USS Atlanta (CL-51)

The USS "Atlanta" (CL-51) of the United States Navy was the lead ship of Atlanta class cruiser of light cruisers. She was the third Navy ship named after the city of Atlanta, Georgia. Designed to provide anti-aircraft protection for US naval task groups, "Atlanta" served in this capacity in the naval Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Eastern Solomons. The "Atlanta" was sunk in the night surface action on 13 November 1942 in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.

The USS Atlanta in some works is designated at the CLAA-51 because of her primary armament as an Anti-Aircraft light cruiser. Hence, all of the "Atlanta"-class ships are sometimes designated as CLAA. However, her entire battery of 5" guns were dual-purpose (DP) guns, capable of being used against both air and surface targets, including with proximity-fused, high-explosive, or armor-piercing shells. Also, the Atlanta-class was the only class of WW II American cruisers to be armed with a battery of torpedoes - obviously for surface combat. (Acoustic torpedoes for attacking submerged submarines did not exist until late in WW II.) The Atlanta-class ships were lightly-armored warships, and in their overall size, the Atlanta-class ships were closer to the size of destroyers than they were to the other light cruisers, but they were designated as light cruisers because of their very large 5" gun battery (16 guns). Typical destroyers of the time only carried about five to six of these, and nothing larger.

Future USN cruisers, such as the Ticonderoga-class do carry torpedoes, but sophisticated ones as close-in weapons against submarines, rather that against surface ships. Missiles such as the Harpoon have taken over the old role of the torpedo on surface warships.

Construction and early history

The first of a new class of ships originally conceived as flotilla leaders but which became known as particularly effective antiaircraft cruisers was laid down on 22 April 1940 at Kearny, New Jersey, by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., launched on 6 September 1941, sponsored by Margaret Mitchell (author of "Gone with the Wind"), and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 24 December 1941, Captain Samuel P. Jenkins in command.

After fitting out, the "Atlanta" conducted shakedown training until 13 March, first in Chesapeake Bay and then in Maine's Casco Bay, after which she returned to the New York Navy Yard for post-shakedown repairs and alterations. Adjudged to be "ready for distant service" on 31 March, the new cruiser departed New York for the Panama Canal Zone on 5 April. She reached Cristobal on the 8th. After transiting the isthmian waterway "Atlanta" then cleared Balboa on 12 April with orders to reconnoiter Clipperton Island — a tiny barren, uninhabited atoll about 670 miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico — in the course of her voyage to the Hawaiian Islands, for any signs of enemy activity. Finding none, she ultimately reached Pearl Harbor on 23 April.

Battle of Midway

Punctuating her brief stay in Hawaiian waters with an antiaircraft practice off Oahu on 3 May, "Atlanta", in company with "McCall" (DD-400) sailed on 10 May as escort for the ammunition ship "Rainier" (AE-5) and the oiler "Kaskaskia" (AO-27), bound for Nouméa, New Caledonia. On 16 May, having seen the auxiliaries to their destination, she joined Vice Admiral William F. Halsey's Task Force 16 (TF 16), formed around the carriers "Enterprise" (CV-6) and "Hornet" (CV-8), as it steamed back to Pearl Harbor, having been summoned back to Hawaiian waters in response to an imminent Japanese thrust in the direction of Midway atoll. TF 16 arrived at Pearl on 26 May.

"Atlanta" sailed with TF 16 again on the morning of the 28th. Over the days that followed, she screened the carriers as they operated northwest of Midway in anticipation of the enemy's arrival. At the report of Japanese ships to the southwest, on the morning of 4 June, "Atlanta" cleared for action as she screened "Hornet". Squadrons from the three American carriers sought out the Japanese, and during that day, planes from "Yorktown" and "Enterprise" inflicted mortal damage on four irreplaceable enemy flattops. Japanese planes twice hit TF 17, formed around "Yorktown" (CV-5) and operating independently from TF 16, and it took the brunt of the enemy attacks. Over the days that followed the Battle of Midway, "Atlanta" remained in the screen of TF 16 until 11 June, when the task force received orders to return to Pearl Harbor.

Guadalcanal landings

Reaching her destination on 13 June, "Atlanta", outside of brief period of antiaircraft practice on 21, 25 and 26 June, remained in port, taking on stores and provisions and standing on 24-hour and then 48-hour alert into July 1942. Drydocked on 1 and 2 July so that her bottom could be scraped, cleaned and painted, the cruiser completed her availability on the 6th and then resumed a busy schedule of gunnery practice with drone targets, high-speed sleds, and in shore bombardment in the Hawaiian operating area.

On 15 July 1942 "Atlanta", again in TF 16, sailed for Tongatapu. Anchoring at NukuOkinaalofa, Tonga, on 24 July, where she fueled "Maury" (DD-401) and then took on fuel from the tanker "Mobilube", the light cruiser pushed on later the same day and overtook TF 16. On 29 July, as all preparations proceeded apace for the invasion of Guadalcanal, in the British Solomon Islands, "Atlanta" was assigned to TF 61.

Screening the carriers as they launched air strikes to support the initial landings on Guadalcanal on 7 and 8 August, "Atlanta" remained in the vicinity of that isle until the withdrawal of the carrier task forces on the 9th. For the next several days, she remained at sea, replenishing when necessary while the task force operated near the Solomons.

Battle of the Eastern Solomons

As the Americans consolidated their gains on Guadalcanal, the Japanese's critical need for reinforcements prompted Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto to send the Combined Fleet south to cover a large troop convoy. American reconnaissance aircraft spotted the Japanese forces on the morning of 23 August. With the enemy reported to the northwest, "Enterprise" and "Saratoga" launched search and attack planes, but the aircraft failed to make contact because of deteriorating weather and the fact that the Japanese, knowing that they had been spotted, reversed course.

Throughout the day on 24 August, "Atlanta" received enemy contact reports and screened "Enterprise" as she launched a strike group to seek out the Japanese carriers. The sighting of an enemy "snooper" at 13:28 sent "Atlanta"'s sailors to general quarters, where they remained for the next five and half hours. At 15:30, the cruiser worked up to 20 knots as TF 16 stood roughly north-northwestward "to close [the] reported enemy carrier group." At 16:37, with unidentified planes approaching, "Atlanta" went to 25 knots. "Enterprise" then launched a strike group shortly thereafter, completing the evolution at 17:06.

In the meantime, the incoming enemy strike-bomber and fighter aircraft from "Shōkaku" and "Zuikaku" prompted the task force to increase speed to 27 knots, shortly after "Enterprise" completed launching her own aircraft, the Japanese raid — estimated by Capt. Jenkins to consist of at least 18 Aichi D3A1 Type 99 "Val" carrier bombers — came in from the north northwest at 17:10. Over the next 11 minutes, "Atlanta"'s 5 inch, 1.1 inch and 20 millimeter batteries contributed to the barrage over "Enterprise", as the light cruiser conformed to "Enterprise"'s every move as she maneuvered violently to avoid the dive bombers.

Despite the heavy antiaircraft fire, though, "Enterprise" took one hit and suffered some shrapnel damage from an estimated five near hits. Capt. Jenkins later reported that his ship may have shot down five of the attackers.

Further Guadalcanal operations

Reporting to TF 11 for duty the following day, "Atlanta" operated with that force — redesignated TF 61 on 30 August — over the next few days. When the Japanese submarine "I-26" torpedoed "Saratoga" on 31 August, the light cruiser screened the stricken flagship as "Minneapolis" (CA-36) rigged a towline and began taking her out of danger. The force ultimately put into Tongatapu on 6 September, where "Atlanta" provisioned ship, fueled from "New Orleans" (CA-32), and enjoyed a period of upkeep.

Underway on 13 September, the light cruiser assumed duty as escort for the Nouméa-bound ammunition ship "Lassen" (AE-3) and the aircraft transport "Hammondsport" (APV-2) on the 15th. After seeing her charges safely to their destination at Dumbea Bay, Nouméa, on the 19th, "Atlanta" fueled, took on stores and ammunition, and sailed on the 21st as part of Task Group (TG) 66.4. Becoming part of TF 17 on 23 September, the light cruiser was detached the following day to proceed in company with "Washington" (BB-56) and the destroyers "Walke" (DD-416) and "Benham" (DD-397) to Tongatapu, which she reached on the 26th.

Underway with those same ships on 7 October, "Atlanta" briefly escorted Guadalcanal-bound transports between 11 and 14 October before putting into Espiritu Santo for fuel on the afternoon of the 15th. Assigned then to Rear Admiral Willis A. Lee's TF 64, the ship sailed after dark that same day to resume operations covering the ongoing efforts to secure Guadalcanal. Returning briefly to Espiritu Santo for fuel, stores and provisions, the warship stood out from Segond Channel on the afternoon of 23 October.

Two days later, with a Japanese Army offensive having failed to eject the Americans from Guadalcanal, Admiral Yamamoto sent the Combined Fleet south in an attempt to annihilate the American naval forces doggedly supporting the marines. Atlanta operated in TF 64, along with "Washington", "San Francisco" (CA-38), "Helena" (CL-50) and two destroyers, as the opposing forces engaged in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October. That day, "Atlanta" patrolled astern of the fueling group supporting the two American carrier task forces. On the 27th when the Japanese submarine "I-15" attacked TF 64 — her torpedo missed "Washington", exploding some 400 yards beyond her quarry — the force maneuvered at high speed to clear the area.

On the morning of the 28th, "Atlanta" brought on board Rear Admiral Norman Scott from "San Francisco", and became the flagship of the newly designated TG 64.2. After fueling from "Washington", "Atlanta", screened by four destroyers, headed northwest by north to shell Japanese positions on Guadalcanal. Reaching the waters off Lunga Point on the morning of the 30th, "Atlanta" embarked Marine liaison officers at 05:50, and then steamed west, commencing her bombardment of Point Cruz at 06:29 while the destroyers formed a column astern. Provoking no return fire, TG 64.2 accomplished its mission and returned to Lunga Point, where "Atlanta" disembarked the liaison officers. She then proceeded, in company with her screen, to Espiritu Santo, where she arrived on the afternoon of 31 October.

Naval Battle of Guadalcanal

Reinforcement convoy

Subsequently, "Atlanta" served as Admiral Scott's flagship as the light cruiser, accompanied by four destroyers, escorted the transport "Zeilin" (AP-9) and cargo ships "Libra" (AK-53) and "Betelgeuse" (AK-28) to Guadalcanal. The cruiser and her consorts continued to screen those ships — designated TG 62.4 — as they lay off Lunga Point on November 12 unloading supplies and disembarking troops.

At 09:05, the task group received a report that nine carrier bombers and 12 fighters were approaching from the northwest and would reach their vicinity at about 09:30. At about 09:20, "Atlanta" led the three auxiliaries to the north, in column, with the destroyers spaced in a circle around them. Fifteen minutes later, nine "Vals" from the carrier "Hiyō" emerged from the clouds over Henderson Field; the American ships opened fire soon thereafter putting up a barrage that downed "several" planes. Fortunately, none of the primary targets of the attack — "Zeilin", "Libra" and "Betelgeuse" — suffered more than minor damage from several close calls, though "Zeilin" sustained some flooding. The three auxiliaries returned to the waters off Lunga Point as soon as the attack ended and resumed working cargo and disembarking troops.

A little over an hour later, at 10:50, "Atlanta" received word of another incoming Japanese air raid. Fifteen minutes later, "Atlanta" led the three auxiliaries north with the destroyers in a circle around the disposition. The "bogeys" — 27 Mitsubishi G4M1 Type 1 "Betty" land attack planes from Rabaul — closed, sighted bearing west by north, approaching from over Cape Esperance in a very loose "V" formation. Although the destroyers opened fire, the planes proved to be out of range and the ships checked fire. The "Betties", for their part, ignored the ships and continued on to bomb Henderson Field. Upon the disappearance of the planes, TG 62.4 resumed unloading off Lunga Point.

On November 12, the "Atlanta" was still off Lunga Point, screening the unloading, as part of TF 67 under Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan in "San Francisco". At about 13:10, "Atlanta" received a warning that 25 enemy planes were headed for Guadalcanal, slated to arrive within 50 minutes. The light cruiser went to general quarters at 13:18 and received the signal "prepare to repel air attack...."

Within six minutes, "Atlanta" and the other combatants of the support group formed a screen around the transport group (TG 67.1), and the two groups steamed north together at 15 knots. At about 14:10, the Americans sighted the incoming raid, consisting of what appeared to be 25 twin-engined bombers ("Betties") which broke up into two groups after clearing Florida Island, came in at altitudes that ranged from 25 to 50 feet. "Juneau" (CL-52) opened fire at 14:12. "Atlanta" did so a minute later, training her guns at planes headed for the gap in the screen between "San Francisco" and the destroyer "Buchanan" (DD-484). "Atlanta" claimed to have shot down two "Betties" just after they dropped their torpedoes, at about 14:15, only three minutes before the attack ended. Once the last Japanese plane had been splashed, the work of unloading the transports and cargo ships resumed. One "Betty", crippled by antiaircraft fire, had crashed into the after superstructure of "San Francisco", inflicting the only damage on the force.

Night surface action

The abrupt end of the air attack gave "Atlanta" and her colleagues only a brief respite, however, for trouble approached from yet another quarter. A Japanese surface force, comprising two battleships, one cruiser and six destroyers, was detected steaming south toward Guadalcanal to shell Henderson Field — the airstrip on the island. Admiral Callaghan's support group was to "cover [the retiring transports and cargo vessels] again enemy attack." Accordingly, TG 67.4 departed Lunga Point about 18:00 and steamed eastward through Sealark Channel, covering the withdrawal of TG 67.1. An hour before midnight, Callaghan's ships reversed course and headed westward.

"Helena"'s radar picked up the first contact on the Japanese ships at a range of 26,000 yards. As the range closed, "Atlanta"'s surface search radar, followed by her gunnery radars, picked up a contact on the enemy ships.

Admiral Callaghan's order for a course change to the left caused problems immediately, as "Atlanta" had to turn left immediately to avoid a collision with one of the four destroyers in the van — the latter having apparently executed a "ships left" rather than "column left" movement. As "Atlanta" began moving to resume her station ahead of "San Francisco", the Japanese destroyer "Akatsuki" illuminated the light cruiser and fired torpedoes. "Atlanta" shifted her battery to fire at the enemy destroyer, opening fire at a range of about 1,600 yards.

As two other Japanese destroyers crossed her line of "Atlanta" engaged both with her forward 5 inch mounts, while her after mounts continued to blast away at the illuminated ship. An additional, unidentified, assailant also opened up on the light cruiser from the northeast. At about that time, at least one of "Akatsuki"'s torpedoes plowed into "Atlanta"'s forward engine room from the port side. She lost all but auxiliary diesel power, suffered the interruption of her gunfire, and had to shift steering control to the steering engine room aft. "Atlanta" shot out "Akatsuki"'s searchlight, and the enemy ship, battered by "San Francisco"'s gunfire as well, sank with all hands.

Soon after her duel with "Akatsuki" ended, "Atlanta" reeled under the impact of a flurry of what was estimated as 19 8-inch hits when "San Francisco", "in the urgency of battle, darkness, and confused intermingling of friend or foe" fired into her. Though almost all of the shells passed through the thin skin of the ship without detonating and scattered green dye throughout to mark their passage, fragments from their impact killed many men — including Admiral Scott and members of his staff. "Atlanta" prepared to return fire on her new assailant, but "San Francisco"'s own gun flashes disclosed a distinctly "non-Japanese hull profile" that resulted in a suspension of those efforts.

After the 8-inch fire ceased, "Atlanta"'s Capt. Jenkins took stock of the situation, and, having suffered only a minor (but painful) wound in his foot in the carnage forward, made his way aft to Battle II. Badly battered, largely powerless, down by the head and listing slightly to port, his ship had been badly hurt, and a third of his crew was dead or missing. As the battle continued in its waning stages, the light cruiser's men set to work clearing debris, jettisoning topside weight to correct the list, reducing the volume of sea water in the ship, and succoring the many wounded.

inks

Daylight revealed the presence nearby of three burning American destroyers, the disabled "Portland", and the abandoned hulk of the Japanese destroyer "Yudachi" which "Portland" summarily dispatched with three salvoes. "Atlanta", drifting toward the enemy-held shore east of Cape Esperance, dropped her starboard anchor; her captain sent a message to "Portland" explaining the light cruiser's desperate straits. In the meantime, boats from Guadalcanal came out to the ship and took off the more seriously wounded of her men. By midmorning, all of those had been taken off.

The minesweeper "Bobolink" (AT-131) arrived on the scene at 09:30 on 13 November and took "Atlanta" under tow — an operation made more difficult by the fact that the cruiser was dragging her anchor — and headed toward Lunga Point. During the voyage, a "Betty" neared the disposition, and one of the two surviving 5 inch mounts — the one powered by a diesel generator — fired and drove it off; the other mount, on manual control, could not be trained around in time.

"Atlanta" reached Kukum about 14:00, at which point Capt. Jenkins conferred with his remaining officers. As Jenkins, who was later awarded a Navy Cross for his heroism during the battle, later wrote, "It was by now apparent that efforts to save the ship were useless, and that the water was gaining steadily." Even had sufficient salvage facilities been available, he allowed, the severe damage the ship had suffered in battle would have rendered it doubtful whether or not the ship could have been saved. Authorized by Commander, South Pacific Forces, to act at his own discretion regarding the destruction of the ship, Capt. Jenkins ordered that "Atlanta" be abandoned and sunk with a demolition charge.

Accordingly, all remaining men except the captain and a demolition party boarded Higgins boats sent out from Guadalcanal for the purpose. After the charge had been set and exploded, the last men left the battered ship. Ultimately, at 20:15 on 13 November 1942, "Atlanta" sank three miles west of Lunga Point in 30 fathoms (55 m). Her name was struck from the Navy list on 13 January 1943.

Awards

"Atlanta" was awarded five battle stars for her World War II service and the Presidential Unit Citation for her "heroic example of invincible fighting spirit" in the battle off Guadalcanal on 13 November 1942.

Armament

"Atlanta" was fitted with 16 5-inch guns in a unique configuration. She had three forward twin 5" guns and three aft twin 5" guns, mounted inline and increasing in height towards the center of the ship, giving her a symmetrical appearance, with a "gap" in the middle superstructure. In addition to the forward and aft batteries, the forward battery also had two "wing" mounted twin 5"s, one on each side, for a total of 16 barrels of 5" caliber. The firing arcs of the forward and aft batteries intersected at a very limited angle, giving her a broadside firing arc of only 60° in which she could fire all of her guns broadside (excluding the wing turrets). While Atlanta was able to bring an extraordinary amount of firepower to bear within that narrow firing arc, it limited her ability to engage in ship to ship engagements. However, for anti-aircraft purposes, her firing arcs were ideally suited to bringing a large number of guns to bear on a target, with a minimum of six guns available from any angle.

See also

* See USS "Atlanta" for other Navy ships of the same name.
* See List of U.S. Navy losses in World War II for other Navy ships lost in WWII.

References