Thursday, December 24, 2009

USS Detroit CL-8

A Wikipedia follow up on Chris Harame's ship at Pearl Harbor, the USS Detroit.

The Detroit was commissioned in 1923 and decommissioned in 1946 when it was sold for scrap.

It was 555 feet long, had a 55.4 inch beam, top speed of 34 knots and mounted 10X6 inch guns and part of the Omaha-class of light cruisers.

In 1941, its home base was moved to Pearl Harbor where it was moored at its base with sister-ship Raleigh and the Utah when the attack came. Six torpedo planes attacked them, but despite being strafed, the Detroit received no damage and was able to get under way. The other two were not as lucky.

The Detroit put up anti-aircraft fire and had part in shooting down several planes. After the attack, she was ordered to cruise along Oahu's west coast and look for rumored Japanese landings and then took part in the search for the retiring Japanese fleet.

It returned to Pearl Harbor December 10th and started convoy duty. From 1942 to 1944, it was in Alaskan waters.

A Lucky Pearl Harbor Ship. --Cooter

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