USN
Northampton Cass Cruiser
Tons
9,300
August 9, 1942
September 13, 1942
December 20, 1942
Ship History
Built at the Mare Island Navy Yard. Commissioned in April 1931 with a shakedown cruise to Hawaii, Tahiti and American Samoa. Afterwards was reclassified from a light cruiser (CL) to a heavy cruiser (CA).
In July. - August 1931, Chicago steamed to the U.S. Atlantic coast, where she became flagship of Commander Cruisers, Scouting Force. During the rest of the decade and into the early 1940s, she regularly participated in the exercises. On 31 May 1934 she was present during the naval review held for President Roosevelt off New York City. Later in the year the cruiser changed her base to San Pedro, until September 1940, when she was transferred to Pearl Harbor.
Wartime History
Chicago was operating at sea on December 7, 1941. She participated in patrol and search missions during the first weeks of the conflict, and in early February was sent to the south Pacific to protect Allied positions. She participated in the Battle of the Coral Sea in early May. On 7 May, Chicago was lightly damaged in an enemy air attack.
Remaining in the south Pacific area, Chicago participated in the August invasion of Guadalcanal and Tulagi. On the night of 8-9 August, she was patrolling between Guadalcanal and Savo with HMAS Canberra and two destroyers when they were attacked by a force of Japanese cruisers. Chicago was torpedoed in the bow and withdrew from the area the following day.
Sinking History
Repaired on the U.S. west coast, she returned to the combat zone in January 1943. While en route to Guadalcanal with a task force of cruisers and destroyers on 29 January, she was twice torpedoed by Japanese aircraft during the Battle Of Rennell Island. While being towed clear of the combat zone, Chicago was sunk in another torpedo attack in the evening of January 30, 1943.
