American light cruiser USS Atlanta (CL-51)

The USS Atlanta (CL-51) was the namesake of the Atlanta class of light cruisers and commissioned at the end of 1941. From April 1942 onwards, the ship was deployed in the Pacific operating out of Pearl Harbor. On November 13, 1942, the USS Atlanta sank after having been seriously damaged during the Battle of Guadalcanal.

The USS Atlanta (CL-51) was the namesake and the first of the Atlanta class (1941) light cruisers. Originally conceived to operate as a scout cruiser, the ships of this class could perform as a destroyer leader of a flotilla of destroyers as well. However, due to their armament, the ships mainly earned their reputation as anti-aircraft cruisers.

The keel for the USS Atlanta was laid down on April 22nd, 1940, at the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. in Kearny, New Jersey, as hull nr. 168. The ship was launched on September 6th, 1941. After her completion, the USS Atlanta was commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on December 24th, 1941, Captain Samuel P. Jenkins in command.^[1]

Her sea trials and crew training lasted until March 13th, 1942, after which the USS Atlanta returned to the New York Navy Yard for repairs and adjustments based on the ship's trial results. On March 31st, 1942 the ship departed via the Panama Canal for its voyage to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where the ship arrived on April 23rd, 1942.^[2]

On May 3rd, the ship left for exercises. After these were completed on May 16th, the USS Atlanta joined Vice Admiral William F. Halsey's Task Force 16 (TF-16), as the latter returned to Pearl Harbor on May 26th, 1942. The ship sailed with TF 16 on May 28th, 1942, to an operation zone northeast of Midway where the enemy was expected. During the entire subsequent Battle of Midway, USS Atlanta remained with TF 16. After the battle, it was instructed to return to Pearl Harbor on June 11th, 1942 where it received a refit, including the installation of an SC radar.^[3][4]

On July 15th, 1942, USS Atlanta sailed with TF 16 towards Tonga. After taking supplies, the ship was assigned to Task Force 61 (TF-61) for the invasion of Guadalcanal. The ship remained with TF-61 even when it was withdrawn towards the Solomon Islands on August 9th.^[5]

During her presence in the Solomon Islands, USS Atlanta took part in the battle around the Eastern Solomon Islands in August 1942. The light cruiser provided anti-aircraft support to USS Enterprise (CV-6). On August 30th, the Atlanta was assigned to Task Force 11 (TF-11), which itself was immediately redesignated to Task Force 61 (TF-61). From September 19th, 1942, she was part of Task Group 66.4 (TG-66.4) and from September 23rd of Task Force 17 (TF-17).

USS Atlanta, October 25, 1942. Source: National Archives #80-G-266844

As part of TF 64, USS Atlanta participated in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands on October 26th, 1942. On October 28th, the ship became flagship of Task Group 64.2 (TG-64.2) and arrived on October 31st, at Esperitu Santo. On November 12th, while on escort duty off Guadalcanal, it was attacked by Japanese dive bombers at 09.20 hrs. These attacks were repelled. In the hours that followed, several other attacks were carried out by Japanese bombers. An approaching enemy fleet was reported, consisting of two battleships, a cruiser and six destroyers. Task Group 67.4 was assigned to cover the retreat of Task Group 67.1 against this oncoming fleet. During the night, firing contact was made with the Japanese ships and USS Atlanta targeted the Japanese destroyer Akatsuki. After other Japanese destroyers joined the battle, USS Atlanta was hit in her forward engine room by a torpedo, probably fired from either the Inazuma or the Ikazuchi, and USS Atlanta had to withdraw temporarily. The Japanese destroyer Akatsuki was less fortunate and sank. USS Atlanta was subsequently fired upon by USS San Francisco (CA-38), which mistook her for a Japanese ship. Only the superstructure of USS Atlanta was slightly damaged. However, Japanese fire had caused greater damage and the ship listed slightly.

At 09.30 hrs on November 13th, 1942, USS Bobolink (AT-131) arrived to take USS Atlanta under tow. However, the ship took on more and more water and after consultation with his superiors, Captain Samuel P. Jenkins decided to sink the USS Atlanta with a demolition charge. At 20.15 hrs, after all remaining crew members had abandoned ship, USS Atlanta sank 3 miles west of Lunga Point in approximately 400 feet of water. On January 13th, 1943, the USS Atlanta (CL-51) was struck from the Naval Vessel Register.^[6]

In 1992, an expedition led by Dr. Robert Ballard discovered the wreck of the USS Atlanta. Further investigation was not possible due to the bad weather. In the following years, various divers made trips to the ship and in May 2011 video images of the wreck were made.