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| USN Omaha-class Light Cruiser 7,500 tons (standard) 9,508 Tons (loaded) 555' 6" x 55' 4" x 14' 3" (Armament 1941) 2 x Twin 6"/53 cal guns 6 x Single 6"/53 cal guns 7 x 3"/50 cal AA guns 2 x Triple 21" torpedo tubes 8 x .50 cal MG  USN February 1942 |
Ship History Built by William Cramp & Sons in Philadelphia, PA. Ordered July 1, 1918. Laid down August 4, 1920. Launched October 9, 1923 as USS Marblehead (CL-12) named for Marblehead, Massachusetts sponsored by Mrs. Joseph Evans. Commissioned September 8, 1924 in the U.S. Navy (USN) under the command of Captain Chauncey Shackford. Afterwards, departs Boston on a shakedown cruise in the English Channel and Mediterranean Sea. In 1925, departs on a voyage across the Pacific via Samoa and Society Islands to Australia and returns via the Galápagos Islands. In 1927, made a voyage to Nicaraga. Next, to Pearl Harbor and with USS Cincinnati (CL-6) and USS Richmond (CL-9) across the Pacific bound for Shanghai for a show of force in the first phase of the Chinese Civil War and steamed up the Yangtze River to Hankow and returning visited Japan then departs in March 1928 then returns via the Panama Canal via Corinto then returns to Boston in August 1928 and remains in the Atlantic. In February 1933 returns to the Pacific. During January 1938 temporarily assigned to the Asiatic Fleet and permanently assigned seven months later based at Cavite and operates in the Sea of Japan and patrols South China Sea and East China Sea. On November 24, 1941 departs Cavite with Task Force 5 (TF 5) for a routine patrol. On November 29, 1941 anchors at Tarakan. Wartime History On December 8, 1941 informed of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and joins Dutch and Australian warships to patrol the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) and screens shipping. On January 9, 1942 part of Task Force 5 (TF 5) off northern Australia. On January 10, 1942 departs Darwin with USS Boise (CL-47) plus five destroyers USS Stewart (DD-224), USS Bulmer (DD-222), USS Parrott (DD-218), USS Barker (DD-213) and USS Pope (DD-225) escorting transport SS Bloemfontein bound for Surabaya. On January 21, 1942 departs Koepang as part of a Task Force under Rear Admiral William A. Glassford with USS Boise (CL-47) plus four destroyers to engage Japanese convoy spotted yesterday in the Makassar Strait. En route, USS Boise (CL-47) steams across an uncharted pinnacle in Sape Strai and suffers sufficient damage to eliminate her from the force and Glassford transfers his flag to USS Marblehead (CL-12) that suffers turbine trouble that limits her top speed to only 15 knots. Admiral Glassford orders the destroyers under Commander Paul H. Talbot to proceed ahead. On January 24, 1942 during the night, covers the withdrawal of Dutch and U.S. warships after an attack on a Japanese convoy off Balikpapan. On January 30, 1942 departs Surabaja escorting a force to o engage Japanese ships off Kendari but it departed. On February 2, 1942 the warships anchor in Bunda Roads. On February 4, 1942 at 9:40am the ABDA fleet was south of the Kangean Islands in the Flores Sea when spotted by a G4M1 Betty from Takao Kokutai from Kendari Airfield. During the Battle of Makassar Strait the Allied force was attacked by 36 G4M1 Betty (27 from Kanoya Kokutai and 9 from Takao Kokutai) plus 24 G3M2 Nells from the 1st Kokutai. The bomber formation approached at medium altitude in chutai in "V" formation the targeted the cruisers. During the initial run, bombs fell ahead of USS Marblehead (CL-12) and during the second run she sustained two direct hits from 250kg bombs and a near miss the damage resulted in the cruiser only being able to steam in circles and aboard 15 crew were killed. At 1:00pm, Admiral Karel Doorman order the ABDA fleet to withdraw unable to reach the Makassar Strait with Marblehead and the U.S. destroyers withdraw south via the Lombok Strait. Afterwards, headed for Tjilatjap for repairs and to transfer off wounded. PARTIAL HISTORY On October 15, 1942 resumes duty attached to the South Atlantic Force operating between Recife and Bahia in Brazil until February 1944. On February 20, 1944 returns to New York then defends convoy lanes in the North Atlantic for the next five months then to the Mediterranean Sea. On July 28, 1944 arrives Palermo and joins the task force staging for Operation Dragoon for the invasion of southern France and conducts shore bombardment against targets in the vicinity of Saint-Raphael. On August 18, 1944 withdraws to Corsica and later returns to the United States. During 1945, conducted a summer training cruise for U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) midshipmen. Fate On November 1, 1945 decommissioned at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. On November 28, 1945 struck from the register. On February 27, 1946 sold for scrap and broken up. Awards For her World War II service, earned two battle stars (one for Europe and one for Asiatic-Pacific). References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - USS Marblehead (CL-12) via Wayback Machine April 13, 2009 Naval History and Heritage Command - National Museum of the U.S. Navy - Battle of Makassar Strait (photos) NavSource - USS Marblehead (CL-12) Contribute
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