Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War

United States Navy — Light cruiser

USS Cincinnati (CL-6) — service history

This is the full service history. For the vessel's particulars, photograph and specifications, see the entry.

In the words of the US Navy. The account below is reproduced verbatim from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command — a work of the United States Government, in the public domain, and the only text on this site not written here.

Interwar 1919–1938

1921

The third Cincinnati was launched 23 May 1921 by Seattle Construction Drydock Co., Seattle, Wash.; sponsored by Mrs. C. E. Tudor; completed by Todd Dry Dock and Construction Co., Tacoma, Wash.; and commissioned 1 January 1924, Captain C. P. Nelson in command.

1924

USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
This Image Features the Fore 6-inch/53-caliber gun From USS Cincinnati Omaha class light cruiser, and her 2 pets Unknown author — https://www.navsource.net/archives/04/006/04006.htm — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

After a shakedown cruise off South America, Cincinnati joined the Scouting Fleet in June 1924, for operations along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean. With this force, she joined in fleet maneuvers in the Pacific and off the Panama Canal Zone in spring 1925, then resumed Atlantic and Caribbean operations until early in 1927.

1927

On 17 February 1927, Cincinnati sailed from Balboa, C.Z., for duty in the Far East, based at Shanghai until October, then at Manila, and again at Shanghai from February 1928 to April. On the long cruise home to the east coast, she joined in exercises off Oahu and, carried men from Honolulu to Corinto, Nicaragua, returning to Newport, R.I., 25 July 1928, for operations on the east coast until 1932.

1934

Early in 1932, she joined the Battle Force, U.S. Fleet, in the Pacific, taking part in the Fleet's cruise to the east coast between April and July 1934 for the Presidential Review of 31 May at New York. Returning to the west coast, she operated on summer training cruises for naval reservists from 1935 to 1938, then was reassigned to Atlantic duty during 1939.

Second World War 1939–1945

1940

Cincinnati was based at Pearl Harbor from April 1940, voyaging to Guam and the Philippines on transport duty at the close of that year. In March 1941, she returned to the Atlantic, and joined in the ever-expanding patrol operations in the western Atlantic. Upon the outbreak of war, she continued patrols and convoy escort assignments in the western Atlantic and Caribbean, blockading French men-of-war at Martinique, and searching for German blockade runners. With Milwaukee (CL-5) and Somers (DD-381), Cincinnati discovered one of these, SS Annaliese Essberger, on 21 November 1942. The German crew scuttled their ship, but a boarding party reached the ship in time to discover its identity and take all 62 crew members prisoners before the blockade runner sank.

1944 Europe

USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
USS Cincinnati (CL-6) New York Harbor 22 March 1944. #19-N-62459 Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. 19-N-62459 — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/19-n/19-N-60000/19-N-62459.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Overhauled at New York early in 1944, Cincinnati served as escort flagship for the crossing of three convoys from New York to Belfast between March and July 1944, guarding the passage of men and equipment essential to the invasion of Europe. On 28 July, she sailed from Norfolk to patrol the Western Mediterranean during the time of the assault on Southern France, and returned to New York 9 September. After overhaul, she joined the 4th Fleet at Recife, Brazil, 17 November, and patrolled South Atlantic shipping lanes until the close of the European phase of the war.

1945

In the summer of 1945, Cincinnati carried midshipmen on two training cruises, and on 29 September arrived at Philadelphia, where she was decommissioned 1 November 1945 and scrapped 27 February 1946.

Other photographs

Held for this vessel, and not tied to any part of the account above.

USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
Sailors beside twin 6-inch gun turret on USS Cincinnati at Vancouver. Crookall, James (Photographer) — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
Curtiss SOC Seagull biplane reconnaissance floatplanes on catapults aboard USS Cincinnati at Vancouver . Crookall, James (Photographer) — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
USS Cincinnati (CL-6) in harbor, circa the mid-1920s. NH 63244 U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command NH 63244 — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-63000/NH-63244.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
USS Cincinnati (CL-6) underway off New York City, 8 July 1942. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. 19-N-32590 — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/19-n/19-N-30000/19-N-32590.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
Scrapping of the U.S. Navy Omaha -class light cruisers USS Omaha (CL-4), USS Cincinnati (CL-6), USS Raleigh (CL-7) and USS Marblehead (CL-12) in Dry Dock No.4 of Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania (USA), on 18 February 1946. U.S. Navy — Historic American Buildings Survey photo HAER PA,51-PHILA,709D-21 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
Please Tag this image so information can be recorded. This material may be protected by Copyright Law (Title 17 U.S.C.)--Repository: San Diego Air and Space Museum SDASM Archives — https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/49100722008/ — No restrictions — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
Unknown author — https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/pa3396.photos.359818p — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
PictionID:38276955 - Catalog:AL-135A 188 USS Cincinnati - Filename:AL-135A 188 USS Cincinnati.tif - This image is from a photo album donated to the Museum by JL Highfill, who was a photographer for the Navy before and during the Second World War-----------PLEASE TAG this image with any information you know about it, so that we can permanently store this data with the original image file in our Dig SDASM Archives — USS Cincinnati — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
USS Cincinnati (CL-6) view on deck, looking aft from the ship's bow, showing her forward 6/53 gun turret and superstructure. Photographed at the New York Navy Yard, 4 July 1942. Recent alterations are marked and identified. Note Mark XXXII Mod. 1 Rangefinder on the bridge wings. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. 19-N-32596 — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/19-n/19-N-30000/19-N-32596.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
USS Cincinnati (CL-6) off New York City 9 July 1942. 19-N-31170 Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. 19-N-31170 — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/19-n/19-N-30000/19-N-31170.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Cincinnati (CL-6) off New York City (USA), on 8 July 1942. A CXAM radar was fitted aft on the mast. She is painted in Modified Measure 12 camouflage. USN — Official U.S. Navy photo 19-N-32591 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
Unknown author or not provided — U.S. National Archives and Records Administration — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
USS Cincinnati at Pier B-C, Vancouver . Photograph shows the Marine Building in left background. Crookall, James (Photographer) — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
Visitors aboard USS Cincinnati at Vancouver . Two biplanes are on catapults. They appear to be Curtiss SOC Seagull reconnaissance floatplanes. Crookall, James (Photographer) — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
Visitors boarding U.S. Cincinnati at Vancouver . Crookall, James (Photographer) — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
Vought O2U-1 Corsair floatplane (Bureau # A-7918) Suspended over a ship's catapult during the later 1920s. This plane, from Scouting Squadron SIX, is assigned to USS Cincinnati (CL-6). U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. NH 100515 — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-100000/NH-100515.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Cincinnati (CL-6)
Fly information, during the later 1920s. Planes are front Scouting Squadron Five. Those on left are attached to USS Richmond (CL-9). That at right is from USS Cincinatti (CL-6). U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. NH 100516 — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-100000/NH-100516.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

References

Every work this entry draws on. There are no numbered markers in the text above: what we hold is the provenance of the page — this history, this article, these photographs.

  1. History Cincinnati III (CL-6) Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Naval History and Heritage Command. A work of the United States Government, in the public domain — the only text on this site reproduced verbatim.
  2. Facts USS Cincinnati (CL-6) Structured facts only — dates, dimensions, armament and fate. No wording is taken from it. Harvested 1 August 2026.
  3. Photograph USS Cincinnati (CL-6) off New York City on 22 March 1944 (19-N-62458) Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo 19-N-62458 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  4. Photograph Twin 6-inch gun turret on USS Cincinnati at Vancouver 1937 Crookall, James (Photographer) — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  5. Photograph SOC Seagull floatplanes on USS Cincinnati at Vancouver 1937 Crookall, James (Photographer) — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  6. Photograph USS Cincinnati (CL-6) NH 63244 U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command NH 63244 — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-63000/NH-63244.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  7. Photograph Whiffles and Soup Aboard USS Cincinnati (CL-6) Unknown author — https://www.navsource.net/archives/04/006/04006.htm — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  8. Photograph USS Cincinnati (CL-6) off New York City 8 July 1942 -19-N-32590 Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. 19-N-32590 — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/19-n/19-N-30000/19-N-32590.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  9. Photograph Omaha-class cruisers being scrapped at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, 8 February 1946 (HAER PA,51-PHILA,709D-21) U.S. Navy — Historic American Buildings Survey photo HAER PA,51-PHILA,709D-21 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  10. Photograph 01 00094767 Vought UO-1 from USS Cincinnati (CL 6) after an accident in Valpariso Chile 1927 SDASM Archives — https://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/49100722008/ — No restrictions — Wikimedia Commons
  11. Photograph Scrapping In Dry Dock -4. Naval Shipyard Philadelphia. February 18, 1946. Original Photograph In Collection of National Archives, Mid-Atlantic Regional Records Center, HAER PA,51-PHILA,709D-21 Unknown author — https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/pa3396.photos.359818p — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  12. Photograph USS Cincinnati (15343282322) SDASM Archives — USS Cincinnati — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  13. Photograph USS Cincinnati (CL-6) New York Harbor 22 March 1944 19-N-62459 Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. 19-N-62459 — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/19-n/19-N-60000/19-N-62459.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  14. Photograph USS Cincinnati (CL-6) New York Navy Yard 4 July 1942 -19-N-32596 Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. 19-N-32596 — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/19-n/19-N-30000/19-N-32596.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  15. Photograph USS Cincinnati (CL-6) off New York City 9 July 1942 19-N-31170 Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. 19-N-31170 — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/19-n/19-N-30000/19-N-31170.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  16. Photograph USS Cincinnati (CL-6) off New York City in July 1942 USN — Official U.S. Navy photo 19-N-32591 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  17. Photograph USS Cincinnati (CL-6)- Schematic Wiring for Sonic Depth Finder - NARA - 78116469 Unknown author or not provided — U.S. National Archives and Records Administration — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  18. Photograph USS Cincinnati at Pier B-C Vancouver 1937 Crookall, James (Photographer) — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  19. Photograph Visitors and biplanes aboard USS Cincinnati at Vancouver 1937 Crookall, James (Photographer) — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  20. Photograph Visitors boarding USS Cincinnati at Vancouver 1937 Crookall, James (Photographer) — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  21. Photograph Vought O2U-1 floatplane Bureau A-7918 NH 100515 U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. NH 100515 — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-100000/NH-100515.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  22. Photograph Vought O2U-1 floatplanes Scouting Squadron Five U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. NH 100516 — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-100000/NH-100516.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons