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| USN Portland-class Heavy Cruiser 9,800 Tons 610' 3" x 66' 1" x 17' 1" 9 x 8" main guns 8 x 5" guns 2 x 3 pounder saluting guns 8 x .50 caliber MG 4 x floatplanes 2 x catapults |
Ship History Built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation at Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts. Ordered February 13, 1929 for fiscal year 1930. Laid down February 17, 1930 as the lead ship of the Portland-class of Heavy Cruiser. Launched May 21, 1932 as USS Portland named for Portland, Maine sponsored by the daughter of Mayor Ralph D. Brooks of Portland. Completed August 15, 1932. Commissioned February 23, 1933 in the U.S. Navy (USN) under the command of Captain Herbert F. Leary. Nicknamed "Sweet Pea" by her crew. PARTIAL HISTORY Portland arrived at Tongatabu for brief repairs. On May 16, 1942 placed under the command of Captain Laurance T. DuBose then departed escorting USS Yorktown to Pearl Harbor then to Midway Atoll. On June 4, 1942 during the Battle of Midway part of the anti-aircraft screen with USS Pensacola and USS Vincennes. On June 6, 1942 when r USS Yorktown was damged, 2,046 of her crew were embarked then steamed westward where they were transfered to USS Fulton (AS-11). On June 7, 1942 searched for downed air crews and the next day joined USS Saratoga headed northward towards the Aleutian Islands but were recalled two days later. PARTIAL HISTORY After the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, escorts USS Enterprise (CV-6) back to Pearl Harbor then embarks Rear Admiral Mahlon S. Tisdale and become part of Task Unit 16.9.1 with USS San Juan (CL-54) on a secret mission to bombard Tarawa and Japanese shipping in the vicinity. On October 15, 1942 Portland launches her two SOC Seagulls to spot targets and conduct dive bombing attacks. One Seagull scores a near miss that causes light damage to Hitati Maru. During the attack, one Seagulls is damage by anti-aircraft fire. Between 2:10pm until 2:51pm Portland engages Japanese vessels off Tarawa claiming damage to one transport and a destroyer before withdrawing southward. Afterwards both floatplanes were recovered and Portland withdraws southward and join the Enterprise Task Group near the Solomon Islands. During the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands escorts USS Enterprise (CV-6). On October 24, 1942 at 10:12am one of her 1.1" anti-aircraft guns exploded while firing wounding 19 of the crew. During the engagement, claimed several Japanese planes shot down. At 11:53am lost steering control then regained when a Japanese submarine appeared and fired three torpedoes that failed to detonate, likely because they were fired too close to the cruiser. On November 12, 1942 in the afternoon assigned to the U.S. Navy force of cruisers and destroyers of Task Group 67.4 (TG 67.4) proceeds eastward via Sealark Channel to screen for Task Group 67.1 withdrawing from the area via Tingo Channel. Afterwards, the warships sweep the Indispensable Strait then returns via Tingo Channel and enters Iron Bottom Sound to defend against the expected arrival of Japanese warships. On November 13, 1942 at 1:40am at the start of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (Third Battle of the Solomon Sea), The weather was poor with a dark moon making visibility minimal. At the start of the engagement opened fire and scored hits on Yūdachi. At 1:58am Portland was hit by a torpedo in the starboard side of the stern fired by either destroyer Inazuma or the Ikazuchi. The damage blew off the two inboard propellers, jammed the rudder five degrees to starboard, and jammed the no. 3 turret's train and elevation and caused a 4° list that was quickly corrected. The rudder was unable to be repaired forcing the cruiser to steam in circles to starboard but her forward turrets engage Battleship Hiei and score hits that cause fires while the battleship's return fire missed. At dawn, unable to withdraw under her own power and still circling. At 6:30am while still circling, spots abandoned Yūdachi six miles away and fired six salvos from 12,500 yards. The first salvo was over, second short, third and fourth straddled. While firing, Commander Shanklin reported seeing a "white flag" aboard the target and reported it to Captain Laurance T. DuBose instructed his gunnery officer to "Sink the S-O-B". The fifth and sixth salvos hit, caused an explosion and the destroyer rolled over and sunk southeast of Savo Island. Later, her steering was restored and withdrew under her own power. During the engagement suffered 18 dead and 17 wounded. PARTIAL HISTORY On July 26, 1943 part of Task Group 16.7 (TG 16.7) with USS Wichita (CA-45), USS Portland, USS San Francisco, USS Louisville and USS Santa Fe in formation one, column of section columns at a distance of 700 yards. Escorting destroyers included USS Hughes, USS Bache, USS Morris, USS Mustin and USS Aylwin ahead as an anti-submarine screen with Task Group 16.12 with battleships USS New Mexico (BB-40), USS Mississippi (BB-41) with three destroyers.At 12:48am, USS Mississippi (BB-41) reported unidentified radar surface contact at 60° at a distance of 15 miles. At 12:55am USS Portland made a surface radar contact at 45° at a distance of 20 miles. At 1:13am commenced firing main battery at the radar target with USS Wichita (CA-45). At 1:34 illumination by star shells was observed from an unknown source on starboard bow. At 1:40am lost targets on radar and ceased firing. Afterwards this incident becomes known as the Battle of the Pips. The term pips refers to a radar echo or return on a radar screen. Awards For her World War II service, Portland earned sixteen battle stars. Portland earned a Navy Unit Commendation for her role in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Fate On October 6, 1959 sold for scrap and broken up. References NARA USS Portland War Diary July 1943 (Pages 36-37) "July 26, 1943... 0113 Commenced firing main battery. Wichita commenced firing." NavSource - USS Portland (photos) Neptune's Inferno: The U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal (2011) pages 322, 323 (map) Contribute
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 Map November 13, 1942 |
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