The British ships were: the HMS Exeter, a heavy cruiser, the HMS Achilles, a light cruiser and the HMS Ajax, also a light cruiser. While making her way to Buenos Aires, the Helena crossed waters where only a few weeks before a sea-battle occurred between a German warship and three British warships.Being a representative of Davy Jones, King Neptune presided over the ceremony. After a quick inspection, and finding no evidence of a German base, the USS Helena continued on her way to Buenos Aires.ġ3 January 1940: USS Helena made her first crossing of the equator. This archipelago of islands lies approximately 240 miles off the east coast of Brazil, almost directly east of Natal, Brazil. It was reported that Fernando de Noronha had a hidden German submarine base among it's islands. En route to Buenos Aires, Argentina, USS Helena made a stop at Fernando de Noronha.Here the larger guns, the 6" guns, were fired to test the structural soundness of the ship- to make sure the Helena was capable of withstanding the shock of firing her larger guns. This is an excellent site with crew stories and photographs.ģ January 1940: USS Helena departed Norfolk, Virginia for Guantanamo, Cuba.Ħ January 1940: USS Helena arrived at Guantanamo, Cuba. Mid September to mid October 1939: With a combination of civilians and military personnel on board, USS Helena tested her equipment, energized the degaussing belt for torpedo deflection, calculated speed and calibrated turns as part of her "fitness for duty" and shakedown cruise. Captain Max DeMott was named as first Captain. Lieutenant Commander Donald Hendry Johnston temporarily assigned commander pending arrival of Helena's first Captain.ģ September 1939: War declared in Europe.ġ8 September 1939: USS Helena commissioned. These ships were stationed in or near the Brooklyn Navy Yard.Ģ7 August 1939: USS Helena launched. These ships were: USS Seattle, USS Arkansas, USS Wyoming, USS New York and USS Texas. However, because the Helena was not completed, these crewmen were assigned to other ships for temporary duty. June 1939 Sailors began to be assigned to the USS Helena as her first crew members. 9 December 1936: Keel laid at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York.
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