American heavy cruiser USS Chicago (CA-29) 1928-1943

Pensacola-class

Northampton-class

Part of the Northampton-class heavy cruisers consisting of the Northampton, Chicago, Houston, Augusta, Louisville and Chester, preceded by the Pensacola-class and succeeded by the Portland-class. Their design was a result of the restrictions of the Washington Naval Treaty including a maximum displacement of 10.000 tons and a calibre for the main armament of 20,3cm/8”. Further more was an decrease of the building costs for the preceding Pensacola-class demanded. This partly effected by a gun arrangement of 3x3-8” turrets instead of the2x2&2x3-8” of the Pensacola-class. Despite that the armour was increased in opposite of the Pensacola-class was the displacement of the Northampton -class several hundred tons below the restricted 10.000 tons limit. The high forecastle was extended on board of the Augusta, Chicago and Houston to be used as flagships. To compensate rolling caused by the lighter than designed displacement were deep bilge keels fitted.

Building ordered on 18 December 1924, building awarded on 19 April 1927, supplementary contract signed on 13 June 1927, laid down at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California, on 10 September 1928, launched by Miss E. Britten on 10 April 1930, commissioned on 9 March 1931, reclassified from CL-29 into CA;29 on 1 July 1931 and sunk by Japanese air attacks during the Battle of Rennell Island [Solomon Islands] on 30 January 1943. Contracted building costs 11.100.000 US dollars.

With a displacement of 9.200 (standard) tons and as dimensions 173 (between perpendiculars)-182,96 (over all) x 20,14 x 4,98 metres or 569-600.3 x 66.1 x 16.4 feet. The machinery consisted of 4-shaft Parsons turbines and 8 White-Forster boilers supplying via 4 screws 107.000 hp allowing a speed of 32,7 knots. Range with a speed of 15 knots and fuel oil bunker capacity of 1.400 tons was 10.000 nautical miles. Four boiler rooms. Heating surface 95.040 square feet. Weight machinery 2.161 tons. 4 Turbo generator sets each of 250kW 120-120Volt and made by General Electric Company. The crew numbered 691 men (included 90 officers). The armour consisted of a 2,5cm/1”- 9,5/3.75” thick belt and with the barbettes, gun houses and conning tower protected by respectively 3,8cm/1.5”, 1,9cm/0.75”-6,4cm/2.5” and 3,2cm/1.25”. The armament consisted of 3x3-20,3cm/8” /55 cal guns, 4-12,7cm/5” /25 cal anti aircraft guns, 2-4,7cm/1.9”/3pd saluting guns, 6-53,3cm/21” torpedo tubes and since 1932 4 planes for which amidships 2 catapults were available. The armament in 1941 consisted of 3x3-20,3cm/8” /55 cal guns, 8-12,7cm/5” /25 cal anti aircraft guns, 16-2,79cm/1.1” /75 anti aircraft guns and 28-2cm/0.79” Oerlikon cannons.