View source for USS Chicago (CA-29)

{{Short description|Northampton-class heavy cruiser}}
{{other ships|USS Chicago}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = USS Chicago (CA-29) underway off New York City on 31 May 1934 (NH 715).jpg
| Ship caption = USS ''Chicago'' (CA-29), underway off New York City, during the fleet review on 31 May 1934.
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{USN flag|1943}}
| Ship name = ''Chicago''
| Ship namesake = City of [[Chicago]], Illinois
| Ship ordered = 18 December 1924
| Ship awarded = *19 April 1927
*13 June 1927 (supplementary contract)
| Ship builder = [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]], [[Vallejo, California]]
| Ship original cost = $11,100,000 (limit of cost)
| Ship laid down = 10 September 1928
| Ship launched = 10 April 1930
| Ship sponsor = Miss. E Britten
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship completed = 
| Ship commissioned = 9 March 1931
| Ship decommissioned = 
| Ship reclassified = CA-29, 1 July 1931
| Ship struck = 
| Ship homeport = 
| Ship identification = *[[Hull classification symbol#Surface combatant type|Hull symbol]]: CL-29
*Hull symbol: CA-29
| Ship honors = [[File:Bronze-service-star-3d.png|18px]] 3 × [[Battle star#Navy warships|battle stars]]
| Ship fate = Sunk by air attack during the [[Battle of Rennell Island]], 30 January 1943
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = (as built)<ref name="ships">{{cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rp-jAAAAMAAJ| title=Ships' Data, U. S. Naval Vessels | publisher=US Naval Department | date=1 July 1935 | access-date=2 October 2015 | pages=16–23}}</ref><ref name="haze">{{cite web | url=http://www.hazegray.org/navhist/cruisers/ca-cl1.htm | title=US Cruisers List: Light/Heavy/Antiaircraft Cruisers, Part 1 | publisher=Hazegray.org | date=22 January 2000 | access-date=2 October 2015}}</ref>
| Ship class = {{sclass|Northampton|cruiser}}
| Ship displacement = {{convert|9300|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} (standard)
| Ship length = *{{convert|600|ft|3|in|m|abbr=on}} [[length overall|oa]]
*{{convert|572|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[Length between perpendiculars|pp]]
| Ship beam = {{convert|66|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship draft = *{{convert|16|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}} (mean)
*{{convert|23|ft|m|abbr=on}} (max)
| Ship power = *8 × [[White-Forster boiler]]s
*{{convert|107,000|shp|kW|abbr=on}}
| Ship propulsion = *4 × [[Parsons turbine#Cruising machinery and gearing|Parsons reduction]] [[steam turbine]]s, Curtis cruising gears
*4 × [[Propeller|screw]]s
| Ship speed = {{convert|32.7|kn|mph km/h|lk=in|abbr=on}}
| Ship range = {{convert|10,000|nmi|mi km|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|15|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}
| Ship capacity = {{convert|1,500|ST|t|abbr=on}} [[fuel oil]]
| Ship complement = *90 officers 601 enlisted 
*1,111 on board at time of sinking
| Ship sensors = [[CXAM radar]] from 1940
| Ship armament = *9 × [[8"/55 caliber gun|{{convert|8|in|mm|abbr=on|sigfig=3}}/55]] [[caliber (artillery)|caliber]] guns (3x3)
*4 × [[5 inch (127 mm)/25 caliber gun|{{convert|5|in|mm|abbr=on|sigfig=3}}/25 caliber]] [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft guns]]
*2 × [[QF 3 pounder Hotchkiss#US service|3-pounder {{convert|47|mm|in|abbr=on}}]] [[Saluting guns#Heavy arms: gun salutes|saluting guns]]
*6 × {{convert|21|in|mm|abbr=on|sigfig=3}} [[torpedo tube]]s
| Ship armor = *'''[[Armor belt|Belt]]:''' {{convert|3|-|3+3/4|in|mm|abbr=on}}
*'''[[Deck (ship)|Deck]]:''' {{convert|1-2|in|mm|abbr=on}}
*'''[[Barbette]]s:''' {{convert|1+1/2|in|mm|abbr=on}}
*'''[[Gun turret|Turret]]s:''' {{convert|3/4|-|2+1/2|in|mm|abbr=on}}
*'''[[Conning tower|Conning Tower]]:''' {{convert|1+1/4|in|mm|abbr=on}}
| Ship aircraft = 4 × [[SOC Seagull]] scout-observation [[floatplane]]s
| Ship aircraft facilities = 2 × [[Amidships#Amidships|Amidship]] [[Aircraft catapult|catapult]]s
| Ship notes = 
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = (1942)<ref>{{cite book | title=Cruisers of the US Navy 1922-1962 | publisher=[[Naval Institute Press]] | author=Terzibashitsch, Stefan | year=1984 | location=Annapolis, Maryland | isbn=0-87021-974-X}}</ref>
| Ship armament = *9 × {{convert|8|in|mm|abbr=on|sigfig=3}}/55 caliber guns (3x3)
*8 × {{convert|5|in|mm|abbr=on|sigfig=3}}/25 caliber anti-aircraft guns
*2 × 3-pounder {{convert|47|mm|in|abbr=on}} saluting guns
*16 × [[1.1"/75 caliber gun|{{convert|1.1|in|mm|abbr=on|sigfig=3}}/75]] anti-aircraft guns
*28 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{convert|20|mm|in|abbr=on}} Oerlikon cannons]]
}}
|}

'''USS ''Chicago'' (CL/CA-29)''' was a {{sclass|Northampton|cruiser}} of the [[United States Navy]] that served in the [[Pacific War|Pacific Theater]] in the early years of [[World War II]]. She was the second US Navy ship to be named after the city of Chicago. After surviving a [[midget submarine]] attack at [[Sydney Harbour defences|Sydney Harbour]] and serving in battle at the [[Battle of the Coral Sea|Coral Sea]] and [[Battle of Savo Island|Savo Island]] in 1942, she was sunk by Japanese [[aerial torpedo]]es in the [[Battle of Rennell Island]], in the [[Solomon Islands]], on 30 January 1943.

==Construction==
''Chicago'' was [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 10 April 1930 by [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]] under the supervision of Naval constructor [[Charles W. Fisher Jr.]], sponsored by Miss E. Britten; and [[ship commissioning|commissioned]] on 9 March 1931, Captain [[Manley H. Simons]] in command.<ref name="DANFS" /> She was originally classified as a [[light cruiser]], CL-29, because of her thin armor. From 1 July 1931, ''Chicago'' was redesignated a [[heavy cruiser]], CA-29, because of her 8-inch guns in accordance with the provisions of the [[London Naval Treaty]] of 1930.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-navy-ships/cruisers/light-and-heavy-cruisers.html |title= CL/CA - Light and Heavy Cruisers |website= history.navy.mil |access-date= 1 June 2015}}</ref>

==Service history==

===Inter-war period===
After a [[shakedown cruise]] to [[Honolulu]], [[Tahiti]] and [[American Samoa]], ''Chicago'' departed [[Mare Island]] on 27 July 1931 and sailed to the east coast, arriving at [[Fort Pond Bay, New York]], on 16 August. There, she became [[flagship]] of Commander, Cruisers, [[Scouting Force]], and operated with that force until 1940.<ref name="DANFS">{{cite DANFS|url= http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/c7/chicago-ii.htm |title=Chicago II (CA-29)|publisher=Naval History and Heritage Command | date=13 August 2015 |access-date=12 November 2015}}</ref>

In February 1932, ''Chicago'' conducted gunnery exercises with other ships of the Scouting Force preliminary to [[Fleet Problem XIII]] off the California coast. The fleet was based on the West Coast thereafter and, until 1934, operated in the Pacific, from Alaska to the [[Panama Canal Zone]] and the [[Hawaiian Islands]].<ref name="DANFS" />

[[File:USS Chicago (CA-29) Mare Island Navy Yard 25 Oct 1933.jpg|thumb|left|The damaged USS ''Chicago'' with Mare Island's diving barge alongside at Mare Island Navy Yard on 25 October 1933 after her collision with the British freighter ''Silver Palm'']]
On 24 October 1933, ''Chicago'' collided with the British freighter ''Silver Palm'' in dense fog off [[Point Sur]], California. Three officers aboard ''Chicago'' were killed in their quarters during the collision, and an enlisted man's arm had to be amputated as well. ''Silver Palm'' penetrated around {{convert|18|ft}} into the cruiser's port bow, forward of the Number 1 gun mount.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19331025&id=fG8hAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4YcFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2724,4361089 |title= 3 US Sailors Killed in Crash |newspaper= Reading Eagle |location= Reading, PA |date= 25 October 1933 |page= 1}}</ref> At the time of the incident damage was estimated to be around $200,000  (${{formatprice|{{inflation|US|200000|1933}}}} today).<ref>{{cite news |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1970&dat=19331027&id=Ng8yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G-QFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4913,4893817 |title= Probe of Cruiser Collision Delayed |newspaper= Berkeley Daily Gazette |location= Berkeley, California |date= 27 October 1933 }}</ref> The vessel was repaired at the [[Mare Island Naval Shipyard]], departing there on 24 March 1934.<ref>Associated Press, "Cost of Repairs to Cruiser $200,000", ''The San Bernardino Daily Sun'', San Bernardino, California, 25 March 1934, Volume 40, page 1.</ref>

In 1934, the annual fleet exercises were held in the [[Caribbean]], followed in May 1934 by the [[Naval Review|Presidential Fleet Review]] in New York Harbor. The Scouting Force operated along the east coast and in the Caribbean until October and then returned to base at [[San Pedro, California]]. ''Chicago'' was one of six ships to receive the new [[RCA]] [[CXAM radar]] in 1940.<ref name="RADAR">{{cite journal|author=Macintyre, Donald, CAPT RN |title=Shipborne Radar |publisher=United States Naval Institute Proceedings |date=September 1967}}</ref> ''Chicago'' continued to operate out of San Pedro until 29 September 1940, when she sailed to [[Pearl Harbor]].<ref name="DANFS" />

During the next 14 months, ''Chicago'' operated out of Pearl Harbor, exercising with various task forces to develop tactics and cruising formations, and cruising to Australia and to the west coast.<ref name="DANFS" />
[[File:StateLibQld 1 100768.jpg|thumb|left|USS ''Chicago'' docked in Brisbane, March 1941]]

===World War II===
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, ''Chicago'' was at sea with Task Force 12 and the Force immediately began a five-day sweep in the [[Oahu]]-[[Johnston Atoll|Johnston]]-[[Palmyra Atoll|Palmyra]] triangle in an effort to intercept the enemy. The Force returned to Pearl Harbor on 12 December; from 14–27 December, ''Chicago'' operated with [[Task Force 11]] on patrol and search missions.<ref name="DANFS" />

On 2 February 1942, ''Chicago'' departed Pearl Harbor for [[Suva]], where she joined the newly formed [[ANZAC Squadron]], later redesignated as [[Task Force 44]]. During March and April, the cruiser operated off the [[Louisiade Archipelago]], covering the attacks on [[Lae]] and [[Salamaua]], [[New Guinea]]. In a position to intercept enemy surface units which attempted to attack [[Port Moresby]], ''Chicago'' also provided cover for the arrival of American troops on [[New Caledonia]].<ref name="DANFS" />

On 1 May, ''Chicago'' was ordered from [[Nouméa]] to join Commander, Southwest Pacific, and on the 4th she supported {{USS|Yorktown|CV-5|2}} in her strike against the Japanese on [[Tulagi]], Solomon Islands during the [[Battle of the Coral Sea]]. On 7 May, she proceeded, with the Support Group, to intercept and attack the Japanese Port Moresby invasion group. The following day, the group underwent several Japanese air attacks, during which ''Chicago'' suffered several casualties from strafing, but drove off the planes and proceeded ahead until it was clear that the Japanese force had been turned back.<ref name="DANFS" />

[[File:Torpedoed bow of USS Chicago (CA-29) 1942.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Torpedoed bow of ''Chicago'', while drydocked in Australia]]
On the night of 31 May – 1 June, while in port in [[Sydney Harbour defences|Sydney Harbour]], Australia, ''Chicago'' fired on an [[attack on Sydney Harbour|attacking Japanese midget submarine]]. ''Chicago''{{'}}s captain, Howard D. Bode, was ashore when his ship opened fire. After coming back aboard on his ship, he initially accused all the officers of being drunk. Shortly afterwards, the presence of the submarine was confirmed.<ref>Grose, P., 2007, ''A Very Rude Awakening: The Night Japanese Midget Submarines Came to Sydney Harbour,'' Allen & Unwin, Australia, p. 134</ref> Three Japanese midget submarines had attacked Sydney Harbour. One became entangled in an [[Sydney Harbour anti-submarine boom net|anti-submarine boom net]], and two were able to pass through. One was then disabled by depth charges, but the other managed to fire two torpedoes at ''Chicago.'' One torpedo passed near ''Chicago'' and destroyed the converted ferry {{HMAS|Kuttabul|ship|6}}, nearby, killing 21 sailors, while the second torpedo failed to detonate, and skidded ashore onto [[Garden Island, New South Wales|Garden Island]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.gov.au/news/navynews/editions/5009/features/feature3.htm|title=Features|work=defence.gov.au}}</ref>

During June and July 1942, ''Chicago'' continued to operate in the Southwest Pacific. From 7–9 August, she supported the initial landings on [[Guadalcanal]] and others of the Solomon Islands, beginning the second US counter-offensive after New Guinea against Japan. On 9 August, she engaged in the [[Battle of Savo Island]]. Early in the engagement a hit from a Japanese destroyer's [[torpedo]] caused significant damage to the ship's bow. ''Chicago'' fought damage while continuing to engage until contact with the enemy was lost.<ref name="DANFS" /> Capt. Bode's actions during the engagement were questioned in an inquiry headed by Admiral [[Arthur Japy Hepburn]]. Though the report was not intended to be made public, Bode learned of its findings and shot himself on 19 April 1943, dying the next day.<ref>Grose, ''A Very Rude Awakening'', pp. 259–60.</ref>

After Savo Island, ''Chicago'' was repaired at Nouméa, Sydney, and San Francisco, where she arrived 13 October.<ref name="DANFS" /><ref>http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-c/ca29.htm www.history.navy.mil</ref>

===Loss at the Battle of Rennell Island===
{{main|Battle of Rennell Island}}

[[File:Torpedoed cruiser USS Chicago (CA-29) low in the water on 30 January 1943.jpg|thumb|left|USS ''Chicago'' low in the water on the morning of 30 January 1943, from torpedo damage inflicted the night before]]

Early in January 1943, ''Chicago'' departed San Francisco, action-bound once more. On 27 January, she sailed from Nouméa to escort a Guadalcanal convoy. On the night of the 29th, as the ships approached that bitterly contested island, Japanese aircraft attacked the force and the [[Battle of Rennell Island]] was underway. During the attacks, two burning Japanese planes silhouetted ''Chicago'', providing enough light for further torpedo attacks; two hits caused severe flooding and loss of power. By the time the attack ended, work by the crew had checked ''Chicago's'' list. {{USS|Louisville|CA-28|2}} took the disabled ship in tow, and was relieved by {{USS|Navajo|AT-64|2}} the following morning. Fighters from the nearby carrier ''Enterprise '' provided CAP for the wounded cruiser as she tried to make her way away from the battle area. During the afternoon, the Japanese attacked again with 20 [[Mitsubishi G4M|G4M “Betty”]] bombers. The ship was hit by four torpedoes, one forward of the bridge and three others in her engineering spaces. The patrolling fighters downed 8 of the attacking planes, but the damage was done. Captain Ralph O. Davis gave the order to abandon ship shortly before ''Chicago'' sank stern first, 20&nbsp;minutes later at {{coord|11|25|S|160|56|E|display=inline,title|scale:5000000_type:landmark|name=Approximate location of the wreck of USS Chicago}}. ''Navajo'' and the escorting destroyers rescued 1,049 survivors from ''Chicago'',<ref>Crenshaw, ''South Pacific Destroyer'', p. 64–65.</ref> but 62 of her crew died.<ref>Frank, ''Guadalcanal'', p. 581.</ref> A final attack force of Japanese torpedo bombers failed to find the remaining U.S. ships.<ref>Morison, ''Struggle for Guadalcanal'', p. 363. ''La&nbsp;Vallette'' was under repair in the U.S. until 6 August 1943. ''Dictionary of American Fighting Ships'', [https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/l/la-vallette-ii.html]</ref>

The Japanese widely publicized the results of the engagement, claiming to have sunk two battleships and three cruisers. In reality they sank only the heavy cruiser ''Chicago'' on 30 January (two days later they also sank the destroyer {{USS|De Haven|DD-469|6}} much farther north in an air attack off Savo Island).<ref name="Morison363">Morison, ''Struggle for Guadalcanal'', p. 363.</ref> The U.S. did not report the loss of ''Chicago'' to the public for some time, with Admiral [[Chester Nimitz]]—commander in chief of Allied Pacific forces—threatening to shoot any of his staff who leaked the loss to the press.<ref>{{cite web | last = Wukovitz | first = John | year = 2006 | url = http://www.thehistorynet.com/wwii/blsetbackinsolomons/ | title = Battle of Rennell Island: Setback in the Solomons |page=3 | work = TheHistoryNet.com | access-date =13 July 2006| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060317090254/http://www.thehistorynet.com/wwii/blsetbackinsolomons/| archive-date = 17 March 2006}} – Article originally printed in ''World War II'' magazine.</ref> The loss of the cruiser was published in a US newspaper on 16 February 1943.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19430216&id=_fIjAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Xf8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=880,1976747 |title= US Destroyer, Cruiser Sunk in Solomons Battle |newspaper= Toledo Blade |date= 16 February 1943 |page= 1 }}</ref>

==Awards==
''Chicago'' received three [[battle star]]s for World War II service.<ref name="DANFS" />

Chicago Avenue, near [[Coral Sea Park]] in [[Maroubra, New South Wales]], is named after USS Chicago (CA-29).<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 October 2022 |title=Street Names A-F |url=https://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/about-us/history/historic-places/historic-street-and-place-names/street-names-a-f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240601021808/https://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/about-us/history/historic-places/historic-street-and-place-names/street-names-a-f |archive-date=1 June 2024 |access-date=1 June 2024 |website=[[City of Randwick|Randwick City Council]]}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of U.S. Navy losses in World War II]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book| title=The Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet, Two-Ocean Fleet Edition |author=Fahey, James C. |author-link=James Charles Fahey |publisher=Ships and Aircraft |year=1941}}
*{{cite book|last=Silverstone|first=Paul H|year=1965|title=US Warships of World War II|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=0-87021-773-9}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Wright |first1=Christopher C. |title=Question 7/56: Concerning What Radar Systems Were Installed on U.S. Asiatic Fleet Ships in December 1941 |journal=Warship International |date=September 2019 |volume=LVI |issue=3 |pages=192–198 |issn=0043-0374}}
{{DANFS|http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/chicago-ii.html}}

==Further reading==
* Banfield, Thomas V. ''The USS Chicago (CA-29) in World War II''. Oak Brook, IL : T.V. Banfield, 1997. {{OCLC |56366849}}.
* {{Cite book | last = Domagalski | first = John J. | year = 2010 | title = Lost at Guadalcanal: The Final Battles of the Astoria and Chicago as Described by Survivors and in Official Reports | publisher = McFarland | isbn = 978-0-7864-5897-4 }}
* ''Down easting with the U.S.S. Chicago''. [S.l.] : Printed on board U.S.S. Chicago, 1936. {{OCLC | 46674806}}.

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.historycentral.com/navy/cruiser/Chicago2.html USS Chicago CA-29]
*[http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_USS_Chicago_CA29.html USS Chicago (CA-29)]
*[http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-c/ca29.htm USS Chicago (CA-29, originally CL-29), 1931–1943]
*[http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/029/04029.htm NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive USS CHICAGO (CL/CA 29)]
*[http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/cruisers/pages/uss_chicago_ca29_roll_of_honor.htm Roll of Honor]

{{Northampton class cruiser}}
{{1933 shipwrecks}}
{{January 1943 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chicago (CA-029)}}
[[Category:Northampton-class cruisers]]
[[Category:World War II cruisers of the United States]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Pacific Ocean]]
[[Category:Ships built in Vallejo, California]]
[[Category:1930 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1933]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in January 1943]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by Japanese aircraft]]
[[Category:Cruisers sunk by aircraft]]