USS Chester CA-27

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Chester (CA-27) at anchor in Hampton Roads, Virginia, November 1930.

USS Chester (CL/CA-27), a Northampton-class cruiser, was the second ship of the United States Navy named after the city of Chester, Pennsylvania. 

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Chester (CA-27) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, San Francisco, California, on 6 August 1942, following her first wartime overhaul.

 

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Chester (CA-27) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, San Francisco, California, on 2 October 1943. She was in overhaul following torpedo damage at the shipyard from 15 September until 2 October 1943.

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Chester (CA-27) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, California, after torpedo damage repairs and overhaul, 2 October 1943.

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Chester (CA-27) off San Francisco, California, following an overhaul, circa late May 1944. She wears camouflage measure 32, design 9d.

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Chester (CA-27) off the Mare Island Navy Yard, San Francisco, California, on 16 May 1945, following her last wartime overhaul. The foremast was cut down and reduced to save top weight, and the mainmast was moved forward and mounted around the aft smoke stack in 1945.

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Chester (CA-27) being towed away from the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, on her way to be scrapped, circa 1959.

USS Chester (CA-27), pre-war, undated.

USS Chester (CA-27), pre-war, undated.

USS Chester (CA-27), undated.

USS Chester (CA-27), late war, undated.

USS Chester (CA-27), pre-war, location unknown.

USS Chester (CA-27) fitting out at New York Shipbuilding, Camden, New Jersey, in March or April 1930. USS Salt Lake City (CL-25) is at the top of the picture.

USS Chester (CA-27) running trials, 1930.

USS Chester (CA-27) at anchor in Naples, Italy, during her shakedown cruise in 1930.

USS Chester (CA-27), July 1931.

USS Chester (CA-27), at left with other ships of Cruiser Division FOUR, in Panama Bay on 21 April 1934, at about the time of Fleet Problem XV. Ships in column behind Chester are USS Salt Lake City (CA-25), USS Pensacola (CA-24) and the Division flagship, USS Northampton (CA-26).

USS Chester (CA-27) steaming in the Willamette River, Portland, Oregon, August 1936.

USS Chester (CA-27) approaches the pier at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while preparing to dock, 27 November 1936. At right, already tied up, is USS Indianapolis (CA-35), which was carrying President Roosevelt. Note the crowds awaiting the President, who was making his first stop during the “Good Neighbor” cruise.

Coast and Geodetic Survey Ships Guide (ex-Flamingo, AM-32) and Discoverer (ex-Auk, AM-38). Taking on fuel from USS Chester (CA-27) at Dutch Harbor, Unalaska Island, Alaska, 4 July 1939.

Marshalls Islands Raid, 1 February 1942. Lieutenant Wilson R. Bartlett, Senior Aviator of USS Chester (CA-27), walks forward on the cruiser’s well deck to make his report, after returning from a flight spotting gunfire for the ship’s bombardment of Taroa Island, Maloelap Atoll. In the background is damage from the bomb hit sustained during a Japanese air attack at 0820 hrs. Also visible are the port wingtips of one of a SOC Seagull aircraft, with the open hangar beyond. The ship’s port catapult silo is at right, dented by the bomb’s blast. Note the pilot’s uniform, “Mae West” life vest, binoculars and plotting board.

Photos of bomb damage received on 1 February 1942 after the raid on Taroa. Retiring under heavy air attack she received a bomb hit in the well deck which killed eight and injured 38. Original caption “Looking aft on the main deck. Note that most of fragment holes in intake trunk are at a low level.”

Photos of bomb damage received on 1 February 1942 after the raid on Taroa. Retiring under heavy air attack she received a bomb hit in the well deck which killed eight and injured 38. Original caption “Close-up of air intake to after engine room, showing fragment damage. Screens were blown away and have been replaced. Note holes in the edges of the hangar doors. Holes behind the ladder are plugged with wood.”

Photos of bomb damage received on 1 February 1942 after the raid on Taroa. Retiring under heavy air attack she received a bomb hit in the well deck which killed eight and injured 38. Original caption “No. 2 boiler room blower intake trunk, frame 65, looking forward and to starboard. A few fragments hit the stack, and a hole can be seen in the pontoon overhead. The 7-1/2 lb. plating of the trunk was dished in 3 inches. The umbrella plating was blown loose, and was removed before this picture was taken.”

USS Chester (CA-27), 1 February 1942. Hit by 134 lb. bomb on main deck at frame 68 port. Time of hit 0820 Zone -12. View from Signal Bridge looking aft 44 ft. above and 60 ft. forward of hit. Time of photograph about 20 minutes after hit. Fire has been extinguished but no repair work has been done.

USS Chester (CA-27), 1 February 1942. Hit by 134 lb. bomb on main deck at frame 68 port. Time of hit 0820 Zone -12. View from 4 ft above main deck looking 270 relative. Time of photograph about 40 minutes after hit. No structural repairs have been completed. Men in foreground are revving a new whip to the airplane crane.

USS Chester, 1 February 1942. Hit by 134 lb. bomb on main deck at frame 68 port. Time of hit 0820 Zone -12. View from 4 ft above main deck looking 225 relative. Time of photograph about 1 hour after hit. Wood deck has been partially cut away preparatory to welding patch over hole.

USS Chester, 1 February 1942. Hit by 134 lb. bomb on main deck at frame 68 port. Time of hit 0820 Zone -12. View from 4 ft. above main deck looking 315 relative. Time of photograph about one hour after hit. Wood deck has been partially cut away preparatory to welding patch over hole.

USS Chester (CA-27), 20mm guns port and starboard on communication platform, navigating bridge and machine gun platform, looking aft from bow, 26 February 1942.

USS Chester (CA-27), 20mm installation, looking forward from frame 143 on main deck. Note guns on main mast on hood over searchlight control and on searchlight platform, 26 February 1942.

USS Chester (CA-27), plan view, starboard side, looking forward, showing alterations while at Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 6 August 1942.

USS Chester (CA-27), plan view, amidships, showing alterations while at Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 6 August 1942.

USS Chester (CA-27), plan view, looking aft, showing alterations while at Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 6 August 1942.

USS Chester (CA-27), plan view aft showing alterations while at Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 6 August 1942.

USS Chester (CA-27), plan view amidships, looking forward showing alterations while at Mare Island Navy Yard, California, 6 August 1942.

U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Chester (CA-27).

Kawanishi H8K "Emily"

Kawanishi H8K1 (Allied code name “Emily”) prototype prior to hull modifications, in natural metal finish.

The Kawanishi H8K is a flying boat used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service during World War II for maritime patrol duties. The Allied reporting name for the type was "Emily".

The Kawanishi H8K was a large, four-engine aircraft designed for long range and extended endurance on patrols or bombing missions typically flown alone over the ocean. The prototype first flew in January 1941, and H8K1s made their first combat sortie in March 1942. The robust H8K2 "Emily" flying boat was also fitted with powerful defensive armament, for which Allied pilots had substantial respect wherever this aircraft was encountered in the Pacific theater. Aircraft historian René Francillon called the H8K "the most outstanding water-based combat aircraft of the Second World War."

Kawanishi H8K2 “Emily,” 951st Naval Air Corps, 2 July 1944. ASV radar on nose.

Kawanishi H8K “Emily.”

Captured Kawanishi H8K2 “Emily” during testing in the U.S. taxiing on Patuxent River.

Kawanishi H8K2-L Seiku transport version, Yokosuka Chinjufu Naval Air Corps, on beaching dolly. This particular aircraft was originally the H8K1 prototype.

Kawanishi H8K2 “Emily” with ASV radar aerials visible on side of nose.

Captured Kawanishi H8K2 “Emily” at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland.

Captured Kawanishi H8K2 “Emily” at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland.

Captured Kawanishi H8K2 “Emily” at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland.

Kawanishi H8K1 “Emily.”

Captured Kawanishi H8K2 “Emily” at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland.

Kawanishi H8K2-L Seiku transport.

 

Kawanishi H8K (Emily) Japanese Naval Air Service.

 

Kawanishi H8K prototype.

Yokosuka P1Y “Frances"

Yokosuka P1Y “Frances.”

The Yokosuka P1Y Ginga ("Galaxy") is a twin-engine, land-based bomber developed for the Japanese Imperial Navy in World War II. It was the successor to the Mitsubishi G4M and given the Allied reporting name "Frances". 

The P1Y was designed by the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal to Navy specification 15-Shi,[2] calling for a fast bomber with speed matching the Zero, range matching the G4M, a 907 kg (2,000 lb) bombload, and the ability to dive-bomb as well as carry torpedoes. As the result, the construction suffered from excess complexity, difficulty of manufacture, and poor serviceability. Problems with the availability of enough reliable Nakajima Homare engines led to their replacement by the Mitsubishi Kasei in the P1Y2-S night-fighter version.

The streamlined design of the Ginga is attributed to Miki Tadanao, an engineer who after World War II went on to create a similar aerodynamic design for Japan's earliest bullet trains (Shinkansen), while working with the Japan National Railways (JNR).

The first flight was in August 1943. Nakajima manufactured 1,002 examples, which were operated by five Kōkūtai (Air Groups), and acted as land-based medium and torpedo bombers from airfields in China, Taiwan, the Mariana Islands, the Philippines, the Ryukyu Islands, Shikoku, and Kyūshū. During the last stages of the war the P1Y was used as a kamikaze aircraft against the United States Navy during the Okinawa Campaign in Operation Tan No. 2.

A night fighter version, the P1Y2-S Kyokko ("Aurora"), with Mitsubishi Kasei engines, was equipped with radar and Schräge Musik-style upward-firing as well as forward-firing 20 mm cannon. A total of 96 were produced by Kawanishi,[5] but due to inadequate high-altitude performance against the B-29 Superfortress, many were converted back to Ginga bombers.

Variants

P1Y1 Experimental Type 15 land-based bomber (15-Shi Rikujō Bakugekiki): 3 of prototypes and 9 of supplementary prototypes with 1,357 kW (1,820 hp) NK9C Nakajima NK9B Homare 11 engines. Prototype #3 was later used for Ishikawajima Tsu-11 testbed.

P1Y1 Ginga ("Milky Way") Model 11 (Ginga 11-gata): First model of the series. Mounted Homare 11 or Homare 12. 

P1Y1a Ginga Model 11A (Ginga 11 Kō-gata): Mounted Homare 12, and fitted 1 × 13 mm (.51 in) Type 2 machine gun in the back defensive position. 

P1Y1b Provisional name Ginga Model 11B (Kashō Ginga 11 Otsu-gata): Converted from P1Y1a, mounted Homare 12, and fitted 2 × 13 mm (.51 in) Type 2 machine guns in the back defensive position. 

P1Y1c Provisional name Ginga Model 11C (Kashō Ginga 11 Hei-gata): Converted from P1Y1b, mounted Homare 12, and fitted 1 × 13 mm (.51 in) Type 2 machine gun in the forward position, prototype only. 

P1Y1 Ginga Model 11 Night-fighter variant (Ginga 11-gata Kaizō yasen): Converted from P1Y1. Armed with 2 × 20 mm Type 99 cannons. Equipped 302nd Kōkūtai only. This is not a naval regulation equipment. 

P1Y1-S Provisional name Ginga Model 21 (Kashō Ginga 21-gata): Night fighter variant. Armed with 4 × 20 mm Type 99 cannons firing obliquely forward, and 1 × 13 mm (.51 in) Type 2 machine gun in the back defensive position. Only a project. 

P1Y1 Ground attack variant: Converted from P1Y1/P1Y1a, installed up to 20 × 20 mm Type 99 cannons in the bomb bay for land strikes against B-29 bases in the Marianas. Approx. 30 rebuilt. 

P1Y2-S Provisional name Ginga Model 26/Test production Kyokkō ("Aurora") (Kashō Ginga 26-gata/Shisei Kyokkō): Night fighter variant. Initial named Hakkō ("Corona") in October 1943, renamed Kyokkō in March 1944. Converted from P1Y1/P1Y1a. Fitted Mitsubishi MK4T-A Kasei 25 engines. Armed with 2 × 20 mm Type 99 cannons and 1 × 30 mm Type 5 cannon. Later, almost all were converted to P1Y2. 96 or 97 produced. 

P1Y2 Provisional name Ginga Model 16 (Kashō Ginga 16-gata): Land based bomber. Converted from P1Y2-S. Mounted 1,380 kW (1,850 hp) Mitsubishi MK4T-A Kasei 25 Kō engines. 

P1Y2a Provisional name Ginga Model 16A (Kashō Ginga 16 Kō-gata): Converted from P1Y1a. Mounted Mitsubishi MK4T-A Kasei 25 Kō engines. 

P1Y2b Provisional name Ginga Model 16B (Kashō Ginga 16 Otsu-gata): Converted from P1Y1b. Mounted Mitsubishi MK4T-A Kasei 25 Kō engines. 

P1Y2c Provisional name Ginga Model 16C (Kashō Ginga 16 Hei-gata): Converted from P1Y1c. Mounted Mitsubishi MK4T-A Kasei 25 Kō engines. 

P1Y2 Ginga Model 16 Night-fighter variant (Ginga 16-gata Kaizō yasen): Converted from P1Y2. Armed with 2 × 20 mm Type 99 machine guns or 1 × 30 mm Type 5 cannon. Equipped 302nd Kōkūtai only. This is not a naval regulation equipment. 

P1Y3 Provisional name Ginga Model 13 (Kashō Ginga 13-gata): Converted from P1Y1. Mounted Homare 21 engines. 

P1Y4 Provisional name Ginga Model 12 (Kashō Ginga 12-gata): Converted from P1Y1. Mounted Homare 23 engines. 

P1Y5 Provisional name Ginga Model 14 (Kashō Ginga 14-gata): Converted from P1Y1. Mounted Mitsubishi Ha-43 engines. 

P1Y6 Provisional name Ginga Model 17 (Kashō Ginga 17-gata): Converted from P1Y2. Mounted Mitsubishi MK4T-C Kasei 25 Hei engines. 

Provisional name Ginga Model 33 (Kashō Ginga 33-gata): Long-range bomber variant. Crew: 4, bombs= up to 3,000 kg. Only a project. 

Test production Tenga (Shisei Tenga): Proposed jet-powered bomber variant, mounted Ishikawajima Ne-30. Discontinued in 1945. 

MXY10 Yokosuka Navy Bomber Ginga: Ground decoy non-flying replica of Yokosuka P1Y1.

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service Units Equipped with Yokosuka P1Y

• 302nd Kōkūtai: Equipped night fighter variant only.
• 521st Kōkūtai
• 522nd Kōkūtai
• 523rd Kōkūtai
• 524th Kōkūtai
• 701st Kōkūtai
• 706th Kōkūtai
• 752nd Kōkūtai
• 761st Kōkūtai
• 762nd Kōkūtai
• 763rd Kōkūtai
• 765th Kōkūtai
• 1001st Kōkūtai
• 1081st Kōkūtai
• Miyazaki Kōkūtai
• Toyohashi Kōkūtai
• Yokosuka Kōkūtai
• Kogeki 262nd Hikōtai
• Kogeki 401st Hikōtai
• Kogeki 405th Hikōtai
• Kogeki 406th Hikōtai
• Kogeki 501st Hikōtai
• Kogeki 708th Hikōtai
  

Yokosuka P1Y “Frances.”

Yokosuka P1Y “Frances.”

Yokosuka P1Y “Frances.”

Variety of Japanese aircraft including Yokosuka P1Y ready for destruction after the war.

P1Y1c, since it has a single forward cannon, and no dorsal turret.

P1Y Ginga.

Yokosuka P1Y "Frances" shot down next to USS Ommaney Bay (CVE-79) by 0945 on December 15, 1944.

Imperial Japanese Navy bomber P1Y1 15-Shi RIkujō Bakugekiki prototype #3, Ishikawajima Tsu-11 testbed, unknown date, unknown location.

P1Y1b, Yokosuka Kōkūtai Yo-206.

April 7, 1945: A Japanese Yokosuka P1Y1 "Frances" under fire from U.S. Navy ships' antiaircraft batteries as it turns away with engines smoking after an attack by Vought F4U Corsairs. Note the flak tracers.

July 15, 1944: A 3-view silhouette of the Yokosuka P1Y.

P1Y Kyokkou Aurora or Ginga Milky Way Frances P1Y.

P1Y Kyokkou Aurora or Ginga Milky Way Frances P1Y.

P1Y Kyokkou Aurora or Ginga Milky Way Frances P1Y.

P1Y Kyokkou Aurora or Ginga Milky Way Frances P1Y.

Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Gale) "Frank"

Nakajima Ki-84-Ia.

The Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate ("Gale") is a single-seat fighter flown by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service in the last two years of World War II. The Allied reporting name was "Frank"; the Japanese Army designation was Army Type 4 Fighter (yon-shiki-sentō-ki). The Ki-84 is generally considered the best Japanese fighter to operate in large numbers during the conflict. The aircraft boasted high speed and excellent maneuverability with an armament (up to two 30 mm and two 20 mm cannon) that gave it formidable firepower. The Ki-84's performance matched that of any single-engine Allied fighter it faced, and its operational ceiling enabled it to intercept high-flying B-29 Superfortress bombers. Pilots and crews in the field learned to take care with the plane's high-maintenance Nakajima Homare engine and landing gear prone to buckling. The difficulties of Japan's situation late in the war took a toll on the aircraft's field performance as manufacturing defects multiplied, good quality fuel proved difficult to procure, and experienced pilots grew scarce. Nevertheless, a well-maintained Ki-84 was Japan's fastest fighter. A total of 3,514 aircraft were built.

Ki-84-I “Frank,” 2nd Chutai, 73rd Sentai, Philippines, 1944

Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate.

Ki-84-Ia “Frank,” with drop tank under port wing and bomb under starboard wing, 52nd Fighter Sentai activated April 1944, operational over Leyte.

Ki-84-Ia Hayate, “Frank,” with drop tank under port wing and bomb under starboard wing, 52nd Fighter Sentai activated April 1944, operational over Leyte.

Ki-84-A “Frank,” 2nd Chutai, 72nd Sentai.