USS Honolulu file photo [32727]

Honolulu

CountryUnited States
Ship ClassBrooklyn-class Light Cruiser
Hull NumberCL-48
BuilderNew York Navy Yard
Laid Down9 Dec 1935
Launched26 Aug 1937
Commissioned15 Jun 1938
Decommissioned3 Feb 1947
Displacement10,000 tons standard
Length608 feet
Beam62 feet
Draft20 feet
Machinery8 Boilers, 4 Geared Turbines, 4 Screws
Power Output100,000 shaft horsepower
Speed33 knots
Crew888
ArmamentAs built: 5x3x6in/47, 4x2x5in/25, 8x.50
Aircraft4 operational, 0 in reserve

Contributor:

ww2dbaseBrooklyn-class cruiser Honolulu was laid down at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, United States on 9 Dec 1935. The ship was launched 26 Aug 1937 with sponsor Miss Helen Poindexter, the daughter of the governor of Hawaii, Joseph Poindexter. Built according to the terms of the London Naval Treaty of 1930, Honolulu was lightly armored with displacement not to exceed 10,000 tons. On 15 Jun 1938, USS Honolulu was commissioned at New York with Captain Oscar Smith in command.

ww2dbaseHonolulu had an extended shakedown cruise to the Caribbean and across the Atlantic to Portsmouth, England. There, she took aboard a secret cargo of nearly twenty tons of gold bullion from the Bank of England for transfer to the United States Federal Reserve in New York (worth $20,000,000 in 1938; over $1,000,000,000 in 2023). Honolulu then sailed to New York to make the deposit.

ww2dbaseAfter a brief post-shakedown refit, Honolulu was ready for her first operational assignment. Rear Admiral Harold Stark came aboard and made Honolulu his flagship for Cruiser Division Nine. Honolulu would spend most of her career as the flagship for her cruiser division. Honolulu spent the winter on maneuvers in the Caribbean and took part in Fleet Problem XX in Feb 1939. Honolulu transited the Panama Canal and once on the Pacific side, Rear Admiral Husband Kimmel came aboard as the new commander of Cruiser Division Nine. Honolulu moved up the coast to San Francisco, California and on 4 Jul 1939, she departed the continental United States bound for the Territory of Hawaii.

ww2dbaseWhen USS Honolulu arrived in Hawaii, she had a royal reception. Aboard the pilot boat outside the Honolulu Harbor was a party from the Chamber of Commerce. A giant flower lei was placed over the bow of the ship as she made her way to her berth. Over the next several days, thousands of people toured the cruiser and several social events were held ashore honoring the ship's arrival. The occasion also reunited the ship with her sponsor, Miss Helen Poindexter, who presented the ship's pantry with a gift from the Territory of Hawaii; a silver punch bowl with 48 silver cups (a reference to the ship's hull number).

ww2dbaseIn Jul 1940, Captain Smith was relieved by Captain Harold Dodd who took the ship to the Puget Sound Navy Yard for an overhaul. Returning to Hawaii in Nov 1940, USS Honolulu saw a change in her flag compliment on 2 Feb 1941 when Rear Admiral Herbert Leary came aboard as the new commander of Cruiser Division Nine. He relieved Admiral Kimmel who, on the same morning, shifted to the USS Pennsylvania and assumed the duties as Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet.

ww2dbaseHonolulu continued operating out of Pearl Harbor. In Sep 1941, a member of the crew, Boatswain's Mate 2nd-class Henry Harlan Blake from West Virginia, won a contest naming him the Pacific Fleet's "Typical Sailor of 1941."

ww2dbaseOn 7 Dec 1941, Honolulu was berthed at Pearl Harbor's repair piers. The Japanese torpedo bombers attacking the battleships dropped their torpedoes directly behind Honolulu as the ship's gunners fired away. A Japanese dive-bomber dropped a 500-pound bomb next to Honolulu that crashed through the cement pier 15-feet away from the ship and exploded under the water. The bomb's concussion caved in a portion of the hull and caused some internal damage. Some ships were able to get underway during the attack but Honolulu was destined to remain in the harbor to await repairs.

ww2dbaseAfter drydocking, Honolulu spent four months on escort duty sailing from Hawaii to San Francisco to Melbourne, Australia to Nouméa, New Caledonia to Pago Pago and back to Hawaii. On 29 May 1942, Honolulu departed Pearl Harbor for Dutch Harbor in Alaska's Aleutian Islands. Honolulu joined a force of cruisers and destroyers patrolling the Gulf of Alaska and the Aleutian chain. While refueling at sea on 25 Jul 1942, Captain Robert Hayler came aboard by high line and, pursuant to orders, took command of Honolulu, relieving Captain Dodd. Captain Dodd would later, as Commodore Dodd, become the Chief of the United States Naval Mission to Brazil in 1944-45. On 7 Aug 1942, Honolulu fired her big guns at an enemy for the first time as she and the rest of her task group shelled Japanese positions on Kiska Island. Later that month, the task group covered the US Army landings on Adak Island. After nearly four months in the Aleutians, Honolulu departed on 20 Sep 1942 bound for Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California.

ww2dbaseAfter overhaul, Honolulu sailed for the southwest Pacific. On 26 Nov 1942 at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, Rear Admiral Mahlon Tisdale came aboard, making Honolulu a flagship once again. Admiral Tisdale had just completed duty commanding other cruiser divisions during the Battles of the Eastern Solomons and the Santa Cruz Islands. Honolulu sailed straightaway as the only light cruiser in a group of four heavy cruisers and six destroyers bound for Guadalcanal to intercept an expected nighttime Japanese supply run down the "Slot." Just before midnight on 30 Nov 1942, the American force engaged eight Japanese destroyers between Guadalcanal's Tassafaronga Point and Savo Island. Honolulu lookouts described the night as "calm seas full of Japanese torpedoes." Relying on darkness and their superior but underestimated Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedoes, the Japanese force quickly disabled all four American heavy cruisers. During the attack, Captain Hayler himself took Honolulu's wheel and turned it hard right to avoid the attacking torpedoes, quite probably saving the ship. This resulted in Honolulu being the only US cruiser not torpedoed that night. With the force's flagship, USS Minneapolis, disabled, Admiral Tisdale in Honolulu assumed command of the group to batter the Japanese during their withdrawal and deny them the ability to land their reinforcements on Guadalcanal. For their actions in the Battle of Tassafaronga, Admiral Tisdale and Captain Hayler were each awarded the Navy Cross; for Tisdale, his second.

ww2dbaseHonolulu spent a month at Espiritu Santo before returning to the Solomon Islands with a new task group. This group was under the overall command of Rear Admiral Walden Ainsworth in USS Nashville, with a second in command of Admiral Tisdale in Honolulu. Admiral Ainsworth had just completed duty as Commander of Destroyers for the Pacific Fleet. Honolulu's near-nightly patrols up the "Slot" continued for several more weeks. On 5 Jan 1943, Honolulu and her group shelled the airfield and bivouac area at Munda on New Georgia and fended off a dive-bombing attack during their retirement. On 12 Mar 1943 at Espiritu Santo, Rear Admiral Tisdale was relieved and assumed duties as Commander of Destroyers for the Pacific Fleet. Admiral Ainsworth shifted his flag to Honolulu. On 13 May 1943, the Admiral led Honolulu's task group on a loop through Kula Gulf shelling positions on both sides, principally the staging area at the Vila-Stanmore Plantation on Kolombangara.

ww2dbaseOn the night of 5 Jul 1943, Honolulu led two other light cruisers with four destroyers in another action in the Kula Gulf area. In a battle that lasted past midnight into 6 Jul 1943, the American force intercepted eleven Japanese destroyers on a "Tokyo Express" run to Vila on Kolombangara. Again, the Japanese torpedoes proved to be superior with one US cruiser, USS Helena, being sunk. One Japanese destroyer was sunk by cruiser fire, probably Honolulu's, and four were damaged. For their actions in the Battle of Kula Gulf, Admiral Ainsworth and Captain Hayler were each awarded the Navy Cross; for Hayler, his second.

ww2dbaseOne week later on the night of 12 Jul 1943, Honolulu returned to Kula Gulf leading two other light cruisers and nine destroyers. The group intercepted a Japanese force of one light cruiser and five destroyers outside Kula Gulf off Kolombangara Island. The Japanese cruiser Jintsu was sunk by cruiser fire but, again, the Japanese Type 93 torpedoes did their work. All three Allied cruisers were damaged and destroyer USS Gwin was sunk. Honolulu and USS St. Louis were each struck in the bow and HMNZS Leander was struck amidships. All three damaged cruisers withdrew to Tulagi. Captain Hayler in Honolulu was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in this engagement.

ww2dbaseThe leading sixty feet of Honolulu's bow had collapsed and the deck was folded downward so that it was nearly vertical. Honolulu and St. Louis sailed together from Tulagi to Espiritu Santo for temporary repairs before Honolulu sailed on to Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California. Repairs lasted until mid-Nov 1943 and Honolulu returned to the fleet on 11 Dec 1943. The cruiser finished 1943 by shelling Japanese positions on Bougainville on 27 Dec 1943, along with the freshly repaired St. Louis.

ww2dbase1944 began much as 1943 had ended with Honolulu and St. Louis shelling Bougainville in support of the landings at Torokina. On 13 Feb 1944, Honolulu and St. Louis departed Tulagi to support landings on the Green Islands in the Bismarck Archipelago. The following day while the ships were still in transit, they came under aerial attack where one bomb plunged through St. Louis's deck and exploded inside the ship. Both ships were able to continue on and covered the Green Island landings on 15 Feb 1944.

ww2dbaseOn 25 Mar 1944 at Tulagi, Captain Harry Thurber assumed command of USS Honolulu in relief of Captain Hayler who, on the same day, was promoted to Rear Admiral; he would later be awarded his third Navy Cross at the Battle of Surigao Strait. Beginning in Jun 1944, Honolulu spent two months supporting the invasion of the Mariana Islands. She spent Sep 1944 making shore bombardments on Peleliu in the Palau Islands in support of the US Marines on shore. Honolulu then shifted to Leyte Gulf in the Philippines to conduct shore bombardments in advance of General Douglas MacArthur's landings there.

ww2dbaseOn 20 Oct 1944 as Honolulu was maintaining a bombardment position off Dulag, Leyte, a torpedo from a Japanese Nakajima B5N "Kate" torpedo plane struck the cruiser amidships. The ship took on a list that reached a maximum of 13-degrees. Once again, Honolulu limped toward the rear for extensive repairs. This time, she would not return to combat. She touched the anchorages of Kossol Roads at Palau, Seeadler Harbor at Manus, Majuro in the Marshall Islands, Pearl Harbor, San Pedro in California, and Balboa in the Canal Zone before finally arriving at Norfolk in Virginia on 20 Dec 1944.

ww2dbaseDrydock repairs lasted until Oct 1945. During her ten months at Norfolk, Honolulu had three changes of command. First, Captain Thurber was relieved and assigned to the staff of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet in Washington DC. Captain Thurber was awarded the Silver Star for saving his ship in Leyte Gulf and would later be awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his administrative accomplishments throughout World War II. Commander Olin Scoggins assumed temporary command and two weeks later, now-Captain Scoggins was relieved by Commander Theodore Ascherfeld. And finally, Captain Harold Pullen assumed command. Upon completion of repairs, Honolulu had a shakedown period in the Caribbean before reporting to Newport, Rhode Island as a training ship. In Nov 1945 at Newport, Honolulu had another change of command when Commander William Lederer relieved Captain Pullen.

ww2dbaseOn 8 Jan 1946, Honolulu entered the Philadelphia Navy Yard for her decommissioning overhaul. During that period, she experienced her last change of command when Commander William Wallace relieved Commander Lederer. The ship was decommissioned on 3 Feb 1947 and placed in reserves. Twelve years later, what was left of Honolulu was sold on 12 Oct 1959 and scrapped at Sparrow Point, Maryland.

ww2dbaseDuring her career, USS Honolulu developed something of a jinxed reputation – not for herself but for the ship sailing in column directly behind her. At Tassafaronga, Northampton was astern when torpedoed and sunk; while retiring from Munda, HMNZS Achilles was behind Honolulu when an aerial bomb struck one of her turrets; at Kula Gulf, Helena was trailing Honolulu when fatally hit by torpedoes; at Kolombangara, HMNZS Leander was torpedoed directly astern; and en route to Green Islands, St. Louis was trailing Honolulu when an aerial bomb exploded within one of her berthing spaces. Honolulu herself was bombed at Pearl Harbor, torpedoed in the Solomons, and torpedoed again in the Philippines. USS Honolulu earned nine battle stars in World War II.

ww2dbaseSources:
United States Navy
NavSource Naval History
Military Times – Hall of Valor
United States Naval Institute
Naval Encyclopedia
Ships of the U.S. Navy in WWII "Dazzle" Camouflage
USN Camouflage 1941-1945
JM Bullion
Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: Aug 2023

Light Cruiser Honolulu (CL-48) Interactive Map

Photographs

Schematic drawing of the United States Brooklyn-class light cruiser, of which there were nine. The Brooklyn-class design had a large influence on subsequent cruiser designs, both large cruisers and light.Rear Admiral Harold Stark with the commanders of his Cruiser Divisions and ships, probably aboard USS Honolulu, circa 1939Cruiser USS Honolulu on her first Pacific deployment, 14 Jul 1939, Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii.USS Honolulu in Honolulu Harbor, Hawaii, 14 Jul 1939. The Aloha Tower and an outrigger canoe can be seen at right.
See all 33 photographs of Light Cruiser Honolulu (CL-48)

Maps

United States Navy Track Chart Battle of Tassafaronga, 30 Nov 1942. Chart created in 1946.Track chart showing USS Honolulu’s movements during a bombardment of the Vila Plantation in the Kula Gulf, Solomon Islands, 13 May 1943; taken from Honolulu’s action report.

Honolulu Operational Timeline

9 Dec 1935 Brooklyn-class cruiser Honolulu was laid down at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, United States.
26 Aug 1937 Cruiser Honolulu was launched at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, United States with Miss Helen Poindexter as sponsor, the daughter of the governor of Hawaii.
15 Jun 1938 USS Honolulu was commissioned at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn, New York, United States with Captain Oscar Smith in command.
22 Sep 1938 USS Honolulu departed Portsmouth, England bound for the United States with $20,000,000 in gold bullion being transferred from the Bank of England to the New York Federal Reserve Bank.
28 May 1939 USS Honolulu departed New York Navy Yard bound for the Pacific.
14 Jun 1939 USS Honolulu arrived at San Pedro, California, United States.
4 Jul 1939 USS Honolulu departed San Francisco, California bound for Honolulu, Hawaii.
2 Apr 1940 USS Honolulu departed San Pedro, California bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
5 Nov 1940 USS Honolulu departed San Pedro, California bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
11 Nov 1940 USS Honolulu arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii following an overhaul at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
2 Feb 1941 At Pearl Harbor, Rear Admiral Herbert Leary came aboard USS Honolulu as the new commander of Cruiser Division Nine relieving Admiral Husband Kimmel who, on the same morning, shifted to the USS Pennsylvania and assumed the duties of Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet.
7 Dec 1941 USS Honolulu was at the repair piers in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii when the Japanese attack began. One 500-pound bomb went through the concrete dock beside Honolulu and exploded under the water caving in a section of Honolulu’s hull.
13 Dec 1941 USS Honolulu entered drydock at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for repairs to damage sustained the Pearl Harbor Attack.
12 Jan 1942 USS Honolulu departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii bound for San Francisco, California.
21 Jan 1942 USS Honolulu arrived at San Francisco, California.
24 Jan 1942 USS Honolulu entered Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California for general upkeep.
31 Jan 1942 USS Honolulu departed San Francisco, California bound for Melbourne, Australia.
26 Feb 1942 USS Honolulu arrived at Melbourne, Australia.
7 Mar 1942 USS Honolulu departed Melbourne, Australia bound for NoumĂ©a, New Caledonia.
12 Mar 1942 USS Honolulu arrived at NoumĂ©a, New Caledonia.
15 Mar 1942 USS Honolulu departed NoumĂ©a, New Caledonia bound for Tutuila, Samoa.
19 Mar 1942 USS Honolulu arrived at Tutuila, Samoa.
20 Mar 1942 USS Honolulu departed Tutuila, Samoa bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
27 Mar 1942 USS Honolulu arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
3 Apr 1942 USS Honolulu departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii bound for San Diego, California.
8 Apr 1942 USS Honolulu arrived at San Diego, California.
13 Apr 1942 USS Honolulu departed San Diego as an escort for a convoy bound for Bora Bora, Society Islands.
23 Apr 1942 While at sea, the convoy escorted by USS St. Louis from San Francisco met with the convoy escorted by USS Honolulu from San Diego and they continued on together bound for Bora Bora.
28 Apr 1942 USS Honolulu and convoy arrived at Pago Pago, Samoa.
19 May 1942 USS Honolulu departed Pago Pago, Samoa bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
24 May 1942 USS Honolulu arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
29 May 1942 USS Honolulu departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii bound for Dutch Harbor, Alaska.
3 Jun 1942 USS St. Louis and USS Nashville joined with USS Indianapolis, USS Louisville, and USS Honolulu to round out Task Force 8 on patrol in the Gulf of Alaska. Upon hearing reports from Dutch Harbor, Alaska of an air attack by carrier planes, Task Force 8 immediately began searching for Japanese carriers operating south of the Aleutian Islands.
25 Jun 1942 USS Honolulu arrived at Kodiak Island, Alaska.
29 Jun 1942 USS Honolulu departed Kodiak Island, Alaska and resumed Alaskan patrols.
15 Jul 1942 USS Honolulu arrived at Kodiak Island, Alaska. Rear Admiral William Smith shifted his flag from USS Indianapolis to USS Honolulu.
16 Jul 1942 USS Honolulu departed Kodiak Island, Alaska and resumed Alaskan patrols.
25 Jul 1942 While refueling south of Kodiak Island, Alaska, Captain Robert Hayler came aboard USS Honolulu by boatswain's chair from oiler USS Guadalupe and, pursuant to orders, assumed command of Honolulu, relieving Captain Harold Dodd.
31 Jul 1942 Task Force 8 consisting of USS Indianapolis, USS Nashville, USS Louisville, USS Honolulu, USS St. Louis, and escorts arrived at Kodiak, Alaska.
3 Aug 1942 Task Force 8 consisting of USS Indianapolis, USS Nashville, USS Louisville, USS Honolulu, USS St. Louis, and escorts departed Kodiak, Alaska and resumed Alaskan patrol.
7 Aug 1942 Task Force 8 consisting of USS Indianapolis, USS Nashville, USS Louisville, USS Honolulu, USS St. Louis, and escorts bombard Japanese positions on Kiska Island near the western end of Alaska's Aleutian chain.
11 Aug 1942 Task Force 8 consisting of USS Indianapolis, USS Nashville, USS Louisville, USS Honolulu, USS St. Louis, and escorts arrived at Kodiak, Alaska.
25 Aug 1942 USS Honolulu departed Kodiak, Alaska bound for Kuluk Bay, Adak Island, Alaska.
30 Aug 1942 USS Nashville, USS Honolulu, and USS St. Louis covered US Army's unopposed landing at Adak Island in Alaska's Aleutian chain.
16 Sep 1942 USS St. Louis arrived at Adak Island and departed the same day in company with USS Honolulu to rendezvous with a tanker bound for Adak.
20 Sep 1942 USS Honolulu arrived at Dutch Harbor, Alaska, refueled, and departed again bound for San Francisco, California.
27 Sep 1942 USS Honolulu arrived in San Francisco Bay and entered Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo for overhaul.
2 Oct 1942 USS Honolulu entered Drydock #3 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
8 Oct 1942 USS Honolulu was floated out of drydock #3 at Mare Island and returned to the repair piers.
25 Oct 1942 USS Honolulu shifted from Mare Island Naval Shipyard to San Francisco, California.
3 Nov 1942 USS Honolulu departed San Francisco, California escorting a convoy bound for New Caledonia.
5 Nov 1942 At sea, USS Honolulu joined with the San Diego detachment of the convoy escorted by carrier USS Altamaha and continued on toward New Caledonia.
6 Nov 1942 While escorting a convoy from the United States to New Caledonia, USS Honolulu encountered a merchant vessel that refused to answer challenges for 10 minutes. Honolulu fired one shot across the ship's bow and got an immediate and correct response identifying the ship as the SS Sea Witch bound for San Pedro, California.
22 Nov 1942 USS Honolulu and convoy arrived at NoumĂ©a, New Caledonia.
23 Nov 1942 USS Honolulu departed NoumĂ©a, New Caledonia bound for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
25 Nov 1942 USS Honolulu arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
30 Nov 1942 Near Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, a formation of US cruisers sailing from Espiritu Santo ambushed a nighttime fast destroyer convoy led personally by Rear Admiral Raizo Tanaka south of Savo Island in the Solomons. Tanaka's quick thinking led to a Japanese victory in the Battle of Tassafaronga. Cruisers USS Northampton, USS Pensacola, USS Minneapolis, and USS New Orleans (New Orleans-class) were badly damaged by torpedoes. Cruiser USS Northampton was sunk by Type 93 torpedoes launched by Japanese destroyer Oyashio. Light cruiser USS Honolulu reported gunfire hits (along with other ships) on Japanese destroyer Takanami which broke apart and sank.
1 Dec 1942 USS Honolulu departed the Guadalcanal area bound for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
2 Dec 1942 USS Honolulu arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
2 Jan 1943 Cruisers USS Nashville, USS St. Louis, USS Helena, USS Honolulu, HMNZS Achilles, USS Columbia, and USS Louisville escorted by destroyers USS Fletcher, USS Nicholas, USS O’Bannon, USS Lamson, and USS Drayton departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides on a patrol south of Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands.
5 Jan 1943 Lieutenant "Red" Cochrane and his crew of the aft 5-inch battery of USS Helena shot down a Japanese D3A dive bomber off Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. This was the first use of proximity-fuzed shells in combat. Cruiser USS Honolulu was near-missed by three bombs and cruiser HMNZS Achilles was struck by a bomb in her #3 turret, killing 11.
8 Jan 1943 Cruisers USS Nashville, USS St. Louis, USS Helena, USS Honolulu, HMNZS Achilles, USS Columbia, and USS Louisville escorted by destroyers USS Fletcher, USS Nicholas, USS O’Bannon, USS Lamson, and USS Drayton returned to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
22 Jan 1943 Task Force 67 consisting of cruisers USS Nashville, USS Helena, USS Honolulu, and USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Nicholas, USS DeHaven, USS O’Bannon, USS Radford, USS Drayton, USS Lamson, and USS Hughes departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides bound for Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands as a striking force.
24 Jan 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Drayton, USS Lamson, and USS Hughes arrived at Purvis Bay, Tulagi, Solomon Islands, refueled, and departed for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
25 Jan 1943 Cruisers USS Nashville, USS Helena (St. Louis-class), Honolulu and USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Drayton, USS Lamson, and USS Hughes arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
28 Jan 1943 Task Force 67 consisting of cruisers USS Nashville, USS Helena (St. Louis-class), USS Honolulu, and USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Drayton, USS Lamson, USS O’Bannon, and USS Reid departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides for patrols in the lanes southwest of the Santa Cruz Islands.
1 Feb 1943 USS St. Louis and USS Honolulu arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, refueled, and put to sea again to continue patrols.
14 Feb 1943 Task Force 67 consisting of cruisers USS Nashville, USS Helena (St. Louis-class), USS Honolulu, and USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Drayton, USS Lamson, USS O’Bannon, and USS Reid arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
15 Feb 1943 Task Force 67 consisting of cruisers USS Nashville, USS Helena (St. Louis-class), USS Honolulu, and USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Chevalier, USS Strong, USS Taylor, and USS Jenkins departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides for patrols in the lanes south of San Cristobal Island, Solomon Islands.
23 Feb 1943 Task Force 67 consisting of cruisers USS Nashville, USS Helena (St. Louis-class), USS Honolulu, and USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Chevalier, USS Strong, USS Taylor, and USS Jenkins arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
3 Mar 1943 Task Force 67 cruisers USS Nashville, USS Honolulu, and USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Russell, USS Strong, USS Morris, USS Chevalier, and USS Jenkins departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides for patrols in the lanes north of Espiritu Santo.
12 Mar 1943 Task Force 67 cruisers USS Nashville, USS Honolulu, and USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Taylor, USS Strong, USS Chevalier, and USS Jenkins arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. After refueling, the task force departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides to patrol the lanes north of Espiritu Santo.
12 Mar 1943 At Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, Commander of Task Force 67 Rear Admiral Walden Ainsworth shifted his flag from USS Nashville to USS Honolulu.
22 Mar 1943 Cruiser USS Honolulu with destroyers USS Nicholas, USS Radford, USS Taylor, and USS Strong arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
29 Mar 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Nicholas, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, and USS Strong departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides bound for several days of night patrols of the New Georgia Sound (The “Slot”) from Tulagi up to Kula Gulf.
6 Apr 1943 USS Helena (St. Louis-class) joined the cruiser group with USS Honolulu, USS Nashville, and USS St. Louis while the cruiser group was on station in the Solomon Islands.
7 Apr 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Nashville, USS Helena, and USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O’Bannon, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, USS Taylor, USS Strong, USS Fletcher, and USS Chevalier departed Tulagi, Solomon Islands bound for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
10 Apr 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Nashville, USS Helena, and USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O’Bannon, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, USS Taylor, USS Strong, USS Fletcher, and USS Chevalier arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
5 May 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS St. Louis, and USS Nashville with destroyers USS O'Bannon, USS Taylor, USS Strong, and USS Chevalier departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides bound for the Blackett Strait, Solomon Islands by way of the New Georgia Sound (The "Slot").
7 May 1943 Shortly after midnight, cruisers USS Honolulu, USS St. Louis, and USS Nashville with destroyers USS O'Bannon, USS Taylor, USS Strong, and USS Chevalier made one circuit through Vella Gulf in the Solomon Islands covering minelayers laying mines in Blackett Strait.
8 May 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS St. Louis, and USS Nashville with destroyers USS O'Bannon, USS Taylor, USS Strong, and USS Chevalier arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
11 May 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Nashville, USS Helena, and USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O’Bannon, USS Jenkins, USS Taylor, USS Strong, USS Fletcher, and USS Chevalier departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides bound for Kolombangara, Solomon Islands.
13 May 1943 Shortly after midnight, cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Nashville, and USS Helena, with destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O’Bannon, USS Taylor, USS Strong, and USS Chevalier entered Kula Gulf, Solomon Islands where they conducted a shore bombardment of Japanese positions along both sides of the gulf. Cruiser USS Nashville suffered an explosion inside her No. 3 turret that killed 18 men and injured 17. USS Nicholas and USS Chevalier both suffered gun casualties in their 5-inch gun mounts where, in each case, a hang-fire caused an explosion and fire causing no casualties.
14 May 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Nashville, USS St. Louis, and USS Helena, with destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O’Bannon, USS Taylor, USS Strong, and USS Chevalier departed the Solomon Islands and arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. On arrival, Nicholas and Chevalier went alongside the tender USS Dixie for repairs to their guns.
28 Jun 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Helena, USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Nicholas, USS Strong, USS McCall, USS Chevalier, and USS O’Bannon departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides bound for the Coral Sea.
3 Jul 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Helena, USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Nicholas, USS Strong, USS Chevalier, and USS O’Bannon arrived at Tulagi, Solomon Islands.
4 Jul 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Helena, USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Nicholas, USS Strong, USS Chevalier, and USS O’Bannon departed Tulagi, Solomon Islands on patrol of the New Georgia Sound (The “Slot”) toward Kula Gulf.
5 Jul 1943 The US Northern Landing Group under Colonel Harry Liversedge landed at Rice Anchorage on the northern coast of New Georgia, Solomon Islands. On the same day shortly after midnight, US cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Helena, and USS St. Louis escorted by destroyers USS Nicholas, USS Strong, USS Chevalier, and USS O’Bannon entered Kula Gulf to shell Japanese positions on Kolombangara and New Georgia in support of the landings at Rice Anchorage. At the same time, Japanese destroyers Niizuki, Nagatsuki, Yunagi, and Satsuki arrived at the north end of Kula Gulf loaded with 1,300 reinforcement troops and 180 tons of provisions bound for Vila, Kolombangara at the south end of Kula Gulf. Upon the commencement of the American shelling at Bairoka Harbor, New Georgia, the Japanese commander, Commander Kunizo Kanaoka, aborted the mission and ordered a withdrawal. As they turned, Niizuki, Nagatsuki, and Yunagi launched a spread of 14 Type 93 “Long Lance” torpedoes into the gulf. At a range of 22,000 yards (11 nautical miles), one of the torpedoes struck and sank destroyer USS Strong. This is believed to be the longest successful torpedo attack of the war. The Americans never detected the presence of the Japanese destroyers and believed Strong was torpedoed by a submarine.
6 Jul 1943 During Battle of Kula Gulf in the Solomon Islands, US cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Helena, USS St. Louis with destroyers USS Nicholas, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, and USS O'Bannon engaged a Japanese force of destroyers Niizuki, Yunagi, Suzukaze, Tanikaze, Amagiri, Hatsuyuki, Nagatsuki, Satsuki, Mochizuki, Mikazuki and Hamakaze in the early morning darkness. Helena fired on the incoming Japanese convoy at 0157 hours, but the many gun flashes in turn made Helena an attractive target for Japanese gunners. Suzukaze and Tanikaze each launched Type 93 torpedoes. One struck Helena at 0203 hours, followed by two more at 0205 hours. Helena would sink at 0225 hours. Niizuki is sunk by gunfire. Nagatsuki was badly damaged and beached near Bambari Harbor, Kolombangara.
7 Jul 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis escorted by destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O’Bannon, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, and USS Chevalier departed Tulagi, Solomon Islands bound for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
8 Jul 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis escorted by destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O’Bannon, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, and USS Chevalier arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
10 Jul 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis escorted by destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O’Bannon, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, and USS Chevalier departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides bound for the Solomon Islands.
12 Jul 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS St. Louis, and HMNZS Leander escorted by destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O’Bannon, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, and USS Chevalier joined with destroyers USS Gwin, USS Woodworth, USS Buchanan, and USS Maury. Together, these ships sailed up the New Georgia Sound (The “Slot”) toward Kolombangara. Yugure, Yukikaze, Hamakaze, and Kiyonami departed Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands, escorting a troop transport mission involving light cruiser Jintsu to Kolombangara, New Georgia Group, Solomon Islands. The two forces engaged in the Battle of Kolombangara that lasted into the next morning.
13 Jul 1943 Shortly after midnight, cruisers USS Honolulu, USS St. Louis, and HMNZS Leander escorted by destroyers USS Nicholas, USS O'Bannon, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, USS Chevalier, USS Gwin, USS Woodworth, USS Buchanan, and USS Maury engaged Japanese cruiser Jintsu and destroyers Yukikaze, Hamakaze, Yugure, Mikazuki, and Kiyonami in New Georgia Sound north of Kolombangara. Japanese Type 93 torpedoes damaged Honolulu, St. Louis, and Leander. Destroyers Woodworth and Buchanan were damaged in a collision. Jintsu was sunk by cruiser gunfire and a torpedo. Destroyer Yukikaze was damaged. Destroyer USS Ralph Talbot went to the aid of USS Gwin, badly damaged by a torpedo, and took aboard 155 officers and men. USS Maury took another 53 officers and men. Ralph Talbot then scuttled Gwin with torpedoes. The Japanese were able to land 1,200 men nevertheless.
13 Jul 1943 During the Battle of Kolombangara, cruiser USS Honolulu was struck by a Japanese torpedo in the starboard bow, causing 60 feet of the bow to fold and collapse downward so the deck was nearly vertical. Another torpedo crashed through Honolulu’s stern but did not explode. Down by the head, Honolulu withdrew to Tulagi Harbor, Solomon Islands.
14 Jul 1943 USS Honolulu departed Tulagi, Solomon Islands bound for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
16 Jul 1943 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. St. Louis moored alongside repair ship USS Vestal.
17 Jul 1943 Rear Admiral Walden Ainsworth and his chief of staff departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides by airplane bound for NoumĂ©a, New Caledonia for a conference with Admiral William Halsey.
6 Aug 1943 USS Honolulu departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
16 Aug 1943 USS Honolulu arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
20 Aug 1943 USS Honolulu entered Drydock #1 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
24 Aug 1943 Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander US Pacific Fleet, personally inspected the torpedo damage to USS Honolulu's bow in DryDock #1 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
31 Aug 1943 USS Honolulu was floated out of drydock and shifted to the repair piers at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
2 Sep 1943 USS Honolulu departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii bound for Mare Island, California.
6 Sep 1943 USS Honolulu arrived at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California.
28 Oct 1943 USS Honolulu entered Drydock #2 at Mare Island Naval Shipyard.
3 Nov 1943 USS Honolulu was floated out of drydock and shifted to the repair piers at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California.
12 Nov 1943 USS Honolulu shifted from Mare Island Naval Shipyard to San Francisco, California.
14 Nov 1943 USS Honolulu conducted sea trials outside the Golden Gate before returning to Mare Island Naval Shipyard, California.
16 Nov 1943 USS Honolulu shifted from Mare Island Naval Shipyard to San Francisco, California.
17 Nov 1943 USS Honolulu departed San Francisco, California bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
21 Nov 1943 USS Honolulu arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
26 Nov 1943 USS Honolulu departed Pearl Harbor bound for exercises in Hawaiian waters.
29 Nov 1943 USS Honolulu arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
4 Dec 1943 USS Honolulu departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii bound for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
11 Dec 1943 USS Honolulu arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
14 Dec 1943 USS St. Louis arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. Rear Admiral Walden Ainsworth shifted his flag from USS St. Louis to USS Honolulu.
21 Dec 1943 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides for gunnery exercises.
23 Dec 1943 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis returned to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
25 Dec 1943 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides bound for Tulagi, Solomon Islands.
26 Dec 1943 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis arrived at Tulagi, Solomon Islands before departing after dark bound for a bombardment strike against Bougainville.
27 Dec 1943 Cruisers USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis bombard Kieta and Numa Numa Plantation on the north shore of Bougainville.
29 Dec 1943 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis arrived at Tulagi, Solomon Islands.
8 Jan 1944 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis departed Tulagi, Solomon Islands and that evening conducted a bombardment strike against the Shortland Islands south of Bougainville.
9 Jan 1944 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis shifted to the west of Torokina to cover landing of reinforcements there.
10 Jan 1944 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis arrived at Tulagi, Solomon Islands.
27 Jan 1944 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis departed Tulagi, Solomon Islands bound for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
28 Jan 1944 At sea, cruisers USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis met with cruisers USS Montpelier, USS Cleveland, and USS Columbia and conducted fleet exercises. Honolulu and St. Louis then departed for Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
30 Jan 1944 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis arrived at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides.
10 Feb 1944 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis departed Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides bound for Tulagi, Solomon Islands.
11 Feb 1944 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis arrived at Tulagi, Solomon Islands.
13 Feb 1944 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis departed Tulagi, Solomon Islands bound to support the landings at Green Island north of Bougainville.
14 Feb 1944 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis came under attack by four Aichi D3A 'Val' dive-bombers. St. Louis was struck by one bomb that exploded within the ship, killing 23 and wounding 28.
15 Feb 1944 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis covered the New Zealand landings on Green Island 140 miles east of Rabaul.
17 Feb 1944 USS Honolulu arrived at Tulagi, Solomon Islands.
25 Mar 1944 At Tulagi, Captain Harry Thurber assumed command of cruiser USS Honolulu in relief of Captain Robert Hayler who was, on the same day, promoted to Rear Admiral.
10 May 1944 At Tulagi, USS Honolulu received aboard two OS2U Kingfisher scout planes as replacements for her SOC Seagull aircraft.
12 May 1944 USS Honolulu, USS Birmingham, and USS St. Louis departed Tulagi, Solomon Islands bound for exercises in the northern Solomon Islands.
13 May 1944 USS Honolulu, USS Birmingham, and USS St. Louis arrived at Hathorn Sound at the south end of Kula Gulf.
16 May 1944 After three days of bombardment exercises, USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis departed Hathorn Sound bound for Tulagi, Solomon Islands.
17 May 1944 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis arrived at Tulagi, Solomon Islands.
4 Jun 1944 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis departed Tulagi, Solomon Islands bound for Roi at Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, joining carriers USS Corregidor and USS Coral Sea while at sea.
5 Jun 1944 At sea, battleships USS New Mexico, USS Idaho, and USS Pennsylvania joined with aircraft carriers USS Corregidor and USS Coral Sea with cruisers USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis and continued on toward Kwajalein.
8 Jun 1944 Battleships USS New Mexico, USS Idaho, and USS Pennsylvania with aircraft carriers USS Corregidor and USS Coral Sea and cruisers USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis arrived at Roi at Kwajalein, Marshall Islands.
10 Jun 1944 Battleships USS New Mexico, USS Idaho, and USS Pennsylvania with aircraft carriers USS Corregidor and USS Coral Sea and cruisers USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis departed Kwajalein bound for the invasion of the Mariana Islands.
14 Jun 1944 Battleships USS Pennsylvania and USS Idaho with cruiser USS Honolulu conducted pre-invasion bombardments of Saipan, Mariana Islands.
25 Jun 1944 USS Honolulu departed the Mariana Islands bound for Eniwetok, Marshall Islands.
28 Jun 1944 USS Honolulu arrived at Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands.
14 Jul 1944 USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis departed Eniwetok, Marshall Islands bound for the Mariana Islands.
17 Jul 1944 USS Honolulu arrived at Guam and began supporting pre-invasion operations with shore bombardments.
10 Aug 1944 USS Honolulu departed the Guam area bound for Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands.
12 Aug 1944 USS Honolulu arrived at Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands.
16 Aug 1944 At Eniwetok, USS Honolulu received aboard SOC Seagull scout planes as replacements for her OS2U Kingfisher aircraft.
18 Aug 1944 USS Honolulu departed Eniwetok bound for Tulagi, Solomon Islands.
22 Aug 1944 USS Honolulu arrived at Tulagi, Solomon Islands.
6 Sep 1944 USS Honolulu departed Tulagi as part of a task force bound for the Peleliu in the Palau Islands.
12 Sep 1944 USS Honolulu began two weeks of daily bombardments of Peleliu in the Palau Islands. For his performance as commander of the Peleliu fire support group, Rear Admiral Walden Ainsworth, aboard Honolulu, was awarded the Legion of Merit with combat 'V'.
29 Sep 1944 Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Portland, USS Cleveland, and USS Indianapolis departed the Peleliu area bound for Manus in the Admiralty Islands.
1 Oct 1944 Cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Portland, USS Cleveland, and USS Indianapolis arrived at Seeadler Harbor, Manus in the Admiralty Islands.
12 Oct 1944 Task Group 77.2 consisting of battleships USS Tennessee, USS California, USS Pennsylvania, USS Maryland, USS West Virginia, and USS Mississippi with cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Portland, USS Minneapolis, USS Denver, and USS Columbia departed Seeadler Harbor, Manus bound Leyte Gulf, Philippines.
18 Oct 1944 Task Group 77.2 consisting of battleships USS Tennessee, USS Maryland, USS West Virginia, and USS Mississippi with cruisers USS Honolulu, USS Portland, and USS Columbia arrived in Leyte Gulf, Philippines.
19 Oct 1944 USS Honolulu, USS Tennessee, USS California, and USS Portland began two days of shore bombardments on Leyte, Philippines in advance of Army landings.
20 Oct 1944 While conducting a shore bombardment in Leyte Gulf, Philippines, USS Honolulu was struck amidships by an aerial torpedo.
21 Oct 1944 After correcting a 13-degree list and making temporary repairs, USS Honolulu departed Leyte Gulf, Philippines bound for Kossol Passage, Palau.
24 Oct 1944 USS Honolulu arrived at Kossol Passage, Palau, made additional repairs, and departed again bound for Manus in the Admiralty Islands.
29 Oct 1944 USS Honolulu arrived at Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands. Rear Admiral Walden Ainsworth hauled down his flag and departed for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
30 Oct 1944 USS Honolulu entered floating drydock ABSD-2 at Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands.
18 Nov 1944 USS Honolulu was floated out of floating drydock ABSD-2 and anchored in Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands.
19 Nov 1944 USS Honolulu departed Seeadler Harbor, Manus, Admiralty Islands bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii by way of Majuro, Marshall Islands.
24 Nov 1944 USS Honolulu arrived at Majuro, Marshall Islands, refueled, and departed again bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
29 Nov 1944 USS Honolulu arrived at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
30 Nov 1944 USS Honolulu departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii bound for San Pedro, California.
5 Dec 1944 USS Honolulu arrived at the Naval Supply Base at San Pedro, California.
7 Dec 1944 USS Honolulu departed the Naval Supply Base at San Pedro, California bound for the Panama Canal.
14 Dec 1944 USS Honolulu arrived at Balboa, Canal Zone.
15 Dec 1944 USS Honolulu transited the Panama Canal and moored at Cristobal, Canal Zone.
16 Dec 1944 USS Honolulu departed Cristobal, Canal Zone bound for Norfolk, Virginia.
20 Dec 1944 USS Honolulu arrived at the Naval Operating Base at Norfolk, Virginia, United States.
27 Dec 1944 USS Honolulu shifted to the Norfolk Navay Yard at Portsmouth, Virginia where overhaul repairs were begun.
3 Jan 1945 With all 5-inch, 40mm, and 20mm guns removed from the ship, USS Honolulu shifted to Drydock #3 at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia.
20 Jan 1945 While USS Honolulu was in drydock at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Captain Harry Thurber was relieved as commanding officer of the ship and assigned to the staff of the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet in Washington DC. Commander Olin Scoggins assumed temporary command.
3 Feb 1945 While USS Honolulu was in drydock at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Captain Olin Scoggins was relieved as commanding officer of the ship and Commander Theodore Ascherfeld assumed command.
23 Mar 1945 After two-and-a-half months in drydock, USS Honolulu was floated out of Drydock #3 at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia and moored at the repair piers.
15 Jun 1945 While at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virgina, Captain Harold Pullen assumed command of USS Honolulu, relieving Commander Theodore Ascherfeld.
23 Aug 1945 After brief dockside trials, USS Honolulu shifted from the repair piers to Drydock #3 at the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia.
19 Sep 1945 USS Honolulu got underway from the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia for one brief trial that took her to Cape Henry at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, before returning to the Navy Yard repair piers.
6 Oct 1945 USS Honolulu got underway from the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia for structural test firing of all guns 30 miles into the Atlantic Ocean before returning to the Norfolk Navy Yard.
10 Oct 1945 USS Honolulu departed the Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia bound for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
13 Oct 1945 USS Honolulu arrived at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for five days of scheduled training.
21 Oct 1945 USS Honolulu departed Guantanamo Bay, Cuba bound for New Orleans, Louisiana.
24 Oct 1945 USS Honolulu arrived at New Orleans, Louisiana, United States and began preparations for Navy Day celebrations three days later.
30 Oct 1945 USS Honolulu departed New Orleans, Louisiana bound for Newport, Rhode Island for duty as a training ship.
8 Jan 1946 USS Honolulu entered the Philadelphia Navy Yard and began her decommissioning overhaul.
6 Apr 1946 At Philadelphia Navy Yard, Commander William Wallace relieved Commander William Lederer as commanding officer of USS Honolulu.
3 Feb 1947 USS Honolulu was decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and joined the Reserve Fleet.
1 Mar 1959 Cruiser Honolulu was stricken from the Navy List.
12 Oct 1959 Cruiser Honolulu was sold for scrapping to Bethlehem Steel, Baltimore, Maryland.
19 Aug 1960 Cruiser Honolulu was scrapped at Sparrow Point, Maryland.




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Bill says:
13 Dec 2017 08:47:27 AM

I understand that the USS Honolulu made one or more trips to Australia during WWII. I'd like to know the dates of those visits, please.
2. Commenter identity confirmed David Stubblebine says:
13 Dec 2017 05:54:20 PM

To Bill (above):
According to Honolulu’s DANFS entry (repeated at Wiki), she was engaged in convoy duty between Australia, Samoa, and the United States from Feb to May 1942 but the precise dates are elusive. There does not seem to be any other times she sailed to Australia so the best source for the precise dates would be her Deck Logs for these months, available from the National Archives for a copying fee.
3. Michael says:
28 Jan 2020 02:51:24 PM

From what I have been able to determine, convoy BT-200 (ie. Task Force 6814) departed "Port of Embarkation New York" (POENY) or POE Hoboken on 23 Jan 1942. TF-6814 was the first mass deployment of US troops after the Pearl Harbor attack. This convoy of 7 or 8 (?) ships sailed for the Panama Canal with escorts CA-44 Vincennes and CL-5 Milwaukee with around 7 DD's. They entered Limon Bay, Colon (Atlantic side) on 31 Jan, transited, and sailed from Balboa (Pacific side) to Bora Bora on 1 Feb 1942. CA-44, remaining in the Atlantic, did not transit the canal, but the Milwaukee did, staying with the convoy for the duration of their voyage to Australia. To make up for CA-44's absence, convoy BT-200 picked up new escorts in the Pacific; one of them being CL-48 USS Honolulu (along with 2 more DD's). Again, they sailed from Panama on 1 Feb and they put in at Bora Bora on 14 Feb to refuel. They proceeded from Bora Bora, bound for Melbourne, arriving on 27 Feb.
TF-6814 was the basis/nucleus for what eventually became known as the "Americal Division" who's headquarters was set up on New Caledonia with General Patch as CO. For more information, look up (1) Peter Dunn's website "OZ at war" [or something like that], (2) "Veterans Testimony - Ruth Louise Kinzeler" (her diary she kept while sailing aboard, USAT Thomas H. Barry, ex-Oriente) and another diary from Robert F. McElroy who sailed aboard the, USAT John Ericsson (there are a lot af spelling variants with the name last name like Erickson. It's previous name was "Kungsholn" (which unfortunately has been spelled a number of ways as well. I've assembled this information by going to Mr. Dunn's site, getting the list of names of the ships involved in the convoy and putting together all of the pieces. My interest in all this is I'm trying to determine all the names of the destroyers that participated in this event. So far I've only been able to identify the Jarvis (DD-393). Hope this helps.
4. Anonymous says:
27 Mar 2023 06:35:37 PM

Wondering where to look to find what years my grandfather Wilfred Jalbert served on this ship.

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More on Honolulu
Personnel:
» Ainsworth, Walden
» Kimmel, Husband
» Stark, Harold

Event(s) Participated:
» Attack on Pearl Harbor
» Battle of Midway and the Aleutian Islands
» Guadalcanal Campaign
» Solomon Islands Campaign
» Mariana Islands Campaign and the Great Turkey Shoot
» Palau Islands and Ulithi Islands Campaigns
» Philippines Campaign, Phase 1, the Leyte Campaign

Document(s):
» US Navy Report of Japanese Raid on Pearl Harbor, Enclosure E, USS Honolulu

Light Cruiser Honolulu (CL-48) Photo Gallery
Schematic drawing of the United States Brooklyn-class light cruiser, of which there were nine. The Brooklyn-class design had a large influence on subsequent cruiser designs, both large cruisers and light.
See all 33 photographs of Light Cruiser Honolulu (CL-48)


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