USS San Francisco (CA-38)

The second San Francisco (CA-38) was laid down on 9 September 1931 at Vallejo, Calif., by the Mare Island Navy Yard; launched on 9 March 1933; sponsored by Miss Barbara M. Bailly; and commissioned on 10 February 1934, Capt. Royal E. Ingersoll in command.

After an extensive shakedown cruise (which included operations off Mexico, in Hawaiian waters, off Washington and British Columbia, and a voyage to the Panama Canal Zone) the cruiser returned to the Mare Island Navy Yard for post shakedown repairs and alteration. Gunnery installation and conversion to a flagship took her into the new year 1935. In February, she joined Cruiser Division (CruDiv) 6 at San Diego. In May, she moved north; participated in Fleet Problem XVI; then returned to southern California. A few weeks later, she was back off the northwest coast for fleet tactics; and, in July, she steamed farther north to Alaska. In August, she returned to California and, through the end of 1938, San Francisco continued to range the eastern Pacific, cruising from the state of Washington to Peru and from California to Hawaii.

In January 1939, she departed the west coast to participate in Fleet Problem XX, conducted in the Atlantic east of the Lesser Antilles. In March, she became flagship of CruDiv 7 and commenced a goodwill tour of South American ports. Departing Guantanamo Bay in early April, she called at ports on the east coast of that continent; moved through the Strait of Magellan; visited west coast ports; and, in early June, transited the Panama Canal to complete her voyage around the continent.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (San Francisco II (CA-38)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.