Author |
Message |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
Yes, it´s quite common in these photos. Good that we know where the 5in fuse-setters should be  Also aircraft markings are helpful on some of the other photos.
Yes, it´s quite common in these photos. Good that we know where the 5in fuse-setters should be :) Also aircraft markings are helpful on some of the other photos.
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 2:05 am |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
One word of caution on the Life photos. Many of them are backwards, like the third photo above (with the cap on the fore funnel visible).
One word of caution on the Life photos. Many of them are backwards, like the third photo above (with the cap on the fore funnel visible).
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2019 1:14 am |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
Guba wrote: Vladi wrote: Hi Matt, thanks for pointing me to the Northampton photos! I don´t know why I keep forgetting to check the Life series... Life series? Is there a link? What resource am I overlooking? I see pics posted every once in a while with Life credits, what do I need to search for? Here is a link to all the pics. http://images.google.com/hosted/life/06 ... 6323a.htmlCruiser Essay source:life
[quote="Guba"][quote="Vladi"]Hi Matt, thanks for pointing me to the Northampton photos! I don´t know why I keep forgetting to check the Life series...[/quote]
Life series? Is there a link? What resource am I overlooking? I see pics posted every once in a while with Life credits, what do I need to search for?[/quote] Here is a link to all the pics. http://images.google.com/hosted/life/06d94c01f3f6323a.html
Cruiser Essay source:life
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 8:45 pm |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
Vladi,
When I was in the Navy (early 1970s) the non-skid strips were about 18" long (45.7 cm) by 6" wide 15.2 cm), with rounded corners, and adhesive backed - that is just an approximate size. They were flexible and had a sand coated surface. I think they came in rolls, attached to waxed paper strips to make it easy to get them off the paper. I don't know if they were produced this way during WWII, but they appear to have been the same size. Once something gets a Federal Stock Number (FSN) it never really disappears from the supply system.
We stuck them anywhere we needed good traction on decks, inclined ladder steps and wherever there was wear on the paint. For example, they might be placed on bulkheads where ladder rungs were positioned so the toes of our shoes wouldn't scuff the paint. That way we didn't have to repaint as often.
I don't know if there was any "correct" way to orient them. Most likely it was at the whim of the Division Chief Petty Officer. I have seen them arranged in concentric circles around 20mm and 40 mm gun mounts.
Another way to get a non-slip surface was to coat the deck with a mixture of sand and paint. The adhesive patches were simpler and faster with no clean up afterward.
Phil
Vladi,
When I was in the Navy (early 1970s) the non-skid strips were about 18" long (45.7 cm) by 6" wide 15.2 cm), with rounded corners, and adhesive backed - that is just an approximate size. They were flexible and had a sand coated surface. I think they came in rolls, attached to waxed paper strips to make it easy to get them off the paper. I don't know if they were produced this way during WWII, but they appear to have been the same size. Once something gets a Federal Stock Number (FSN) it never really disappears from the supply system.
We stuck them anywhere we needed good traction on decks, inclined ladder steps and wherever there was wear on the paint. For example, they might be placed on bulkheads where ladder rungs were positioned so the toes of our shoes wouldn't scuff the paint. That way we didn't have to repaint as often.
I don't know if there was any "correct" way to orient them. Most likely it was at the whim of the Division Chief Petty Officer. I have seen them arranged in concentric circles around 20mm and 40 mm gun mounts.
Another way to get a non-slip surface was to coat the deck with a mixture of sand and paint. The adhesive patches were simpler and faster with no clean up afterward.
Phil
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 8:10 pm |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
Vladi wrote: Hi Matt, thanks for pointing me to the Northampton photos! I don´t know why I keep forgetting to check the Life series... Life series? Is there a link? What resource am I overlooking? I see pics posted every once in a while with Life credits, what do I need to search for?
[quote="Vladi"]Hi Matt, thanks for pointing me to the Northampton photos! I don´t know why I keep forgetting to check the Life series...[/quote]
Life series? Is there a link? What resource am I overlooking? I see pics posted every once in a while with Life credits, what do I need to search for?
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 7:48 pm |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
Hi Matt, thanks for pointing me to the Northampton photos! I don´t know why I keep forgetting to check the Life series...
Hi Matt, thanks for pointing me to the Northampton photos! I don´t know why I keep forgetting to check the Life series...
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 11:49 am |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
Vladi, These were a thin piece that was applied to the deck that had a rough texture, similar to items sold here in the US for boating and RV’s for the same purpose. The Northampton shows these off well. Attachment:
File comment: Close up of the ones on the upper level of the forward superstructure
0C7CC824-5825-40A9-A1D0-7FF328A914CE.jpeg [ 47.47 KiB | Viewed 672 times ]
Attachment:
3262542A-13E4-4878-AAD3-7A63CB8627BD.jpeg [ 189.39 KiB | Viewed 672 times ]
Attachment:
EF1085A9-6FB1-4478-9C81-EC608FBC0DBB.jpeg [ 100.27 KiB | Viewed 672 times ]
Attachment:
File comment: Note the wheels for the Aircraft Crane tucked behind splinter shield both Port and Starboard
8A50DDD3-C144-4EE7-836F-32E0266A6A0B.jpeg [ 49.41 KiB | Viewed 672 times ]
Hope this helps, Matt
Vladi,
These were a thin piece that was applied to the deck that had a rough texture, similar to items sold here in the US for boating and RV’s for the same purpose. The Northampton shows these off well.
[attachment=0]0C7CC824-5825-40A9-A1D0-7FF328A914CE.jpeg[/attachment] [attachment=1]3262542A-13E4-4878-AAD3-7A63CB8627BD.jpeg[/attachment] [attachment=2]EF1085A9-6FB1-4478-9C81-EC608FBC0DBB.jpeg[/attachment] [attachment=3]8A50DDD3-C144-4EE7-836F-32E0266A6A0B.jpeg[/attachment]
Hope this helps,
Matt
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 9:12 am |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
Hi folks, anybody has an idea how the non-skid stripes shown below looked like? I presume these were smaller rectangular sheets (rubber?) attached (glued?) side by side to the deck with their longer side perpendicular to the lenght of the ship. Is that right?
Attachments: |

80-G-13455 crop.jpg [ 162.93 KiB | Viewed 686 times ]
|
Hi folks, anybody has an idea how the non-skid stripes shown below looked like? I presume these were smaller rectangular sheets (rubber?) attached (glued?) side by side to the deck with their longer side perpendicular to the lenght of the ship. Is that right?
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2019 5:03 am |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
Thanks, Jeff, that is an excellent find. So Louisville had hangar door variant "B" at that time and she still had it on 11 November 1942 as seen at NH 94429.
Thanks, Jeff, that is an excellent find. So Louisville had hangar door variant "B" at that time and she still had it on 11 November 1942 as seen at [url=https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-94000/NH-94429.html]NH 94429[/url].
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Wed Mar 06, 2019 5:48 am |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
Vladi, This film from April 1, 1941 has camera crews on two ships. One is USS Arizona and the other is USS Louisville. There are a couple of scenes showing Louisville hanger doors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMlSGtAFi-E&t=373sHere is a still from the film. 
Vladi, This film from April 1, 1941 has camera crews on two ships. One is USS Arizona and the other is USS Louisville. There are a couple of scenes showing Louisville hanger doors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMlSGtAFi-E&t=373s
Here is a still from the film. [url=https://postimg.cc/VS0n05jB][img]https://i.postimg.cc/q7jLY3qY/Screen-Shot-2019-03-05-at-6-02-08-PM.png[/img][/url]
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 6:11 pm |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
So three variants like this (pre-war to late)?
Attachments: |

Northampton-class hangar door.JPG [ 55.35 KiB | Viewed 876 times ]
|
So three variants like this (pre-war to late)?
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 7:39 am |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
Vladi wrote: Thanks, G-Opt (and also to Mike C whom I am in touch with via email)! It is now clear that we are seeing two different variants - the "old", foldable to the side, as above and the "new" one, roller-type, as seen e.g. on this USS Northampton photo. I guess I wasn't clear in my reply to your message. The roller doors were replaced with folding doors during wartime refits. Less maintenance and less vulnerable to damage. The Northampton photo in the link was taken in 1942 in a series for LIFE magazine. Other photos showed the red dots being painted over with white on the SOCs.
[quote="Vladi"]Thanks, G-Opt (and also to Mike C whom I am in touch with via email)! It is now clear that we are seeing two different variants - the "old", foldable to the side, as above and the "new" one, roller-type, as seen e.g. on [url=http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/download/file.php?id=114236&mode=view]this USS Northampton photo[/url]. [/quote] I guess I wasn't clear in my reply to your message. The roller doors were replaced with folding doors during wartime refits. Less maintenance and less vulnerable to damage.
The Northampton photo in the link was taken in 1942 in a series for LIFE magazine. Other photos showed the red dots being painted over with white on the SOCs.
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 4:02 am |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
Thanks, Jeff! So correction to my previous conclusion - apparently Chester was an example of yet another variant... doors folded to the side without the heavy bracing.
Thanks, Jeff! So correction to my previous conclusion - apparently Chester was an example of yet another variant... doors folded to the side without the heavy bracing.
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2019 2:51 am |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
Vladi wrote: Hello guys, I am looking for a photo of a Northampton class CA that would show closed hangar door (the well deck looking aft). Any ideas please? Does this shot of Chester Sept. '43 help?  
[quote="Vladi"]Hello guys, I am looking for a photo of a Northampton class CA that would show closed hangar door (the well deck looking aft). Any ideas please?[/quote]
Does this shot of Chester Sept. '43 help? [url=https://postimg.cc/qzqw2GxT][img]https://i.postimg.cc/BQcz9Y8X/Screen-Shot-2019-03-04-at-9-14-57-PM.png[/img][/url]
[url=https://postimg.cc/JG7ThL2P][img]https://i.postimg.cc/ncBN0VYb/Screen-Shot-2019-03-04-at-11-04-31-PM.png[/img][/url]
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 9:16 pm |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
I think I was wrong earlier. Most Northampton's had the accordion style doors the whole time (at least until loss) Chester appears to have had her hanger doors changed during the war to a swinging type door from the accordion style. Portland had a roll up type door to start and it was changed to accordion style during her damage repair after 11-13-42. Indy got the same door change in May 1943. San Francisco also went from roll up to accordion style doors after 11-13-42 repairs.
I think I was wrong earlier. Most Northampton's had the accordion style doors the whole time (at least until loss) Chester appears to have had her hanger doors changed during the war to a swinging type door from the accordion style. Portland had a roll up type door to start and it was changed to accordion style during her damage repair after 11-13-42. Indy got the same door change in May 1943. San Francisco also went from roll up to accordion style doors after 11-13-42 repairs.
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 4:50 pm |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
Thanks, G-Opt (and also to Mike C whom I am in touch with via email)! It is now clear that we are seing two different variants - the "old", foldable to the side, as above and the "new" one, roller-type, as seen e.g. on this USS Northampton photo. Interestingly enough, the photos of bomb-damaged USS Chester (like this one) seem to show that she still had the old version (no roll-up seen, inner part of door folded). Unfortunately for me, none of the 1941-42 photos of USS Chicago I´ve collected clearly show which version she had. The best of them is 19-N-39212 which seems to suggest she had the roll-up version at that time (modifications similar to Nothampton´s to the vent and structure between hangar doors can be barely seen while none of the vertical bracing seems to be there), but this is already after her major (and final) refit, so it does not say much about how she appeared in August 1942.
Thanks, G-Opt (and also to Mike C whom I am in touch with via email)! It is now clear that we are seing two different variants - the "old", foldable to the side, as above and the "new" one, roller-type, as seen e.g. on [url=http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/download/file.php?id=114236&mode=view]this USS Northampton photo[/url].
Interestingly enough, the photos of bomb-damaged USS Chester (like [url=https://www.navsource.org/archives/04/027/0402719.jpg]this one[/url]) seem to show that she still had the old version (no roll-up seen, inner part of door folded).
Unfortunately for me, none of the 1941-42 photos of USS Chicago I´ve collected clearly show which version she had. The best of them is [url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/19-n/19-N-30000/19-N-39212.html]19-N-39212[/url] which seems to suggest she had the roll-up version at that time (modifications similar to Nothampton´s to the vent and structure between hangar doors can be barely seen while none of the vertical bracing seems to be there), but this is already after her major (and final) refit, so it does not say much about how she appeared in August 1942.
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 12:01 pm |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
That's the most famous & widely reproduced image of CA-30. Her hangar doors were later altered to the lighter roll-up type as noted, but there are many pix of the earlier ones. Here is one that I found easily...but I will certainly have others, too.
Attachments: |

CA30 Chefoo 1931.png [ 213.8 KiB | Viewed 320 times ]
|
That's the most famous & widely reproduced image of [b]CA-30[/b]. Her hangar doors were later altered to the lighter roll-up type as noted, but there are many pix of the earlier ones. Here is one that I found easily...but I will certainly have others, too.
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 11:08 am |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
I just came accross this photo. It confirms the hangar door consisted of two parts, although it is still unclear to me where did the outer part go to when opened.
Attachments: |

19300000 USS Houston undated FB Cruisers.jpg [ 151.43 KiB | Viewed 344 times ]
|
I just came accross this photo. It confirms the hangar door consisted of two parts, although it is still unclear to me where did the outer part go to when opened.
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2019 3:23 am |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
Thanks, guys, good points. It seems the doors consisted of two parts - one accordeon-like closer to the centre (as Cpt Morgan pointed out) and the second one outwards with heavy bracing (Matt´s point and also e.g. here). Interesting arrangement, quite complicated... Also where did the outward part fold to when the hangar was opened - rolled to the side?
Thanks, guys, good points. It seems the doors consisted of two parts - one accordeon-like closer to the centre (as Cpt Morgan pointed out) and the second one outwards with heavy bracing (Matt´s point and also [url=https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-70000/NH-70721.html]e.g. here[/url]). Interesting arrangement, quite complicated... Also where did the outward part fold to when the hangar was opened - rolled to the side?
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 6:19 pm |
|
|
 |
|
|
Post subject: |
Re: Calling all USS Northampton class (CA) fans |
 |
|
I’ve got a couple more home on my computer that might help, but here is one that gives you an idea. Hope it helps, Matt Attachment:
8027F707-537A-4B26-AA15-6B4DA7BB0756.jpeg [ 223.7 KiB | Viewed 375 times ]
I’ve got a couple more home on my computer that might help, but here is one that gives you an idea.
Hope it helps,
Matt
[attachment=0]8027F707-537A-4B26-AA15-6B4DA7BB0756.jpeg[/attachment]
|
|
|
 |
Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2019 6:06 pm |
|
|
 |