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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive
USS PORTSMOUTH (CL 102)
Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Bravo - November - Lima
CLASS - CLEVELAND
Displacement 10,000 Tons, Dimensions, 610' 1" (oa) x 66' 4" x 25' (Max)
Armament 12 x 6"/47, 12 x 5"/38AA, 28 x 40mm, 10 x 20mm, 4 Aircraft
Armor, 5" Belt, 6" Turrets, 2" Deck, 5" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 100,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws
Speed, 32.5 Knots, Crew 1255.
Operational and Building Data
Ordered 15 DEC 1941
Keel laid on 28 JUN 1943 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, VA
Launched 20 SEP 1944
Commissioned 25 JUN 1945
Decommissioned 15 JUN 1949
Stricken 15 JAN 1971
Fate: Sold for scrap on 26 FEB 1974 to Union Minerals & Alloys Co., Kearney, NJ.
Two of her main engines were used as part of the MARF facility for the S7G nuclear reactor prototype in Ballston Spa, NY.
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons
Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - American Campaign Medal - World War II Victory Medal - World War II Occupation Medal w/Europe Clasp
| Click On Image For Full Size Image |
Size | Image Description | Contributed By And/Or Copyright |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth 0410218 |
1.2m | Preparation for the launching of Portsmouth. U.S. Navy photo. |
David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410219 |
1.3m | The Portsmouth had 2 sponsors, Left is the wife of the Mayor of Portsmouth, Virginia, Sarah B. Leigh. Right is the wife of the Governor of New Hampshire, representing the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Mrs. Marian M. Dale. U.S. Navy photo. |
David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410220 |
1.5m | U.S. Navy photo. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410221 |
1.1m | U.S. Navy photo. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410215 |
1.2m | Portsmouth sliding down the ways. U.S. Navy photo. |
David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410216 |
1.1m | Portsmouth sliding down the ways. U.S. Navy photo. |
David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410217 |
1.2m | Portsmouth sliding down the ways. U.S. Navy photo. |
David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410207 |
27k | Starboard side midships view while at Newport News Shipyard, 16 June 1945. | Pieter Bakels |
| Portsmouth 0410208 |
16 June 1945 | Port bow view while at Newport News Shipyard, 16 June 1945 | Pieter Bakels |
| Portsmouth 0410209 |
30k | Starboard bow view while at Newport News Shipyard,16 June 1945 | Pieter Bakels |
| Portsmouth 0410210 |
21k | Starboard bow view while at Newport News Shipyard,16 June 1945 | Pieter Bakels |
| Portsmouth 0410212 |
1.6m | Crew and guests awaiting the start of the Commissioning ceremony. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410213 |
1.3m | Commissioning ceremony. Note the band on turret 4. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410214 |
1m | What appears to be the Invocation during the Commissioning of the Portsmouth. Captain Brumbaugh is to the left of the Chaplin | David Buell |
| Amsterdam | 60k |
USS Portsmouth (CL 102) Off Newport News, Virginia, 25 June 1945, while being delivered to the Navy by her builder, the Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland. Collection of James C. Fahey. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 94704. |
USNHC |
| Amsterdam | 91k |
USS Portsmouth (CL 102) Off the Portsmouth (Norfolk) Navy Yard, Virginia, 22 July 1945. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland. Collection of James C. Fahey. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 94705. |
USNHC |
| Amsterdam | 97k |
USS Portsmouth (CL 102) Off the Portsmouth (Norfolk) Navy Yard, Virginia, 22 July 1945. Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland. Collection of James C. Fahey. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 94706. |
USNHC |
| Portsmouth 0410223 |
1.2m | Captain Brumbaugh on the bridge during the Shakedown Cruise. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410224 |
1.2m | Captain Brumbaugh on the bridge during the Shakedown Cruise. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410225 |
1.4m | Captain Brumbaugh on the bridge during the Shakedown Cruise. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410226 |
981k | Captain Brumbaugh with the Governor of New Hampshire, Charles M. Dale, during the Shakedown Cruise. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410262 |
949k | Shakedown cruise - full power run. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410263 |
932k | Shakedown cruise - full power run. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410264 |
1.1m | Shakedown cruise - full power run. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410265 |
1m | Shakedown cruise - full power run. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410266 |
955k | Shakedown cruise - full power run. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410267 |
940k | Shakedown cruise - full power run. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410268 |
757k | Shakedown cruise - full power run. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410269 |
1m | Shakedown cruise - full power run. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410230 |
951k | Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Main Battery. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410231 |
991k | Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Main Battery. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410232 |
1.2k | Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Main Battery. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410233 |
1m | Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Main Battery. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410234 |
1.1m | Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410235 |
1.2m | Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410236 |
1.2m | Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410237 |
1.3m | Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410238 |
985k | Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410239 |
1.4m | Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410240 |
1.2m | Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410241 |
1.3m | Shakedown cruise - Gunnery practice - Anti-Aircraft Batteries. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410253 |
1.6m | Shakedown Cruise - Flight Ops. Note the crewman standing at the end of the catapult, directing the landing of the aircraft and the recovery mat in the water under him. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410254 |
1.55m | Shakedown Cruise - Flight Ops. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410257 |
1.5m | Shakedown Cruise - Flight Ops. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410270 |
1m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410271 |
1.3m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410272 |
1.5m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410273 |
1.3m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. Note the crewman preparing to take a depth sounding and an early Cleveland-Class (CL 55-63) light cruiserto the right. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410275 |
1.2m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. Note the early Cleveland-Class (CL 55-63) light cruise to the left. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410276 |
1.3m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. Note the Omaha class cruiser to the right and the early Cleveland-Class (CL 55-63) light cruise to the left. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410274 |
1.3m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410277 |
1.4m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410279 |
1.1m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410281 |
1.3m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. Note US Mauvila (YTB 328) and an unidentified tug to starboard. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410282 |
1.4m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410283 |
1.4m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410286 |
1.2m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410287 |
1.2m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410278 |
1.1m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410285 |
1.4m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. Preparing for refueling on the port side. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410280 |
857k | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. An unidentified Sumner class Destroyer is coming alongside the port side to refuel. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410288 |
900k | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. An unidentified Sumner class Destroyer is coming alongside the port side to refuel. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410289 |
1.2m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410290 |
1.3m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410291 |
1.6m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410292 |
855k | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410293 |
1.3m | Shakedown Cruise - General photographs. Note the crewman firing a Thompson sub-machinegun off the port side. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410242 |
2.75m |
Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410243 |
2.8m | Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410244 |
2.2m | Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410245 |
2.7m | Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410246 |
2.7m | Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410247 |
2.7m | Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410248 |
2.3m | Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410249 |
2.5m | Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410250 |
2.8m | Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410251 |
2.6m | Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410252 |
2.6m | Post-shakedown Admiral's inspection. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410258 |
1.4m | Post shakedown drydock availability. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410259 |
1.5m | Post shakedown drydock availability. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410260 |
1.4m | Post shakedown drydock availability. I find it interesting that the aircraft (Curtiss SC-1 Seahawks) were left on the catapults while in drydock. I would think that they would have been stored below deck to prevent damage. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410261 |
1.4m | Post shakedown drydock availability. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410222 |
1.1m | Captain Brumbaugh and his wife, Nina. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410227 |
1.1m | Dignitaries touring the ship on Navy Day, 27 October, 1945. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410228 |
1.3m | Dignitaries touring the ship on Navy Day, 27 October, 1945. | David Buell |
| Portsmouth 0410229 |
1.2m | Open house aboard ship during Navy Day, 27 October, 1945. | |
| Portsmouth 0410211 |
164k |
Photo of the Midway Battlegroup during her first Med deployment. There are three Cleveland-Class cruisers shown. From front to back; USS Portsmouth (CL 102), USS Providence (CL 82) , and either USS Little Rock (CL 92) or USS Manchester (CL 83). Two destroyers are also visible. From the collection of Charles J. Beggy, Jr., Electronics Technician Second Class, USN (ret.) |
Robert Hurst |
| Portsmouth | 97k |
USS Portsmouth (CL 102) Underway at sea, 22 April 1948. Photographed from USS Providence (CL 82) . Courtesy of the U.S. Naval Institute, Annapolis, Maryland. Collection of James C. Fahey. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 94707. |
USNHC |
| Providence | 81k | USS Providence (CL 82) ; USS Little Rock (CL -92); and USS Portsmouth (CL 102) (listed left to right) At San Juan, Puerto Rico, 15 May 1948. Note the differing radar antenna rigs, and other details of these three Cleveland class light cruisers, each ten numbers apart in the cruiser hull number series. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-343434. | National Archives |
| Fargo | 104k |
USS Fargo (CL 106) Laid up in the Reserve Basin at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania, in about 1965. USS Portsmouth (CL 102) is at right. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 72660. |
USNHC |
| Fargo | 102k |
USS Fargo (CL 106) Laid up in the Reserve Basin at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pennsylvania, in about 1965. Photographed from on board the ship, looking forward from the stern, with her after 6"/47 gun turrets in the foreground. USS Portsmouth (CL 102) is at left. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 72662. |
USNHC |
| Portsmouth | 51k |
Port bow view, moored in Philadelphia, PA with the Atlantic Reserve Fleet, 1971. From the collection of the Naval Record Club. |
Richard Leonhardt |
(Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves - Photos courtesy of Bill Gonyo)
USS PORTSMOUTH (CL 102) History
View This Vessels DANFS History entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.
Crew Contact And Reunion Information
Contact Name: Mr. Joseph C Barber
Address: 70 Maloney Ct Winsted, CT, 06098-1853
Phone: 860-379-5364
E-mail: JRBF87F@prodigy.com
Note About Contacts.
The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.
Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Cruiser Pages By Andrew Toppan.
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