St. Louis
| Country | United States |
| Ship Class | St. Louis-class Light Cruiser |
| Laid Down | 10 Dec 1936 |
| Launched | 15 Apr 1938 |
| Commissioned | 19 May 1939 |
| Decommissioned | 20 Jun 1946 |
| Displacement | 10,000 tons standard |
| Length | 608 feet |
| Beam | 62 feet |
| Draft | 20 feet |
| Speed | 33 knots |
| Crew | 888 |
| Armament | 15x6in, 8x5in, 16x1.1in, 12x20mm, 1 depth charge rack |
| Sold to Brazil | 1951 |
This article has been removed for review and updates, please check back again soon!
Last Major Revision: Jan 2007
Light Cruiser St. Louis Interactive Map
St. Louis Operational Timeline
| 19 May 1939 | St. Louis was commissioned into service. |
| 3 Sep 1940 | Light cruiser USS St. Louis departed Norfolk, Virginia with Rear Admiral John F. Greenslade on board, who was placed in charge to survey land recently gained from the United Kingdom for building military bases. |
| 25 May 1942 | Companies C and D of the 2nd Raider Battalion and the 37mm battery of the 3rd Defense Battalion of the United States Marine Corps arrived at Midway via USS St. Louis. |
| 4 Oct 1942 | USS Nashville and USS Bailey joined with USS Indianapolis, USS St. Louis, USS Case, and USS Bancroft 125 miles northeast of Adak Island. |
| 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. |
| 12 Jul 1943 | Yugure, Yukikaze, Hamakaze, and Kiyonami departed Shortland Islands, Solomon Islands, escorting a troop transport mission involving light cruiser Jintsu to Kolombangara, New Georgia, Solomon Islands. En route, they encountered Allied warships, resulting in the Battle of Kolombangara that lasted into the next morning. Jintsu and USS Gwin were sunk (Gwinn by a Type 93 torpedo launched by a Japanese destroyer), and USS Honolulu and USS St. Louis were damaged. The Japanese were able to land 1,200 men. |
| 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. |
| 30 Oct 1944 | Cruisers USS St. Louis and Pasadena departed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii bound for Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. |
| 27 Nov 1944 | US Navy Task Group 77.2 consisting of battleships USS Maryland, USS West Virginia, USS Colorado, and USS New Mexico, cruisers USS Denver, USS St. Louis, USS Columbia, USS Minneapolis, and USS Montpelier, destroyers USS Nicholas, USS Waller, USS Eaton, USS Cony, USS Mustin, USS Conway, USS Pringle, USS Lang, USS Sigourney, USS Saufley, USS Aulick, USS Renshaw, USS Taylor, USS Edwards, and USS Mugford, tanker USS Caribou, and other patrol craft were patrolling in Leyte Gulf, Philippines when the group came under a concentrated Japanese special air attack from 20 to 30 aircraft. All but two of the Japanese planes dived on the formation in the sustained attack. Submarine chaser SC-744 was sunk and battleship Colorado and cruisers St. Louis and Montpelier were damaged. |
| 20 Jun 1946 | St. Louis was decommissioned from service. |
Photographs
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Visitor Submitted Comments
2. Ken Storm says:
25 Apr 2010 10:39:55 AM
Hi
I do not know of your Algie Reed but I am researching the Reed line and have been working on Levi Algie Reed. Since it it not a common name I was wondering if there may be a connection. These Reeds were from Kentucky and then Missouri. Any thoughts?
Ken
25 Apr 2010 10:39:55 AM
Hi
I do not know of your Algie Reed but I am researching the Reed line and have been working on Levi Algie Reed. Since it it not a common name I was wondering if there may be a connection. These Reeds were from Kentucky and then Missouri. Any thoughts?
Ken
3. Anonymous says:
14 Jul 2011 11:18:22 AM
My uncle was killed aboard the USS ST. LOUIS...Nov., 27th 1944. I would like to find pictures of him and his crew. How do I go about doing that? Thanks
14 Jul 2011 11:18:22 AM
My uncle was killed aboard the USS ST. LOUIS...Nov., 27th 1944. I would like to find pictures of him and his crew. How do I go about doing that? Thanks
4. Anonymous says:
3 Sep 2012 08:46:58 PM
Any information on John A. Macaulay. He was assigned to the St. Louis throughout the war. He is from New Jersey and settled in San Francisco.
Thanks
3 Sep 2012 08:46:58 PM
Any information on John A. Macaulay. He was assigned to the St. Louis throughout the war. He is from New Jersey and settled in San Francisco.
Thanks
5. Anonymous says:
26 Jul 2017 05:51:15 PM
Does anyone have info on Anthony Perille. He was on the St. Louis during the bombing of Pearl Harbor?
26 Jul 2017 05:51:15 PM
Does anyone have info on Anthony Perille. He was on the St. Louis during the bombing of Pearl Harbor?
6. 
David Stubblebine says:
26 Jul 2017 07:09:30 PM
Anonymous (above):
The St Louis Muster Rolls list Anthony Perille, service number 300 34 07, who enlisted 24 Jan 1941 at Chicago IL, being received aboard as an Apprentice Seaman on 13 Apr 1941 from the Great Lakes Training Center. He was advanced to Seaman 2nd-class on 24 May 1941 and again to Seaman 1st-class on 1 Jan 1942. He was reduced back to Seaman 2nd-class on 17 Mar 1942 following a summary court martial for insolence to a petty officer. He is last mentioned in the St Louis Muster Rolls on 30 Sep 1942 with no indication of when or where he was transferred off the ship. For more about his Navy days, request a copy of his service record. See http://ww2db.com/faq/#3.
For more about the St Louis during the Pearl Harbor Attack, see the two links under “Document(s)” above right. Seaman Perille is not mentioned in these reports but the ship was pretty active during and following the attack (don’t believe the parts about the midget submarine sighting, however; history has shown these observations were almost certainly incorrect).
David Stubblebine says:26 Jul 2017 07:09:30 PM
Anonymous (above):
The St Louis Muster Rolls list Anthony Perille, service number 300 34 07, who enlisted 24 Jan 1941 at Chicago IL, being received aboard as an Apprentice Seaman on 13 Apr 1941 from the Great Lakes Training Center. He was advanced to Seaman 2nd-class on 24 May 1941 and again to Seaman 1st-class on 1 Jan 1942. He was reduced back to Seaman 2nd-class on 17 Mar 1942 following a summary court martial for insolence to a petty officer. He is last mentioned in the St Louis Muster Rolls on 30 Sep 1942 with no indication of when or where he was transferred off the ship. For more about his Navy days, request a copy of his service record. See http://ww2db.com/faq/#3.
For more about the St Louis during the Pearl Harbor Attack, see the two links under “Document(s)” above right. Seaman Perille is not mentioned in these reports but the ship was pretty active during and following the attack (don’t believe the parts about the midget submarine sighting, however; history has shown these observations were almost certainly incorrect).
7. Anonymous says:
30 Jul 2017 05:54:39 PM
Thank so much for the info. He was my Father and passed in 2008.
30 Jul 2017 05:54:39 PM
Thank so much for the info. He was my Father and passed in 2008.
8. Anonymous says:
11 Dec 2017 03:32:53 PM
Any information on Lt. Jr. Grade Burdett Bernard Berton who was killed on the St. Louis near Green Island 2/14/1944. Does anyone have any crew photos? He was my grandfather - he left a wife and a 6 and 2 year old.
11 Dec 2017 03:32:53 PM
Any information on Lt. Jr. Grade Burdett Bernard Berton who was killed on the St. Louis near Green Island 2/14/1944. Does anyone have any crew photos? He was my grandfather - he left a wife and a 6 and 2 year old.
9. Vernon Byrd Jr. says:
8 Jan 2020 09:42:13 AM
My uncle, James Aubrey Byrd, enlisted in the Navy on December 8, 1941 as a 17 year old. He served aboard the St. Louis for the entire war and told me of the torpedo attack which severely damaged the bow of the ship. He said that they travelled across the Pacific to reach Mare Island Navy Yard where a new bow would be installed. He said that there was not a,dry eye on board the ship as thy passed,under the Golden Gate Brisge because they made only 6 knots speed during the ,trip and were a good, slow target for any *** sub in the way. The kamikaze attacks and loss of life aboard he ship took its toll on him because he turned to alcohol to forget. Not possible and he lived the memories until his death.
8 Jan 2020 09:42:13 AM
My uncle, James Aubrey Byrd, enlisted in the Navy on December 8, 1941 as a 17 year old. He served aboard the St. Louis for the entire war and told me of the torpedo attack which severely damaged the bow of the ship. He said that they travelled across the Pacific to reach Mare Island Navy Yard where a new bow would be installed. He said that there was not a,dry eye on board the ship as thy passed,under the Golden Gate Brisge because they made only 6 knots speed during the ,trip and were a good, slow target for any *** sub in the way. The kamikaze attacks and loss of life aboard he ship took its toll on him because he turned to alcohol to forget. Not possible and he lived the memories until his death.
10. H. Winship Dowell says:
10 Jan 2021 01:32:53 PM
My Uncle, James R. McCormick was a crew member throughout the war. He was on board during the attack on Pearl Harbor and was with the ship until the end of the war. I think he was the navigator. He stayed in the Navy and retired as an Rear Admiral.
10 Jan 2021 01:32:53 PM
My Uncle, James R. McCormick was a crew member throughout the war. He was on board during the attack on Pearl Harbor and was with the ship until the end of the war. I think he was the navigator. He stayed in the Navy and retired as an Rear Admiral.
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More on St. Louis
Event(s) Participated:» Attack on Pearl Harbor
» Solomon Islands Campaign
» Mariana Islands Campaign and the Great Turkey Shoot
Document(s):
» US Navy Report of Japanese Raid on Pearl Harbor, Enclosure E, USS St. Louis (1)
» US Navy Report of Japanese Raid on Pearl Harbor, Enclosure E, USS St. Louis (2)
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12 Apr 2010 05:27:49 AM
Can anyone shed some light as to what may have happened or did they know seamen Algie Reed.He is my wife's uncle and she is trying to find out and pay honor to him and the crew of the Saint Louis.We have very little info if any.I also think she is trying to help her dad find out whom himself is getting later in life.Please help if you can.
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