Northampton-class (CA-26)

Summary

Description

The Northampton-class cruisers, a set of six heavy cruisers constructed for the United States Navy, played a significant role during World War II. Commissioned between 1928 and 1931, these vessels were part of the U.S. naval force during the war, with three of them—the Northampton, Chicago, and Houston—being lost in action. Post-war, the remaining ships were soon decommissioned and eventually scrapped between 1959 and 1961.

The design of the Northampton-class cruisers was largely dictated by the stipulations of the Washington Naval Treaty. This treaty imposed limits on cruiser displacement and main battery caliber, capping them at 10,000 tons and 8 inches (203 mm), respectively. As a response to the weight and expense of their predecessors, the Pensacola-class cruisers, the Northampton-class ships differed notably in armament. They were equipped with 9 8-inch (203 mm) guns arranged in three triple turrets, as opposed to the Pensacolas' 10 guns in four turrets. Additionally, the Northamptons featured increased armor yet remained lighter and were almost 1,000 tons under the treaty's displacement limit. Innovations included a higher freeboard with an extended forecastle, facilitating their use as flagships, and the introduction of aviation hangars and bunks.

Excessive rolling, a flaw due to their lighter construction, was mitigated by the installation of deep bilge keels. Their design paved the way for the subsequent Portland class, which was essentially a modified version of the Northampton-class. These ships originally carried four 1.1-inch autocannons, later replaced by Bofors guns, and were initially outfitted with special water-cooled .50 caliber machine guns, which were substituted with Oerlikon 20 mm guns later in the war.

Technical specifications

Photo of Northampton class