USS Omaha (CL-4)

USS "Omaha" (CL-4) was the lead ship of "Omaha" class of light cruiser of the United States Navy. She was the second U.S. Navy ship named for the city of Omaha, Nebraska.

"Omaha" was laid down December 6, 1918, by the Todd SB & DD Co. of Tacoma, Washington. The ship was launched on December 14, 1920, sponsored by Louise Bushnell White. She was commissioned on February 24, 1923, with Captain David C. Hanrahan in command.

Following her commissioning, "Omaha" joined the Atlantic Fleet in peacetime. At this time her primary mission was training, and she proved to be very capable by consistently winning fleet awards in gunnery and communications. She made many ports-of-call throughout the Mediterranean and Caribbean during her peacetime cruises, displaying the U.S. flag.

Just prior to the U.S. entry into World War II, on November 6, 1941, while on neutrality patrol with "Somers" (DD–381) in the mid-Atlantic near the Equator, "Omaha" sighted a vessel which aroused much suspicion by her actions. Refusing to satisfactorily identify herself, and taking evasive action, the stranger was ordered to heave to. She flew the American flag and carried the name "Willmoto" of Philadelphia on her stern.

As the "Omaha" crew dispatched a boarding party, the freighter’s crew took to lifeboats and hoisted a signal which indicated that the ship was sinking. When the "Omaha" party pulled alongside they could hear explosions from within the hull, while one of the fleeing crewmen shouted "This is a German ship and she is sinking!" In short order the men of the "Omaha", in spite of extreme dangers, salvaged the vessel, rendered her safe and had her underway for Puerto Rico. The freighter, as it turned out, was the German commerce raider "Odenwald".

"Odenwald" was taken to Puerto Rico. An admiralty court ruled that since the ship was illegally claiming American registration, there was sufficient grounds for confiscation. A legal case was started claiming that the crews of the two American ships had salvage rights because the "Odenwald" crew's attempt to scuttle the ship was the equivalent of abandoning her. The court case, settled in 1947 ruled the members of the boarding party and the prize crew were entitled to $3,000 apiece while all the other crewmen in Omaha and Somers were entitled to two months’ pay and allowances. This was the last prize money awarded by the US Navy.cite journal |url=http://www.strategypage.com/cic/docs/cic205b.asp#one |last=Nofi |first=Al |title=The Last “Prize” Awards in the U.S. Navy?|publisher=Strategypage.com |issue= Issue #205, July 20th, 2008 |quote=Oldenwald was taken to Puerto Rico. An admiralty court ruled that since the ship was illegally claiming American registration, there was sufficient grounds for confiscation. At that point, some sea lawyers got into the act. Observing that the attempt to scuttle the ship was the equivalent of abandoning her, they claimed that the crews of the two American ships had salvage rights, to the tune of $3 million. This led to a protracted court case, which was not settled until 1947. At that time it was ruled that the members of the boarding party and the prize crew were entitled to $3,000 apiece, the equivalent today of over $25,000 according to the Consumer Price Index, but easily nearly twice that on the basis of the prevailing minimum wage, while all the other crewmen in Omaha and Somers were entitled to two months’ pay and allowances at their then current rate.]

After the United States entered the war, "Omaha" continued her South Atlantic patrol, instructed to stop Nazi blockade runners. While patrolling out of a base in Brazil, on January 4, 1944, with "Jouett" (DD–396), she spotted a ship which immediately showed signs of being scuttled. The ship's crew took to the boats and she began settling by the stern. The following day another ship was sighted and its crew set her afire. "Omaha" opened fire and the vessel disappeared beneath the waves. Both ships carried cargoes of rubber, which the Germans desperately needed.

In March, "Omaha" proceeded to Naples to prepare for landings in southern France. On August 19, she protected the flank of the units bombarding Toulon, and three days later took part in the operations that resulted in the surrender of the German garrison on the island of Porquerolles.

"Omaha" was present at the surrender of Gien on August 23, and on August 25 she delivered a sustained bombardment on targets in the Toulon area. Shortly thereafter she was detached from the operation and returned to patrol duties. The termination of hostilities (August 15, 1945) found her patrolling in the South Atlantic.

"Omaha" sailed for Philadelphia upon detachment from patrol, arriving September 1. By October 17 she was slated for retirement, and she decommissioned November 1, 1945. "Omaha" was struck from the "Naval Vessel Register" on November 28, 1945, and scrapped in February 1946 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

"Omaha" earned one battle star for service in World War II.

Theodore E. Chandler once commanded the "Omaha", and George Lincoln Rockwell served aboard at one point.

References

http://www.strategypage.com/cic/docs/cic205b.asp#one

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