USS Pensacola
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| USS Pensacola | |
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| Ship name | USS Pensacola |
USS Pensacola was a Cleveland-class cruiser of the United States Navy that played a significant role in World War II, particularly in the Pacific Theater. The ship was named after the city of Pensacola, Florida, which is known for its rich naval aviation history and its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. The USS Pensacola was commissioned on February 15, 1930, at the New York Navy Yard in Brooklyn, New York, with Captain Charles M. Cooke Jr. as its first commanding officer, who had previously served on the USS Texas and had participated in the Nicaraguan Campaign.
● History
The USS Pensacola was built by the New York Navy Yard and was launched on April 25, 1929, with Eleanor L. Patterson, the daughter of Robert P. Patterson, serving as the ship's sponsor. The ship's construction was overseen by the Department of the Navy, with William H. Standley serving as the Chief of Naval Operations. After its commissioning, the USS Pensacola underwent a shakedown cruise to the Mediterranean Sea, visiting ports such as Gibraltar, Naples, Italy, and Constantinople, where it interacted with the British Royal Navy and the French Navy. The ship then returned to the United States and was assigned to the Pacific Fleet, with its homeport at the San Diego Naval Base in San Diego, California, under the command of Admiral Frank B. Upham.
● Characteristics
The USS Pensacola was a Cleveland-class cruiser, which was a class of light cruisers designed by the US Navy in the 1920s. The ship had a displacement of 10,536 tons and was equipped with four 8-inch guns, four 5-inch guns, and six 21-inch torpedo tubes. The USS Pensacola was powered by four General Electric turbines, which provided a top speed of 32.5 knots, and was manned by a crew of 952 officers and enlisted men, who were trained at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The ship's design was influenced by the Washington Naval Treaty, which limited the size and armament of cruisers, and was also affected by the London Naval Treaty, which further restricted the construction of cruisers.
● Service
The USS Pensacola played a significant role in World War II, particularly in the Pacific Theater. The ship was part of the Pacific Fleet and was based at the Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, under the command of Admiral Husband E. Kimmel. On December 7, 1941, the USS Pensacola was at sea when the Japanese Navy launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, which drew the United States into the war. The ship then participated in several battles, including the Battle of Midway, the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, and the Battle of Tarawa, where it worked alongside the Marine Corps and the Army. The USS Pensacola also supported the invasion of Sicily and the invasion of Italy, where it interacted with the British Army and the Canadian Army.
● Commanding_officers
The USS Pensacola had several commanding officers during its service, including Captain Charles M. Cooke Jr., who was the ship's first commanding officer, and Captain Harry W. Hill, who commanded the ship during the Battle of Midway. Other notable commanding officers of the USS Pensacola included Captain Frank L. Lowe, who had previously served on the USS Enterprise, and Captain Robert B. Carney, who later became the Chief of Naval Operations. The commanding officers of the USS Pensacola were trained at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and were responsible for the ship's operations, which were overseen by the Department of the Navy and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
● Battles_and_operations
The USS Pensacola participated in several battles and operations during World War II, including the Battle of Midway, the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, and the Battle of Tarawa. The ship also supported the invasion of Sicily and the invasion of Italy, where it worked alongside the British Royal Navy and the French Navy. The USS Pensacola was awarded 13 battle stars for its service during World War II, which was recognized by the United States Congress and the President of the United States. The ship's service was also recognized by the Navy Department, which awarded the USS Pensacola the Navy Unit Commendation and the American Campaign Medal. The USS Pensacola was decommissioned on February 26, 1946, and was sold for scrap in 1948, with the proceeds going to the Treasury Department.