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Naval History and Heritage Command

National Museum of the U.S. Navy

<p>NMUSN:&nbsp; Ships:&nbsp; USS Juneau (CL-52)</p>

USS Juneau (CL-52)

USS Juneau (CL-52)

The Atlanta-class light cruiser USS Juneau (CL-52) was commissioned on February 14, 1942 at Kearny, New Jersey.  After her shakedown period, she was ordered to blockade Vichy French naval units from leaving the Martinique and Guadeloupe Islands.   Relocating in August to the Pacific to serve in the Guadalcanal Campaign, she joined Task Force 17 and also assisted Task Force 61, ferrying aircraft to Guadalcanal.   On this mission, USS Wasp (CV-7) was sunk on September 15 by Japanese submarine I-19.  Rejoining Task Force 17, Juneau provided anti-aircraft support during the Buin-Fasi-Tonolai Raid, the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands in October, and the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November.    On November 13, 1942, the light cruiser was torpedoed and badly damaged.   Later that morning, while south of San Cristobal Island, Juneau was torpedoed by Japanese submarine I-26, subsequently exploded and quickly sank.  Only ten crewmembers survived to be rescued several days later.  Amongst those lost were the five Sullivan brothers.  As a result of their loss, the U.S. Navy barred close relatives from serving onboard the same ship.   On March 17, 2018, her remains were found by RV Petrel

Image:  19-N-28145:  USS Juneau (CL-52), in New York Harbor, New York, February 11, 1942.   Official U.S. Bureau of Ships Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.