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Two ''Portland''-class Cruiser s were laid down in 1930 ; original plans called for a class of six, but four were later altered into ''New Orleans''-class Cruiser s shortly after being laid down in 1930 & 1931. Three more ''New Orleans''-class were also laid down, in 1931, 1933 and 1934. The carrier was the USS ''Ranger'' (CV-4) , laid down in 1931 .

  • 1929: No ships were laid down

  • 1930: Two ''Portland''-class and a ''New Orleans''-class were laid down

  • 1931: Four ''New Orleans''-class, and the ''Ranger'', were laid down

  • 1932: No ships were laid down

  • 1933: One ''New Orleans''-class was laid down

  • 1934: One ''New Orleans''-class was laid down


This gives a total of ten ships constructed under the Act, far short of the twenty authorized.

Several factors could have affected construction; among them, the London Naval Conference in 1930 . The most likely explanation for the delays, however, was the strict government economies related to the Great Depression ; it is notable that in 1932-4, new construction almost stagnated. With the New Deal , and a willingness to spend money, this slowly turned around; the National Industrial Recovery Act of June 1933 was used to authorise the completion of various vessels, and following this the last two ''New Orleans''-class were laid down.

In 1934 , a new naval construction bill, the Vinson-Trammell Act was passed, providing a systematic program of ship replacement for the Navy throughout the decade and superceding the remnants of the Cruiser Act plans.