Thanks guys - much appreciated. I also love to answer questions about this stuff (when I can) so if you guys have any, please ask away.
Next is PORTLAND (CA-33) after the ship's first major wartime refit at Mare Island. Like most combatants of this time the ship is camouflaged in Measure 21's all-over Navy Blue (5-N).
PORTLAND was slightly differently than her sister INDIANAPOLIS (CA-35); most notably, the well deck amidships extended forward past the number one stack. This allowed the ship's whaleboats to be spotted right aft of the step in the main deck, a more advantageous position than aft. 8" fueling-at-sea hoses, life rafts, and firefighting equipment are racked on the tall bulkhead on either side of the stack base. The foremast also carries the SK air search radar with an SG just ahead of it, while the large platform on the mainmast remains empty (I am not sure why this was done). A second SG surface search set sits on the main top. A Curtiss SOC Seagull of Cruiser Scouting Squadron FOUR (VCS-4) is spotted on the catapult.
PORTLAND survived the war to be decommissioned shortly after the end of hostilities. The ship was broken up for scrap in 1959 after 14 years in the reserve fleet.
All PORTLAND class cruiser drawings available here: http://test.shipbucket.com/drawings/sea ... ate=&view=
All USN cruiser drawings available here: http://test.shipbucket.com/drawings?cat ... hipType=16
