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NavSource Online: Cruiser Photo Archive

USS RENO (CL/CLAA 96)


       

Flag Hoist/Radio Call Sign: November - Bravo - Papa - Oscar

CLASS - Oakland
Displacement 6,000 Tons, Dimensions, 541' 0" (oa) x 53' 2" x 26' 6" (Max)
Armament 12 x 5"/38AA, 8 x 40mm, 16 x 20mm, 6 x 21" tt.
Armor, 3 3/4" Belt, 1 1/4" Turrets, 1 1/4" Deck, 2 1/2" Conning Tower.
Machinery, 75,000 SHP; Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 32.5 Knots, Crew 650.
Operational and Building Data
Ordered 09 SEP 1940
Keel laid on 01 AUG 1941 by the Bethlehem Steel Co., San Francisco, CA
Launched 23 DEC 1942
Commissioned 28 DEC 1943
Inactivation 01 JUNE 1946
Decommissioned 04 NOV 1946
Reclassified CLAA 96 18 MAR 1949
Stricken 1 MAR 1959
Fate: Sold for scrap to Coal Export Co., New York, NY on 22 MAR 1962
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons



Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon - American Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (3)
Second Row - World War II Victory Medal - Philippine Presidential Unit Citation - Philippine Liberation Medal (3)

Click On Image
For Full Size Image
Size Image Description Contributed
By And/Or Copyright
Reno 72k

USS Reno (CL 96) Ready for launching, at the Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard, San Francisco, California, 23 December 1942. Courtesy of James Russell, 1972.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 75593.

USNHC
Reno 75k Seen here as completed. USN
Reno 80k

USS Reno (CL 96) Probably photographed in San Francisco Bay, California, at the time of her builder's trials, circa late 1943. Reno was constructed by the Bethlehem Steel Company's San Francisco shipyard. The company flag is flying from her jackstaff.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98468.

USNHC
Reno 123k

USS Reno (CL 96) Underway, circa late 1943 or early 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98469.

USNHC
Reno 79k

USS Reno (CL 96) Underway on 11 January 1944, probably in San Francisco Bay, California. Photographed by Naval Air Station Alameda, Calif. Reno is painted in Camouflage Measure 33, Design 24d.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98466.

USNHC
Reno 92k

USS Reno (CL 96) Steaming through the Golden Gate, while leaving San Francisco Bay, California, 25 January 1944. Note the Pacific Ocean surf in the distance. Photographed by Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Sunnyvale, California.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives #80-G-215948.

National Archives
Reno 83k

USS Reno (CL 96) Outbound in the Golden Gate, while leaving San Francisco Bay, California, 25 January 1944. Photographed by Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Sunnyvale, California. Reno is painted in Camouflage Measure 33, Design 24d.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives #80-G-215947.

National Archives
Reno 80k

USS Reno (CL 96) Outbound in the Golden Gate, while leaving San Francisco Bay, California, 25 January 1944. Photographed by Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Sunnyvale, California.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph

John Spivey
Reno 52k

USS Princeton (CVL 23) suffers another tremendous explosion, soon after she was hit by a Japanese bomb while operating off the Philippines on 24 October 1944. Photographed at about 1003 hrs. from USS South Dakota (BB 57), with USS Reno (CL 96) passing by closer to the camera.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives (# 80-G-287972).

NHC
Reno 83k

USS Princeton (CVL 23) afire at about 1004 hours on 24 October 1944, soon after she was hit by a Japanese bomb during operations off the Philippines. This view shows smoke rising from the ship's second large explosion, as USS Reno (CL 96) steams by in the foreground. Photographed from USS South Dakota (BB 57).

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives # 80-G-287974.

NHC
Reno 72k

USS Reno (CL 96) comes alongside the burning USS Princeton (CVL 23) to assist in fighting fires, 24 October 1944. Princeton had been hit by Japanese air attack earlier in the day.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives # 80-G-270430.

NHC
Reno 72k

USS Reno (CL 96) fighting fires from alongside the port quarter of the burning USS Princeton (CVL 23), 24 October 1944. Princeton had been hit by Japanese air attack earlier in the day.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives # 80-G-270431.

NHC
Reno 74k

USS Reno (CL 96) stands off the starboard quarter of USS Princeton (CVL 23), while fighting fires on board the bombed carrier, 24 October 1944. Note Reno's forward 5"/38 twin gun mounts in the foreground, with local fire control sights on top.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center # NH 63439.

NHC
Reno 55k

USS Reno (CL 96) View on board in 1944, looking aft from the bow while the ship was operating at sea. Note that the port side forward 40mm twin gun mount appears to be missing. This may indicate that the photograph was taken shortly after Reno was damaged while fighting fires on board USS Princeton (CVL 23), on 24 October 1944.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98470.

USNHC
Reno
0409616
56k

On the night of 3 November 1944, well off San Bernardino Strait, Reno was torpedoed in the port side by Japanese submarine I-41 This US Navy photo shows the results of that torpedo. The photo caption reads "Looking aft on starboard side showing main deck awash."

A damage report on this incident is available for viewing by clicking here. You will be taken to Tracy White's excellent website where he posts his research concerning the WWII Pacific Theatre.

NARA San Francisco, Pearl Harbor General Correspondence Files 1941-45

Tracy White
Reno 130k

USS Reno (CL 96) Under salvage after she was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-41 on 3 November 1944, while operating off the Philippines. Photographed on 5 November, with USS Zuni (ATF 95) alongside. Note oil streaming off to port.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-287568.

National Archives
Reno 123k

USS Reno (CL 96) Under salvage after being torpedoed off the Philippines on 3 November 1944. The photograph was taken on 5 November, while USS Zuni (ATF 95) was tied up to Reno's port side.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph #NH 63431.

USNHC
Reno 113k

USS Reno (CL 96) Under salvage after she was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-41 on 3 November 1944, while operating off the Philippines. Photographed on 5 November, with USS Zuni (ATF 95) alongside.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98473.

USNHC
Reno
0409617
280k USS Reno (CL 96) Under salvage after she was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-41 on 3 November 1944, while operating off the Philippines. Photographed on 5 November, with USS Zuni (ATF 95) alongside. Robert Hurst / Tommy Trampp
Reno 105k

USS Reno (CL 96) Under salvage after she was torpedoed by the Japanese submarine I-41 off the Philippines on 3 November 1944. Photographed on 5 November, with USS Zuni (ATF 95) alongside. Note burned paintwork on and around her after five-inch gun mounts, oil streaming off to port, and boats nearby. Reno's starboard torpedo tubes, mounted on the main deck alongside the after superstructure, have been pushed over the side to lighten the ship.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives #80-G-287559.

National Archives
Reno 62k

USS Reno (CL 96) Following repair of torpedo damage, circa fall 1945. Location may be Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center #NH 98467.

USNHC
Reno
0409621
124k Reno is shown leaving Charleston, South Carolina on October 8, 1945 for post repair trials. Torpedo tubes have been replaced by 40mm quadruple A.A. guns and she has had new electronics installed. From the collection of CPhM Roy Gunnels, Reno Crewmember (1945/46). Curtis Barber
Reno
0409620
124k Reporting for duty after completion of repairs from being torpedoed, the Reno is shown leaving Charleston, South Carolina on October 8, 1945 for post repair trials. Torpedo tubes have been replaced by 40mm quadruple A.A. guns and she has had new electronics installed. From the collection of CPhM Roy Gunnels, Reno Crewmember (1945/46). Curtis Barber
Reno 124k Reporting for duty after completion of repairs from being torpedoed, the Reno is shown leaving Charleston, South Carolina on October 8, 1945 for post repair trials. Torpedo tubes have been replaced by 40mm quadruple A.A. guns and she has had new electronics installed. USN
Reno
0409622
124k Reno is shown leaving Charleston, South Carolina on October 8, 1945 for post repair trials. Torpedo tubes have been replaced by 40mm quadruple A.A. guns and she has had new electronics installed. From the collection of CPhM Roy Gunnels, Reno Crewmember (1945/46). Curtis Barber
Reno 74k

Plaque and letter of appreciation exhibited on board USS Reno (CL 96). They were presented by the Commanding Officer of USS Princeton (CVL 23) in recognition of fire fighting assistance and survivor care rendered by Reno on 24 October 1944, when Princeton was fatally damaged by Japanese air attack.

Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center (# NH 98471-A).

NHC
Reno
0409618
321k Inactivation (decommissioning) ceremony pamphlet cover from the collection of CPhM Hama Roy Gunnels, Jr., member of the Reno’s crew from October 1945 until the ship’s inactivation in 1946. Curtis Barber
Reno
0409619
433k Inactivation (decommissioning) ceremony pamphlet page 2 & 3 from the collection of CPhM Hama Roy Gunnels, Jr., member of the Reno’s crew from October 1945 until the ship’s inactivation in 1946. Curtis Barber

Commanding Officers
Name/Rank Class Final Rank Dates
Alexander, Ralph Clonts, CAPT 1918   12/28/1943 - 02/13/1945
Darden Jr., Thomas Francis, CAPT 1921-A   02/13/1945 - 03/26/1945
Hickey, Thomas Joseph, CAPT USN   03/26/1945 - 05/22/1945
Sawyer, Merle Alexander, CAPT 1924   05/23/1945 - 04/11/1946
Lawver, Rowland Clifford, CAPT 1930   04/11/1946 - 11/04/1946

(Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler & Ron Reeves - Photos courtesy of Bill Gonyo)


USS RENO (CL/CLAA 96) History
View This Vessels DANFS History Entry on the U.S. Navy Historical Center website.

Crew Contact And Reunion Information

Contact Name: Mr. Robert Mann
Address: 50 E Wasatch St Midvale, UT, 84047-3142
Phone: 801-255-3370
E-mail: None

Note About Contacts.

The contact listed, Was the contact at the time for this ship when located. If another person now is the contact, E-mail me and I will update this entry. These contacts are compiled from various sources over a long period of time and may or may not be correct. Every effort has been made to list the newest contact if more than one contact was found.


Additional Resources
Hazegray & Underway Cruiser Pages By Andrew Toppan.
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