Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE COMMISSIONING CEREMONY, 15 JANUARY, 1931, IS HELD BEFORE THE LOUISVlLLE,S FIRST CREW ASSEMBLED IN DRESS UNIFORM ON THE FANTAIL

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Bannerf 'My Old Kentucky I-Iomef and then a series of lively tunes. Mlmmediately after the christening of the Louisville, exercises marking the laying of the keel for the U. S. S. Astoria, a sister ship of the Louisville, were conducted. mln his brief introductory address, Admiral of the contract date, March 13, 1931, but at a considerable saving in cost to the Govern- ment under tl1e contract price., uAdmiral Ziegemeier concluded his remarks by introducing Representative Thatcher. Ex- pressing regret that William B. I-Iarrison, four capable young Mayorf was unable to be pres- 4 1 ACCOUNTS APPEARING IN SEATTLE PAPERS OF THE U. S. S. LOUISVILLE'S PRELIMINARY FLOATING AND CHRISTENING Ziegerneier described the Louisville and the remarkable record made in her construction. - Wflust about two years and two months ago we laid the keel of the Louisville in this dry-dock,' the Admiral declared. 6We now launch her practically 86 percent complete. We expect within the next few months to turn her over to the United States for com- mission. - 46 4We expect to finish not only well ahead ent, Representative Thatcher declared that Gnevertheless, he is here in spirit, as are also the great body of citizens of Louisville, espe- cially the school children, who are keenly interested in this great eventf M This is a great occasion in a great country,' Mr. Thatcher said. uln naming its newest fighting unit for Louisville, Mr. Thatcher asserted, the Navy honors the chief city of the South, second n- l 1 f E 2 f 5 F ' . ' -f , I A Q.. ,, T . I J 4 A , vw! U W, :N 1 , , F I P r k

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only to New Orleans. He then proceeded to review the history and achievements of the Kentucky metropolis. alt was particularly fitting the christening of the Louisville should be started in a North- west Navy yard, he said, since Kentucky gave to this section many of its earliest settlers and one of its native sons, William Clark, of Lewis and Clark, first explorers of the Oregon country, he pointed out. That same month, in another part of the World, another launching occurred, a launching of the first of the overt acts of aggression that eventually culminated in World War ll. Under the doubtful pre- text of an 'cincidentn ,lapan's armies had marched into Manchuria. The launching of the Lou marked a new development in American Naval construc- tion, for she was the first heavy American warship to be built in -a drydock. Hence, instead of a first plunge down greased ways, she was launched by simply flooding the building dock she was constructed in, and she got underway aided by a flotilla of noisy little tugs nudging her on. The Lady lacked the usual ostentation of most ships, debuts, however, she made it up by presenting an impressive display of power and force. Her 600 feet of sleek and slender hull displaced l0,000 tons of water, carried three main battery turrets NEWLY COMMISSIONED LOUISVILLE STARTS OUT ON SSHAKE- DOWNI' CRUISE T0 THE EQUATOR AND HAWAIIAN ISLANDS