This mid-1930s U.S. Navy promotional short, filmed by Paramount Pictures, shows off the U.S.S. Tuscaloosa, a New-Orleans-class cruiser (heavy cruiser). The ship would later serve in WWII (Pacific theater). Sub-topics of the film include: life on a Navy ship, flag signaling / signal practice, passing the Panama Canal / electric mules at Panama canal, Navy seaplanes, and Navy formations.

Title: “Let’s Join The Navy! Come aboard and see what life is like on one of Uncle Sam’s modern cruisers…the U.S.S. Tuscaloosa…” Narrated by Alois Havrilla; Paramount Pictorial (0:06). USS Tuscaloosa moves quickly in open ocean near Atlantic coastline (30 knots) (0:17). USS Tuscaloosa crew asleep in foldable bunks (0:40). Sailors wake up, stow bunks (0:45). Sailors emerge on deck, begin cleaning, sweeping (“brush brigade”) (0:55). Ship kitchens aboard USS Tuscaloosa, setting dishes from crates, serving food (1:17). Sailors sit down to meals on ship (1:25). Officers in uniform on bridge look out through binoculars, stand at wheel, near signals (Navy ship technology) (1:34). Sailor studies indicators/ship gauges while turning wheel (1:50). Wake of the ship (1:55). Anchor being dropped near Panama Canal (2:05). Sailors gather at bow, look out at Colon Harbor / Panama Canal entrance on Atlantic side (2:10). Electric mules being rigged to battlecruiser; sailors prepare ship to move through canal locks; frantic activity on deck of USS Tuscaloosa (2:26). Lock opens at Panama Canal (2:37). Electric mule moves up canal locks; ship passes through Panama Canal, hills visible behind (2:40). Airplane flies over USS Tuscaloosa; aerial view of ship (2:55). Edge of ship’s hull in water as it moves at high speed (3:00). Sailor in uniform blows bugle on deck (3:05). Sailors retrieve signal flags and fly signal flags (signal practice) (3:10). Signal flags waving on battle cruiser ship (3:25). Sailor tends ropes of signal flags on deck (3:28). Signal flags shown descending (3:30). Sailors drilling, lined up, officers inspecting; Marine detachment drills with rifles in uniform (manual of arms ) (3:35). At flagman’s signal to take off, seaplane (12-S-4 Tuscaloosa) takes off from deck of USS Tuscaloosa battle cruiser (3:55). Aerial view from seaplane toward USS Tuscaloosa on open water (4:04). Tuscaloosa seaplane lands on ocean (4:09). Seaplanes being lifted by hook and cable onto deck of USS Tuscaloosa (4:12). USS Tuscaloosa moves through open ocean (steam, wake, hull, waves) (4:22). American flag waving with USS Tuscaloosa in background (4:30). Fleet of US Navy ships in formation (likely Fleet Problem XVI or Fleet problem XVII) (4:33). Various Navy ships move through open water and rough waves; Navy ships fire in formation; waves crashing into bow (4:37). Sailors near large American flag on deck of US Navy ship with another ship on ocean in background (4:52). “The End” over Paramount Pictures’ famous Mountain logo (5:01).

USS Tuscaloosa (CA-37) was a New Orleans-class cruiser. Commissioned in 1934, she spent most of her career in the Atlantic and Caribbean, participating in several European wartime operations. In early 1945, she transferred to the Pacific and assisted in shore bombardment of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. She earned 7 battle stars for her service in World War II. Never damaged in battle, she led a charmed life compared to her six sister ships, three of which were sunk and the other three heavily damaged. She was decommissioned in early 1946 and scrapped in 1959.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com