Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, The aircraft carriers Lexington (CV 2) and Saratoga (CV 3) at the yard, 8 June 1932. Also present is an old collier at left. Astoria (CA 34) is under construction in drydock, upper right. Photographed from a USAAC plane.

This new cruiser, the Astoria (CA 34), is now under construetion in Puget Sound Navy Yard, Washington state, at a cost of more than nine million dollars. It will be launched 16 December. At the same time the present unemployed relief grants of the Roosevelt government total only $3,936,483, much of which will never reach the unemployed after the “overhead” for high salaried officials, etc., is deducted. This relief goes only to three states, Michigan, Arizona ans Illinois. Roosevelt gives a billion dollars for war funds. He ignores the demand of the unemployed for adequate relief and unemployment insurance.

To Christen Cruiser
Miss Leila C. McKay, greatgranddaughter of one of the founders of Astoria, Ore., will christen the new 10,000 ton cruiser Astoria (CA 34) at Puget Sound, Wash., navy yard 16 December. She is a descendant of Donald McKay, clipper ship builder of Boston.

Powerful Cruiser Is Launched
This is the bow of the United States cruiser Astoria (CA 34) just launched at Seattle. It was built under the terms of the naval treaty and is more powerful than many battleships. The Astoria was christened with champagne by a descendant of the founder of the city for which it is named.

The sea came up to meet the navy’s newest cruiser, Astoria (CA 34), instead of the vessel sliding down greased ways to the water. The cruiser was constructed in a building dock, similar to dry dock, in the Bremerton, Wash., navy yard and when it was 85 per cent complete valves were opened and the craft floated. The Astoria is a 10,000-ton ship built under the terms of the London Naval treaty. A bottle of champagne was broken across its bow by Leila C. McKay, great-granddaughter of one of Astoria’s founders.

Associated Press photo.

Astoria (CA 34) fitting out at pier 6, Puget Sound Navy Yard, Washington, 19 December 1933.

Naval History and Heritage Command, Photo #NH 57403

Captain Edmund S. Root, first CO of the Astoria (CA 34) and former Govenor of Guam. He is pictured here on her deck in August 1934.

A group of United States naval sailors from Astoria (CA 34) in ships motor boat. Manly ferry is seen rounding Bannelong Point above the head of the boat's bowman.

Photographer: Samuel J Hood Studio.
Photo & text courtesy of Australian National Maritime Museum.

Undated pre-war photo while at anchor, location unknown.

U.S. Navy photo

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 91726.

The New Orleans class heavy cruiser USS Astoria (CA 34), in Farm Cove, Sydney Harbour, Australia, 1 August 1934 during her shakedown cruise of the Pacific after her commissioning. This photo is part of the Australian National Maritime Museum's Samuel J. Hood (1872-1953) Studio collection.Object # 00024254.

USS Astoria (CA 34) in Sydney Harbor, in August 1934, during its shakedown cruise in the Pacific after its commissioning.

Australian National Maritime Museum.

Moored, starboard side to, Puget Sound Navy Shipyard, 08 April 1938.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph NH-96380 history.navy.mil now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

U. S. Cruiser Carries Saito’s Ashes to Japan
In a final gesture of friendship, high officials of the Army, Navy and State Department, in an unprecedented ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., pay their respects to the memory of Hirosi Saito, former Japanese Ambassador whose sudden death recently shocked official Washington. Photo shows climax of services, with Saito’s ashes being removed for transfer to the U.S.S. Astoria (CA 34), American cruiser designated to carry the remains to Japan. On left, near the railing, are Mrs. Saito, her children, and Japanese Ambassador Kensuke Horinouchi and his wife. On the extreme right, Yakichiro Suma, counselor of Japanese Embassy, stands at attention.
USS Fairfax (DD 93) appears in the background.

AWAIT AMBASSADOR’S ASHES
The mother, widow and the two daughters of the late Hlrosi Salto, Japanese Ambassador to the United States, who died in Washington in February. Salto’s ashes were brought back to Japan aboard the heavy cruiser Astoria (CA 34) at the direction of President Roosevelt and the Ambassador) family is shown as the Astoria docked.

View of fantail, toward the end of the ship's overhaul at Mare Island Navy Yard, on 9 July 1941. Note 1.1"/75-cal. Guns, empty director positions, and crew sunbathing or catnapping, as well as "park benches."

Closeup view of the ship's bridge area, taken near the end of an overhaul at the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 9 July 1941. Details seen include: main and secondary battery gun directors atop the battle lookout platform; newly-installed sky lookout position and 1.1" quadruple machine gun mounting; and siren on funnel front. Also note demarcation of dark and light grey paint of the ship's Measure 1 camouflage.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 96383.

Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives #19-N-25347.

Two days before the Pearl Harbor attack a carrier-cruiser group built around USS Lexington (CV 2) departed Pearl to deliver reinforcement aircraft to Midway. This is USS Astoria underway at sea, as seen from USS Portland. She operated with TF12 from 5 to 13 Dec 1941.

Photographer Robert Landry, Life Magazine, used for educational and non-commercial purpose.

Two days before the Pearl Harbor attack a carrier-cruiser group built around USS Lexington (CV 2) departed Pearl to deliver reinforcement aircraft to Midway. This is USS Astoria underway at sea, as seen from USS Portland. She operated with TF12 from 5 to 13 Dec 1941.

Photographer Robert Landry, Life Magazine, used for educational and non-commercial purpose.

Two days before the Pearl Harbor attack a carrier-cruiser group built around USS Lexington (CV 2) departed Pearl to deliver reinforcement aircraft to Midway. This is USS Astoria and USS Indianapolis underway at sea as seen from USS Portland. They operated as TF12 from 8 to 13 Dec 1941.

Photographer Robert Landry, Life Magazine, used for educational and non-commercial purpose.

Two days before the Pearl Harbor attack a carrier-cruiser group built around USS Lexington (CV 2) departed Pearl to deliver reinforcement aircraft to Midway. This is USS Astoria and USS Indianapolis underway at sea as seen from USS Portland. They operated as TF12 from 8 to 13 Dec 1941.

Photographer Robert Landry, Life Magazine, used for educational and non-commercial purpose.

Two days before the Pearl Harbor attack a carrier-cruiser group built around USS Lexington (CV 2) departed Pearl to deliver reinforcement aircraft to Midway. This is USS Astoria and USS Indianapolis underway at sea as seen from USS Portland. They operated as TF12 from 8 to 13 Dec 1941.

Photographer Robert Landry, Life Magazine, used for educational and non-commercial purpose.

Crew of 5"/25 gun # 3 (2nd gun from forward, starboard side) in action during gunnery practice, circa spring 1942. Note anti-flash head-dress and communications gear worn by the man operating the fuse setter; bearing markings on the gun's splinter shield; and old-style battle helmets.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-21946.

USS Astoria (CA 34) arriving at Pearl Harbor with Task Force 17, 27 May 1942, following the Battle of Coral Sea and shortly before the Battle of Midway. Her crew is in whites, paraded at quarters on the forecastle, and a motor launch is being lowered by her port boat crane. Photographed by Photographer 3rd Class T.E. Collins, USN.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph 80-G-K-452, now in the collections of the catalog.archives.gov

Battle of Midway, June 1942. A Bombing Squadron Three (VB-3) SBD-3 scout bomber, probably flown by Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Paul A. Holmberg, ditches near USS Astoria (CA 34) at about 1342 hrs on 4 June 1942. This was one of two VB-3 planes that ditched near Astoria after they were unable to land on the damaged USS Yorktown (CV 5). A PBY is flying nearby, in right center.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-312004.

Battle of Midway, June 1942 - An SBD-3 scout bomber, probably flown by the Bombing Squadron Three (VB-3) Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Maxwell F. Leslie, ditches alongside USS Astoria (CA 34) at about 1348 hrs on 4 June 1942. This was one of two VB-3 planes that ditched near Astoria after they were unable to land on the damaged USS Yorktown (CV 5). Photographed from atop Astoria's after superstructure. Note her port aircraft crane, and an SOC floatplane on her port catapult.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97682.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 97683.

Guadalcanal-Tulagi Invasion, August 1942. USS Astoria (CA 34) joins Task Force 16 as it approaches Tulagi, about 6 August 1942.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-13477.

First Salvo Hit Astoria as Men Ran to Stations, Survivor Says
Pictured above are the officers who commanded the three heavy cruisers whose loss in the Solomon Islands action of August 8 and 9 the Navy recently announced. The fates of Capt. Frederick L. Riefkohl, of the USS Vincennes (CA 44), and of Capt William Greenman, of the USS Astoria (CA 34), are unknown. Capt. Samuel N. Moore, commander of the USS Quincy (CA 39), is listed as "Killed in Action."

Tells Astoria's (CA 34) End
Crew Member, on Visit Here, Describes Escape From Sinking Cruiser, Chase by Sharks

Battle diagram showing ship movement during Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942.

Source: Preliminary Design Branch, Bureau of Ships Navy Department, War Loss/Damage Report No. 29.

Outboard profile battle damage diagram of USS Astoria (CA 34) showing gunfire hits during Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942.

Source: Preliminary Design Branch, Bureau of Ships Navy Department, War Loss/Damage Report No. 29.

Deck plan diagram of USS Astoria (CA 34) showing gunfire hits and location of fires during Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942.

Source: Preliminary Design Branch, Bureau of Ships Navy Department, War Loss/Damage Report No. 29.

The wreck of the USS Astoria (CA 34) is at a depth of 854 meters. This is a still photo taken from video of her wreck. Her bow seperated during her sinking and landed on her stern.

USS Astoria (CA 34) still photo taken from video showing her stern 1.1"/75-cal. guns and her planking still intact.

USS Astoria (CA 34) still photo taken from video showing her two forward turrets and guns. Note that the anchor chain is wrapped along the length of the turrets.

USS Astoria (CA 34) still photo taken from video showing her upside down bow on her stern.

USS Astoria (CA 34) still photo taken from video showing bow resting on her number 3 turret.

The end of USS Astoria (CA 34) story & her stern, still photo taken from video showing her name still spelled out.