0 , ▁to ▁be ▁constructed ▁by ▁three ▁build ers . ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 1 , ▁CA - 3 2 , ▁CA - 3 4 , ▁and ▁CA - 3 6 , ▁all ▁ordered ▁with ▁West ing house ▁mach in ery , ▁were ▁converted ▁to ▁the ▁New ▁Orleans ▁class . ▁Port land ▁was ▁laid ▁down ▁by ▁Beth le hem ▁Ste el ▁at ▁Qu in cy ▁Sh ip yard ▁on ▁ 1 7 ▁February ▁ 1 9 3 0 , ▁and ▁Indian apolis ▁was ▁laid ▁down ▁by ▁New ▁York ▁Sh ip building ▁Corporation ▁on ▁ 3 1 ▁March ▁ 1 9 3 0 . ▁The ▁h ull ▁and ▁mach in ery ▁of ▁both ▁ships ▁was ▁provided ▁by ▁their ▁respective ▁build ers . ▁Indian apolis ▁was ▁launched ▁first , ▁on ▁ 7 ▁November ▁ 1 9 3 1 ▁and ▁commission ed ▁on ▁ 1 5 ▁November ▁ 1 9 3 2 . ▁Port land ▁was ▁launched ▁on ▁ 2 1 ▁May ▁ 1 9 3 2 ▁and ▁commission ed ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁February ▁ 1 9 3 3 . ▁ ▁Sh ips ▁in ▁class ▁ ▁USS ▁Port land ▁( CA - 3 3 ) ▁▁ ▁Port land ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁ship ▁on ▁the ▁scene ▁when ▁the ▁air ship ▁ ▁went ▁down ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 3 , ▁and ▁coordin ated ▁efforts ▁to ▁retrieve ▁surv iv ors . ▁She ▁conducted ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁fleet ▁man eu vers ▁and ▁good will ▁miss ions ▁throughout ▁the ▁Pacific ▁Ocean . ▁After ▁the ▁start ▁of ▁World ▁War