MIGHTY NINETY
The Homepage of USS ASTORIA CL-90
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USS ASTORIA underway during her shakedown on 20 June 1944.
-U.S. Navy Photo courtesy of Larry Cote
6 June 1944
While the invasion of Fortress Europe began across the Atlantic in Normandy, USS ASTORIA began shakedown training in the vicinity of
From
It was drill, drill, drill, day and night; and battle problems, abandon ship, surprise firing and tracking drill. The words, “this will be a dummy run,” were hammered into our brains until we thought there could be no more. We didn’t know much when we started, but we learned fast and continuously.
During the shakedown the ship stopped for a time at We left the fine city of 
Preparing for fueling operations.
-photo taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
Holystoning the deck.
-photo taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
Practicing loading 5-inch shells.
-photo taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
Airing out bedding, starboard side forward. Note the two single 20mm mounts at upper right--these were replaced by twin 40mm mounts upon ASTORIA's return to the Philadelphia Navy Yard after the shakedown cruise ended.
-photo taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
Sunbathing atop the sliding aircraft access door on the fantail. This door was actually a large tank filled with aviation gasoline.
-photo taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
Moving a fueling hose beneath the six-inch guns of turret four. Note the carrier steaming in the distance with its planes spotted on the flight deck aft.
-photo taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
Trading scuttlebutt with the next ship over, one way war rumors would spread from ship to ship.
-photo taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
Scrubbing bunk covers along the starboard side aft. Note the open weather deck hatch at right.
-photo taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
4 July 1944
ASTORIA spent her first Independence Day in Port of Spain, Trinidad: 
Port of Spain and the Trinidad coastline viewed from ASTORIA.
-photo taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
Shore Patrol duty personnel muster on the quay.
-photo taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
ASTORIA personnel transferring from CL-90 to a barge to go ashore for liberty in Port of Spain.
-photo taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
Above and below: Views of Trinidad as ASTORIA gets underway to return to the United States.
-photos taken by U.S. Navy Photographer's Mate 3rd Class Herman Schnipper
Although not mentioned in the cruise book, during her shakedown ASTORIA developed a significant propulsion system problem. Her no.2 turbine failed, causing her to complete her shakedown cruise with only partial power.
16 July 1944
Mighty Ninety headed back to the East Coast and put in at Norfolk, Virginia on 20 July. There her crew underwent an admiral's inspection and was declared "fit for any and all action." ASTORIA then headed back up the coast to Philadelphia Navy Yard, where her turbine was replaced and she underwent additional overhaul and refit.
USS ASTORIA underway for Philadelphia from Norfolk following her post-shakedown inspection, 22 July 1944. At the time of this photo, her no.2 turbine has failed.
-U.S. Navy Photo reproduced from www.navsource.org
15 Sep 1944
Her repairs and refit complete, USS ASTORIA CL-90 got underway for the war in the Pacific.
From 
The course of USS ASTORIA CL-90 during her shakedown cruise, overhaul, and finally to the Panama Canal.
-CL-90 Track Chart reproduced from 1986 Reunion Program in Brent Jones collection
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Sources:
Cote, Larry. Private photo collection.
Unk. editor. MIGHTY NINETY: USS ASTORIA CL-90 cruise book. Unk. publisher, 1946.
www.navsource.org cruiser photo archive.
