USS Astoria (CA-34)

History
USS Astoria (CA-34), operating in Hawaiian waters during battle practice, 8 July 1942. She appears to be recovering floatplanes from off her starboard side. Note booms rigged below the forward superstructure to tow aircraft recovery mats, and starboard crane swung out.
United States
Name:	Astoria
Namesake:	City of Astoria, Oregon
Ordered:	13 February 1929
Awarded:	12 July 1929 (date assigned to ship yard) 2 June 1930 (beginning of construction period)
Builder:	Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington
Cost:	$11,951,000 (limit of price)
Laid down:	1 September 1930
Launched:	16 December 1933
Sponsored by:	Miss Leila C. McKay
Commissioned:	28 April 1934
Reclassified:	CA-34, 1 July 1931
Identification:	Hull symbol:CL-34 Hull symbol:CA-34
Nickname(s):	"Nasty Asty"
Honors and awards:	3 × battle stars
Fate:	Sunk during the Battle of Savo Island 9 August 1942
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type:	New Orleans-class cruiser
Displacement:	9,950 long tons (10,110 t) (standard)
Length:	588 ft (179 m) oa 574 ft (175 m) pp
Beam:	61 ft 9 in (18.82 m)
Draft:	19 ft 5 in (5.92 m) (mean) 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m) (max)
Installed power:	8 × Babcock & Wilcox boilers 107,000 shp (80,000 kW)
Propulsion:	4 × Westinghouse geared turbines 4 × screws
Speed:	32.7 kn (37.6 mph; 60.6 km/h)
Capacity:	Fuel oil: 1,650 tons
Complement:	104 officers 795 enlisted
Armament:	9 × 8 in (200 mm)/55 caliber guns (3x3) 8 × 5 in (130 mm)/25 caliber anti-aircraft guns 2 × 3-pounder47 mm (1.9 in) saluting guns 8 × caliber 0.50 in (13 mm) machine guns
Armor:	Belt: 3–5 in (76–127 mm) Deck: 1 ¹⁄₄–2 ¹⁄₄ in (32–57 mm) Barbettes: 5 in (130 mm) Turrets: 1 ¹⁄₂–8 in (38–203 mm) Conning Tower: 5 in (130 mm)
Aircraft carried:	4 × floatplanes
Aviation facilities:	2 × Amidship catapults
General characteristics (1942)
Armament:	9 × 8 in (200 mm)/55 caliber guns (3x3) 8 × 5 in (130 mm)/25 caliber anti-aircraft guns 2 × 3-pounder47 mm (1.9 in) saluting guns 12 × single 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons 4 × quad 1.1 in (28 mm)/75 caliber anti-aircraft guns

The second USS Astoria (CL/CA-34) was a United States Navy New Orleans-class cruiser that participated in both the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway, but was then sunk in August 1942 at the Battle of Savo Island. Originally, Astoria was the lead ship of the Astoria-class of cruisers, as she was the first ship of that class to be laid down, but received a hull number higher than New Orleans because she was launched second. Early in 1943, after Astoria had been sunk, the remaining ships of this class were refit and reclassified.

Immediately following the Guadalcanal Campaign the remaining ships of the class would go through major overhauls to lessen top-heaviness due to new electrical and radar systems and advanced anti-aircraft weaponry. In doing so the ships took on a new appearance, most notably in the bridge, becoming known as the New Orleans-class.

Astoria was laid down on 1 September 1930 at the Puget Sound Navy Yard. Such ships, with a limit of 10,000 tons standard displacement and 8-inch calibre main guns may be referred to as "treaty cruisers." Originally classified a light cruiser, because of her thin armor, she was reclassified, after being laid down, a heavy cruiser, because of her 8-inch guns. The term "heavy cruiser" was not defined until the London Naval Treaty in 1930. Launched on 16 December 1933, sponsored by Miss Leila C. McKay (a descendant of Alexander McKay, a member of the John Jacob Astor expedition that founded Astoria, Oregon), and commissioned on 28 April 1934, Captain Edmund S. Root in command.

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