USS Quincy

The USS Quincy in World War II: Dual Legacies of Valor and Innovation

World War II forced the United States Navy into an international struggle where its ships represented resilience, technological excellence and the cost of human sacrifice. The USS Quincy (CA-39) as a New Orleans-class heavy cruiser and the USS Quincy (CA-71) as a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser both played unique but connected roles in major battles. The USS Quincy ships drew their names from Quincy, Massachusetts because the city was strongly connected to naval shipbuilding and American heritage and these vessels demonstrated how the Navy evolved from treaty-restricted designs to adaptability in wartime. The heavy cruiser CA-39 fell during the Battle of Savo Island in 1942 after an enduring combat performance while CA-71 supported Allied operations during Normandy and Southern France invasions in 1944 before its use as a diplomatic setting at Yalta. The Quincy name stood out because its vessels showcased both technological advancements and key examples of strategic transformation during critical wartime periods while demonstrating the bravery of their crews.

Design: The Making of Two Quincys

The USS Quincy (CA-39) resulted from interwar naval treaties and began construction at Bethlehem Shipbuilding’s Fore River Shipyard in Quincy, Massachusetts on November 15, 1933 before launching on June 19, 1935 and commissioning on June 9, 1936 under Capt. William Faulkner Amsden. William Faulkner Amsden. The USS Quincy followed the Washington Naval Treaty’s 10,000-ton restriction as a New Orleans-class heavy cruiser with dimensions of 588 feet in length and a beam of 61 feet 9 inches while displacing 9,950 tons. Her weaponry featured nine 8-inch/55-caliber guns mounted in three triple turrets as well as eight 5-inch/25-caliber anti-aircraft guns and she carried a basic set of .50-caliber machine guns which were expanded during wartime. The ship produced 107,000 shaft horsepower through eight Babcock & Wilcox boilers coupled with four Westinghouse geared turbines which enabled it to reach speeds of 32.7 knots. The combination of her armor features including a 5-inch belt and 2.25-inch deck with up to 8-inch turrets represented a strategic balance between firepower and protection which initially led to her classification as a light cruiser (CL) before her reclassification as a heavy cruiser (CA) because of her 8-inch guns. The ship's design provided both speed and firepower which nevertheless made it susceptible to damage during battles.

The USS Quincy (CA-71) emerged as a wartime ship evolution when it was laid down as St. Paul on October 9, 1941 at the same shipyard and was renamed Quincy on October 16, 1942 to pay tribute to its lost namesake before being launched on June 23, 1943 and commissioned on December 15, 1943 under Capt. Elliot M. Senn. The Baltimore-class heavy cruiser displaced 13,600 tons standard while measuring 673 feet-11-inches long with a beam of 70-foot-9-inches and featured nine 8-inch/55-caliber guns alongside twelve 5-inch/38-caliber dual-purpose guns together with 48 40mm Bofors and 24 20mm Oerlikons for extensive anti-aircraft defense. Four General Electric turbines and four Babcock & Wilcox boilers generated 120,000 shaft horsepower to sustain a 33-knot top speed as armor consisting of a 6-inch belt and 2.5-inch deck along with up to 8-inch turrets provided superior protection. Her design departed from CA-39's treaty restrictions by incorporating enhanced firepower and survivability features learned from early war losses.

The unique features of these ships originated from their innovative designs. While the CA-39 had to maximize firepower within treaty restrictions leading to innovative solutions and the CA-71 received wartime upgrades including improved AA defenses and radar equipment which made it a versatile gun platform. The narrative of these ships goes beyond their physical construction and engineering details as they played pivotal roles during World War II's crucial military engagements.

USS Quincy (CA-39): In the Battle of Savo Island

By the time WWII commenced the USS Quincy (CA-39) had already gained valuable experience from defending American interests during the Spanish Civil War in 1936 and participating in fleet exercises throughout the late 1930s. She joined Task Force 18 in 1942 to escort transports for the first major Allied Pacific offensive at Guadalcanal which began on August 7, 1942. The USS Quincy reached her campaign's high point during the catastrophic night battle at Savo Island from August 8 to 9, 1942 where she faced a severe test that determined her ultimate destiny.

Quincy joined forces with USS Astoria (CA-34) and USS Vincennes (CA-44) to bombard Japanese positions near Lunga Point using her 8-inch guns during the initial landings on August 7. The landings achieved their objectives yet the Allied fleet stayed exposed because of its division into separate screening groups. Vice Adm. Gunichi Mikawa's Japanese cruisers Aoba, Furutaka, Kako, Kinugasa and Tenryū evaded pickets to attack the southern Allied screen at night where USS Quincy patrolled with Astoria and Vincennes alongside destroyers USS Patterson and USS Bagley between Florida and Savo Islands. At 01: The Japanese searchlights turned on at 01:45 August 9 and surprised the Allied ships which were caught off guard. Capt. Samuel N. Moore commanded Quincy to open fire but her gun crews who had been abruptly awakened could not react effectively.

A deadly crossfire had Quincy trapped within minutes. Fire from Aoba and Furutaka shells swept through Quincy's superstructure and set fires while Tenryū launched two torpedoes that struck her port bow and engine room causing extreme damage. While wounded on the bridge Moore commanded his men to attack the eastern Japanese forces shouting "We’re going down between them—give them hell!" as survivors later recalled. Her 8-inch guns hit Chokai and destroyed one of its turrets while the bombardment continued without pause. By 02: The USS Quincy capsized and sank in "Ironbottom Sound" at 02:35 claiming the lives of 370 crewmembers from its total crew of 807 and leaving 167 survivors wounded. The battle marked a catastrophic Allied loss as four cruisers were sunk which revealed weaknesses in night fighting tactics and radar technology yet Quincy's determined resistance secured her a battle star and immortalized her in naval history.

The bravery of CA-39’s crew during chaotic conditions distinguished her in these moments. Despite facing overwhelming firepower and tactical disadvantages they persisted in battle until the end demonstrating the Navy’s early-war resilience even in the face of strategic errors. The sinking of the ship during initial U.S. naval losses prompted necessary enhancements to night combat techniques which led to subsequent military triumphs.

USS Quincy (CA-71): Normandy and the Liberation of Europe

The USS Quincy (CA-71) joined the navy during the Pacific conflict shift but first made its mark during operations in Europe. She completed her Caribbean shakedown cruise and training off Maine before joining the 12th Fleet in May 1944 with her arrival at Belfast, Northern Ireland on May 14. She participated in Operation Overlord when she took part in the Utah Beach landings during the D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 as a member of Task Force 125 under Rear Adm. Morton Deyo.

At 05: Quincy began firing from the Baie de la Seine at 05:37 on June 6 with her 8-inch guns directed at German batteries north of Utah Beach while her 5-inch and 40mm guns suppressed smaller enemy positions. In cooperation with shore fire control parties and aircraft spotters she executed accurate bombardments which destroyed enemy long-range guns and tank groups. The Quincy vessel fired nonstop from June 6 to 17 while supporting the advance of the 4th Infantry Division and engaging enemy artillery that threatened minesweepers and damaged vessels including USS Corry (DD-463). She attacked Quinéville on June 12 which assisted in its conquest. The use of more than 1,000 8-inch and 5-inch rounds by her crew played a key role in establishing control of the beachhead which allowed the Allied forces to advance. The cruiser force earned praise from Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower for its “devastating accuracy” after he toured USS Quincy in Belfast on May 15.

The cruiser played a vital technological role at Normandy through radar-directed gunfire and powerful AA defense against both Luftwaffe attacks and coastal gun batteries. CA-71 stood out because of her precision weapons and endurance which maintained the invasion pace when ships like CA-39 had no such capabilities. The crew’s training during Scottish drills enabled Quincy to convert her firepower into an effective strategic tool.

USS Quincy (CA-71): Southern France and Diplomatic Duty

Quincy traveled to the Mediterranean after Normandy and joined Task Group 86.4 for Operation Dragoon—the invasion of Southern France—on August 15, 1944. From Baie de Cavalaire she coordinated with British and French cruisers to bombard German positions in support of the U.S. 7th Army’s left flank over three days. Between August 19 and 24 she attacked heavy batteries at Toulon, St. Mandrier and Cape Sicie before she opened the channels to Port de Bouc near Marseille. The deployment of her 8-inch salvos consisting of hundreds of rounds suppressed enemy fortifications which facilitated the Allied advance. She returned to Boston on September 1 after earning two battle stars in Europe while being detached.

In 1945 Quincy served as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's transport vehicle between the Yalta Conference locations. She left Newport News, Virginia on January 23, reached Malta on February 2 before arriving at the Great Bitter Lake in the Suez Canal on February 8. Her ship served as the venue for President Roosevelt's diplomatic meetings from February 12 to 14 with Egypt's King Farouk and Ethiopia's Emperor Haile Selassie along with Saudi Arabia's King Ibn Saud which influenced the geopolitical landscape after World War II. She returned to the United States by March before joining the Pacific Fleet for the bombing of Wake Island and Japanese steelworks during 1945 which earned her two additional battle stars.

While her European operations revealed her expertise in gunfire support her Yalta mission demonstrated her ability to adapt to versatile roles. CA-71 stood out because of her unique combination of military success and diplomatic service which connected battlefield achievements with political accomplishments in a manner that was uncommon among naval ships.

What Made the Quincy Special?

The USS Quincy's designation represented both innovative achievements and ultimate sacrifice. The CA-39 achieved maximum firepower through its treaty-era design which demonstrated prewar creativity yet suffered devastating consequences from its insufficient armor at Savo Island. Despite her material limitations, her crew fought valiantly against impossible odds which led to tactical improvements that supported victories at battles such as Midway. Wartime experiences shaped the CA-71 which featured reinforced armor and integrated AA defenses alongside radar capabilities to serve as an effective gun platform during operations at Normandy and Southern France. The crew's precise and adaptable work made her vital to amphibious operations while her mission to Yalta revealed her unique diplomatic role.

The ships demonstrated the Navy's development from initial weak points to ultimate superiority during the war and the human characteristics that shaped their existence. The tragic loss of 370 crew members aboard CA-39 at Savo Island and the relentless fire support provided by CA-71’s gunners at Utah Beach together demonstrate both the sacrifice endured and the success achieved by these ships. These cruisers fought on the front lines balancing firepower with exposure to danger while performing what historian Samuel Eliot Morison called “the Navy’s toughest job.”

Legacy and Reflection

The CA-39 now lies at the bottom of Ironbottom Sound which serves as her final resting place surrounded by her fallen crew members and her solitary battle star stands as a testament to their sacrifice. After being scrapped in 1974 following decommissioning in 1954 the CA-71 earned four battle stars and left behind a diplomatic legacy which lives through Quincy House in Riyadh that commemorates Roosevelt's historic 1945 meeting with Ibn Saud. Their combined efforts demonstrate how cruisers functioned as the adaptable backbone while disputing the prominence of capital ships.

The Quincy legacy encourages us to look back on the naval story of World War II as of March 24, 2025. The Navy learned tough lessons from the sinking of CA-39 which were later successfully implemented by CA-71 in battle.