This page features selected views related to the actions and activities of USS Birmingham (CL-62).
For other images concerning Birmingham's efforts
to fight fires on USS Princeton,
see:
For other pictures related to this ship, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.
Photo #: NH 68946 USS Birmingham (CL-62) Passing through the Strait of Gibraltar, en route to take part in the invasion of Sicily, circa June 1943. Gibraltar is in the distance. Courtesy of Colonel Robert L. Clifford, USAR (Retired), 1969. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 620 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-54543 Invasion of Sicily, July 1943 Anti-aircraft fire fills the sky over Malta as the LST convoy for the Licata ("JOSS") landings passes by en route to Sicily, probably on 9 July 1943. Light cruiser at left is USS Birmingham (CL-62), which appears to be firing some of her guns to starboard. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 60KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 98126 USS Birmingham (CL-62) A plume of water spouts from the ship's foredeck as she steams back to the U.S. for battle damage repairs, circa November 1943. During operations off Bougainville in the evening of 8 November 1943, Birmingham had been struck forward by a Japanese aerial torpedo, opening up her bow and allowing wave action and the ship's forward motion to generate considerable water pressure there. Damage control parties constructed a trunk to divert this pressure upwards, reducing stress on the ship's forward bulkheads, but also creating the geyser effect as the ship pitched. The crew called this "Old Faithful", after the famous geyser in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. Despite her damage, both from the torpedo hit forward and two bombs that hit aft during the same action, Birmingham was able to stay in formation and remained battle-worthy. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 68KB; 600 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 98127 USS Birmingham (CL-62) Is near-missed by a Japanese coastal gun, while bombarding in support of the invasion of Saipan, June 1944. Birmingham's camouflage scheme is Measure 33, Design 6d. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 91KB; 740 x 625 pixels |
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Photo #: 80-G-248549 Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 1944 Fighter plane contrails mark the sky over Task Force 58, during the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot" phase of the battle, 19 June 1944. Photographed from on board USS Birmingham (CL-62). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 620 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-281660-2 Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944 USS Birmingham (CL-62) comes alongside the burning USS Princeton (CVL-23) to assist with fire fighting, 24 October 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 128KB; 740 x 615 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-270357 Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944 Crewmen on USS Birmingham (CL-62) play fire hoses on the burning USS Princeton (CVL-23), as their ship comes alongside to assist in damage control measures, 24 October 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 77KB; 740 x 605 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-281663-3 Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944 Heavy explosion aft on USS Princeton (CVL-23), with USS Birmingham (CL-62) alongside, 24 October 1944. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 90KB; 595 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: 80-G-270553 Battle of Leyte Gulf, October 1944 USS Birmingham (CL-62), at left, and a destroyer pull away from USS Princeton (CVL-23) following the big explosion that destroyed the carrier's stern at about 1523 hrs. on 24 October 1944. This blast killed over two hundred men aboard Birmingham, which was alongside Princeton fighting fires. Note the light smoke over Birmingham's midships and stern areas. Princeton's stern, and a good deal of her after superstructure, has been blown off. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 98128 USS Birmingham (CL-62) Damage to the cruiser's after smokestack and superstructure, caused when USS Princeton (CVL-23) blew up during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 24 October 1944. She was alongside Princeton, assisting with firefighting, when the carrier's after bomb stowage detonated, showering Birmingham with fragments and causing heavy casualties among her crew. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 172KB; 650 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 98121 USS Birmingham (CL-62) Returning to the United States for repair of damage received during the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 24 October 1944. She was assisting with firefighting on USS Princeton (CVL-23) when carrier's after bomb stowage detonated, causing severe topside damage to Birmingham and heavy casualties among her crew. Birmingham's camouflage scheme is Measure 33, Design 6d. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 104KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 98129 USS Birmingham (CL-62) Damage caused by a Kamikaze which struck the ship's deck just aft of her Number Two gun turret, during operations off Okinawa on 4 May 1945. Fifty-one of Birmingham's crew lost their lives and eighty-one were injured in this suicide attack. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the Collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 130KB; 740 x 610 pixels |
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For other images concerning Birmingham's efforts
to fight fires on USS Princeton,
see:
For other pictures related to this ship, see:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 22 October 2002
Links added 25 May 2003