Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War

United States Navy — Cruiser

USS Quincy (CA-39) — 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

1933

Quincy (CA-39) was laid down by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Quincy, Mass., 15 November 1933; launched 19 June 1935; sponsored by Mrs. Henry S. Morgan,. and commissioned at Boston 9 June 1936, Capt. William Faulkner Amsden in command.

1936

Soon after being assigned to Cruiser Division 8 Atlantic Fleet, Quincy was ordered to Mediterranean waters 20 July 1936 to protect American interests in Spain during the height of the Spanish Civil War. Quincy passed through the Straits of Gibraltar 26 July and arrived at Malaga, Spain, 27 July to assume her duties. While in Spanish waters she operated with an international rescue fleet that included the German pocket-battleships Deutschland, Admiral Graf Spec and Admiral Scheer. Quincy evacuated 490 refugees to Marseilles and Villefranche, France, before being relieved by Raleigh 27 September.

1937

Quincy returned to the Boston Navy Yard 5 October for refit preparatory to final acceptance trials which were held 15-18 March 1937. She got underway for the Pacific 12 April to join Cruiser Division 7, transited the Panama Canal 23-27 April and arrived at Pearl Harbor 10 May.

Second World War 1939–1945

1939

USS Quincy (CA-39)
View of the harbour of Callao, Peru during the visit of the U.S. Navy Cruiser Division 7 under Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, USN, between 26 and 31 May 1939. The ships from left to right are: Peruvian cruisers BAP Coronel Bolognesi (1906-1958) and BAP Almirante Grau (1906-1958), behind Bolognesi ), destroyers BAP Almirante Villar (1915-c1954, ex Esthonian Vambola , ex Russian Spartak ) and BAP A U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 42782 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Quincy sortied with Cruiser Divisions Pacific Fleet 20 May on a tactical exercise which was the first of many such maneuvers that she participated in during 1937 and 1938. From 15 March-28 April, she engaged in important battle practice off Hawaii with the Pacific Fleet in Fleet Problem XIX. After an overhaul at Mare Island Navy Yard, Quincy resumed tactical operations with her division off San Clemente, Calif. until her redeployment to the Atlantic 4 January 1939.

Quincy transited the Panama Canal 13 January bound for Guantanamo Bay where she engaged in gunnery practice and amphibious exercises. She also took part in Fleet Problem XX with the Atlantic Fleet 13-26 February. Quincy later made a South American good will tour 10 April-12 June, and upon returning to Norfolk, embarked reservists for three training cruises 9 July-24 August. She spent the remainder of 1939 on patrol in the North Atlantic due to the outbreak of World War II.

1940

After overhaul at Norfolk until 4 May 1940, Quincy again visited Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, returning to Norfolk 22 September. She completed three more reserve training cruises 1 October-20 December.

1941

USS Quincy (CA-39)
Original caption: "Convoy WS-12: A Vought SB2U Vindicator scout bomber from USS Ranger (CV-4) flies anti-submarine patrol over the convoy, while it was en route to Cape Town, South Africa, 27 November 1941. The convoy appears to be making a formation turn from column to line abreast. Two-stack transports in the first row are USS West Point (AP-23) -- left --; USS Mount Vernon (AP-22) and USS Wakef USN — U.S. Navy Naval History Center [1] Photo #: 80-G-464654; also U.S. National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 1996.253.2152 [2] — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Quincy was occupied in Atlantic Fleet maneuvers and landing force exercises off Culebra Island, P.R. 3 February-1 April 1941. With the growth of hostilities in Europe, she was ordered to Task Group 2 and operated with Wasp in the mid-Atlantic preserving U.S. neutrality 26 April-6 June. Later she operated with Yorktown and Task Group 28 until sailing for home 14 July.

On 28 July 1941 Quincy sailed with Task Group 16 for Iceland on neutrality duty which included a patrol in the Denmark Straits 21-24 September. She returned to Newfoundland with a convoy 31 October. Quincy then proceeded to Capetown, South Africa, via Trinidad, where she met a convoy which she escorted back to Trinidad 29 December 1941.

1942 Guadalcanal

USS Quincy (CA-39)
The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Quincy (CA-39) at Noumea, New Caledonia, on the eve of the invasion of Guadalcanal, 3 August 1942. She was sunk six days later, during the Battle of Savo Island. Note Quincy 's signal flags and Measure 12 (Modified) camouflage scheme. U.S. Navy, photographed from USS Wasp (CV-7) — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-K-563 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Quincy returned 2.5 January 1942 to Icelandic waters on convoy duty with Task Force 15 and made a patrol in the Denmark Straits 8-11 March. She departed 14 March for the U.S. and an overhaul at the New York Navy Yard that lasted until the end of May.

Quincy sailed for San Diego 5 June via the Panama Canal and arrived 19 June. She was then assigned to Task Force 18 as the flagship of Rear Admiral Norman R. Scott, Commander Cruisers.

Prior to the Marine assault on Guadalcanal 7 August, Quincy destroyed several Japanese installations and an oil depot during her bombardment of Lunga Point. She later provided close fire support for the Marines during the landing.

While on patrol in the channel between Florida Island and Savo Island, in the early hours of 9 August 1942 Quincy was attacked by a large Japanese naval force and sank after sustaining many direct hits with all guns out of action. Quincy earned one battle star during World War II.

Other photographs

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

USS Quincy (CA-39)
Port side view of the U.S. Navy New Orleans -class heavy cruiser USS Quincy (CA-39), taken after shooting down the first Japanese high level bomber aircraft, its smoke seen on the horizon, off Guadalcanal. Australian armed forces — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Quincy (CA-39)
The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Quincy (CA-39) photographed from the Japanese heavy cruiser Chōkai during the Battle of Savo Island, off Guadalcanal, 9 August 1942. Quincy , seen here burning and illuminated by Japanese searchlights, was sunk in this action. The flames at the far left of the picture are probably from the USS Vincennes (CA-44), also on fire from gunfire and torpedo damage. Imperial Japanese Navy, copied from the Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison World War II history illustrations file. Originally uploaded to English Wikipedia [1] by user Stan Shebs . — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 50346 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Quincy (CA-39)
LC-USE6-D-008870: SB2U "Vindicator" aircraft from USS Ranger (CV 4) returns from a patrol flight of the area which a convoy is passing. Efficient work of planes count in large measure of the relatively few ships that are successfully attacked by German submarine wolf packs, photograph circa WWII. Collection of Office of War Information. (7/17/2014). National Museum of the U.S. Navy — LC-USE6-D-008870 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Quincy (CA-39)
Artist rendition of the sinking of the USS Quincy (CA-39) at the Battle of Savo Island 9 August 1942 was published in the October 26, edition of Life Magazine, page 42 Time Inc.; illustration (no illustrator credited) — wrecksite.eu — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Quincy (CA-39)
View taken 29 May, 1942, at New York Navy Yard, NY looking aft from bow. Numbers and arrows denote modifications. Note USS Juneau (CL-52) in background (l) & USS Marblehead (CL-12) in background (r). Unknown author — This image has been extracted from another file — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Quincy (CA-39)
View taken 29 May, 1942, at New York Navy Yard, NY looking aft from bow. Numbers and arrows denote modifications. Note USS Juneau (CL-52) in background (l) & USS Marblehead (CL-12) in background (r). Unknown author — 19-N-30724 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Quincy (CA-39)
View on board, looking forward over the boat deck from the secondary conn, while the ship was at the New York Navy Yard after her last overhaul, 29 May 1942. Crude # 1 in white circle (center) marks the location of the 5/25 loading practice machine. Other notable items include: boats and boat cradle in foreground; four Curtiss SOC Seagull floatplanes atop the catapults; crated food piled by the af Unknown author — This image has been extracted from another file — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Quincy (CA-39)
View on board, looking forward over the boat deck from the secondary conn, while the ship was at the New York Navy Yard after her last overhaul, 29 May 1942. Crude # 1 in white circle (center) marks the location of the 5/25 loading practice machine. Other notable items include: boats and boat cradle in foreground; four Curtiss SOC Seagull floatplanes atop the catapults; crated food piled by the af Unknown author — 19-N-30725 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Quincy (CA-39)
View on board, looking aft on the port side from alongside eight-inch gun turret # 1, while the ship was at the New York Navy Yard on 29 May 1942. Numbers in white circles mark recently installed items, including (# 1) splinter protection on the pilothouse; (# 2) 20mm guns just forward of the pilothouse (largely hidden behind the second 8 gun turret); and (# 3) 1.1 gun mountings on the upper bridg Unknown author — This image has been extracted from another file — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Quincy (CA-39)
View on board, looking aft on the port side from alongside eight-inch gun turret # 1, while the ship was at the New York Navy Yard on 29 May 1942. Numbers in white circles mark recently installed items, including (# 1) splinter protection on the pilothouse; (# 2) 20mm guns just forward of the pilothouse (largely hidden behind the second 8 gun turret); and (# 3) 1.1 gun mountings on the upper bridg Unknown author — 19-N-30726 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Quincy (CA-39)
View taken at New York Navy Yard, NY, 29 May, 1942, looking forward from fantail, on centerline. Note covered .50 cal AA/MG (L&R), 1.1" guns. USS Marblehead (CL-12) in left background. USS Juneau (CL-52) in background (right). Unknown author — This image has been extracted from another file — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Quincy (CA-39)
View taken at New York Navy Yard, NY, 29 May, 1942, looking forward from fantail, on centerline. Note covered .50 cal AA/MG (L&R), 1.1" guns. USS Marblehead (CL-12) in left background. USS Juneau (CL-52) in background (right). Unknown author — 19-N-30727 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Quincy (CA-39)
USS Quincy (CA-39) iIn New York Harbor, 23 May 1942, after her last overhaul. HMS Biter (British Escort Aircraft Carrier, 1942) is in the left background, partially hidden by Quincy's bow. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Unknown author — 19-N-30731 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Quincy (CA-39)
USS Quincy (CA-39) in New York Harbor, 23 May 1942, following her last overhaul. In the left background is HMS Biter (British Escort Aircraft Carrier, 1942). Note Quincy's Measure 12, Modified, camouflage scheme. Photograph from the Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Unknown author — 19-N-30732 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Quincy (CA-39)
The U.S. Navy heavy cruisers USS Quincy (CA-39), left, and USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37) steaming in rough seas near the Strait of Magellan during Cruiser Division Seven's South American Cruise, 14 May 1939. U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 83591 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Quincy (CA-39)
Chart showing the battle damage of the U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Quincy (CA-39) received during the Battle of Savo Island, between circa 0150 and 0216 hrs on 9 August 1942. Quincy sank at 0238 hrs with a loss of 370 crewmembers. U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships — Official U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships chart [1] available at Hyperwar — 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 Quincy II (CA-39) 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 Quincy (CA-39) Structured facts only — dates, dimensions, armament and fate. No wording is taken from it. Harvested 1 August 2026.
  3. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) in New York harbour on 23 May 1942 (19-N-30732) Unknown author — This image has been extracted from another file — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  4. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) at anchor off Noumea on 3 August 1942 U.S. Navy, photographed from USS Wasp (CV-7) — Official U.S. Navy photo 80-G-K-563 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  5. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) off Guadalcanal Aug 1942 Australian armed forces — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  6. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) under fire during the Battle of Savo Island on 9 August 1942 (NH 50346) Imperial Japanese Navy, copied from the Rear Admiral Samuel Eliot Morison World War II history illustrations file. Originally uploaded to English Wikipedia [1] by user Stan Shebs . — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 50346 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  7. Photograph Convoy WS-12 en route to Cape Town, 1941 USN — U.S. Navy Naval History Center [1] Photo #: 80-G-464654; also U.S. National Museum of Naval Aviation photo No. 1996.253.2152 [2] — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  8. Photograph LC-USE6-D-008870 (19856170365) National Museum of the U.S. Navy — LC-USE6-D-008870 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  9. Photograph Sinking of the USS Quincy Time Inc.; illustration (no illustrator credited) — wrecksite.eu — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  10. Photograph US cruisers and Peruvian ships at Callao in May 1939 U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 42782 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  11. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) - 19-N-30724 Unknown author — This image has been extracted from another file — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  12. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) - 19-N-30724 Unknown author — 19-N-30724 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  13. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) - 19-N-30725 Unknown author — This image has been extracted from another file — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  14. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) - 19-N-30725 Unknown author — 19-N-30725 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  15. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) - 19-N-30726 Unknown author — This image has been extracted from another file — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  16. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) - 19-N-30726 Unknown author — 19-N-30726 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  17. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) - 19-N-30727 Unknown author — This image has been extracted from another file — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  18. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) - 19-N-30727 Unknown author — 19-N-30727 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  19. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) - 19-N-30731 Unknown author — 19-N-30731 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  20. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) - 19-N-30732 Unknown author — 19-N-30732 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  21. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) and USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37) in rough seas near the Strait of Magellan 1939 U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 83591 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  22. Photograph USS Quincy (CA-39) battle damage chart 9 August 1942 U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships — Official U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships chart [1] available at Hyperwar — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons