Brooklyn (CL 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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- Early in January 1940, as the Teutonic juggernauts rode roughshod over the rubble-strewn European graveyard, the BROOKLYN took part in the Army-Navy amphibious maneuvers off Monterey, California. Her crew's gunnery training was stepped up. Also, the men were thoroughly taught the proper method of handling casualties and making damage repairs under simulated battle conditions. This investment in rigorous training was to accrue a dividend of inestimable value in the not-too-far-distant uture. In April 1940 she sailed to Pearl Harbor to take part in the Annual Fleet Problem during the summer months, then proceeded back to Mare Island, California, in October 1940 for a short yard availability. The BROOKLYN returned to Pearl Harbor. There, on 3 February of the fateful year 1941, Captain Smith was detached, yielding his command to Captain Ellis S. Stone, USN. A week later BROOKLYN steamed with Philadelphia, Savannah and Nashville caarryang reinforcements for the Marine garrison on Midway s an . In March 1941 BROOKLYN made a good-will and training tour, stopping at Samoa, Auckland, New Zealand, and fabulous Tahiti. May saw her once more berthed at Pearl Harbor where she received surprising orders to return to Atlantic waters. In compliance, she passed through the Panama Canal once more and sped to Boston via Guantanamo Bay. World events were fast coming to a head. The United States decided to throw up an outer bulwark in frigid Iceland. The BROOKLYN, plus the battleships USS New York and USS Arkansas and other units of the Fleet, steamed in transport convoy to Reykjavik, Iceland, to land the initial contingent of American troops late in June. As friendly enemies checked and counter-checked on the diplomatic chessboard, Uncle Sam's formidable floating pawns cruised throughout the Atlantic Ocean on a series of neutrality patrol. At various times, BROOKLYN operated with the flat-tops Wasp, Ranger and Yorktown on such pre-war patrols. Captain Ellis S. STONE, officer commanding the visiting United States squadron 19 March 1941. A group of United States Sailors at the Hot Springs in New Zealand. The young children enjoy swimming in thetempid water. Insert is an invitation to tea. OFFICERS SAND MEN, POF AMERICAN SEQUADRON ACCLASIMEJDI. A IITISIISA IRARADE ' Q f 4 , A

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The American ships were to carry exactly the same armament as those of the Japanese, disposed as to main battery in the same way. But, whereas, the displacement of the Japanese ships was 8,500 tons, the American cruisers were of a standard 10,000 ton, permitting carriage of additional fuel and greater armor protection. Prior to the development of these cruisers, Navies, in general, were content to mount not more than nine 6-inchers on the light cruiser. The fifteen 6-inch rifle innovation on BROOKLYN Class made it apparent that a race for more and for heavier guns per ship was underway. training and, indoctrination in the warm waters of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the BROOKLYN put in her first appearance with the United States Fleet off Colon, Panama Canal Zone in the wanning days of 1938. She was one of the three ships making up Cruiser Division Eight fthe others then were USS PHILADELPHIA and USS SAVANNAHJ' which was under the command of Rear Admiral Forde A. Todd. She conducted gunnery and operational practices with the Fleet from January to April, 1939. In mid-April she was honored by being ordered to return to her fhome port to participate in the opening of the multi-million-dollar New York World's Fair. Captain william W. Smith relieved Captain Brereton as Commanding Officer on 18 May 1939. The BROOKLYN was ordered by the Chief of Naval Operations, on 23 May 1939, to proceed to the scene of the SQUALUS submarine disaster, six miles south of the Isle of Shoals, New Hampshire. During salvage operations on the sunken submarine, BROOKLYN gave invaluable aid while acting in the capacity of a base ship. ' Laying of the Keel of the USS BROOKLYN CCL 401 . Navy Yard, New York, 12 March 1935 I christen you USS BROOKLYN said by the very pretty Miss Kathryn Jane Lackey 30 November 1936, and sent this Gallant Lady on her way to make Navy History. Approximately a year after the keel laying, on 30 November 1936, USS BROOKLYN CCL 403 careened down the lubricated fabrication of timbers and was borne by choppy North Atlantic waters. Wielding the traditional champagne bottle at the formal launching ceremonies was Miss Kathryn Jane Lackey, daughter of Rear Admiral F. R. Lackey, born in Brooklyn, educated in Brooklyn, and proud descendant of five generations of Brooklyn residents. Captain Jonas H. Ingram represented the Commandant, U.S. Navy Yard, New York, as he placed the 608-foot light cruiser in full commission on 30 September 1937. Captain William D. Brereton, Jr., USN, embarked as her first Commanding Officer. Following the builder's trial run and a period of Shakedown USS BROOKLYNICL 401 is water-borne 30 November 1936 A Completing this assignment, BROOKLYN, still attached to Cruiser Division Eight, transited the Panama Canal to rejoin the Fleet at San Pedro, California, participating in the opening of the West Coast's well-timed, multi- million-dollar Golden Gate Exposition at San Francisco, California. The visit to the Golden Gate Exposition gave the public a chance to see the New Navy. Below: The Christening party, left to right, Adm. F.RL Lackey, USN, Mrs. Harris Laning, Mr. Edwin H. Thatcher, Miss Hester Laning, Miss Kathryn J. Lackey, Miss Dorothy LeGennousen, Adm. W.H. Standley, and Mrs. W.H. Standley. 30 November 1936 if A2 ' .l is 4' -1

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'r4?E1'5v r',,,ffXQ-ii?.-fifffq5s+'E.:.f3+ ,j ifyygy I f dj .. S?2y.rXQQeN., Q. - -A-,,g.sw .,g,g,?4,5.s, k . L K., , , V. f?,fg,,gq.-rf. 5 - I. - -' . ,.,,,s,Ns, . . ffcgit, 573, , if A . . f - . we , . -1 rf f s . . xv f,..4s,Agg5,55,g-V.. .I 5 X N, Nc, N US I I I L AC-SHIP BROOKIXN 111111 .DIRHIIIILD IN Alfiifx I ll U I ATILS DESTRGYERS IBEIQTHAQD All IVILSTHRN H- 11'.4Rlr. As the curtain of cordiality covering the international situation was slashed to ribbons on 7 December 1941, the USS BROOKLYN was basking in the sun as she exercised off Bermuda. - As her outraged country made ready overnight to wage war, so did USS BROOKLYN. Three days after Pearl 'Harbor attack, cruiser BROOKLYN put to sea with the ill-fated Wasp and three sleek destroyers, proceeded to the waters off Vichy-controlled Martinique on her first war mission. The ship's guns remained primed until it was ascertained that the French warships in that area were friendly to the cause. BROOKLYN'S first brush with the newly-declared enemy came on 14 December 1941 as she patrolled. A German submarine was reported in the vicinity and BROOKLYN quickly catapulted her planes. The submarine was caught in a rain of accurately-aimed bombs as she was breaking the surface. Blasted apart, the U-boat slipped to the depths leaving behind her a trail of oil slick and floating debris. Since the submarine was never recovered from her sub-surface sepulcher, BROOKLYN'S flyers could not be credited with a definite kill but it is believed that she went down with all hands. The BROOKLYN cruised to New York City when the Martinique tension had satisfactorily diminished. Her anti-aircraft batteries were modernized and the ship undertook her next mission, assisting in the transportation of First Division Marines to Panama. On the return voyage, escorting the famed British liner Aquitania, the BROOKLYN encountered a German submarine Wolfpack off the New Jersey coast. The ship's planes and accompanying destroyers successfully broke up the attack, then rushed to aid a merchantman engaged in 2 surface action with one of the pack's stragglers on the orizon. The summer months of 1942 were devoted to escorting convoys of vitally needed men and materials to the badly battered homeland of our British Ally. With BROOKLYN'S Skipper Stone as Convoy Commander, the ships sailed from New York on the first run, stopping to pick up more units at Halifax, Nova Scotia, then ploughed through sub- infested North Atlantic waters to deposit their Yank troops in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Greenock, Scotland. Then the BROOKLYN shepherded her empty charges back to ' AM!ZRICA.'xf Hampton Roads, Virginia. During the cruiser's brief stay at Hampton Roads, on 12 June 1942, Captain Stone was relieved as her Commanding Officer by fellow Captain fpromoted to Rear Admiral in 19445 Francis ' C. Denebrink, USN. By mid-July BROOKLYN was back in New York. On 6 August 1942, BROOKLYN left New York City for her second trans-Atlantic convoy trek. Submarine contacts were frequent, but the convoy arrived unmolested at Greenock, Scotland. The return trip to the United States 'was not without incident. A few days out of New York, BROOKLYN hurried to the rescue of the burning transport Wakefield tex-S10-million luxury liner Manhattanj, a major unit of the convoy. Risking damage to his ship, Captain Denebrink twice skillfully maneuvered BROOKLYN alongside the port quarter of the burning transport. Flames raged uncontrollably throughout the Wakefield as her 1500 passengers and crew members were snatched from danger by the ships that circled her. Fleet tugs and salvage vessels scurried to fight the fires, eventually extinguishing them. The smoldering giant transport was towed to Boston Harbor, later restored to operational specifications and returned to her troop-carrying activities. Atlantic Fleet Commander in Chief, Admiral Royal E. Ingersoll, dispatched a letter of hearty commendations to Captain Denebrink for his performance of duty as officer in charge of the Wakefield rescue. BROOKLYN'S Commanding Officer was later awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for Smart display of seamanship and ship handling. X A By the fall of 1942, the United States had substantially recovered from her initial setbacks and built up her machine to allow her to entertain her own thoughts of aggression. The projected Allied invasion of North Africa had progressed beyond the map-consultation stage. The landings were not to be perpetuated without reason. First, it was essential that the Allies control the North African coastline, for an Axis incrusion into this area would have proven a powerful menace to the Western Hemisphere. Second, the landing of American troops in North Africa would answer the fervent pleas for the establishment of a second front which came from a bleeding Russia.