>From the “Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships,” 

(1976) Vol. 6, pp.73-74.





RENO 



CL-96

Displacement:  8,600 t. (full load)

Length:  541’0”

Beam:  53’2”

Draft:  26’6”

Speed:  31 k.

Complement:  688

Armament:  12 5”; 16 40mm; 16 20mm; 8 21” torpedo tubes;

	2 depth charge tracks

Class:  ATLANTA



	The second RENO (CL-96) was laid down by Bethlehem 

Steel Co., San Francisco, Calif.; 1 August 1941; launched 23 

December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. August C. Frohlich; and 

commissioned 28 December 1943, Capt. Ralph C. Alexander in 

command.



	Following shakedown off San Diego, RENO departed San 

Francisco, 14 April 1944, to join the 5th Fleet.  As an 

active unit in Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher's Task Force 58, 

she first came in contact with the enemy by supporting air 

strikes against Marcus Island on 19-20 May.  Three days 

later, she also supported strikes on Wake Island.



	During the months of June and July, RENO joined the 

fast carriers in surprise attacks against Saipan, 11 June, 

Pagan Island, 12-13 June, and against the Volcano and Bonin 

Islands--Iwo Jima, Haha Jima, and Chichi Jima--on 15-16 

June.  Three days later, she assisted in repelling a 

large-scale Japanese carrier force attempt to defeat the 

Allied invasion of Saipan in the Battle of the Philippine 

Sea.



	From 20 June to 8 July, RENO joined in the operations 

covering the capture of Saipan, then covered landings on 

Guam from 17-24 July and 2 days later, took part in the 

strikes against the Palau Islands from the 26th to the 29th.  

Swinging north again, a final strike was made on the Bonin 

Islands 4-5 August and on 7 September the task group 

returned to the Palaus.



	Continuing west, RENO participated in raids against 

Mindanao and adjacent Philippine Islands 9-13 September, 

supported the Palau invasion 15-20 September, and on the 

21st and 22d, supported strikes against Manila and vicinity.  

Striking Nansei Shoto on 8 October, RENO, with TF 38 came 

nearer to the home islands of Japan than any other major 

unit of the U.S. Fleet had been.



	During the 3-day strike on Formosa 12-14 October, RENO 

shot down six enemy planes.  At the height of the battle, 

one torpedo plane crashed and exploded on the RENO's main 

deck aft.  Though Turret Six was partially incapacitated by 

the explosion, the turret captain succeeded in maintaining 

his fire against the attacking planes and ships.



	On 24 October, 4 days after the initial Leyte invasion, 

while supporting air strikes against the Luzon area, TF 38 

was subjected to a large-scale air attack by land planes 

from Clark Field.  The light carrier PRINCETON (CVL-23) was 

struck and forced to withdraw from the task group.  RENO, 

assigned to help fight her fires and rescue personnel, came 

alongside five times but could not remain because of the 

intense heat and smoke.  While RENO evacuated wounded men 

and tried to bring the fires under control, the listing 

flight deck of PRINCETON crushed one of RENO's 40mm mounts.  

Efforts to save the carrier continued; but, after 

PRINCETON’s torpedo warhead stowage area exploded, RENO was 

ordered to sink her.  On 25 October, having rejoined the 

task force, RENO proceeded north to engage the northern 

Japanese task force closing for the Battle of Cape 

Engano--the last engagement in the Battle for Leyte Gulf.



	On the night of 3 November, well off San Bernardino 

Strait, RENO was torpedoed in the port side by Japanese 

submarine I-41.  Towed 1,500 miles to Ulithi for temporary 

repairs, she then steamed under her own power to Charleston 

where she entered the Navy Yard 22 March for repairs.  

Emerging 7 months later, she steamed to Texas, then back to 

Charleston for the addition of bunk spaces.  She reported 

for "Magic Carpet" duty and made two runs to Le Havre, 

France, and back with Army troops.



	In early 1946, RENO steamed for Port Angeles, Wash., 

where she decommissioned, 4 November 1946 and entered the 

Pacific Reserve Fleet, berthed at Bremerton.  Reclassified 

CLAA-96, 18 March 1949, she remained at Bremerton until her 

name was struck from the Navy list 1 March 1959 and her hulk 

was sold 22 March 1962 to Coal Export Co., New York.



	RENO earned three battle stars for World War II 

service.





Transcribed by Michael Hansen

mhansen2@home.com