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| USN Cleveland-class Light cruiser 11,744 Tons (standard) 14,131 Tons (maximum) 610' 1" x 66' 4" x 25' 6" 4x3 6"/47 cal Mark 16 guns 6x2 5"/38 cal AA guns 4x2 40mm Bofors AA guns 13 x 20mm cannon 4 x floatplanes 2 x stern catapults  USN 1943   USN January 6, 1945 |
Ship History Built by New York Shipbuilding Corporation of Camden, NJ. Laid down August 18, 1940 as a Cleveland-class Light cruiser. Launched December 17, 1941 as USS Columbia (CL-56) named for Columbia, South Carolina as the sixth ship in the Navy with the name, sponsored by Miss J. A. Paschal. During the launching, tug Triton was the first to come along the starboard side with three Curtis Bay towing tugs. Commissioned July 29, 1942 in the U.S. Navy (USN) with Captain W. A. Heard in command. Afterwards, underwent a shakedown cruise in the Chesapeake Bay . Painted in an early splotch pattern Measure 12 camouflage. Later, measure 32, design 11A. Wartime History On November 9, 1942 departs Norfolk via the Panama Canal then to the South Pacific. On November 28, 1942 arrived Tongatabu and two days later departs for Nouméa. On December 10, 1942 departs for Espiritu Santo and assigned as a unit of Task Group 67.2 (TG 67.2) and patrols west of the New Hebrides. On January 9, 1943 anchored off Espiritu Santo in Segond Channel in berth 32. On January 2, 1943 departs Espiritu Santo to operate south and east of Guadalcanal. On January 5, 1943 Task Group 67.2.2 was attacked by four Japanese dive bombers then returns to Espiritu Santo. On January 13, 1943 assigned to Task Force 18 (TF 18) under the command of Rear Admiral Giffin as part of Task Group 18.1 with USS Wichita, USS Chicago, USS Louisville, USS Cleveland, USS Columbia and USS Montpelier. On January 27, 1943 departs Havannah Harbor off Efate to covers the movement of transports bound for Guadalcanal. Battle of Rennell Island On January 29, 1943 during the Battle of Rennell Island at 7:30pm off Rennell Island Task Group 18.1 was targeted by Japanese bombers that dropped flares and made torpedo runs. Columbia fire on the bombers and claimed one shot down and aided in the destruction of two others. During the engagement, Columbia expended 203 x 5" shells, 722 x 40mm, 1,449 x 20mm. On February 1, 1943 based on Efate and continued to patrol in the Solomons. On June 29, 1943 around 1:20pm departs Purvis Bay with Task Force 68 (TF-68) "Merrill's Marauders" under the command of Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill as Task Group 36.2 (TG 36.2), Task Unit 36.2.1 (TU 36.2.1) including USS Montpelier (CL-57) flagship with Rear Admiral Merrill embarked, USS Cleveland (CL-55), USS Columbia (CL-56), USS Denver (CL-58) with light minelayers USS Preble (DM-20), USS Gamble (DM-15), and USS Breese (DM-18) plus five destroyers USS Pringle (DD-477), USS Waller (DD-466), USS Renshaw (DD-499), USS Saufley (DD-465) and USS Philip (DD-498) head up "The Slot" at 26 knots on a bombardment and mine laying mission against the Shortland Islands. The formation was led by USS Pringle (DD-477) with the minelayers followed by the cruisers in a column 1,000 yards apart. At 5:45pm USS Waller (DD-466) and USS Renshaw (DD-499) left formation for a bombardment of Vila-Stanmore on Kolombangara after sunset as a diversion. On June 30, 1943 at 12:15am USS Waller (DD-466) and USS Renshaw (DD-499) rejoined the formation. At 12:40am USS Pringle (DD-477) and the three minelayers leave formation and began laying mines. At 1:35am heavy rain began causing poor visibility. At 1:54am commenced firing to starboard in salvo targeting their assigned areas in the Shortland Islands. Due to the bad weather, visual observation and fire correction was impossible. This was the deepest penetration by Allied warships into enemy held territory to date. On July 11, 1943 departs with Task Group 36.9 (TG 36.9) under the command of Rear Admiral Aaron S. Merrill with four light cruisers: USS Columbia (CL-56) and USS Cleveland (CL-55) and two destroyers bombard Munda in the early morning hours of July 12, 1943 then returns. On September 5, she departed for Sydney for a brief overhaul then patrolled in the southeast Solomon Islands. On September 24, 1943 Columbia rejoins division off Vella Lavella. On November 1, 1943 supports the U.S. landing at Empress Augusta Bay on Bougainville. Columbia participates in the bombarded of Buka and Bonis, then Ballale Island and Shortland Islands. Battle of Empress Augusta Bay On November 2, 1943 in the early morning, intercepts a Japanese force during the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, Columbia joined in sinking a Japanese cruiser and a destroyer, and turning the attackers away from the beachhead area. She continued to support the Bougainville landings and bombards targets in the Solomons through December 1943. During January 1944, undergoes training exercises in the New Hebrides. On February 13, 1944 until February 18, 1944 supports the U.S. lands of the Nissan Island (Green Island). In early March 1944, sweeps the line between Truk and Kavieng in search of enemy shipping. On March 17, 1944 until March 23, 1944 supports the U.S. landing at Emirau Island. On April 4, 1944 Columbia departs Purvis Bay then across the Pacific to San Francisco for an overhaul. Afterwards, returns to the Solomon Islands arriving August 24, 1944. Next, covers the U.S. landings in Palau and provides gunfire support to forces ashore and protects the landing force. Afterwards, to Sealder Harbor off Manus arriving September 28, 1944. Columbia sortied from Port Purvis 6 September 1944 with the covering force for the landings in Palau, and remained off Peleliu to provide gunfire support to forces ashore and protection to assault shipping until her return to Manus on 28 September. She sailed on 6 October, guarding the force which was to seize Dinagat and other islands at the entrance of Leyte Gulf which must be neutralized before the vast Leyte invasion fleet could enter the Gulf. These islands were taken on 17 October, and Columbia sailed on to give gunfire cover to the main landings 3 days later. But as the landings proceeded, the Japanese fleet sailed south to give battle, and on the night of 24 October, its southern force entered Leyte Gulf through Surigao Strait. Columbia with other cruisers had joined the old BBs and lay in wait. In a classical maneuver, the American ships capped the T of the Japanese column, and opened heavy gunfire which sank the battleship Yamashiro, and forced the heavily damaged cruiser Mogami and other units to retire. Toward dawn, Columbia sped to deliver the final blows which sank destroyer Asagumo, crippled in earlier attacks. After replenishing at Manus early in November, Columbia returned to Leyte Gulf to protect reinforcement convoys from air attack. In December, operating from Kossol Roads in the Palaus, she covered Army landings on Mindoro, and on 14 December, lost four of her men when a gun misfired during an air attack. On January 1, 1945 enters Lingayen Gulf off Luzon. On January 6, 1945 at 2:24pm a A6M Zero kamikaze dove at Columbia and was hit by anti-aircraft fire that caused it to pull up passing between her foremast and main mast then clipped her radio antenna showering and superstructure with gasoline before crashed into the sea 50' off the starboard side abreast of the signal bridge. By 3:25pm, entered the swept channel of Lingayen Gulf to conduct shore bombardment in support of a minesweeping group but encountered determined kamikaze attacks. At 5:29pm a D3A Val targeted the cruiser and although hit by anti-aircraft fire and seemingly out of control, hit the port side of turret no. 4 on the main deck with the engine and 800 kg armor piercing bomb penetrating two decks before it exploded causing a major fire on the main and second decks, destroyed a SON-1 Seagull and knocked turret no. 4 out of action and turret no. 3 was disabled, with both turrets partially flooded by a mix of fuel and seawater as the damaged ship settled to stern, but the water helped extinguish the fires. The attack resulted in 20 missing, 17 killed and 60 wounded. Prompt flooding of two magazines prevented further explosions, and impressive damage control measures enabled Columbia to complete her bombardment with her two forward turrets, and remain in action to give close support to Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT). On the morning of the landings, January 9, as Columbia lay close inshore and so surrounded by landing craft that she was handicapped in maneuver, she was again hit by a kamikaze, knocking out six gun directors and gun mount. Twenty-four men were killed and 97 wounded, but drastically short-handed as she was, Columbia again put out fires, repaired damage, and continued her bombardment and fire support. Columbia departed that night, guarding a group of unloaded transports. Her crew's accomplishments in saving their ship and carrying out their mission without interruption were recognized with the Navy Unit Commendation for this operation. Columbia received emergency repairs at San Pedro Bay, Leyte, and sailed on to an overhaul on the west coast, returning to Leyte 16 June 1945. Three days later she sailed for Balikpapan, Borneo, off which she lay from 28 June, guarding minesweeping which preceded the invasion of the island on 1 July. She covered the landing of Australian troops, and gave them gunfire support through the next day, sailing then to join TF 95 in its repeated sweeps against Japanese shipping in the East China Sea. At the close of the war, she carried inspection parties to Truk, the important Japanese base bypassed during the war, and carried Army passengers between Guam, Saipan, and Iwo Jima until sailing for home 31 October. Awards For her World War II service, Columbia earned ten battle stars. Postwar After calling on the west coast, Columbia arrived at Philadelphia 5 December 1945 for overhaul and service training Naval Reserve men until 1 July 1946. She was decommissioned and placed in reserve at Philadelphia 30 November 1946. Fate On February 18, 1959 sold for scrap and broken up. The tug that towed Columbia to the breakers, Curtis Bay Towing's Triton had towed her when launched 18 years earlier. References NARA War Record of USS Columbia CL-56 Commissioning to 14 August 1945 NARA USS Columbia (CL-56) War Diary - January 1943 NARA USS Columbia Report of Bombardment Palau September 12-18, 1944 Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Columbia VI (CL-56) NavSource - USS Columbia CL-56 (photos) Contribute
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