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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS TUSCALOOSA (CA 37)


     

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Alpha - Juliet - Foxtrot

CLASS - NEW ORLEANS
Displacement 9,975 Tons, Dimensions, 588' 0" (oa) x 61' 9" x 22' 6" (Max)
Armament 9 x 8"/55, 8 x 5"/25, 8 x 0.5" 4 Aircraft.
Armor, 5" Belt, 8" Turrets, 2 1/4" Deck, 5" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 107,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 32.0 Knots, Crew 800.
Operational and Building Data
Authorized 13 FEB 1929
Keel laid on 03 SEP 1931 by the New York Shipbuilding Co, Camden, NJ
Launched 13 NOV 1933
Commissioned 17 AUG 1934
Decommissioned 13 FEB 1946
Stricken 01 MAR 1959
Fate: Sold for scrap to Boston Metals Co., Baltimore, MD 25 JUN 1959

Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Navy Combat Action Ribbon - Navy China Service Medal - American Defense Service Medal w/"A" Clasp
Second Row - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (2) - European-African-Middle Asian Campaign Medal (5)
Third Row - World War II Victory Medal - Navy World War II Occupation Medal w/JAPAN Clasp - Philippine Presidential Unit Citation


Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Tuscaloosa
0403700
NR The U. S. navy heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA 37) was sponsored by Mrs. Thomas Lee McCann, wife of Lt. Thomas L. McCann and the niece of the Hon. William B. Oliver, Representative of the 6th District of Alabama; . Image and text provided by encyclopediaofalabama.org and DANFS.
Tuscaloosa
0403738
94k Starboard bow view on 16 August 1934, moored at New York Shipbuilding Corporation the day before her commissioning. Note the range clock mounted on the superstructure above the bridge windows. Michael Mohl
Tuscaloosa
0403702
413k

USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) at sea on 23 August 1935.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives - 80-G-414458.

Ron Titus
Tuscaloosa
0403716
84k Undated, pre-war Image. Starboard Bow view, in transit through the Panama Canal. Robert M. Cieri
Tuscaloosa
0403715
144k

Starboard side view, date and location unknown.

George Winstead photo.

Robert M. Cieri
Tuscaloosa
0403718
112k

Aerial port quarter view while at anchor, date and location unknown.

U.S. Navy photo.

David Buell
Tuscaloosa 88k

USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) Steaming at high speed, probably during trials in 1934.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives - 19-N-14733.

National Archives
Chicago 652k The USS San Francisco (CA 38) is forward of the USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) on the left and the USS Houston (CA-30) is forward of the USS Chicago (CA 29) at Mare Island Navy Yard between Nov 3rd and 5th in 1936. U.S. Navy Photo. Darryl Baker
Quincy
0403938
NR Cruisers on Good Will Tour
Headed by the flagship San Francisco (CA 38) (inset) under Rear Admiral H. E. Kimmel, three United States heavy cruisers will leave Guantanamo, Cuba, Saturday on a goodwill tour to leading South American ports. Accompanying the San Francisco will be the Cruisers Quincy (CA 39) and Tuscaloosa (CA 37). The boats will return to Bilbao, Canal Zone, on June 4.
Image and text provided by Montana Historical Society; Helena, MT.
Photo from The Hardin Tribune-Herald. [ [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 13 April 1939, Image 6, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Tuscaloosa
0403745
862k

Callao, Peru during the division of Cruiser Division 7 under Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, USN, May 26 to 31, 1939.
Ships from left to right are Peruvian Cruisers Coronel Bolognesi (1906-1958) and Almirante Grau (1906-1958), behind Bolognesi), destroyers Almirante Villar, (1915-c1954), ex Esthonian Vambola ex Russian Spratax) and Almirante Guise (1915-c1947), ex Esthonian Lennuk, ex Russian Avtroil, and USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37), San Francisco (CA-38), and Quincy (CA-39).

Photo NH-42782 courtesy of history.navy.mil

Naval History and Heritage Command
Tuscaloosa
0403740
422k

View taken in the Caribbean sea area, circa March 1939, during Cru-Div Seven's South American cruise.

Photo NH 83594 history.navy.mil

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
Quincy
0403910
1.39k

Cruiser Division Seven's South American Cruise, 1939 - View of USS Quincy (CA 39)--at left--and USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) steaming in rough seas near the Strait of Magellan, 14 May 1939. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Rear Admiral Paul H. Bastedo.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH 83591

USNHC
Tuscaloosa
0403701
NR COLUMBUS BURNS AS BRITISH DESTROYER STANDS BY
This is the dramatic scene that confronted sailors on the U. S. cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA 37) when she arrived 400 miles off the coast to find lifeboats are bringing members of the German crew to the Tuscaloosa. The Columbus is at right and the British destroyer Hyperion just to the left of her.
WAR’S CASTAWAYS
Survivors of the sunken German liner Columbus wave a cheery greeting as they approach Ellis Island to receive temporary shelter. They are shown aboard the U. S. cruiser Tuscaloosa, which rescued them from the sea.
A. P. Wirephotos.
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 21 December 1939, Image 3, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Tuscaloosa
0403704
NR Here's the U. S. navy heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA 37), which rescued the crew of the Nazi luxury liner Columbus after the German skipper scuttled the ship at sea off Norfolk, Va., to avoid capture by a British destroyer. The Tuscaloosa carried the German crew of the stricken vessel to New York
The German luxury liner Columbus, found sinking off the Atlantic coast 400 miles from Norfolk, Va., after skipper sent the 32,000-ton vessel to the bottom to avoid capture by a British destroyer.
Image and text provided by Washington State Library; Olympia, WA.
Photo from The Tacoma Times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 21 December 1939, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Tuscaloosa
0403705
NR Crew pulls away from scuttled German Liner Columbus Off Capes
This picture shows three lifeboats rowing away from the burning, scuttled ship. All hands were rescued by the United States cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA 37) and taken to the government immigration station on Ellis island, in New York harbor.
Image and text provided by University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Library, Chapel Hill, NC.
Photo from Henderson Daily Dispatch. Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 22 December 1939, Image 1, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Tuscaloosa
0403744
NR SKIPPER COMES HOME
Capt. Harry A. Badt, commander of the United States cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA 37), which rescued the crew of the scuttled Columbus, shown with his wife and 10-month-old daughter, Esther Ellen, at his wife's mother’s home, 1620 Allison street, today.
Image and text provided by Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
Photo from Evening Star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 25 December 1939, Image 26, via chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Tuscaloosa
0403743
860k

View of starboard accommodation ladder, showing president's boat coming alongside. Note planes on catapult (Curtiss soc seagull), whaleboats and davits, canvas-covered 5"/25 caliber anti-aircraft guns on deck to right. Taken during the Presidential Cruise of Franklin D. Roosevelt, in early 1940.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph NH 50851

Naval History and Heritage Command
Tuscaloosa
0403719
133k

Norfolk, VA. December 1940 - Adm. William D. Leahy (fore, L) and his wife standing under big guns of the Tuscaloosa with Capt. Lee P. Johnson (fore, R) prior to their departure for France.

Photo courtesy of Look magazine

Bill Gonyo
Tuscaloosa 95k

USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) Steams through heavy seas while en route to the Bahamas with President Franklin D. Roosevelt embarked, probably in December 1940. Photographed from the bridge, with her forward eight-inch gun turrets in the foreground.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH 50850

USNHC
Tuscaloosa
0403739
391k

USS Tuscaloosa's (CA 37) Chief Petty Officers pose with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, during one of his cruises on board her in 1940. Note the president's deck fishing arrangement.

Photo NH 50855 history.navy.mil

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
Tuscaloosa
0403730
804k

The British Governor of Jamaica, Sir Arthur Richards (center), saying goodbye to the Commanding Officer of USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37), Captain Lee P. Johnson, USN, (saluting in left center), during the 1940 Presidential cruise. Captain Daniel J. Callaghan, USN, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Naval Aide, is between them. Note the Marine Honor Guard in the background.

Photo NH 50854 history.navy.mil

U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.
Tuscaloosa 83k

Convoy to Iceland, September 1941 - USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) hoists in a Curtiss SOC scout-observation plane after a patrol. View looks aft on the cruiser's starboard side, with midships' 5"/25 guns in the foreground. Another SOC is resting on the starboard catapult.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH 47007

USNHC
Tuscaloosa
0403726
185k

USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) underway in the Atlantic Ocean in 1942.

Source: Imperial War Museum Admiralty Official Collection, Photo #A 13189. IWM

Mike Green
Tuscaloosa
0403729
113k

USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) at Hvalfjord, Iceland in April 1942.

Imperial War Museum, Photo #A 7486. IWM

Mike Green
Tuscaloosa
0403741
627k

USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) Moored in Scapa Flow, April 1942, while she was operating with the British Home Fleet. The British heavy cruiser London is in the background.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives - 80-G-12018

National Archives
Tuscaloosa
0403730
140k

Port quarter view of the USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) at Hvalfjord, Iceland in April 1942.

Imperial War Museum, Photo #A 8960. IWM

Mike Green
Tuscaloosa
0403731
112k

Midship close-up of the USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) passing the HMS Wheatland (L 122) in May 1942 at Hvalfjord, Iceland. A good detail shot of plane handling facilities and searchlights.

Imperial War Museum Admiralty Official Collection by Parnall, C.J. (Lt), Photo #A 8957. IWM

Mike Green
Tuscaloosa 63k

USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) Underway on 7 October 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center - NH 97938

USNHC
Tuscaloosa 68k

North African Invasion, November 1942 - USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) fires her eight-inch main battery at French forces, during action off Casablanca, Morocco, circa 8 November 1942. Collection of Commodore Norman C. Gillette, USN.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph - NH 96030

USNHC
Tuscaloosa
0403737
300k

USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) recovering an SOC Seagull which had over-ridden the sea sled due to too rapid an approach, slightly damaging one float, July 1943. Here the sled is spinning the plane around.

National Museum of the U.S. Navy. United States Naval and Historical Command. Photo # 80-G-79417.

Robert Hurst
Tuscaloosa
0403728
65k

USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) anchored at Greenock, Scotland on 25 October 1943. The cruiser was carrying Norwegians and a British radio mechanic who escaped and were rescued from Spitzbergen, Norway. The mechanic, H.L. Hollins, RN, is the leading RN radio mechanic and is from Bradford, Yorkshire.

Imperial War Museum Admiralty Official Collection, by Beadell, S.J. (Lt), Photo #A 19976. IWM

Mike Green
Tuscaloosa
0403732
143k

Camouflage Measure 33, Design 13D

Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for heavy cruisers of the CA 32 (New Orleans) class. Ships known to have worn this scheme included USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) and USS San Francisco (CA 38). This plan, showing the ship's starboard side, superstructure ends and exposed decks, is dated 3 February 1944, and was approved by Captain Logan McKee, USN.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Photo #80-G-105506

Russ Moody
Tuscaloosa
0403733
133k

Camouflage Measure 33, Design 13D

Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for heavy cruisers of the CA 32 (New Orleans) class. Ships known to have worn this scheme included USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) and USS San Francisco (CA 38). This plan, showing the ship's port side, is dated 3 February 1944, and was approved by Captain Logan McKee, USN.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Photo #80-G-105507

Russ Moody
Tuscaloosa
0403727
255k

General Eisenhower (upper right area) addressing officers and sailors of USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) while anchored at Belfast Lough, Ireland on 19 May 1944.

NARA photo #80-G-240308

Tracy White
Tuscaloosa
0403739
549k

Southern France Invasion, August 1944.
U.S. warships engaging German shore batteries off Cannes, 21 August 1944. USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) is at right, with a destroyer at left and shells hitting between them. Cannes is in the background. Photographed from USS Brooklyn (CL-40).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives - 80-G-245615

National Archives
Tuscaloosa 70k

USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) Off the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, 10 November 1944. She is wearing camouflage Measure 32, Design 13d.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center - NH 97939

USNHC
Tuscaloosa 105k

Iwo Jima Invasion, February 1945 - USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) signals with a blinker lamp, during a rainy dusk off Iwo Jima, 16 February 1945. Photographed from USS Texas (BB 35).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives - 80-G-309132.

National Archives/Scott Dyben
Tuscaloosa
0403735
105k

USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) in Measure 31a/3d camouflage scheme is seen bombarding Iwo Jima on 17 February 1945, from USS Texas (BB 35).

United States National Archives, Photo #80-G-352911, courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, (usndazzle.com).

Mike Green
Tuscaloosa
0403736
125k

USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) and USS Arkansas (BB 33) bombarding Iwo Jima on 17 February 1945, as seen from USS Texas (BB 35). The Tuscaloosa carries Measure 31a/13d camouflage scheme, while Arkansas is in Measure 21.

United States National Archives, Photo #80-G-309144, courtesy of C. Lee Johnson, (usndazzle.com).

Mike Green
Tuscaloosa 63k LCI(M)-1012 coming along side the USS Tuscaloosa during the conquest of the Japanese island of Okinawa during April and May 1945. This pictures was taken by Dave Conrad Lt jg. Phil Dampf

Tuscaloosa
0403717

Tuscaloosa
0403717a

266k

(comments of D. Buell) This photo is of USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37). You can almost make out the number 37 on her bow with a good magnifying glass. Since she was painted up in the same camouflage paint - Measure 12-the Pandemus' ship's photographer, who may have not had ship recognition training, probably took a quick shot and assumed that it was Indianapolis, since it was taken same area, different day. At any rate, this is also a good find, as photos of Tuscaloosa in the Pacific are relatively rare, since she spent most of World War II in the Atlantic, and did not join the Pacific fleet until the final push on Japan, joining the 3rd fleet in January 1945. Most photography of CA 37 was taken in the Atlantic.

Since the number on her bow was not too distinct, I also spent some time to ID this photo, since all of the surviving
New Orleans class of cruisers were in the Pacific at this time and all wore the same paint scheme as Tuscaloosa
at the same time also. I am confident that definite ID was made as Tuscaloosa by two items:

1) She does not have any 20mm guns on her bow. The three other surviving sisters all had at least one 20mm mount and tub at this time on their bows, but Tuscaloosa alone never had 20mm bow mounts all during the war.

2) Tuscaloosa's after (main) mast has no large radar platform on it. At the time of the photo, each
of her three surviving sisters had a platform either with or without radar mounted on them. She alone had no platform on the mainmast at this time. The Navsource photos of CA 37 from 1945 helped me to confirm this item.

U.S. Navy photo from the Collection of David Buell.

David Buell
Tuscaloosa
0403720
200k Pictures from Tuscaloosa County Veterans Memorial in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Gun and Mast are from the USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37). Tommy Browning
Tuscaloosa
0403721
160k Pictures from Tuscaloosa County Veterans Memorial in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Gun and Mast are from the USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37). Tommy Browning
Tuscaloosa
0403722
166k Pictures from Tuscaloosa County Veterans Memorial in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Gun and Mast are from the USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37). Tommy Browning
Tuscaloosa
0403723
291k Pictures from Tuscaloosa County Veterans Memorial in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Gun and Mast are from the USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37). Tommy Browning
Tuscaloosa
0403724
95k Pictures from Tuscaloosa County Veterans Memorial in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Gun and Mast are from the USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37). Tommy Browning
Tuscaloosa
0403725
183k Pictures from Tuscaloosa County Veterans Memorial in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Gun and Mast are from the USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37). Tommy Browning

Commanding Officers
Name/Rank Class Final Rank Dates
Ferguson, John N., CAPT 1905   08/17/1934 - 01/05/1936
McElduff, Dan A., CDR 1909   01/05/1936 - 02/04/1936
Mayfield, Irving Hall, CAPT 1907   02/04/1936 - 08/05/1937
Jacobs, Randall, CAPT 1907 RADM 08/05/1937 - 07/07/1938
Badt, Harry A., CAPT 1908   07/07/1938 - 12/08/1939
Redman, Joseph R., CDR 1914 RADM 12/08/1939 - 05/27/1940
Johnson, Lee Payne, CAPT 1909   05/27/1940 - 12/02/1942
Gillette, Norman Campbell, CAPT 1913   02/12/1942 - 04/21/1943
Waller, John Beresford Wynn, CAPT 1914 RADM 04/21/1943 - 10/09/1944
Atkins, James George, CAPT 1919 RADM 10/09/1944 - 11/27/1945
Connolly, Joseph Anthony, CAPT 1921   11/27/1945 - 03/02/1946
O'Connor, L. B., CDR 1932   03/02/1946 - 07/09/1946

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


USS TUSCALOOSA (CA 37) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Mr. John Sheeran
Address: 220 10th Ave Council Bluffs, IA, 51503-6851
Phone: 712-322-1127
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.
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