USS Quincy (CA-39)

USS Quincy underway in 1937 (larger image)
Career
Laid down:	15 November 1933
Launched:	19 June 1935
Commissioned:	9 June 1936
Fate:	sunk 9 August 1942
General Characteristics
Displacement:	9,375 tons
Length:	588.2 ft overall
Beam:	61.8 ft
Draft:	19.4 ft
Speed:	32 knots
Complement:	807 officers and men
Armament:	9 x 8-inch guns, 8 x 5-inch guns, 8 x .50-cal MGs

The USS Quincy (CA-39) was a United States Navy New Orleans-class heavy cruiser sunk at the Battle of Savo Island[?] in 1942.

She was laid down by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Company[?], Quincy, Massachusetts, 15 November 1933, launched 19 June 1935, sponsored by Mrs. Henry S. Morgan[?], and commissioned at Boston 9 June 1936, Captain William Faulkner Amsden[?] in command.

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 Spee[?], and Admiral Scheer[?]. Quincy evacuated 490 refugees to Marseilles and Villefranche[?], France, before being relieved by Raleigh (CL-7)[?] 27 September.

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.

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, California, 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 goodwill 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.

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.

Quincy was occupied in Atlantic Fleet maneuvers and landing force exercises off Culebra Island, Puerto Rico 3 February-1 April 1941. With the growth of hostilities in Europe, she was ordered to Task Force 2[?] and operated with Wasp (CV-7) in the mid-Atlantic, preserving U.S. neutrality 26 April-6 June. Later, she operated with Yorktown (CV-5) and Task Force 28[?] until sailing for home 14 July.

Quincy anchored at New Caledonia 3 August 1942, just a few days before the fatal battle. (larger version)

On 28 July 1941, Quincy sailed with Task Force 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.

Quincy returned 25 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.

Quincy got underway for the South Pacific in July with other vessels assembling for the invasion of Guadalcanal.

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.

Quincy caught in Japanese searchlights, moments before sinking off Savo Island with great loss of life, 9 August 1942. (larger version)

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. 370 sailors were killed, including the captain, and 167 wounded.

Quincy earned one battle star during World War II.

External link

• Navy photographs of Quincy (CA-39) (http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-q/ca39.htm)

See USS Quincy for other Navy ships of the same name.

This article includes information collected from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.