	Sunk in the Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 November 1942
	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
	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
	CA-29	Mare Island Naval Shipyard	10 September 1928	10 April 1930	9 March 1931	—	Sunk during the Battle of Rennell Island, 30 January 1943
	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
	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

• List of cruisers of the United States Navy

References

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

External links

• Global Security.org – Northampton class cruiser
• Global Security.org – Northampton class cruiser specifications