| USS Houston (CA-30) at anchor off San Pedro, California. A New Orleans class heavy cruiser is in the right background. USS Houston was between periods of hosting Vice Admiral Edward H. Campbell (October 4, 1872 – December 11, 1946), Commanding Officer, Scouting Force, from December 3, 1934 – April 1, 1935, and Assistant Secretary of the Navy Henry L. Roosevelt (October 5, 1879 – February 22, 1936) from May 15-31, 1935. Captain Walter B. Woodson (October 18, 1881 – April 23, 1948) was Commanding Officer from June 5, 1934, to June 25, 1935. Roosevelt was aboard to witness Fleet Problem XVI, which began on April 29, 1935. It was the largest mock battle ever staged, conducted over an area of the North Central Pacific covering 5,000,000 square miles between Midway, Hawaii, and the Aleutian Islands, involving 321 vessels and 70,000 men. Although it was the 1st time 4 aircraft carriers participated, the major contribution to aviation was the experimentation with underway refueling of carriers, which enabled carrier task forces to operate independently. Training included scouting, screening, and the “seizure” of Midway Atoll, which later influenced World War II amphibious doctrine. Fleet Problem XVI ended on June 10, 1935. USS Houston was sunk during the Battle of Sunda Strait on March 1, 1942. 696 officers and crew were killed in action, including United States Navy Captain Albert H. Rooks (December 29, 1891 – March 1, 1942), who was Houston’s Commanding Officer at the time. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1493.jpg |
| Image Size | 2.47 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 5775 x 4491 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | April 18, 1935 |
| Location | |
| City | San Pedro |
| State or Province | California |
| Country | United States |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 80-CF-21337-1 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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