World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseUSS Astoria was commissioned in 1934, after which she conducted her shakedown cruise across the Pacific. After her return, she was assigned to Cruiser Division 6 of the US Navy Pacific Fleet. In 1939, she transported the body of former Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Saito to his home country as a gesture of appreciation for Japan doing the same with Ambassador Edgar Bancroft in 1926. She fired a 21-gun salute in Yokohama harbor to pay her respects to Saito while accompanied by three Japanese destroyers. After Japan, Astoria sailed for Shanghai, China; Hong Kong; Philippine Islands; and Guam, Mariana Islands before returning to the United States. She was assigned to the Hawaiian Detachment in Oct 1939. She was fitted with anti-aircraft machine guns at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California, United States in Apr 1941.

ww2dbaseWhen the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 Dec 1941, Astoria was escorting carrier Lexington on her way to Midway. On the next day she searched to intercept the returning Japanese carriers, but was not successful. She returned to Pearl Harbor on 13 Dec. She was sent to relief Wake, but was recalled when Wake fell on 23 Dec. In Jan 1942 she escorted carrier USS Saratoga at sea, and escorted her back to port after she was struck by torpedo. On 16 Feb, she sailed with Task Force 17, built around carrier Yorktown, sailed west and eventually went to the vicinity of Rabaul, New Britain, Bismarck Islands. Astoria later broke from Task Force 17 and joined cruisers Chicago, Louisville, and Australia, along with four destroyers, to secure Task Force 17's far flank toward Port Moresby, New Guinea. She rejoined the task force on 14 Mar and patrolled Coral Sea, where she engaged in the great carrier battle of Coral Sea on 7 May. She acted in that battle in an anti-aircraft screening role; her gun crew claimed four hits. After a brief stay at Pearl Harbor, she departed for Midway in preparation of a Japanese offensive there. Again, Astoria acted in an anti-aircraft screening role in the Battle of Midway, laying protective fire for carrier Yorktown. After Yorktown was serious damaged after the first strike against her, Rear Admiral Frank Fletcher broke her flag on Astoria. She remained the flagship of Task Force 17 until 8 Jun when Fletcher transferred her flag to the carrier Saratoga.

ww2dbaseIn the first week of Aug 1942, USS Astoria operated off Guadalcanal to support the US Marines on that island. During the Battle of Savo Island on 9 Aug, damage control officer Lieutenant Commander Topper felt the concussions of the southern battle a few minutes before, but shook it off as distant destroyers launching depth charges. Astoria did not realize she was under attack until the ship was illuminated by Japanese star shells. She turned her guns and started firing, but momentarily the firing was ceased because the captain of the ship, who had just been awakened, feared that the ship was firing on friendly ships amidst the confusion. A moment later, Astoria was hit by an 8-in salvo, and the resulting fire marked her as a clear target for Japanese ships under the night sky. After striking the number one turret of Japanese cruiser Chokai and causing minor damage, she lost steering control on the bridge at 0225. She lost all power minutes later. After a valiant effort to save the ship, the order to abandon ship was finally issued at noon. At 1216, the ship turned over on her port beam and sank.

Heavy Cruiser Astoria (New Orleans-class) (CA-34) Interactive Map

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Astoria (New Orleans-class) Operational Timeline

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