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USS ''Houston'' (CL/CA-30), was a of the United States Navy. She was the second Navy ship to bear the name "Houston". She was launched by Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia on 7 September 1929, sponsored by Elizabeth Holcombe (daughter of Oscar Holcombe, then-mayor of Houston, Texas), and commissioned on 17 June 1930, Captain Jesse Bishop Gay commanding. Originally classified as a light cruiser, CL-30, because of her thin armor. Effective 1 July 1931, ''Houston'' was redesignated a heavy cruiser, CA-30, because of her 8-inch guns in accordance with the provisions of the London Naval Treaty of 1930. ==Inter-war period== After conducting a shakedown cruise in the Atlantic, ''Houston'' returned to the United States in October 1930. She then visited her namesake city, and joined the fleet at Hampton Roads. Steaming to New York, the cruiser departed on 10 January 1931 for the Pacific, and after stopping at the Panama Canal and the Hawaiian Islands arrived Manila on 22 February. ''Houston'' became flagship of the Asiatic Fleet upon arrival, and for the next year participated in training operations in the Far East.〔 With the outbreak of war between China and Japan in 1931, ''Houston'' got underway on 31 January for Shanghai to protect American interests. She landed Marine and Navy gun platoons to help stabilize the situation and remained in the area, with the exception of a good will cruise to the Philippines in March and one to Japan in May 1933, until being relieved by on 17 November 1933. The cruiser sailed to San Francisco to join the Scouting Force, and for the years preceding World War II participated in Fleet Problems and maneuvers in the Pacific.〔 During this period, ''Houston'' made several special cruises. President Franklin Roosevelt came aboard on 1 July 1934 at Annapolis, Maryland, for a cruise of almost through the Caribbean and to Portland, Oregon, by way of Hawaii. ''Houston'' also carried Assistant Secretary of the Navy Henry L. Roosevelt on a tour of the Hawaiian Islands, returning to San Diego on 15 May 1935.〔 After a short cruise in Alaskan waters, the cruiser returned to Seattle and embarked the President again on 3 October for a vacation cruise to Cedros Island, Magdalena Bay, Cocos Islands, and Charleston, South Carolina. ''Houston'' also celebrated the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge at San Francisco on 28 May 1937, and carried President Roosevelt for a Fleet Review at the same city on 14 July 1938.〔 Roosevelt's 24-day cruise aboard ''Houston'' concluded on 9 August 1938 at Pensacola, Florida.〔Crestview, Florida, "President Lands At Pensacola", ''Okaloosa News-Journal'', Friday 12 August 1938, Volume 24, Number 32, page 1.〕 ''Houston'' became flagship of the U.S. Fleet on 19 September, when Rear Admiral Claude C. Bloch brought his flag aboard, and maintained that status until 28 December, when she returned to the Scouting Force. Continuing the routine of training exercises, she got underway for Fleet Problem XX, on 4 January 1939 from San Francisco, sailed to Norfolk and Key West, and there embarked the President and the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral William D. Leahy, for the duration of the problem. She arrived in Houston on 7 April for a brief visit before returning to Seattle, where she arrived on 30 May.〔 Assigned as flagship Hawaiian Detachment, the cruiser arrived Pearl Harbor after her post-overhaul shakedown on 7 December 1939, and continued in that capacity until returning to Mare Island on 17 February 1940. Sailing to Hawaii, she departed for the Philippine Islands on 3 November. Arriving Manila on 19 November, she became flagship of Admiral Thomas C. Hart, Commander Asiatic Fleet.〔 Shortly before the war in the Pacific broke out, five quad mount 1.1 caliber antiaircraft cannons were shipped to Cavite Naval Yard in the Philippines of which the naval yard fitted four to the Houston for added air defense protection.〔"Waiting for the Main Attack", ''Fighting For MacArthur'', John Gordon, Naval Institute Press, ISBN 978-1-61251-057-6, p. 67〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「USS Houston (CA-30)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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