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| USN Cleveland-class Light Cruiser 11,744 Tons (standard) 14,131 Tons (maximum) 610' 1" x 66' 4" x 25' 6" 4x3 6"/47 cal Mark 16 guns 6x2 5"/38 cal AA guns 4x2 40mm Bofors AA guns 13 x 20mm cannon 4 x floatplanes 2 x stern catapults  USN 1942 |
Ship History Built by New York Shipbuilding Corporation of Camden, NJ. Laid down July 1, 1940 as Hull No. 423 as the lead ship of the Cleveland-class Light Cruiser. Launched November 1, 1941 as USS Cleveland (CL-55) named for Cleveland, Ohio. Commissioned June 15, 1942 in the U.S. Navy (USN) with Captain E. W. Burrough in command as the first new class of warship to enter service after the United States entered World War II. During August 1942, Cleveland test fired 5"/38 shells with the new radio proximity (VT) fuze aimed at target drones. The tests were satisfactory and full-scale production was initiated by Crowley Corporation. Wartime History On October 10, 1942 departs Norfolk and nine days later joined a task force off Bermuda bound for the invasion of North Africa. On November 8, 1942 Cleveland provided gun fire support for the landings at Fedhala, French Morocco and supported the landings for the next four days then returned to Norfolk on November 24, 1942. On December 5, 1942 departs for the South Pacific. On January 16, 1943 arrives Havannah Harbor off Efaté. On January 27, 1943 assigned to Task Force 18 (TF-18) escorted a convoy bound for Guadalcanal and fired on enemy bombers during the Battle of Rennell Island on January 29, 1943 and January 30, 1943 then was released from escort duty at the end of the month. On March 6, 1943 steams up "the Slot" with Joining Task Force 68 (TF-68) to bombard Vila Airfield on Kolombangara, then joined in the night action which sank two Japanese destroyers Minegumo and Murasame in the Battle of Blackett Strait (Battle of Vila–Stanmore). During June 1943 placed under the command of Captain Andrew G. Shepard. On June 16, 1943 lost is SON-1 Seagull 1184 with crew rescued. On June 29, 1943 at 1:16pm departs Purvis Bay with Task Force 68 (TF 68) "Merrill's Marauders" under the command of Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill as Task Group 36.2 (TG 36.2), Task Unit 36.2.1 (TU 36.2.1) including USS Montpelier (CL-57) flagship with Rear Admiral Merrill, USS Cleveland (CL-55), USS Columbia (CL-56), USS Denver (CL-58) with light minelayers USS Preble (DM-20), USS Gamble (DM-15), and USS Breese (DM-18) plus five destroyers USS Pringle (DD-477), USS Waller (DD-466), USS Renshaw (DD-499), USS Saufley (DD-465) and USS Philip (DD-498) head up "The Slot" at 26 knots on a bombardment and mine laying mission against the Shortland Islands. The formation was led by USS Pringle (DD-477) with the minelayers followed by the cruisers in a column 1,000 yards apart. At 5:45pm USS Waller (DD-466) and USS Renshaw (DD-499) left formation for a bombardment of Vila-Stanmore on Kolombangara after sunset as a diversion. On June 29, 1943 at 1:23pm departs Purvis Bay with Task Force 68 (TF 68) "Merrill's Marauders" under the command of Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill as Task Group 36.2 (TG 36.2), Task Unit 36.2.1 (TU 36.2.1) including USS Montpelier (CL-57) flagship with Rear Admiral Merrill embarked, USS Cleveland (CL-55), USS Columbia (CL-56), USS Denver (CL-58) with four destroyers USS Waller (DD-466), USS Philip (DD-498), USS Renshaw (DD-499) and USS Saufley (DD-465) for a shore bombardment of Ballale Island, Shortland Island and Poporang Island in the Shortland Islands ahead of the U.S. landings on New Georgia. Meanwhile, Task Unit 36.2.2 (TU 36.2.2) light minelayers USS Preble (DM-20), USS Gamble (DM-15), and USS Breese (DM-18) lay mines 6,000 yards ahead of the fource off Shortland Harbor between Alu Island and Munda Island. Also, USS Gamble (DM-15) lays mines off New Georgia. The formation was led by USS Pringle (DD-477) with the minelayers group followed by the cruisers in a column 1,000 yards apart. At 5:45pm USS Waller (DD-466) and USS Renshaw (DD-499) left formation for a bombardment of Vila-Stanmore on Kolombangara after sunset as a diversion. On June 30, 1943 at 12:15am USS Waller (DD-466) and USS Renshaw (DD-499) rejoined the formation. At 12:40am USS Pringle (DD-477) and the three minelayers leave formation and began laying mines. At 1:35am heavy rain began causing poor visibility. At 1:55am Cleveland was second in the column and commenced firing to starboard after USS Montpelier (CL-57) using her 6" gun batteries and 5" gun batteries at targets at Korovou on Shortland Island, Shortland Seaplane Base (Tuha Channel) anchorage area and Poporang Island. Due to the bad weather, visual observation and fire correction was impossible but SG radar using Onua Island as a point of reference was used. At 2:10am ceased fire having expended 944 rounds of 6" and 509 rounds of 5" at the target areas with a saturation of one 6" shell per 465 square yards and one 5" shell per 865 square yards. This was the deepest penetration by Allied warships into enemy held territory to date. On July 11, 1943 departs with Task Group 36.9 (TG 36.9) under the command of Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill with four light cruisers: USS Columbia (CL-56) and USS Cleveland (CL-55) and two destroyers on a night mission to bombard Munda in the early morning hours of July 12, 1943. Cleveland fires 2,000 rounds of 6" and 5" shells in thirty minutes at the target area then returns. Afterwards, departs to Sydney for a short repair period. then departs or the preinvasion bombardment of the Treasury Islands on 26 October and 27 October. On November 1, 1943 her task force steamed to blast Buka and Bonis in support of the Allied landing at Torokina on Bougainville. That same day, dashed south the same day to again bombard Ballale and Shortlands. That night intercepted a Japanese force in the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay. Cleveland poured her radar-controlled fire into four Japanese cruisers for over an hour and aiding in sinking Sendai, then chased the fleeing ships until daybreak. An air attack followed and one stick of bombs severely rocked Cleveland, who splashing several of the enemy planes. For the battle, Cleveland won the Navy Unit Commendation. On December 23, 1943 returns to Buka for another shore bombardment then patrols between Truk and Green Island (Nissan) from February 13-18, 1944 during the U.S. landing. After supporting the capture of Emirau from March 17-23 1944, Cleveland sailed for replenishment and repairs at Sydney. Afterwards, returned to the Solomons April 21 to prepare for the operation in the Marianas. One practice bombardment on May 20 brought return fire unexpectedly which straddled the ship, but unharmed, she quickly silenced the shore batteries. From June 8 to August 12, Cleveland participated in the Marianas operations. On July 24, 1944 during the invasion of Tinian the USS Cleveland came to the aid of the USS Norman Scott (DD-690) that was hit six times within a few seconds by shore batteries. The Cleveland maneuvered between the Norman Scott and the shore batteries, preventing the Norman Scott from taking any more hits. She conducted softening-up bombardments and then gave fire support for invading troops until she joined TF 58 for the battle of the Philippine Sea on June 19-20. Although few enemy aircraft penetrated the screen of American carrier planes, Cleveland was credited with splashing at least one enemy aircraft and assisting in downing another of the few which did get through. From September 12-29, 1944 Cleveland participated in the invasion of the Palau, then sailed from Manus on 5 October for a stateside overhaul. She arrived in Subic Bay 9 February 1945, and sailed on to bombard Corregidor on 13 February and 14 February, effectively neutralizing the fortress before the landings there. Continuing to support the consolidation of the Philippines, she covered the landings at Puerto Princesa, the Visayas, Panay, and the Malabang-Parang area on Mindanao. On June 7, 1945 Cleveland departed Subic Bay as part of the covering force and three days later provide fire support for the Allied landing at Brunei Bay. On June 15, 1945 returned to Subic Bay then departed for Manila to embark General Douglas MacArthur and his staff. On June 30, 1945 arrives off Balikpapan and provided gunfire support as part of the pre-invasion shore bombardment. On July 1, 1945 "Operation Oboe Two" MacArthur observed the landing and made an inspection tour ashore. Afterwards, returned to Cleveland and that same day departed bound for Manila arriving July 3, 1945. With a new cruiser task force, Cleveland sailed 13 July 1945 to Okinawa, arriving 16 July. From this base the force made a series of sweeps against Japanese shipping until 7 August to insure Allied control of the East China Sea. Postwar Cleveland got underway from Okinawa on September 9 to support the occupation of Japan by covering the evacuation of Allied prisoners of war from Wakayama, then serving as part of a naval occupation group until the 6th Army made its landings on Honshū. After a short stay in Tokyo Bay (28 October–1 November), Cleveland departed Pearl Harbor via San Diego and the Panama Canal before arriving at Boston on December 5 for overhaul. Operated out of Newport on various training exercises, including a Naval Reserve training cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Quebec in June 1946, before reporting to Philadelphia for inactivation. On February 7, 1947 placed out of commission in reserve. Awards For her World War II service, Cleveland earned 13 battle stars and a Navy Unit Commendation. Fate On February 18, 1960 sold for scrap to Boston Metals, Baltimore, MD and broken up. References Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Radio Proximity (VT) Fuzes "This test firing of proximity fuzed 5"/38 projectiles against drones was carried out in August 1942 aboard the cruiser [USS] Cleveland [CL-55]. Results of this test were entirely satisfactory and accordingly, full-scale production of proximity fuzes was initiated at the Crowley Corporation in September 1942." NavSource - USS Cleveland CL-55 (photos) NARA History of the USS Cleveland pages 1-15 (Page 2) "July 11, with the same force, the ship expended 2000 rounds of five and six inch ammunition in thrity minutes to support advancing American armies on Munda Point." NARA USS Cleveland War Diary June 1943 Contribute
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