Allied Warships

USS San Francisco (CA 38)

Heavy cruiser of the New Orleans class

NavyThe US Navy
TypeHeavy cruiser
ClassNew Orleans 
PennantCA 38 
Built byMare Island Navy Yard (Vallejo, California, U.S.A.) 
Ordered 
Laid down9 Sep 1931 
Launched9 Mar 1933 
Commissioned10 Feb 1934 
End service10 Feb 1946 
Loss position
 
History

Decommissioned 10 February 1946.
Stricken 1 March 1959.
Sold 9 September 1959 to be broken up for scrap.

The bridge wings from the USS San Francisco are now a war memorial in Land's End in San Francisco city. This area is in the north west corner overlooking the entrance to the Golden Gate Bridge. They are mounted on an escarpment in the park, on the Great Circle course to Tokyo.

 

Commands listed for USS San Francisco (CA 38)

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CommanderFromTo
1Capt. Royal Eason Ingersoll, USN10 Feb 193412 Jun 1935
2William Lewis Beck, USN12 Jun 193529 May 1937
3Ralph Chandler Parker, USN29 May 193719 Jun 1939
4Charles Moulding Yates, USN19 Jun 193927 May 1941
5Capt. Daniel Judson Callaghan, USN27 May 19412 May 1942
6Henry Ehrman Thornhill, USN2 May 194216 May 1942
7Charles Horatio McMorris, USN16 May 19428 Nov 1942
8Capt. Cassin Young, USN9 Nov 194213 Nov 1942 (+)
9Herbert Emery Schonland, USN13 Nov 194217 Nov 1942
10Albert Finley France, Jr., USN17 Nov 194226 Dec 1943
11Harvey Edward Overesch, USN26 Dec 194310 Mar 1945
12Lt.Cdr. John Esten Whelchel, USN10 Mar 194510 Feb 1946

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Noteable events involving San Francisco include:


13 Nov 1942
USS San Francisco took part in First Battle of Guadalcanal. She was Admiral's Callaghan flagship. She damaged Japanese battleship Hiei, but was badly damaged too. She took 45 shells (15 of them were 365 mm shells). Admiral Callaghan and Captain Cassin Young were killed. Half of artillery was destroyed and most of compartments was flooded. Maps, radio and compasses were also destroyed. Lieutnant - Commander Herbert Emery Schonland assumed command as senior surviving officer while the injured Lieutenant Commander Bruce McCandless conned the ship and managed to retreat from the battle.

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