U.S.S. Astoria (CA-34)

The U.S.S. Astoria's keel was laid down on 1, September 1930 at the Puget Sound Naval Yard. She was launched on 16, December 1933. The Astoria was sponsored by Miss Leila C. McKay who was a descendent of one of the partners of the Astoria expedition that founded Astoria, Oregon. The Astoria was commissioned on April 28, 1934.

Although the years proceeding the war were as eventful as any U.S. warships'. The Astoria did have the distinction of performing a mission of great political importance which a few years later would no doubt be remembered with some degree of irony. In March of 1939 while under the command of Captain Richmond "Kelly" Turner (soon to be known for his zealous amphibious tactics in the Pacific theatre) she was tasked with transporting the remains of the late ambassador to the United States Hirosi Saito of Japan, back to Japan. The Japanese performed a similar act in 1926. When Edgar A. Bancroft the U.S. ambassador to Japan passed away. Upon arrival in Yokohama Harbor the Astoria fired a 21 gun salute. This was returned by the Imperial Japanese light cruiser Kiso. The ceremonial urn was turned over later that day. After the funeral the officers and men aboard the Astoria were showered with hospitality in gratitude for this significant diplomatic mission.

During the next few years prior to the war the Astoria received a refit in which she received her antiaircraft machine guns and air search radar. She also escorted supply ships to the Marianas Islands (Guam) and the Philippines to protect them from potential attacks from German raiders.

Although attached to Pearl Harbor, the Astoria was at sea as part of the screening force for the carrier Lexington when Pearl Harbor came under attack on December 7, 1941. They were enroute to Midway Island to deliver planes. The U.S.S. Astoria's first shots fired in anger occurred in the first major naval engagement of the Pacific theater, the "Battle of the Coral Sea". Where an expected retaliatory strike by the Japanese came on May 8, 1942. A day earlier the Japanese had sunk the fleet oilier Neosho and her destroyer escort Sims. While at nearly the same time American aircraft discovered the main force of the Japanese force and showered 20 bomb and torpedo hits on the light carrier Shoho. On May 8th however the two carrier forces finally came into contact with each other. Astoria was tasked with putting up an umbrella of antiaircraft fire over the U.S. carriers to protect them from the Japanese planes. The Astoria's gunners were credited with shooting down four planes during these attacks. Although the U.S. carrier Lexington was lost during the battle. The sinking of the Shoho and the damage to the carrier Shokaku (she was unable to launch aircraft) dashed the hopes of the Japanese to capture Port Moresby. Which would've enabled frequent bombings of Australia and quite possibly been a valuable staging base for the invasion of Australia. 

Later in June at the Battle of Midway, Astoria was part of the screening force for the carrier Yorktown (CV-5). Astoria along with Portland (CA-33) and some destroyers managed to shoot down two attacking Aichi D3A1 type 99 dive bombers. Six planes of this same enemy flight however made it to Yorktown scoring three hits. Causing Rear Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher to transfer his flag to the Astoria. Later after another successful attack by enemy planes on the Yorktown, Astoria sent lifeboats to the Yorktown to rescue survivors.  With returning planes low on fuel and their carrier unable to receive them many had to ditch near friendly ships and then be pulled from the water. The next day Yorktown was finished off by a torpedo fired from the Japanese sub I-168 the four torpedo spread also claimed the destroyer Hammann (DD-442). When the Saratoga (CV-3) arrived on June 11 Admiral Fletcher transferred his flag to it. The Astoria then retired to Pearl Harbor on June 13th.

Later in August the Astoria was reassigned to Task Group 62.3 Fire Support Group L. Tasked with providing Naval gunfire support to the Guadalcanal- Tulagi landings. During the landings Astoria helped to support the marines landing on the beaches and on the 7th and 8th provided antiaircraft support for the transports.

      Late on the night of the 8th and early hours of the 9th the Japanese Eighth Fleet consisting of five heavy cruisers, two light cruisers and one destroyer under Admiral Gunichi Mikawa snuck past the radar equipped destroyers off of Savo Island. Which is at the entrance to the sound where the American ships were patrolling in readiness condition II. This allowed half the men on each ship to rest after exhausting themselves during the landing operations. The ensuing battle often described as the worst defeat in U.S. Naval history started with a cascade of errors. The captains of at least three cruisers thought they were receiving friendly fire. The captain of the Astoria ordered his ship to cease fire when he mistook a Japanese ship for a friendly ship. He quickly realized his mistake and ordered firing to commence again. Another captain on another cruiser ordered the recognition lights turned on. Presenting itself as a fine target. Since the picket ships didn't detect the enemy force (two radar equipped destroyers) it didn't seem possible that enemy ships could be in Iron bottom Sound. The Japanese seemed to take full advantage of the Americans and Australians utter confusion. The Japanese had the element of surprise already. With their enemy in disarray and the Japanese' superior skill at night fighting, and their technically superior "Long Lance" torpedo. The outcome would be horrendous. The wolf got into the hen-house at Savo Island.

The Astoria was able to avoid the first few salvoes. When the first hit came, it knocked out the number one turret. Once on fire the Astoria's final hours drew closer as the fire helped correct the Japanese' aim. Even after her engines started to give in to the mercilessly accurate pounding, her crew fought on. Fighting the fires which were burning from stem to stern. Fighting to keep up some turns of the engines to make way, and fighting a determined enemy. Astoria's final salvo was directed at the enemy cruiser Kinugasa's searchlight from Astoria's turret number two. The salvo missed but hit the number one turret on the Chokai.

The Astoria lost steering control to the bridge as she headed away from the action. A little while later she lost all power. With daylight approaching and the knowledge that Fletcher's carrier force may be in the vicinity, Mikawa broke off the attacks and retired around the eastern side of Savo Island. Leaving the ships in the now un-protected U.S. landing force unscathed. 

Heavily damaged from approximately 70 hits, the Astoria's only battle now was to stay afloat. The fires were being fought and the wounded were attended to. The Bagley (DD-386) later came alongside and received the wounded. Other vessels approached and aided in fighting the fires. Below decks the fires couldn't be put out and started to intensify. Eventually a heavy list dashed any hope that the holes could be patched as water began to wash over some of the weather decks. Around noon all hands assembled on the stern and Captain Greenman gave the order to abandon ship. The Astoria disappeared completely in the following half-hour. The Buchanan (DD-484) lowered her boats into the water and picked up the survivors. In the end 268 sailors from the Astoria gave their lives at the Battle of Savo Island.

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