Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War

United States Navy — Cruiser

USS Northampton (CA-26) — 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

1928

Northampton (CL-26) was laid down 12 April 1928 by Bethlehem Steel Corp., Quincy, Mass.; launched 5 September 1929; sponsored by Mrs. Calvin Coolidge; and commissioned 17 May 1930, Captain Walter N. Vernou in command.

Joining the Atlantic Fleet, Northampton made a shakedown cruise to the Mediterranean during the summer of 1930, then participated in the fleet training schedule which took her to the Caribbean, the Canal Zone, and, occasionally, into the Pacific for exercises with other cruisers and ships of all types. Redesignated CA-26 in 1931, she operated primarily in the Pacific from 1932, homeported at San Pedro, and later at Pearl Harbor.

Second World War 1939–1945

1941 Coral Sea

USS Northampton (CA-26)
The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) steams into Pearl Harbor on the morning of 8 December 1941, the day after the Japanese air attack. Photographed from Ford Island, looking toward the Navy Yard, with the dredging pipe in the foreground. Northampton was at sea with Vice Admiral Halsey's task force on the day of the attack. Note her Measure One (dark) camouflage, with a Measure Five USN — Official U.S. Navy photograph 80-G-32548 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Northampton was at sea with Admiral William Halsey in Enterprise during the Japanese attack 7 December 1941, returning to Pearl Harbor the next day. On the 9th the force sortied to search northeast of Oahu, then swept south to Johnston Island, then north again to hunt the enemy west of Lisianski and Midway. Through January 1942 Northampton joined in such searches until detached with Salt Lake City to bombard Wotje 1 February. The bombardment not only demolished buildings and fuel dumps on the island, but also sank two Japanese ships. A similar assault was fired against Wake 24 February when despite serious enemy counterfire, the guns of Northampton and her force started large fires on the island and sank a dredge in the lagoon. As Northampton retired from the island, enemy sea-planes, landbased planes, and patrol craft attacked, but all were destroyed or repulsed.

On 4 March, the force launched aircraft for a strike on Marcus, then turned east for Pearl Harbor. Early in April the Enterprise force, Northampton a member, sortied once again, and joined the Hornet force for the "Shangri-La" raid on Tokyo 18 April. Once again the ships replenished at Pearl Harbor, then sailed for the Southwest Pacific, arriving just after the Battle of the Coral Sea. Returning to Pearl Harbor, Northampton prepared for the action soon to come at Midway, when she screened Enterprise. On 4 and 5 June the American carriers launched their planes to win a great victory, turning the Japanese back in the mid-Pacific, and dealing them an irreparable blow by sinking or completely disabling their four carriers. Throughout the Battle of Midway, Northampton protected her carrier and with her returned undamaged to Pearl Harbor 13 June.

In mid-August, Northampton sailed for the Southwest Pacific to join in the Guadalcanal operation. She patrolled southeast of San Cristobal where on 15 September her force was attacked by submarines which damaged Wasp and North Carolina and struck O'Brien only 800 yards off Northampton's port beam. Now sailing with Hornet, Northampton screened the carrier during attacks on Bougainville 5 October.

During the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October, which took place without surface contact with the enemy, Northampton went to the aid of Hornet, mortally wounded by enemy aircraft, and fired antiaircraft cover while attempting to take the stricken giant in tow. Obviously doomed, the carrier was later sunk by destroyer torpedo and gunfire, and the American force retired to the southwest.

Northampton next operated with a cruiser-destroyer force, to prevent the Japanese from reinforcing their troops on Guadalcanal. The Battle of Tassafaronga began 40 minutes before midnight, 30 November, when three American destroyers made a surprise torpedo attack on the Japanese. All American ships then opened fire, which the startled enemy did not return for 7 minutes. Then two of the American cruisers took torpedo hits within the space of a minute, and 10 minutes later, another was hit, all being forced to retire from the action. Northampton and Honolulu, with 6 destroyers, continued the fierce action, scoring many hits. Close to the end of the engagement, Northampton was struck by two torpedoes, which tore a huge hole in her port side, ripping away decks and bulkheads. Flaming diesel oil sprayed over the ship, she took on water rapidly and began to list. Three hours later, as she began to sink stern first, she had to be abandoned. So orderly and controlled was the process that loss of life was surprisingly light, and the survivors were all picked up within an hour by destroyers. While three cruisers had been damaged and Northampton lost, the Japanese had been denied a major reinforcement, and once again the Navy had given vital support to the marines fighting ashore.

Other photographs

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

USS Northampton (CA-26)
The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) 1930, probably during builder's trials. U.S. Navy (Wooden framed story board with folding doors for the heavy cruiser USS Northhampton (CA-26).) — U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo series No. 1992.041.011 [1] — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
The U.S. heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) attempting to tow the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) after the latter had been damaged by Japanese air attacks on 26 October 1942 during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photograph 80-G-33897 , now in the U.S. National Archives — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
View of the port side 127 mm/25 caliber guns aboard the U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) in action against the Japanese base on Wotje Atoll, Marshall Islands, early on 1 February 1942. USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) is visible in the background. U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 50943 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) dead in the water as the heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) attempts to take her in tow during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942. The cruisers USS Pensacola (CA-24), USS San Diego (CL-53), and USS Juneau (CL-52) maneuver around the carrier. Note that the after guns of the nearest light cruiser, USS Juneau (CL-52), are traine U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-304513 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
A Japanese Nakajima B5N2 ("Kate") torpedo bomber from the aircraft carrier Junyo' s 2nd attack wave, with torpedo visible underneath the aircraft, heads for the U.S. carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) on 26 October 1942 during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) is visible in the background. U.S. Navy — US Navy photo [1] on microworks.net — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
Unknown author or not provided — U.S. National Archives and Records Administration — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
Accession# 2009-132-1 Builder's Plaque, USS Northampton Dimensions: 12.125" H, 30.875" L, 2.625"D. USS Northampton, a heavy cruiser, commissioned in 1930 and operated primarily in the Pacific. In 1942 she participated in the Doolittle raid, fought in the Battle of Midway, Santa Cruz Islands, and Tassafaronga. Near the end of the Battle of Tassafaronga she was struck by two torpedoes and sank three Naval History & Heritage Command from Washington, DC, USA — Plaque, Ship, Builders Uploaded by tm — CC BY 2.0 — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
The American torpedo boat PT-109 entering Tulagi carrying 94 survivors from the sunken heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) The previous night, during the battle of Tassafaronga, Northampton was hit by two torpedoes from the Japanese destroyers Kagerō and Makinami which sank her over 2 hours and 16 minutes. In the background, the crippled heavy cruiser USS New Orleans (CA-32) is seen in the backg Unknown author — Navsource Online — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS New Orleans (CA-32) seen after the Battle of Tassafaronga near Tulagi on 1 December 1942. The PT boat in the foreground is carrying survivors from the USS Northampton (CA-26). USN — U.S. Navy photo on Navsource.org [1] — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
The U.S. Navy Task Force 17 maneuvering to avoid a Japanese air attack, early in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942. The aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) is in left center, the heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) is in the in center. U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-304509 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) steaming at high speed at about 0725 hrs, 4 June 1942, seen from USS Pensacola (CA-24). The carrier had launched Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) and Bombing Squadron Six (VB-6) and was striking unlaunched SBD aircraft below in preparation for respotting the flight deck with torpedo planes and escorting fighters. USS Northampton (CA-26) is in the ri Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo 80-G-32225 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) steaming at high speed at about 0725 hrs, 4 June 1942, seen from USS Pensacola (CA-24). The carrier had launched Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) and Bombing Squadron Six (VB-6) and was striking unlaunched SBD aircraft below in preparation for respotting the flight deck with torpedo planes and escorting fighters. USS Northampton (CA-26) is in the ri Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo 80-G-32225 from the National Museum of the U.S. Navy ; also 80-G-32225 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) in 1941. Note that her forward funnel has already been heightened but no camouflage has been applied, yet. U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 2001.205.099 [1] — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) entering Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of 8 December 1941, the day after the Japanese raid. Note her crew standing by her lifelines. The ship is in Measure 1 camouflage, with a Measure 5 false bow wave. In the background, beyond Northampton s after turret, is USS Argonne (AG-31), getting up steam. The ferry Nihoa (YFB-17) is visible just b U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-32547 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) firing against the Japanese base on Wotje Atoll, Marshall Islands, early on 1 February 1942. U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 50934 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
The U.S. heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) maneuvers to try to take the crippled aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) under tow during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942. A destroyer is standing by. U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-304517 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) refueling from the fleet oiler USS Cimarron (AO-22), during the "Doolittle Raid" operation. The original photo caption states that this view was taken on 18 April 1942, the day the Doolittle Raid aircraft were launched to attack targets in Japan. Note that Northampton 's forward smokestack had been reduced in height by this time. U.S. Navy, photographed from USS Salt Lake City (CA-25). — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 97808 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Northampton (CA-26)
The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) and a destroyer standing by the crippled aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8) during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942. Note the oil slick around the carrier. U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-304515 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — 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 Northampton II (CL-26) 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 Northampton (CA-26) Structured facts only — dates, dimensions, armament and fate. No wording is taken from it. Harvested 1 August 2026.
  3. Photograph USS Northampton (CA-26) at Brisbane on 5 August 1941 (NH 94596) Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo NH 94596 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  4. Photograph USS Northampton (CA-26) 1930 U.S. Navy (Wooden framed story board with folding doors for the heavy cruiser USS Northhampton (CA-26).) — U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo series No. 1992.041.011 [1] — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  5. Photograph USS Northampton (CA-26) entering Pearl Harbor 8 Dec 1941 USN — Official U.S. Navy photograph 80-G-32548 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  6. Photograph USS Northampton (CA-26) attempting to tow USS Hornet (CV-8) on 26 October 1942 (80-G-33897) U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photograph 80-G-33897 , now in the U.S. National Archives — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  7. Photograph 127 mm guns aboard USS Northampton (CA-26) firing on Wotje on 1 February 1942 U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 50943 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  8. Photograph Damaged USS Hornet (CV-8) surrounded by cruisers during Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands 1942 U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-304513 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  9. Photograph Japanese Nakajima B5N passes USS Northampton (CA-26) during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, 26 October 1942 U.S. Navy — US Navy photo [1] on microworks.net — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  10. Photograph Northampton (heavy CA26). Aerial, starboard beam, underway, 08-23-1935 - NARA - 520786 Unknown author or not provided — U.S. National Archives and Records Administration — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  11. Photograph Plaque, Ship, Builders (4483976983) Naval History & Heritage Command from Washington, DC, USA — Plaque, Ship, Builders Uploaded by tm — CC BY 2.0 — Wikimedia Commons
  12. Photograph PT-109 Unknown author — Navsource Online — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  13. Photograph Survivors on PT boat after Tassafaronga USN — U.S. Navy photo on Navsource.org [1] — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  14. Photograph US Task Force 17 underway during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands 1942 U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-304509 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  15. Photograph USS Enterprise (CV-6) at high speed on 4 June 1942 Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo 80-G-32225 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  16. Photograph USS Enterprise (CV-6) underway at high speed on 4 June 1942 (80-G-32225) Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo 80-G-32225 from the National Museum of the U.S. Navy ; also 80-G-32225 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  17. Photograph USS Northampton (CA-26) 1941 U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 2001.205.099 [1] — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  18. Photograph USS Northampton (CA-26) entering Pearl Harbor on 8 December 1941 U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-32547 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  19. Photograph USS Northampton (CA-26) firing on Wotje on 1 February 1942 U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 50934 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  20. Photograph USS Northampton (CA-26) prepares to tow USS Hornet (CV-8) during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942 (80-G-304517) U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-304517 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  21. Photograph USS Northampton (CA-26) refueling from USS Cimarron (AO-22) in April 1942 U.S. Navy, photographed from USS Salt Lake City (CA-25). — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 97808 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  22. Photograph USS Northampton (CA-26) standing by the damaged USS Hornet (CV-8) during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands 1942 U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-304515 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons