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| USN Brooklyn-class Light Cruiser 9,650 Tons 608' 4" x 61' 9" x 19' 5" 15 x 6" guns 8 x 5" guns 16 x 1.1" AA 8 x 50 cal MG  USN October 26, 1942  USN July 20, 1943 |
Ship History Built by New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York. Ordered February 13, 1929. Awarded to New York Navy Yard August 22, 1934. Laid down December 9, 1935 as a Brooklyn-class Light Cruiser. Launched August 26, 1937 as USS Honolulu CL-48 as the second ship named Honolulu for Honolulu sponsored by Miss Helen Poindexter, daughter of the governor of the Territory of Hawaii. Commissioned June 15, 1938 in the U.S. Navy (USN). Nicknamed "Blue Goose". Prewar After a shakedown cruise to England, Honolulu engaged in fleet exercises in the Caribbean Sea. On May 24, 1939 departs New York via the Panama Canal to San Pedro arriving June 14, 1939 to join the Pacific Fleet. For the rest of the year, participates in exercises along the West Coast. During the first half of 1940, the Honolulu continued operations out of Long Beach and has an overhaul at the Puget Sound shipyard then on November 5, 1940 departs for Pearl Harbor and operates off Hawaii for the remainder of the year and 1941. Wartime Service On December 7, 1941 moored at Pearl Harbor and during the Japanese attack, suffered a near miss from a bomb that caused light hull damage that was repaired. On January 12, 1942 departs Pearl Harbor escorting a convoy arriving at to San Francisco nine days later. Afterwards, escorted a convoy to Australia and back to the west coast of the United States until the end of May 1942. On May 29, 1942 departs bound for Kodiak and remained in the vicinity for two months before proceeding to the Aleutian Islands. On August 7, 1942 Rear Admiral William W. Smith's Task Group 8.6 (TG 8.6) bombardment group shells Kiska Island including USS Louisville (CA-28), USS Indianapolis (CA-35), USS Nashville (CL-43), USS Honolulu (CL-48) and USS St. Louis (CL-49) plus destroyers USS Elliot (DD-146), USS Reid (DD-369), USS Case (DD-370), USS Gridley (DD-380) and USS McCall (DD-400). Although fog limited observation their floatplanes reported ships sinking in Kiska Harbor and fires burning among shore installations. The Japanese were caught by surprise and took fifteen minutes before shore batteries returned fire and Japanese seaplanes made ineffective attacks. The operation was considered a success despite the scanty information on its results. On August 21, 1942, screens the U.S. landing on Adak. Afterwards, undergoes shipyard work at Mare Island. On November 3, 1943 departs San Francisco and escorts a convoy to across the Pacific to Noumea then proceeds to Espiritu Santo. Later that month departs Espiritu Santo for Guadalcanal to intercept a Japanese Navy "Tokyo Express" convoy bound for Guadalcanal. Battle of Tassafaronga On November 30, 1942 participates in the Battle of Tassafaronga as part of a cruiser and destroyer force that steamed through Lengo Channel into Iron Bottom Sound and during the battle steaming to the west of Savo Island and survives the battle undamaged. Afterwards, joins Task Force 67 (TF-67) for a bombardment mission. On January 4, 1943 during the night participats in the shore bombardment of Munda on New Georgia. On January 5, 1943 the force was attacked by D3A Val dive bombers, with three targeting Honolulu and score near misses but cause no damage. Afterwards, anchors in Segond Channel between January 8, 1943 until January 22, 1943 then to Espiritu Santo. During May 1943 she participated in shore bombardments of New Georgia. Battle of Kula Gulf On June 28, 1943 Honolulu departs Espiritu Santo bound for New Georgia and supports the U.S. landings. On July 4, 1943, she participated in the Battle of Kula Gulf, knocking out one destroyer and assisting in the destruction of others. Battle of Kolombangara On July 13, 1943 shortly after midnight, at the start of the Battle of Kolombangara (Second Battle of Kula Gulf) contact was made with an enemy cruiser-destroyer force in "The Slot." At 1:10am, Honolulu opened fire targeting a Sendai-class cruiser; after three salvos the target burst into flame and was soon dead in the water. The Honolulu then shifted fire to an enemy destroyer, which was immediately hit and disappeared. At 2:11am, a torpedo very near the surface struck the starboard side of the Honolulu, blowing a hole in her hull. The task force then retired to Tulagi for temporary repairs, and then departed for the large naval base at Pearl Harbor. On 16 August, the USS Honolulu arrived at Pearl Harbor for major repairs. She then proceeded to the shipyard at Mare Island, near San Francisco, for more work. After the additional repairs at Mare Island, departs November 17, 1943 and steams across the Pacific bound for the South Pacific. On December 11, 1943 arrives at Espiritu Santo and resums operations in the Solomon Islands later in the month. On December 27, 1943 she conducts shore bombardment of an enemy barges, troops, and supply concentration on Bougainville. In early 1944 the cruiser continues bombardments and patrols in the Solomon Islands. On February 13, 1944 screens the landings on Green Island (NIssan) then departs to begin preparations for operations in the Marianas Islands. In early June 1944, USS Honolulu conducts shore bombardment of southeastern Saipan. In the middle of June 1944 bombards Guam. then is deployed northwest to intercept the Japanese Fleet. On June 28, 1944 returns to Eniwetok Atoll for replenishments, then supports the U.S. landings on Guam. For three weeks, provides shore bombardment then departs for Purvis Bay arriving August 18, 1944. On September 6, 1944 departs to join the invasion force bound for Palau to support for the U.S. landings on Peleliu and Anguar for the rest of the month then departs for Manus. On October 12, 1944 departs Manus bound for Leyte Gulf in the Philippines. Leyte Landing On October 19, 1944 conducts a pre-invasion shore bombardment of eastern Leyte. On October 20, 1944 begins screening the U.S. Army landings. At 4:00pm the crew spotted a Japanese torpedo plane, B6N Tenzan (Jill) from 256 Kokutai (256 Air Group) that released a torpedo aimed at Honolulu. Although attempting to maneuver to evade, the torpedo hit the port side. Damaged, the light cruiser was beached off Leyte for emergency repairs by USS Potawatomi (ATF-109) and USS Menominee (ATF-73) then departs for Manus and arrives a week later for temporary repairs. On November 19, 1944 departed across the Pacific via Pearl Harbor, San Diego, and Panama Canal before arriving at Norfolk on December 20, 1944. Honolulu remained at Norfolk undergoing repairs the remainder of the Pacific War. Awards For her World War II service, Honolulu earned eight battle stars. Postwar After a shakedown cruise in October 1945, she steamed to Newport, Rhode Island, for duty as a training ship. The Honolulu arrived at Philadelphia on 8 January 1946 and was decommissioned there on 3 February 1947, and joined the Reserve Fleet at Philadelphia. Fate On November 17, 1949 sold to Bethlehem Steel and afterwards broken up for scrap. Relatives David G. Turner (son of LtCdr Turner): "My father was Lieut. Cmdr. on USS Honolulu 1942-1944" References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - USS Honolulu (CL-48) Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - H-038-2: The Battle of Leyte Gulf in Detail "Nevertheless, on the afternoon of the 20 October, a Japanese torpedo plane succeed in hitting the light cruiser Honolulu (CL-48) with one torpedo. Honolulu had been a lucky ship, going through multiple battles and even surviving two torpedo hits at the Battle of Kolombangara in 1943, all without losing a man. Her luck ran out. Although her skipper successfully maneuvered to avoid a hit in her vitals, 60 of her crew were killed, but the surviving crewmen saved their ship. Honolulu was then struck by a stray “friendly” anti-aircraft round that killed five more crewmen" Ten Days to Kamikaze – Part V – The Allies Land at Leyte by Richard Dunn "A Tenzan of K256 (752 Ku) torpedoed U.S.S. Honolulu" Ten Days to Kamikaze – Part VI – The First Official Kamikaze Mission by Richard Dunn "Australia along with Honolulu damaged the previous day was escorted out of the area under her own power for repair. Unlike Honolulu she was repaired in time for additional war service and returned to the Philippines" NavSource - USS Honolulu (CL 48) PineappleMaru.com - Light Cruiser USS Honolulu (CL-48) by David G. Turner Contribute
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