HISTORY of USS Duluth (CL-87) as compiled January 1952 USS DULUTH was built by the Newport News Ship Building and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia. Her Keel was laid on 9 November 1942 and she was launched on 13 January 1944. Mrs. Edward H. Hatch, wife of the mayor of Duluth, Minnesota, served as the ship's sponsor. USS DULUTH was placed in commission on 18 September 1944. Captain D.R. Osborn, Jr., assumed command as her first commanding officer. USS DULUTH held her shakedown cruise in the Chesapeake Bay area and on 25 October 1944 sailed for Trinidad, B.W.I., to complete her training. On 29 October 1944 she anchored off Port of Spain, Trinidad and spent nearly a month operating in the Gulf of Paria firing gunnery exercises, conducting battle problems, and holding drills. Full power and acceptance trials were conducted enroute from Gulf of Paria to Culebra. Shortly after completion of the full power run the main bearings of #3 turbine became overheated that the turbine was stopped. Only by quick action on the part of commander John Rees, the Chief Engineer, was this turbine saved. The ship completed nearly the remainder of the voyage to Norfolk on the remaining three shafts. Shortly before entering Chesapeake Bay, the engineers had repaired the burned out bearing which were of faulty design, the Babbitt being too thin and later, on post-shakedown availability, all turbine bearings were renewed. On November 19th , 1944 a shore bombardment mission was executed off Culebra Island and, later in the day, DULUTH sailed for San Juan, Puerto Rico to refuel the destroyers in her group. She stood out to sea at 1600 the same day enroute to Norfolk, Virginia. By 0400 on 21 November 1944, the wind and sea started rising and a gale was soon blowing from west necessitating gradual reduction in speed to 12 knots toward evening. No changes in weather conditions had occurred by 22 November 1944 and the wind had increased to 60 knots. Speed had been reduced to 10 knots. At 0500 heavy seas carried away the port motor whale boat. The sea was still rough by 0800 but the gale was gradually blowing out. By 1620 speed had increased to 16 knots and at 1910 DULUTH was approaching the entrance to Chesapeake Bay. Commander Operational Training Command, U.S. Atlantic Fleet came aboard on 23 November 1944 to conduct a readiness for sea inspection and battle problems which were conducted in port and at sea off the Capes between 23 and 26 November 1944. The ship then entered off Norfolk Navy Yard for post shakedown availability on 27 November 1944 where she remained until 1 December 1944. On 12 December 1944, post-shakedown repairs having been completed USS DULUTH got underway for Newport, Rhode Island, to take up duty as a training cruiser under Commander Operational Training Command, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Enroute, the ship fired a drone target practice off Cape May, Delaware, arriving in Newport on 14 December 1944. Training duty consisted of embarking from 200-300 men from a cruiser or carrier crew taking precommissioning training at U.S. Naval Training Station, Newport and making a five day training cruise in Long Island Sound from Monday to Friday. During the stay in Newport the following crews were trained aboard the USS DULUTH: USS DAYTON, USS AMSTERDAM, USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN, USS SAINT PAUL, USS BREMERTON, and USS BOXER. On 1 MARCH 1945, with the debarkation of the USS BOXER detail, training duty was completed, and on 2 MARCH 1945 the ship stood out of Newport for Norfolk, firing a drone target practice at Cape May enroute. USS DULUTH anchored off Hampton Roads the following morning. On 5 MARCH 1945, Rear Admiral Carleton F. Bryant, Commander Operational Training Command Atlantic, conducted a military and material inspection. On 7 March 1945, the ship moved to Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, for an extended availability. On 5 MARCH 1945, DULUTH stood out of Norfolk Navy Yard for full power trials, returning to Hampton Roads overnight. The next day the ship moved into Chesapeake Bay for a brief readiness for sea period, and on the night of 7 APRIL 1945, took departure from Chesapeake Bay for the Panama Canal Zone to report to Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet for duty. USS DULUTH proceeded directly from Norfolk to Culebra, Virgin Islands, arriving off Culebra on the morning of 11 April 1945. A shore bombardment exercise was fired at Culebra, upon completion of which the ship arrived at Guantanamo Bay the afternoon of the 12th and got underway the morning of the 13th for the training area off Guantanamo. During the 13th and 14th, the ship fired several gunnery practices with all batteries, and fueled a destroyer at sea. She returned to Guantanamo the afternoon of the 14th and got underway late the same evening for Colon, Canal Zone. USS DULUTH anchored in Colon Harbor at 0655, 16 APRIL 1945 and got underway for the transit of the canal at 0750, mooring at Pier Number One, N.O.B., Balboa, Canal Zone, at 1540 the same day. On the Morning of 17 APRIL 1945, having received orders from Commander-in-Chief, Pacific, to proceed directly to Pearl Harbor, DULUTH stood out of Balboa to Pearl Harbor. The voyage from Balboa to Pearl Harbor was without incident until the last day when services from Pearl Harbor in the way of targets and planes offered a full day of firing. In the evening of 29 APRIL 1945 USS DULUTH entered Pearl Harbor and moored off Pearl City Peninsula. On 4 MAY 1945, she departed from Pearl Harbor for the operating area to fire surface, anti-aircraft and shore bombardment practices. This firing occupied from 4th to the 6th with the period from noon of the 5th to noon of the 6th devoted to shore bombardment off Kohoolawe. On the evening of 6 MAY 1945 the ship reentered Pearl Harbor and moored in West Loch to receive ammunition. USS DULUTH got underway on 8 MAY 1945 enroute to Ulithi, Caroline Islands, to report to Commander FIFTH Fleet for duty. Further firing was done during the 8th, prior to setting course for Ulithi. The voyage westward was uneventful. Eniwetok Atoll was sighted on 15 MAY 1945, and the ship anchored in Ulithi Atoll on 18 MAY 1945, after firing numerous anti aircraft practices on the morning of the 18th on the way in. USS DULUTH remained at Ulithi until 21 MAY 1945, when she departed, enroute to rendezvous with Task Force 58 at sea. She rendezvoused with Task Group 50.8 on the morning of 24 MAY 1945, and joined Task Force 58 on 27 MAY 1945, to refuel. At the time DULUTH joined Task Group 58.1 and operated with this group from 27 MAY 1945 to 5 JUNE 1945 in an area east and southeast of Okinawa, furnishing air support for our invasion operations there. In the early morning of 5 June 1945, Task Group 38.1 encountered a severe typhoon, passing through the eye of the storm about 0700 in the morning. The storm caused considerable damage to the Task Group, tearing the bow off USS PITTSBURGH and causing severe structural damage to DULUTH. As a consequence of this storm damage, a group of damaged vessels was formed with Commanding Officer of the USS DULUTH, as officer in tactical command, and sent to Guam for repairs. One section of the damaged group comprising a tug, and a destroyer screen successfully brought in the bow of USS PITTSBURGH, which was still afloat. USS DULUTH, PITTSBURGH, and some other vessels of the damaged ship unit arrived in Guam on 10 June. USS DULUTH remained in Guam until 19 JULY 1945, undergoing permanent repairs to the bow. On 19 July 1945 USS DULUTH, in company with USS TICONDEROGA and escorts, left Guam to rejoin Task Force 38 about 200 miles North-east of Iwo Jima. On 21 July 1945 DULUTH rejoined Task Group 38.1 at a fueling rendezvous. During the next few days, Task Force 38 worked slowly toward the Empire. On 24, 25, and 28 JULY 1945 the carriers launched strikes against the remaining Japanese Naval strength in Kure-Kobe area from positions about 80-100 miles south of Shikoko and on 30 JULY 1945 the carriers launched strikes on the Tokyo-Hammamatsu area from a position about 100 miles south of Hammamatsu. During this period one enemy plane was seen to fall in flames on 30 JULY 1945. The next three days were spent in a replacement area about 250 miles south of Japan waiting for a typhoon to pass the strike area. On 4 AUGUST 1945 plans were changed and Task Force 38 proceeded to a point about 200 miles east of Northern Honshu, for raids on that area. A scheduled strike for 8 AUGUST 1945 was cancelled in Nothern Honshu, however, strikes were made on 9 and 10 AUGUST. On these strike days no enemy planes closed the group although one crashed in flames over adjacent task group on 9 AUGUST 1945. Word of the Japanese surrender offer reached USS DULUTH but, alertness and vigilance were maintained. On 13 and 15 AUGUST 1945 strikes were launched from a point about 100 miles southeast of Tokyo. Again no enemy planes penetrated to the task group. Word of the cessation of offensive action was received shortly after the second strike was launched on 15 AUGUST 1945. All strikes were recalled. Despite the Japanese surrender, about 20 enemy planes were downed near the Task Force, seven of them within 20 minutes after Admiral Halsey's victory speech to the THIRD Fleet at 1300 on the 15th of August 1945. On the 15th all units of Task Force 38 retired southeast to replenish and await orders and developments. On 19 AUGUST 1945 the Marine detachment was transferred at sea to form apart of the Marine landing force, and a boat pool group was organized plus a beach master, to form part of a naval landing force. These groups participated in the original landings in the Tokyo-Yokosuka area. Meanwhile on 20 August 1945, USS DULUTH shifted to Task Group 38.3 On 24 August 1945 Task Group 38.3 departed to an area southeast of Tokyo for an area about 150 miles southwest of Tokyo. In this area the Task Group provided plane guard destroyers and a combat air patrol to cover the airborne troop movement from Okinawa to Japan. The start of the operation was delayed on 25 and 26 August 1945, by a typhoon, which passed within 20 miles of the Task Group on 25 August, forcing a withdrawal to the southwest. A second typhoon on 26 August prevented the Task Group from returning to its operating area. The Task Group resumed station on 27 August and commenced its covering operation, plus reconnaissance flights to locate Prisoner of War Camps and drop food. On 4 September 1945 the Task Group stood to the eastward of the Nanpo Shozo and DULUTH was detached for duty with Task Group 38.1 on the morning of 5 September 1945. On the evening of 5 September 1945 Task Group 38.1 stood back to the westward to enter the patrol area southwest of Tokyo for plane guard duty and remained in that area until 9 September 1945. The Group then stood east to an area southeast of Tokyo, and operated to an east and southeast of the island Honshu, providing air reconnaissance for the occupation force. On 15 September 1945 the Task Group entered Tokyo Bay for five days of upkeep and recreation. The close approach of a typhoon necessitated the setting of a sea watch and raising steam early on the morning of 18 September 1945; thus ushering in the first birthday of USS DULUTH. On 21 September 1945, Captain Samuel W. Dubois, USN, relieved Captain Donald R. Osborn, Jr. as commanding officer of USS DULUTH. While at anchor in Tokyo Bay the welcome news was announced that the ship would return to the United States for Navy Day, and would arrive in Seattle during the latter part of October 1945. The period in Toyko Bay was extended until 1 October on which date the ship departed in company with other units of Task Group 58.1 for Okinawa to pick up passengers for return to the United States. USS DULUTH arrived in Okinawa on 4 October, and began embarking passengers for return to the United States. On 6 October, USS Duluth stood out of Buckner Bay in company with USS SHANGRI-LA, USS HANCOCK, USS YORKTOWN, USS INDEPENDENCE, USS TOPEKA, USS OAKLAND and a screen of 16 Destroyers. A great circle route was followed from Okinawa, which took the Task Group within a few hundred miles of the Aleutian Islands. At 1000 on the morning of 19 October 1945, USS DULUTH moored, at Seattle, Washington. She steamed on down the West Coast to San Pedro, California and remained there until 3 January 1946. On 3 January 1946, DULUTH steamed out of San Pedro for Pearl Harbor. She held training exercises out of Pearl Harbor until 13 January when she stood out for Yokosuka, Japan. On 25 January she sailed from Yokosuka to Kure and returned to Yokosuka on 22 February 1946. On 21 March she stood out of Yokosuka enroute to Guam. She arrived there on 25 March 1946 and joined Task Force 77 for training exercises until 1 APRIL 1946 when she sailed for Saipan, arriving on 11 APRIL 1946. DULUTH was destined to steam many nautical miles during 1946. The remainder of 1946 was spent visiting the following ports: Manila, Philippine Islands on 2 May; Okinawa on 9 May; Tsingtao on 12 May; Shanghai, China on 17 August; and Woosung in September. DULUTH returned to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard on 27 September 1946. Following a brief period at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington the USS DULUTH took aboard the flag of Rear Admiral John H. Carson, Commander of Cruiser Division Fifteen and played an active part in the early spring 1947 Pacific Fleet maneuvers. In APRIL 1947 Captain Emory P. Hylant assumed command replacing Captain Leo B. Farrell. As part of Task Force 38 the USS DULUTH left Pearl Harbor on 1 MAY 1947, on a good-will cruise to Australia. As flagship for the Task Group that visited Melbourne Australia the USS DULUTH received an overwhelming welcome, which continued for the entire visit of six days in that capital city of the state of Victoria. Her officers and men were entertained by the Governor, Lord Mayor, Privy Council, the American Consul and thousands of townspeople whose one aim was to show their great appreciation and respect for America aid during the war with Japan. Each day crowds would flock to Princes' Pier where the USS DULUTH was docked. Close to 5,000 visitors were received aboard daily and taken on a tour of inspection about the ship while many others lined the dock and waterfront standing in awe and admiration of this emissary of good-will. Of little interest was the SILVER PLATE presented to the USS DULUTH. Originally a gift from the people of the State of Minnesota to the USS MINNESOTA it was then passed to the Cruiser USS MINNEAPOLIS when the famed battleship was placed out of commission. With the inactivation of the USS MINNEAPOLIS the USS DULUTH fell heir to this precious collection. Three days in Sidney completed the visit to the Land-Down-Under. The return trip took Task Force through the Coral Sea and close by the now hallowed battlefronts of Guadacanal, Tulagi, Savo, Bougainville, New Britain, New Ireland, and New Georgia where only a few years ago history was being made. The USS DULUTH was delegated another good-will mission over the fourth of July 1947, to represent the United States at Manila at the anniversary ceremonies of the Philippine's first year as an independent nation. DULUTH continued to operate in the far western Pacific until her return to the United States, via Kwajalein and Pearl Harbor, arriving at Long Beach, California on 19 MAY 1948. Operations along the West Coast took DULUTH on one voyage to Victoria, British Columbia on 30 June, and one voyage to Kodiak, Alaska on 9 February 1949. Returning to Seattle, Washington on 21 February 1949, the cruiser steamed to San Francisco by 25 February 1949, where she was prepared for inactivation. USS DULUTH remained at San Francisco, and on 24 JUNE 1949, was placed out of commission in reserve, attached to the San Francisco Group, Pacific Reserve Fleet. In August 1946, Captain L.B. Farrell, USN, relieved Captain Dubois as commanding officer. Captain Farrell served as skipper until relieved by Captain E.P. Hylant, USN, in APRIL 1947. Captain Hylant was relieved in February 1948, by Captain B. Davis, USN. DULUTH's last commanding officer was Captain C. M. Howe, USN, who remained aboard until the cruiser was decommissioned. USS DULUTH (CL-87) earned two Battle Stars on the Asiatic-Pacific Area Service Medal for participating in the following operations: 1 Star - Okinawa Gunto Operation FIFTH and THIRD Fleet raids in support of Okinawa Gunto Operation 24 MAY to 6 JUNE 1945. 1 Star - THIRD Fleet Operations against Japan - 10 July to 15 August 1945. USS DULUTH also earned the China Service Medal for the periods of 12 MAY to 5 JUNE 1946, 16 August to 15 September 1946 and 6 October 1947 to 28 April 1948. USS DULUTH also earned the Navy Occupation Service Medal, Pacific for the periods from 2 September to 9 October 1945; 25 January to 22 March 1946, 8 May to 11 May 1946; and from 10 October to 26 December 1947.