USS Reno (CL-96)

Career
Ordered:
Laid down:	1 August 1941
Launched:	23 December 1942
Commissioned:	28 December 1943
Decommissioned:	4 November 1946
Fate:	Scrapped in 1962
Struck:	1 March 1959
General characteristics
Displacement:	8,600 tons
Length:	541 ft
Beam:	53 ft 2 in
Draught:	26 ft 6 in
Propulsion:
Speed:	31 knots
Range:
Complement:	688 officers and enlisted
Armament:	12 x 5 in, 16 x 40 mm, 16 x 20 mm guns 8 x 21 in torpedo tubes 2 x depth charge tracks
Aircraft:
Motto:

The second USS Reno (CL-96) was a modified Atlanta class cruiser, sometimes referred to as Oakland class cruiser. She was laid down by Bethlehem Steel Co., San Francisco, Calif., 1 August 1941; launched 23 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. August C. Frohlich; and commissioned 28 December 1943, Capt. Ralph C. Alexander in command.

Following shakedown off San Diego, Reno departed San Francisco, 14 April 1944, to join the 5th Fleet. As an active unit in Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher's Task Force 58, she first came in contact with the enemy by supporting air strikes against Marcus Island on 19 May-20 May. Three days later, she also supported strikes on Wake Island.

During the months of June and July, Reno joined the fast carriers in surprise attacks against Saipan, 11 June, Pagan Island, 12 June-13 June, and against the Volcano and Bonin Islands—Iwo Jima, Haha Jima, and Chichi Jima—on 15 June-16 June. Three days later, she assisted in repelling a large-scale Japanese carrier force attempt to defeat the Allied invasion of Saipan in the Battle of the Philippine Sea.

From 20 June to 8 July, Reno joined in the operations covering the capture of Saipan, then covered landings on Guam from 17 July-24 July and 2 days later, took part in the strikes against the Palau Islands from the 26th to the 29th. Swinging north again, a final strike was made on the Bonin Islands 4 August-5 August and on 7 September the task group returned to the Palaus.

Continuing west, Reno participated in raids against Mindanao and adjacent Philippine Islands 9 September-13 September, supported the Palau invasion 15 September-20 September, and on 21 September and 22 September, supported strikes against Manila and vicinity. Striking Nansei Shoto on 8 October, Reno, with TF 38 came nearer to the home islands of Japan than any other major unit of the U.S. Fleet had been.

During the 3-day strike on Formosa 12 October-14 October, Reno shot down six enemy planes. At the height of the battle, one torpedo plane crashed and exploded on the Reno’s main deck aft. Though Turret Six was partially incapacitated by the explosion, the turret captain succeeded in maintaining his fire against the attacking planes and ships.

On 24 October, 4 days after the initial Leyte invasion, while supporting air strikes against the Luzon area, TF 38 was subjected to a large-scale air attack by land planes from Clark Field. The light carrier USS Princeton (CVL-23) was struck and forced to withdraw from the task group. Reno, assigned to help fight her fires and rescue personnel, came alongside five times but could not remain because of the intense heat and smoke. While Reno evacuated wounded men and tried to bring the fires under control, the listing flight deck of Princeton crushed one of Reno’s 40 mm mounts. Efforts to save the carrier continued; but, after Princeton’s torpedo warhead stowage area exploded, Reno was ordered to sink her. On 25 October, having rejoined the task force, Reno proceeded north to engage the northern Japanese task force closing for the Battle of Cape Engaño—the last engagement in the Battle for Leyte Gulf.

On the night of 3 November, well off San Bernardino Strait, Reno was torpedoed in the port side by Japanese submarine I-41. Towed 1,500 miles to Ulithi for temporary repairs, she then steamed under her own power to Charleston where she entered the Navy Yard 22 March for repairs. Emerging 7 months later, she steamed to Texas, then back to Charleston for the addition of bunk spaces. She reported for "Magic-Carpet" duty and made two runs to Le Havre, France, and back with Army troops.

In early 1946, Reno steamed for Port Angeles, Wash., where she decommissioned, 4 November 1946 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet, berthed at Bremerton. Reclassified CLAA-96, 18 March 1949, she remained at Bremerton until her name was struck from the Navy list 1 March 1959 and her hulk was sold, 22 March 1962, to Coal Export Co., New York.

Reno earned three battle stars for World War II service.

 This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.