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USS Phoenix (CL-46)

1938 PEARL HARBOR WORLD WAR 2

History

USS Phoenix (CL-46), the fifth of seven Brooklyn-class light cruisers, commissioned on March 10, 1938. They both served in World War II and were armed with five 6-inch turrets, three at the front and two at the rear. The Brooklyn-class was developed under the terms of the London Treaty of 1930, which limited the size of warships to 10,000 tons after World War I. In this case, heavy cruisers and guns over 6 inches are not allowed. The U.S. Navy was concerned about these limitations, but found the Brooklyn-class comparable to the new Japanese Supreme-class cruisers with 15 6-inch guns.

A range of gun sizes were used to fulfill the treaty. The primary armament was a 6-inch 47-caliber (5x3) gun mounted on the new MK 16, firing a 130-pound shell at 14.5 miles or 26,100 yards (23,900 m). Eight 5" 54 caliber (127 mm) guns (8x1) for inshore bombardment and aircraft protection.

For added anti-air protection, 20 20mm brackets (10x2) and 28 40mm brackets (4x4 and 6x2) are preferred. This class proved suitable for the roles required for light cruiser service, including escort and shore bombardment.

Most cruisers built during World War II were similar to this successful Brooklyn design.

The USS Phoenix patrolled the West Coast of the United States before the war and was stationed at Pearl Harbor in 1941. On December 7, 1941, she was moored beside the hospital ship USS Solitude, southeast of Ford Island. Phoenix was not the main target of the attack, and the Japanese planes were concentrated in the battleship line, so the Phoenix crew opened fire as the planes passed.

The phoenix rose from the ashes, like the divine bird for which it was named, and was on its way at noon. She was ordered out of port to join a small fleet fleeing Pearl Harbor in search of the enemy fleet, but without success. After some escort service between Pearl Harbor and the mainland, she set off for Australian waters with a boat. For a time, she escorted troop ships and provided protection for transport, and her main voyages were in and around Australian waters. In February 1942, the Phoenix went on an escort mission to Ceylon with the USS Langley, a seaplane supplier, and the HMS Sea Witch.

Due to the Japanese invasion of the East Indies, three ships were ordered to turn to Java as fast as possible. Langley was sunk by IJN planes, but Phoenix and Sea Witch survived.

By 1944, Phoenix continued to provide escort service and landing support troops. On Biak Island, she was tasked with covering the MacArthur landings and destroying the shore batteries that had been fired on and hit by two US Navy destroyers. Phoenix was tasked with erecting coastal barricades before U.S. troops landed on Normfur Island, and after completing reconnaissance, Phoenix had already eliminated troops and aircraft in the designated bombing zone. During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, Phoenix was assigned to Admiral Oldendorf's fleet to protect the Surigao Strait.

The southern Japanese troops, under the cover of two cruisers and destroyers, sailed to the strait on the battleship Yamashiro. During this night attack, Phoenix aimed her radar at an approaching ship and fired a broadside salvo from all of her 15 6-inch guns. The target was later identified as Yamashiro, who was sunk in 27 minutes in the classic Crossing the T fight. Phoenix and the rest of Oldendorf's fleet also destroyed three destroyers, the cruiser Fuso, and damaged the cruiser Mogami, which was sunk the next day.

En route to Lingayen Bay to support the invasion of Luzon, Phoenix spotted a submarine in the Mindanao Sea. The Japanese submarine fired two torpedoes at Phoenix. Anticipating this, she began to twist and torpedo missed.

The destroyer USS Taylor, operating in the area, attacked the small submarine, using depth charges to force it to the surface and ram it. When Japan surrendered en route to Pearl Harbor for an overhaul, the Phoenix was sent home through the Panama Canal and joined the Atlantic Fleet.

Phoenix and her brave crew received 11 Battle Stars during World War II.

She was placed in the reserve on 28 February 1946 and sold to the Argentine Navy on 9 April 1951, under the name ARA 17 de Octubre C-4. Renamed ARA General Belgrano again in 1956, and was sunk by HMS Conqueror in the Falklands War in 1982.