Nicknamed the ‘Galloping Ghost of the Java Coast’. Laid down at the Newport Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia, 1 May 1928, launched 7 September 1929 while sponsored by Elizabeth Holcombe commissioned 17 June 1930 and sunk in after the battle in the Java Sea 1 March 1942 in the Banda Strait with just 369 survivors of the 1,061 men on board. She was part of the allied ABDA squadron commanded by the Dutch rear admiral Karel Doorman who went down with his flagship the Dutch cruiser De Ruyter in the battle in the Java Sea 27 February against the Japanese fleet.
The Houston was a Northampton-cruiser with a displacement of 9.050 long tons or 9.200 tons and with the dimensions 569 (waterline)-600’3”(over all) x 66’1” x 16’4’ (mean)-23’(maximum). Her 4 Parsons turbines and 8 White-Forster turbines provided 107.000 ship.80,000 kW allowing a speed of 33 knots. She had a range of 13.000 nautical miles with a speed of 15 knots. Fuel capacity 1.500 tons. Her crew numbered between the 1.020 and 1.155 men. She was armed with 9-8: guns, 4-5” anti aircraft guns, 8-0.50” machine guns, 6-21” torpedo tubes and 4 floatplanes (for which she was fitted out with 2 catapults.
