During her shakedown period, St. Louis embarked officers surveying possible American base locations in British Atlantic territories. Their route extended from Newfoundland to British Guiana, spanning the northern approaches and the Caribbean-facing coast of South America. The sites were connected to facilities the United States hoped to obtain through the destroyers-for-bases agreement with Britain. The episode shows a new cruiser contributing to the geographic and logistical groundwork for Atlantic defense before the United States entered the war.
Notable Point · 1:09:30-1:10:16
St. Louis surveys the Atlantic base network
A shakedown survey from Newfoundland to British Guiana links the cruiser to the future bases acquired through the destroyers-for-bases agreement.