The Sailor
16-01-2008, 01:53
The USS Augusta did so much during WW2, that I'm not going to try and make up a complete story. Anyone who was anyone during the war either used on met on Augusta, from the King to FDR, Churchill, Omar Bradley, Patton to anyone of importance. Here is her story in the site below.
http://www.internet-esq.com/ussaugusta/history/herstory.htm
"I have the greatest pride in commanding this fine ship and
her 100% loyal Brotherhood of the Sea."
--- Captain Chester W. Nimitz, Commanding Officer (1933-35)
She was there off Omaha Beach on D Day.
Closing the French shore on 6 June, the heavy cruiser commenced firing at 0618, hurling 51 rounds from her main battery at shore installations.
During the bombardment on D-day Omar Bradley positioned himself at a steel command cabin built for him on deck, 20 feet by 10 feet, the walls dominated by Michelin motoring maps of France, a few pin-ups and large scale maps of Normandy. A row of clerks sat at typewriters along one wall, while Bradley and his personal staff clustered around the large plotting table in the center. Much of that morning, however, Bradley stood on the bridge standing next to Task Force Commander Admiral Alan Kirk observing the landings through binoculars, his ears plugged with cotton to muffle the blast of Augusta's guns.
On 10 June General Bradley and his staff left the heavy cruiser to establish headquarters ashore. Augusta was bombed at 0357 on 11 June but escaped damage as the bomb exploded 800 yards off her port beam. The following day, anchored as before off Omaha Beach she fired eight 5-inch rounds at an enemy plane at
2343, driving it off. On 13 June at 0352 she sent 21 rounds of 5-inch at a German plane, and shot it down. Augusta drove off other aircraft and bombarded the shore with her heavy guns on 15 June and provided antiaircraft defense to the forces off Normandy on 18 June.
CA-31 USS Augusta
Northampton class Heavy Cruiser:
Displacement: 14,300 tons (full load)
Length: 600'3"
Beam: 66'1"
Draft: 24'
Speed: 32.5 knots
Armament: 3x3 8"/55, 4x2 5"/25 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x4 40mm, 22 20mm, 3 planes (SC-1)
Complement: 1,155
Propulsion: Geared tubine engines, 8 boilers, 4 shafts, 107,000 shaft hp
Built at Newport News, and commissioned 30 January 1931
A finer ship never sailed the seas.
http://www.internet-esq.com/ussaugusta/history/herstory.htm
"I have the greatest pride in commanding this fine ship and
her 100% loyal Brotherhood of the Sea."
--- Captain Chester W. Nimitz, Commanding Officer (1933-35)
She was there off Omaha Beach on D Day.
Closing the French shore on 6 June, the heavy cruiser commenced firing at 0618, hurling 51 rounds from her main battery at shore installations.
During the bombardment on D-day Omar Bradley positioned himself at a steel command cabin built for him on deck, 20 feet by 10 feet, the walls dominated by Michelin motoring maps of France, a few pin-ups and large scale maps of Normandy. A row of clerks sat at typewriters along one wall, while Bradley and his personal staff clustered around the large plotting table in the center. Much of that morning, however, Bradley stood on the bridge standing next to Task Force Commander Admiral Alan Kirk observing the landings through binoculars, his ears plugged with cotton to muffle the blast of Augusta's guns.
On 10 June General Bradley and his staff left the heavy cruiser to establish headquarters ashore. Augusta was bombed at 0357 on 11 June but escaped damage as the bomb exploded 800 yards off her port beam. The following day, anchored as before off Omaha Beach she fired eight 5-inch rounds at an enemy plane at
2343, driving it off. On 13 June at 0352 she sent 21 rounds of 5-inch at a German plane, and shot it down. Augusta drove off other aircraft and bombarded the shore with her heavy guns on 15 June and provided antiaircraft defense to the forces off Normandy on 18 June.
CA-31 USS Augusta
Northampton class Heavy Cruiser:
Displacement: 14,300 tons (full load)
Length: 600'3"
Beam: 66'1"
Draft: 24'
Speed: 32.5 knots
Armament: 3x3 8"/55, 4x2 5"/25 DP, 4x2 40mm, 4x4 40mm, 22 20mm, 3 planes (SC-1)
Complement: 1,155
Propulsion: Geared tubine engines, 8 boilers, 4 shafts, 107,000 shaft hp
Built at Newport News, and commissioned 30 January 1931
A finer ship never sailed the seas.