Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 22 text:

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

Page 21 text:

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

Page 23 text:

each containing three eight-inch caliber guns, and her secondary battery consisted of four five-inch mounts. Her 107,000 horsepower turbines could propel her through the water at a speed of thirty-two or thirty-three knots. Fast and powerful, she was a tremendous fighting ship, and in years to come she was to fulfill, in the highest tradition of the Navy, her war- time duties. After the christening there still re- mained much work for the men of the yard to complete before the ship could be ready for commissioning. For three addi- tional months they labored at installing ventilation systems, fire control mechan- ism, furniture, and the innumerable fittings necessary to make her ready for sea. The day was grey-cast and drizzly when the Louis1Jille's first complement of men and officers, in dress uniform, marched aboard and lined up on the fantail. Mili- tarily disposed in compact ranks from the face of Turret Ill aft, the crew saluted the colors, as 'c0ld Glory was run up to the accompaniment of the national anthem, played by the ship's band. The Com- mandant of the yard formally turned over the ship to the United States Navy and the Louisville? first captain assumed command. The shipps clocks were set, the initial entry made in her log, and thus it was, on January 15, 1931, that the Lady Lou was commissioned. ln March she departed on her maiden voyage. During the 12,000-mile Hshake- downi' cruise which carried her to the equator, the Hawaiian Islands and back to Puget Sound, she was put to severe and exacting tests, all of which she successfully - :Qs e T 6' 3 x passed. With only six of her eight boilers she steamed at almost thirty-two knots. Her other accomplishments satisfied the oilicers and crew, the Navy Department, and the Navy Yard. A few days after her return to Puget Sound she again left Bremerton for San Pedro for final acceptance tests. The years that followed were prepara- tory ones. Fleet maneuvers, intensive drills in each department, and good-will cruises, kept her crew busy, well trained and ready for the eventuality that is theacause behind all naval organization. Her efforts were rewarded on many occasions by com- mendations. In July 1934 Secretary of Navy Swanson awarded the Louisville a trophy for the best engineering perform- ance of the year. During the summer fleet maneuvers in 1938, she had the highest score in the heavy cruiser communications competition. Throughout those years her gunnery department proudly displayed its Navy c'E9s,' for excellence in performance. Turret Two, with her MEM and four hash marks, was acclaimed the outstanding tur- ret of the entire fleet. 9