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USS Augusta (CA-31)

Please see below for item level images and donated collections containing photographs of USS Augusta (CA-31)

USS Augusta (CL-31) was laid down on 2 July 1928 at Newport News, Va., by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co.; launched on 1 February 1930; sponsored by Miss Evelyn McDaniel of Augusta, Ga.; and commissioned at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Va., on 30 January 1931, Capt. James O. Richardson in command.

During the summer of 1931, she operated with the other warships of Scouting Force carrying out tactical exercises off the New England coast. In August 1931, she was reclassified a heavy cruiser, CA-31. At the beginning of 1932, she and the other cruisers of the Scouting Force reassembled in Hampton Roads, whence they departed on 8 January on their way to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Steaming via the "Great Circle" route (the Northern Pacific) from Seattle to Shanghai, USS Augusta  (CA-31) moored in the Whangpoo River, at Shanghai, on the morning of 9 November 1933. USS Augusta  (CA-31)  remained in Chinese waters until 5 October 1934, when the heavy cruiser departed Shanghai for Guam, arriving there on the 10th.

USS Augusta  (CA-31)  was conducting her usual training from that North China port when events elsewhere in that region took a turn for the worse. USS Augusta (CA-31) sailed for Shanghai on the morning of 13 August 1937. Departing Mare Island on 11 April 1941, Augusta, her configuration altered and wearing a new paint job, sailed for San Pedro, remaining there over 12 and 13 April. She transited the Panama Canal four days later, reporting for duty with the Atlantic Fleet on 17 April.

The day of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941, found USS Augusta (CA-31)  moored at buoy 7, Newport. On 23 October 1942 Rear Admiral H. Kent Hewitt came on board USS Augusta (CA-31) and broke his flag as Commander, TF 34. On 31 October 1945, USS Augusta (CA-31) moored at the New York Naval Shipyard, to be modified for "Magic Carpet" operations, bringing home American servicemen from Europe. Ultimately placed out of commission, in reserve, in a deferred disposal status at Philadelphia, on 16 July 1946, USS Augusta  (CA-31) remained in the Philadelphia group of the Reserve Fleet until she was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 1 March 1959.

For a complete history of USS Augusta (CA-31) please see its DANFS page.