Man of War Row Whangpoo Huangpu River Shanghai China 1939 cruisers USS Augusta HMS Birmingham Lamotte-Picquet
“Man of War Row” in the Whangpoo (Huangpu) River, Shanghai, China, in late May or early June 1939.
The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Augusta (CA-31) is moored to the left. The Siccawei Observatory signal tower is in the foreground. The old Japanese cruiser Izumo is in the distance, beyond Augusta’s bow. Next is the British Royal Navy light cruiser HMS Birmingham (C19), which has large Union Jacks painted atop her awnings and turrets to assist identification from the air, and carries a Supermarine Walrus aircraft amidships. What appears to be a British Insect-class gunboat is near shore in the center background. The French light cruiser Lamotte-Picquet is moored astern of Birmingham. The U.S. Navy troop transport USS Chaumont (AP-5) is moored in the most distant row, ahead of the Italian cruiser Bartolomeo Colleoni and astern of Lamotte-Picquet. The merchantman moored in the nearer offshore row include the British Shantung (left) and the Italian Enderia (center). The British merchantman Yingchow is moored in the distance, beyond Chaumont’s bow. U.S. Navy photos NH 81985, NH 81986, NH 81987 and NH 81988.