USS Reno (CL-96) was an updated light cruiser - sometimes referred to as an "Oakland-class" - designed and built to specialize in antiaircraft warfare. She was the first warship to be named for the city of Reno, Nevada. was a destroyer named for Lt. Commander Walter E. Reno.
Reno was laid down by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, at San Francisco, California, on 1 August 1941. She was launched on 23 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. August C. Frohlich; and commissioned on 28 December 1943. The USS Reno saw combat in the Pacific theater from April 1944 until it was torpedoed and damaged in November that year. The light cruiser was repaired and performed several transport voyages to Europe before being decommissioned in November 1946.
Service history
Shakedown
left|thumb|Reno underway off California in January 1944
Following a shakedown cruise off the coast of San Diego, the USS Reno departed from San Francisco on 14 April 1944, steaming west to join the 5th Fleet, under the command of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance. As an active unit in Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher's Fast Carrier Task Force (Task Force 58), Reno first came in contact with the enemy while supporting minor air raids against Marcus Island on 19–20 May. Three days later, she also supported air strikes on Japanese-held Wake Island. Casualties were 46 dead and many injured.
After a night dead in the water, she survived yet another attempt to sink her by an unknown Japanese submarine firing three torpedoes that missed, but was rescued by a destroyer left behind to defend her. Reno was towed 1,500 miles (2,400 km) to the major American base at Ulithi Atoll for some temporary repairs by fleet tug . Among other measures taken to reduce topweight, her starboard torpedo tubes were jettisoned to help preserve stability in the damaged state. During this 700-mile voyage, a crew of 242 remained aboard. A total of 1250 tons of seawater was pumped from flooded compartments, a feat noted favorably by Vice Admiral Charles McMorris in his November 1944 endorsement of Reno's report on the torpedoing.
Repairs in Charleston, South Carolina
She then steamed under her own power across the Pacific, through the Panama Canal, then to Charleston, S.C., where she entered Charleston Navy Yard on 22 March 1945 for heavy repairs. Emerging seven months later, Reno was ordered to the Texas coast, then back to Charleston for the addition of hundreds of bunk spaces. She then reported for "Operation Magic Carpet," steaming roundtrip twice to Le Havre, France bringing home U.S. Army troops.
Awards
Reno earned three battle stars for World War II service.