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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS NORTHAMPTON (CL/CA 26)

Image courtesy of Al Grazevich

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: Negative - Easy - Fox - X-ray (1931 phonetics)
(Courtesy of John Spivey)

CLASS - NORTHAMPTON
Displacement 9,300 Tons, Dimensions, 600' 3" (oa) x 66' 1" x 23' (Max)
Armament 9 x 8"/55, 4 x 5"/25, 6 x 21" tt. 4 Aircraft.
Armor, 3 3/4" Belt, 2 1/2 Turrets, 1" Deck, 1 1/4 Conning Tower.
Machinery, 107,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 32.7 Knots, Crew 621.
Operational and Building Data
Laid down 12 APR 1928 by the Bethlehem Steel Corp., Quincy, MA
Launched 05 SEP 1929
Commissioned 17 MAY 1930
Reclassified CA 26 01 JUL 1931
Fate: Sunk by two torpedoes from the Japanese destroyer Oyashio during the Battle of Tassafaronga off Guadalcanal on 01 DEC 1942.

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons

Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Combat Action Ribbon
Second Row - American Defense Service Medal w/Fleet Clasp - Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal (6) - World War II Victory Medal

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By And/Or Copyright
0402602	254k	Mrs. Coolidge does the silent christening of the Northampton.	Dale Hargrave
0402644	NR	Mrs. Coolidge Christens Cruiser THERE GOES THE NORTHAMPTON MRS. CALVIN COOLIDGE, sponsor of the new cruiser Northampton (CL 26), points down the ways of the docks at Quincy, Mass. where the new vessel slides majestically into the water. At her left is Secretary of the Navy Adams. The Northampton, named after the former President’s home town, is the fifth of eight light cruisers under construction.	Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo courtesy of The Washington Times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 07 September 1929, Image 4, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
0402630	4.75m	Launching of USS Northampton (CL 26) at Bethlehem Steel Corporation’s Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, 26 August 1929. Sponsor was Grace Coolidge (wife of Ex-President Calvin Coolidge).	Michael Mohl
0402642	413k	Northampton slides down the ways.	Dale Hargrave
0402623	600k	Commissioning Plaque from the Northampton.	LTC Robert Mitchell, USAF (Ret.)
0402624	362k	Tied up at Fore River 26 February 1930, Prior to commissioning. From the Leslie Jones Collection at the Boston Public Library.	Michael Mohl
	79k	USS Northampton (CL 26) underway during builder's trials, circa Spring 1930. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 50308.	USNHC
0402625	388k	USS Northampton during her Commissioning Ceremony, 17 May 1930. From the Leslie Jones Collection at the Boston Public Library.	Michael Mohl
0402626	445k	USS Northampton during her Commissioning Ceremony, 17 May 1930. The ship to the left is the Receiving Ship Southery (IX 26). Southery was originally commissioned as a Collier (AC) From the Leslie Jones Collection at the Boston Public Library.	Michael Mohl
0402567	168k	View taken from the deck atop the aircraft hangar of USS Chicago (CA 29, circa 1932, and shows in line astern formation:USS Salt Lake City (CA 25), USS Louisville (CA 28), USS Northampton (CA 26), USS Pensacola (CA 24), USS Chester (CA 27), and USS Augusta (CA 31). Naval History and Heritage Command, Catalog No. NH 51838	Mike Green
0402888	5.8m	Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Oahu, Hawaii - Scouting Force ships at, and off, the yard, 2 February 1933. Cruisers tied up at 1010 Dock are (from left to left center) Augusta (CA 31), Chicago (CA 29) and Chester (CA 27). USS Northampton (CA 26) is alongside the dock in the center, with USS Kane (DD 235) in the adjacent Marine Railway and USS Fox (DD 234) tied up nearby. USS Louisville (CA 28) is in the center distance. Moored off her bow and at the extreme right are USS Salt Lake City (CA 25) and USS Pensacola (CA 24). Official U.S. Navy Photograph #80-G-451164, now in the collections of the National Archives.	NHHC
	783k	USS Northampton (CA 26) underway during the early 1930s, prior to the removal of her torpedo tubes. Note all the scout planes parked between the stacks. I think there should be 5. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 50966.	USNHC
0402621	306k	This appears to be the Pedro Miguel locks. If so, the Northampton is heading South toward the Pacific. Dec 1934	Robert M. Cieri
	1.29k	Starboard beam underway, August 23 1935, Excellent detail image. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #(80-G-425768).	National Archives
1935 cruise of the USS Northampton from Norfolk, VA through the Panama Canal, then to Alaska and to Hawaii.
0402632	373k	Salvaging a crashed seaplane, Circa 1935. From the collection of F.W. Dangers	Mike Barnett
0402633	397k	Salvaging a crashed seaplane, Circa 1935. From the collection of F.W. Dangers	Mike Barnett
0402634	428k	Marines firing 5-inch gun during practice. From the collection of F.W. Dangers	Mike Barnett
0402635	357k	Target hits during 5-inch gun practice firing. From the collection of F.W. Dangers	Mike Barnett
0402636	422k	Bow view, Gatun Locks, Atlantic side. From the collection of F.W. Dangers	Mike Barnett
0402637	395k	Stern view, entering the Gatun Locks, 1st level, Atlantic side. Note the cover on the forward stack and the seaplanes on their launchers. From the collection of F.W. Dangers	Mike Barnett
	58k	USS Northampton (CA 26) photographed during the later 1930s, after her forward smokestack was raised. Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1969. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 67844.	USNHC
0402617	255k	Late 1930's photo while at anchor. Note the sailor hanging over the side at the bows.	Robert M. Cieri
0402618	379k	Late 1930's photo while at anchor.	Robert M. Cieri
0402619	280k	Late 1930's photo while underway	Robert M. Cieri
0402620	378k	Late 1930's photo while at anchor. Note that all four scout planes are on the catapults	Robert M. Cieri
	83k	USS Northampton (CA 26) Off Gonaives, Haiti, circa early 1939. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, collection of Rear Admiral Paul H. Bastedo. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 83598.	USNHC
	116k	USS Northampton (CA 26) Firing her after eight-inch guns, during the raid on Japanese-held Wotje, in the Marshall Islands, 1 February 1942. Photographed from the ship's forward superstructure, looking aft on the starboard side, with 5"/25 guns and the after smokestack in the foreground. USS Salt Lake City (CA 25) is astern. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 50942.	USNHC
	86k	USS Northampton (CA 26) entering the river at Brisbane, Australia, 5 August 1941. Note her false bow wave camouflage. Courtesy of Perry M. Allard, 1983. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 94596.	USNHC
	75k	USS Northampton (CA 26) preparing to dock at Newcastle Wharf, Brisbane, Australia, on 5 August 1941. Note her false bow wave camouflage. Courtesy of James W. Fitch, 1984. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 95333.	USNHC
0402646	NR	U. S. FORCES WELCOMED IN AUSTRALIA Confetti showered down on United States sailors and marines who marched with men of the Australian Navy and Army when the U. S. Cruisers Northampton (CA 26) and Salt Lake City (CA 25) visited Brisbane. Here is a Marine detachment whose smart bearing and trim uniforms won the admiration of the crowds.	Wide World Photo Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC. Photo courtesy of Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 07 September 1941, Image 5, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
	1.20k	USS Northampton (CA 26) entering Pearl Harbor on the morning of 8 December 1941, the day after the Japanese raid. Note her crew standing by her lifelines. The ship is in Measure One (dark) camouflage, with a Measure Five false bow wave. In the background, beyond Northampton's after turret, is USS Argonne (AG31), getting up steam. The ferry Nihoa (YFB-19) is visible just beyond Northampton's bow.	Official U.S. Navy Photograph # 80-G-32548 via history.navy.mil. courtesy of Robert Hurst.
0402631	93k	Starboard view of the USS Northampton (CA 26) underway in early 1942. The ship is in Measure 1 and Measure 5 False Bow wave camouflage scheme. Australian War Memorial, Photo No.302689	Mike Green
	55k	USS Northampton (CA 26) Under attack by a Japanese seaplane, during the U.S. raid on Wake Island, 24 February 1942. Photographed from USS Salt Lake City (CA 25), one of whose 1.1" machine gun mounts is in the foreground. Note anti-aircraft shell bursts above Northampton and nearby bomb splash. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 50947.	USNHC
	68k	USS Northampton (CA 26) refueling from USS Cimarron (AO 22), during the Doolittle Raid operation. Photographed from USS Salt Lake City (CA 25). The original photo caption states that this view was taken on 18 April 1942, the day the Doolittle Raid aircraft were launched to attack targets in Japan. Note that Northampton's forward smokestack had been reduced in height by this time. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97808.	USNHC
0402627	495k	Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 1942 - USS Northampton (CA 26), at left, off the port bow of USS Hornet (CV 8) after she had been disabled by Japanese air attacks on 26 October 1942.	Fred Branyan
0402628	500k	Crop of above photo showing only USS Northampton (CA 26).	Fred Branyan
	104k	Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, October 1942 - USS Northampton (CA 26), at right, attempting to tow USS Hornet (CV 8) after she had been disabled by Japanese air attacks on 26 October 1942. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-33897.	National Archives /Scott Dyben
0402629		Torpedo damage report from the Battle of Tassafaronga off Guadalcanal.	Mike Green
0402645	NR	The Hornet and Northampton Sunk by Japanese The USS Hornet (CV 8), 20,000 ton aircraft carrier (top) was sunk in the battle of the Santa Cruz islands last October 26, the Navy announced Monday. At the same time, the USS Northampton (CA 26), heavy cruiser, was also lost.	Image and text provided by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library, Chapel Hill, NC. Photo courtesy of The Wilmington Morning Star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 12 January 1943, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
0402643	NR	Northampton Skipper This picture of Captain Willard A. Kitts III was taken as he unfolded the story of the important part the U. S. cruiser Northampton (CA 26) played in the naval battle of Guadalcanal on November 3.	Image and text provided by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library, Chapel Hill, NC. Photo courtesy of The Wilmington Morning Star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 17 January 1943, FINAL EDITION, SECOND SECTION, Image 16, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
26 January 2019 Wreck Photos From the RV Petrel
0402638	988k	Port side just aft of the 2nd 8 inch turret. USS Northampton (CA 26) lies at a depth of 2130 feet.	Photo courtesy of RV Petrel
0402639	1.50k	20mm aft tub at the stern.	Photo courtesy of RV Petrel
0402640	1.46k	The flybridge is laying on its side away from the main wreckage.	Photo courtesy of RV Petrel
0402641	1.35k	The catapult.	Photo courtesy of RV Petrel

Commanding Officers
Name/Rank	Class	Final Rank	Dates
Vernon, Walter Newhall, CAPT	1901	RADM	05/17/1930 - 06/11/1932
Taylor, Thomas Herbert, CAPT	1903		06/11/1932 - 06/01/1934
Shoemaker, Harry Earl, CAPT	1905	RADM	06/01/1934 - 12/02/1935
Symington, Thomas Alexander, CAPT	1907		12/02/1935 - 01/14/1938
Vossler, Francis Alfred Leopold, CAPT	1907		01/14/1938 - 07/05/1939
Payne, Samuel Spottswood, CAPT	1908		07/05/1939 - 03/28/1941
Chandler Jr., William Dwight, CAPT	1912		03/28/1941 - 09/1942
Kitts III, Willard Augustus, CAPT	1914	RADM	09/1942 - 12/01/1942

(Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves - Photos courtesy of Bill Gonyo)

USS NORTHAMPTON (CL/CA 26) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Mr. Paul Frank
Address: 1456 Aries Ct Chula Vista, CA, 91911-5501
Phone: None Listed
E-mail: None

Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.

Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Cruiser Pages By Andrew Toppan.
USS Northampton (CA26) Loss In Action 20 November 1942 - Battle of Lugna Point from the Naval History and Heritage Command.

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This Page Was Created By Paul R. Yarnall And Maintained By Tom Bateman & Michael Mohl