USS Minneapolis (CA-36)

The second USS "Minneapolis" (CA-36) was a "New Orleans" class heavy cruiser built for the United States Navy before the outbreak of World War II, named for the largest city of the state of Minnesota.

Pre World War II

She was laid down 27 June 1931 by Philadelphia Navy Yard; launched 6 September 1933; sponsored by Miss Grace L. Newton; and commissioned 19 May 1934, Capt. Gordon W. Haines in command.

After shakedown in European waters during July to September 1934 and alterations in Philadelphia Navy Yard, the new heavy cruiser departed 4 April 1935 for the Panama Canal and San Diego, arriving 18 April to join Cruiser Division 7, Scouting Force. She operated along the west coast, aside from a cruise to the Caribbean early in 1939, until arriving at Pearl Harbor in 1940.

World War II

When Japan attacked her base 7 December 1941, "Minneapolis" was at sea for gunnery practice about 20 miles from Pearl Harbor. She immediately took up patrol until late January 1942 when she joined a carrier task force about to raid the Gilberts and Marshalls. While screening , which sank. Now a second group of Japanese warships, which had been giving distant cover to the transport group, entered the action, and "Minneapolis" took two torpedo hits, one on the port bow, the other in her number two fireroom, causing loss of power and severe damage; her bow was gone back to the chain pipes, her port side badly ruptured, and two firerooms open to the sea. Magnificent damage control work and skillful seamanship kept her afloat and enabled her to reach Tulagi. There, camouflaged with palm fronds and shrubs to protect her from frequent air raids, she was temporarily repaired by her own crew with the help of a Seabee unit stationed on the island, and was able to sail for extensive repairs at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. Of the battle, American naval historian Samuel Eliot Morison wrote, "It is a painful truth that the Battle of Tassafaronga was a sharp defeat inflicted on an alert and superior cruiser force by a partially surprised and inferior destroyer force."

General Service: August 1943 - May 1944

By August 1943, "Minneapolis" was back in the Pacific for 20 months of frontline duty which would include every major Pacific operation save Iwo Jima. Her first was the bombardment of Wake 5 October, then 20 November to 4 December, she joined in the assault and capture of Makin in the Gilberts. In December she screened a carrier group in the preinvasion strikes against Kwajalein and Majuro, serving on in the capture of the Marshalls into mid-February 1944. With the carriers blasting the Marianas and the Carolines, "Minneapolis" continued to guard them through raids on the Palaus, Truk, Satawan, Ponape, and other key Japanese bases into April. The latter raids were coordinated with the landings at Hollandia (currently known as Jayapura), New Guinea.

Battle of the Philippine Sea

In May, "Minneapolis" prepared at Majuro for the assaults in the Marianas, firing on Saipan in preinvasion bombardment 14 June. As word came that a large Japanese force was sailing to attempt a disruption of the operation, "Minneapolis" rejoined TF 58 to screen the carriers during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, 19 June and 20 June. As American aviators won another great victory, Minneapolis screened the carriers and provided antiaircraft fire. After taking a bomb miss close aboard, her crew again patched her up.

Guam

From 8 July to 9 August, "Minneapolis" brought her heavy guns to the support of the Marines winning Guam back from the enemy. Firing deep support, night harassing, and call fire, she won grateful praise from Gen. A. H. Turnage, commanding the 3rd Marine Division: "...a prime factor in the success of this operation...a job well done." From 6 September to 14 October, she gave similar essential aid to the capture of the Palaus, her operations at the close of that period preparing directly for the assault on Leyte. In the preinvasion bombardment force, she entered Leyte Gulf 17 October, and she downed five enemy planes during the initial resistance to the assault.

Battle of Surigao Strait

As the Japanese launched the three-pronged naval attack which would develop into the Battle for Leyte Gulf, "Minneapolis" was assigned 24 October to Adm. Jesse B. Oldendorf's bombardment group with other cruisers and older battleships. With them she deployed across Surigao Strait that night, alert to any sign of contact with the enemy by the plucky PT-boats and destroyers fanned out ahead. As the Japanese ships steamed in column, they ignored the flank attacks of the smaller ships heading straight for Oldendorf's battleline, which opened fire with an enormous coordinated salvo, immediately sinking the first of the two Japanese battleships they would conquer that night. Three destroyers were also sunk, and a heavy cruiser so badly damaged that aircraft could pick it off the next day. Admiral Oldendorf in this Battle of Surigao Strait had performed the classic maneuver of "crossing the T", meeting the individual fire of the enemy with his own massed fire. Lieutenant junior grade Joseph C. Hilgenberg manned the computers that aimed the 8 inch guns during the battle for Leyte Gulf. Joe's expertise in this area resulted in one of the highest gun accuracies ever recorded in Naval history. His bravery, even during the brutal and relentless attack of the Japanese kamikaze planes during that fateful battle, was an inspiration to all aboard.

Balance of World War II

Continuing to alternate carrier screening and bombardment duties in the Philippines, "Minneapolis" was on the scene for the attack and landings at Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, 4 January to 18 January 1945 and the landings on Bataan and Corregidor 13 February to 18 February. During March she prepared for the assault on Okinawa, off which she arrived for preinvasion bombardment on the 25th. She fired at once on Kerama Retto, seized first in a brilliant move to provide a safe haven for ships during the assault on Okinawa proper. When the main invasion began 1 April, "Minneapolis" bombarded the Japanese airfield at Naha, rendering it useless to the enemy, then began call fire as ground forces pinpointed her targets by radio.

After months of such action, her gun barrels were worn so badly as to need replacement, and she prepared to sail 12 April. Her departure was delayed that day by the largest air attack yet of the Okinawa operation, during which she splashed four would-be kamikazes and watched three others crash harmlessly into the sea. At nightfall she sailed for Bremerton, Washington, where she repaired and replaced the linings of her gun barrels. Headed back for more action, she was in Subic Bay, Philippines, at the end of hostilities.

She flew the flag of Adm. Thomas C. Kinkaid as he accepted the Japanese surrender of Korea 9 September, then patrolled the Yellow Sea, covering the landing of Marines at Taku and Chinwangtao, China. After carrying homeward bound veterans to the west coast, she sailed 14 January 1946 for the Panama Canal and Philadelphia. Here she was placed in commission, in reserve, 21 May 1946, and out of commission 10 February 1947. She was sold for scrapping 14 August 1959 to Union Metals and Alloys Corp.

Awards

"Minneapolis" received 17 battle stars for World War II service.

See also

* See [http://ussminneapolisassociation.org/ USS Minneapolis Association site] for information about the crew(s).

Notes

References

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