Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War

United States Navy — Light cruiser

USS Atlanta (CL-104) — service history

This is the full service history. For the vessel's particulars, photograph and specifications, see the entry.

In the words of the US Navy. The account below is reproduced verbatim from the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command — a work of the United States Government, in the public domain, and the only text on this site not written here.

Before commissioning

USS Atlanta (CL-104)
The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Atlanta (CL-104) at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey (USA), on 22 November 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 33, Design 24D. U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photos 19-LCM-CL104-9 and 19-LCM-CL104-10 from usndazzle.com — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

A city in northwestern Georgia. Originally called Terminus and later Marthasville, the community was renamed Atlanta when it was incorporated as a city in 1847. Since Atlanta served as the center of the South's system of military supplies during the first three years of the Civil War, General William Tecumseh Sherman made her a main objective in his drive across the Confederacy to the sea. The city, which was almost completely destroyed by Sherman's artillery during the siege in the late summer of 1864, was rebuilt with comparative rapidity during the Reconstruction period. Atlanta became the state capital in 1868 and has since grown into one of the South's most important centers of industry, transportation, and finance.

When Atlanta, a screw gunboat acquired by the Navy in the autumn of 1858, was bought outright on 26 May 1859 under a lease-purchase option contained in the contract of charter, she was renamed Sumpter (q.v.).

Second World War 1939–1945

1943

The fourth Atlanta (CL-104) was laid down on 25 January 1943 at Camden, N.J., by the New York Shipbuilding Corp.; launched on 6 February 1944; sponsored by Mrs. John R. Marsh (better known by her pen name, Margaret Mitchell, the author of the novel Gone With The Wind) who also sponsored the cruiser Atlanta (CL-51); and commissioned on 3 December 1944, Capt. B. H. Colyear in command.

1945

After commissioning, the light cruiser got underway on 5 January 1945 for shakedown training in the Chesapeake Bay and the Caribbean. Upon the completion of those exercises, Atlanta arrived at Norfolk on 14 February and then moved up the coast to Philadelphia. After a period in the navy yard there, she sailed on 27 March for the Pacific. She stopped at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and transited the Panama Canal before reaching Pearl Harbor on 18 April. From 19 April to 1 May, the ship conducted training exercises in Hawaiian waters. She then sailed to Ulithi and reported to Task Force (TF) 58 on 12 May.

From 22 to 27 May, Atlanta served with the Fast Carrier Task Force operating south of Japan near Okinawa while its aircraft struck targets in the Ryukyus and on Kyushu to support forces fighting for Okinawa. Her task group broke up on 13 June, and Atlanta entered San Pedro Bay, Philippines, on 14 June. Following two weeks of upkeep, she sailed on 1 July with Task Group (TG) 38.1 and once again protected the fast carriers launching strikes against targets in the Japanese home islands. During these operations, the cruiser took part in several shore bombardment missions against Honshu and Hokkaido.

Atlanta was operating off the coast of Honshu when the Japanese surrendered on 15 August 1945. On 16 September, she entered Tokyo Bay and remained there through 29 September.

Post-war 1946–1949

1946

With over 500 passengers on board, the cruiser sailed on 30 September for the United States. She paused en route at Guam before arriving in Seattle, Wash., on 24 October. The vessel then proceeded to the shipyard at Terminal Island, Calif., for an extensive overhaul. She was ready to return to sea on 3 January 1946 and got underway for Sasebo, Japan.

From January through June, Atlanta operated amone several Far Eastern ports which included Manila, Philippines; Tsingtao and Shanghai, China; Okinawa; Saipan; Nagasaki, Kagoshima, and Yokosuka, Japan. In June, she returned via Guam to the United States and arrived at San Pedro, Calif., on the 27th. Two days later, the cruiser entered the San Francisco Naval Shipyard for overhaul. On 8 October, she headed toward San Diego for sea trials.

1947

USS Atlanta (CL-104)
The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Atlanta (CL-104) underway at sea, en route to Sydney, Australia, on 13 May 1947. Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo NH 98877 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

The cruiser remained in southern California waters until 23 February 1947, when she left for maneuvers off Hawaii. On 1 May, she departed Pearl Harbor with TF 38 for a visit to Australia. The ships stayed in Sydney through 27 May, then sailed for San Pedro, Calif., via the Coral Sea, Guadalcanal, Tulagi, and Guam. She dropped anchor at San Pedro on 28 July. A series of maneuvers off the California coast ensued, the Atlanta returned to Pearl Harbor on 28 September. She continued on to Yokosuka, Japan. After two days at anchor there, she sailed to Tsingtao, China. Other ports of call during the deployment were Hong Kong; Singapore; and Keelung, China. On 27 April 1948, the cruiser got underway and proceeded via Kwajalein and Pearl Harbor to San Diego.

Following her arrival back in the United States on 19 May, Atlanta conducted exercises off San Diego. She paid a visit to Juneau, Alaska, from 29 June to 6 July. She then arrived at Seattle on 12 July to begin a major overhaul. The cruiser returned to San Diego for local maneuvers on 20 November.

1949

In early February 1949, the ship embarked naval reservists for a training cruise and operated between San Diego and San Francisco until 1 March when she entered the Mare Island Naval Shipyard to commence deactivation. Atlanta was decommissioned on 1 July 1949 and placed in the Pacific Reserve Fleet. Her name was struck from the Navy list on 1 October 1962, and she was earmarked for disposal.

Vietnam War period 1964–1975

1964

USS Atlanta (CL-104)
View of the AN/SPS-39 radar aboard the U.S. Navy test ship USS Atlanta (IX-304) at the Hunters' Point Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, California (USA), circa October 1964. U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 98885 (cropped) from the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

Atlanta's career, however, had not yet ended. Instead, she underwent an extensive modification at the San Francisco Naval Shipyard. Reinstated on the Navy list as IX-304 on 15 May 1964, the vessel was converted to a target ship for studies of the effects of high energy air explosions on naval ships. The changes included cutting her hull down to the main deck level and erecting various experimental superstructures-designed for guided missile frigates and guided missile destroyers-on her deck. In these configurations she was subjected to explosions to determine whether or not the experimental structures could satisfactorily combine essential lightness with equally essential strength and blast resistance. These three tests were conducted off the coast of Kahoolawe, Hawaii, in early 1965. Atlanta was damaged, but not sunk, by the experiments. She was laid up at Stockton, Calif., sometime late in 1965. Her name was again struck from the Navy list on 1 April 1970, and the former light cruiser was sunk during an explosive test off San Clemente Island, Calif., on 1 October 1970.

Other photographs

Held for this vessel, and not tied to any part of the account above.

USS Atlanta (CL-104)
Drawing prepared by the Bureau of Ships for a camouflage scheme intended for light cruisers of the CL-55 ( Template:Sclass ). This plan, approved by Commander William C. Latrobe, USN, is dated 17 February 1944. It shows the ship's port side. Ships known or reported to have worn this camouflage design (some in the darker tones of measure 32) are USS Pasadena (CL-65) , USS Springfield (CL-66) , USS Unknown author — history.navy.mil — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Atlanta (CL-104)
USS Atlanta (CL-104) is christened by Mrs. Margaret Mitchell Marsh, author of "Gone With the Wind", during launching ceremonies at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey, 6 February 1944. US Navy Employee — Naval Historical Center — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Atlanta (CL-104)
Operation "Sailor Hat", 1965. 500-ton TNT explosive charge is detonated in Shot "Charlie", April 1965. This was the second of three Operation "Sailor Hat" test explosions conducted on Kahoolawe Island, Hawaii, in February-June 1965. USS Atlanta (IX-304) is moored to the left of the blast, with her bow pointing to the left. US Navy Employee — Naval Historical Center — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Atlanta (CL-104)
Photo #: NH 75600 USS Atlanta (CL-104) Is christened by Mrs. Margaret Mitchell Marsh, author of "Gone With the Wind", during launching ceremonies at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey, 6 February 1944. Courtesy of James Russell, 1972. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Department of the Navy--Naval Historical Center. — This image has been extracted from another file — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Atlanta (CL-104)
Photo # NH 75600 USS Atlanta (CL104) is christened by Mrs. Margare Mitchell Marsh, author of "Gone With the Wind", during launching ceremonies February 6, 1944 in Camden, New Jersey. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph — Department of the Navy--Naval Historical Center — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Atlanta (CL-104)
USS England and USS Atlanta during the second shot Charlie of Operation Sailor Hat. US Navy Employee — USS England Official Site on the USS England Sailor Hat Page — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Atlanta (CL-104)
At the Hunters' Point Naval Shipyard, San Francisco, California, circa October 1964, while completing conversion to a weapons effects test ship. The original picture caption, released by 12th Naval District Office of Public Information, reads: "The various masts and antennas that will be subjected to the blast tests cover the forecastle of the Atlanta. This equipment is primarily the type used in US Navy Employee — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-98000/NH-98882.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Atlanta (CL-104)
Operation "Sailor Hat", 1965. Detonation of the 500-ton TNT explosive charge for Shot "Bravo", first of a series of three test explosions on the southwestern tip of Kahoolawe Island, Hawaii, 6 February 1965. Weapons effects test ship Atlanta (IX-304) is moored in the left center. Note the shock wave spreading over the water just beyond the ship, and the shock condensation cloud lifting overhead US Navy Employee — Naval Historical Center / http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/ev-1960s/ev-1965/op-sa-ht.htm — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Atlanta (CL-104)
The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Atlanta (CL-104) at Melbourne, Australia, in 1947. Australian armed forces — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Atlanta (CL-104)
The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Atlanta (CL-104) underway at sea, en route to Sydney, Australia, on 13 May 1947. Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo NH 98877 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Atlanta (CL-104)
USS Atlanta (CL-104) leaves Seattle, Washington, for a Naval Reserve training cruise to Alaska, 27 June 1948. Original caption : " Photo # NH 98879 USS Atlanta departing Seattle, Washington, 27 June 1948 " — removed caption Unknown author — Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Common Good using CommonsHelper . http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h98000/h98879c.htm http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h98000/h98879.jpg — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Atlanta (CL-104)
The U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Atlanta (CL-104) leaves Seattle, Washington (USA), for a Naval Reserve training cruise to Alaska, 27 June 1948. Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo NH 98878 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Atlanta (CL-104)
USS Atlanta (CL-104) slides down the shipways during her launching, at the New York Shipbuilding Corporation shipyard, Camden, New Jersey, on 6 February 1944. US Navy Employee — Naval Historical Center — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Atlanta (CL-104)
USS Atlanta (IX-304) off the San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California, following conversion to a weapons effects test ship, circa late 1964. US Navy Employee — Naval Historical Center — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
USS Atlanta (CL-104)
Operation Sailor Hat, 1965: The 500-ton TNT explosive charge for Shot Charlie, second of a series of three test explosions, ready for detonation on the southwestern tip of Kahoolawe Island, Hawaii, April 1965. USS Atlanta (IX-304) is moored in the background, with her bow facing left. A large SPS-37/SPS-43A type radar antenna is mounted on a pedestal on her foredeck, immediately in front of an ASR U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo USN 1110434 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons

References

Every work this entry draws on. There are no numbered markers in the text above: what we hold is the provenance of the page — this history, this article, these photographs.

  1. History Atlanta IV (CL-104) Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Naval History and Heritage Command. A work of the United States Government, in the public domain — the only text on this site reproduced verbatim.
  2. Facts USS Atlanta (CL-104) Structured facts only — dates, dimensions, armament and fate. No wording is taken from it. Harvested 1 August 2026.
  3. Photograph USS Atlanta (CL-104) leaves Seattle on 27 June 1948 (NH 98878) Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo NH 98878 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  4. Photograph 80-G-165992 Cleveland class camouflage measure 33 Unknown author — history.navy.mil — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  5. Photograph USS Atlanta (CL-104) at New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey (USA), on 22 November 1944 (19-LCM-CL104-9-10) U.S. Navy — U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photos 19-LCM-CL104-9 and 19-LCM-CL104-10 from usndazzle.com — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  6. Photograph USS Atlanta (CL-104) at sea, en route to Sydney, Australia, 13 May 1947 Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo NH 98877 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  7. Photograph AN-SPS-39 Atlanta 1964 U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo NH 98885 (cropped) from the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  8. Photograph Christening of USS Atlanta (CL-104) by Margaret Mitchell Marsh, 6 February 1944 US Navy Employee — Naval Historical Center — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  9. Photograph Detonation of explosives near USS Atlanta (IX-304), Operation Sailor Hat, shot Charlie, 1965 US Navy Employee — Naval Historical Center — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  10. Photograph Margaret Mitchell Christens USS Atlanta (CL-104) 1944 Department of the Navy--Naval Historical Center. — This image has been extracted from another file — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  11. Photograph Margaret Mitchell Christens USS Atlanta (CL-104) U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph — Department of the Navy--Naval Historical Center — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  12. Photograph Operation Sailor Hat Charlie Shot US Navy Employee — USS England Official Site on the USS England Sailor Hat Page — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  13. Photograph Photo NH 98882 USS Atlanta (IX-304) US Navy Employee — https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/NH-98000/NH-98882.html — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  14. Photograph TNT detonation on Kaho'olawe Island during Operation Sailor Hat, shot Bravo, 1965 US Navy Employee — Naval Historical Center / http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/ev-1960s/ev-1965/op-sa-ht.htm — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  15. Photograph USS Atlanta (CL-104) at Melbourne 1947 Australian armed forces — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  16. Photograph USS Atlanta (CL-104) at sea, en route to Sydney, Australia, 13 May 1947 (cropped) Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo NH 98877 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  17. Photograph USS Atlanta (CL-104) June 1948 Unknown author — Transferred from en.wikipedia to Commons by Common Good using CommonsHelper . http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h98000/h98879c.htm http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h98000/h98879.jpg — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  18. Photograph USS Atlanta (CL-104) leaves Seattle on 27 June 1948 (NH 98878) (cropped) Unknown author — U.S. Navy photo NH 98878 — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  19. Photograph USS Atlanta (CL-104) slides down the shipways, 6 February 1944 US Navy Employee — Naval Historical Center — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  20. Photograph USS Atlanta (IX-304) off the San Francisco Naval Shipyard following conversion, late 1964 US Navy Employee — Naval Historical Center — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons
  21. Photograph USS Atlanta (IX-304) with 500 ton-TNT charge in April 1965 U.S. Navy — Official U.S. Navy photo USN 1110434 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command — Public domain — Wikimedia Commons