Light Cruisers: Brooklyn Class

[Brian James]

Brooklyn Class Light Cruiser USS Honolulu pictured in 1939.
Honolulu was launched at New York Navy Yard,Brooklyn in 1937 and commissioned in 1938.She ship served in the Battle of Tassafaronga, the Battle of Kula Gulf, the Battle of Kolombangara and the Battle of Peleliu. She was taken out of action by serious torpedo damage just before the Battle of Leyte Gulf. She was repaired, but not in time to rejoin the war. She was decommissioned in 1947 and was held in reserve until she was scrapped in 1959.

[designeraccd]

Maybe the "best" pre-war light cruiser class. They certainly had FIREPOWER with their 15-6"!!! Here's the BOISE... DFO

[Brian James]

Brooklyn Class Light Cruiser USS St Louis pictured off Mare Island Navy Yard,March 6th 1942.She was laid down on December 10th 1936 at Newport News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia; launched on April 15th 1938; and commissioned on May 19th 1939.On December 7th1941, she was moored to the pier in Southeast Lock at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. At 7:56, Japanese planes were sighted by observers on board St Louis. Within minutes, the ship was at general quarters, and her operable anti-aircraft guns were manned and firing on the attackers. By 8:06, preparations for getting underway had begun. At about 8:20, one of the Cruiser's gun crews shot down its first Japanese torpedo plane. By 9:00, two more Japanese aircraft had joined the first. At 9:31,she moved away from the pier and headed for South Channel and the open sea. 15 minutes later, her 6 in guns, whose power leads had been disconnected, were in full operating order.
As the Cruiser moved into the channel entrance, she became the target of a Midget Submarine. The Japanese torpedoes, however, exploded on striking a shoal less than 200 yds from her. Destroyers then pounded the bottom with depth charges and she continued out to sea where she joined Detroit and Phoenix, both of which also left Pearl Harbor during the attack, with a few Destroyers in the search for the Japanese fleet. After failing to locate the Japanese strike force, the hunters returned to Pearl Harbor on December 10th.St Louis turned to escorting transports carrying casualties to San Francisco and troops to Hawaii.She was deactivated shortly after the war, but was recommissioned into the Brazilian Navy as Almirante Tamandare in 1951. She served until 1976, and sank under tow to the scrappers in 1980.

[designeraccd]

Some views of the BOISE, including a damage drawing: she took a licking and kept on ticking!! DFO

[designeraccd]

Views of the HONOLULU with her 15-6" rifles! DFO

[Brian James]

Lead Ship,Light Cruiser USS Brooklyn pictured c1940.

[designeraccd]

Two views of BOISE in WW 2.........DFO

[Brian James]

Brooklyn Class Light Cruiser USS Philadelphia with President Franklin D Roosevelt aboard in May 1938.

[designeraccd]

Nice views of the PHILLY Brian!!

Here she is in Portland, Oregon in 1939. DFO

[Brian James]

Brooklyn Class Light Cruiser USS Savannah pictured in 1938.