USS Biloxi (CL-80)

USS "Biloxi" (CL-80) was a United States Navy "Cleveland"-class light cruiser, the first ship named after the city of Biloxi, Mississippi.

She was launched 23 February 1943 by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., of Newport News, Virginia, and commissioned on 31 August 1943, with Captain Daniel Michael McGurl in command; and then reported to the Cruiser Division 13 (CruDiv 13) of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

From January 1944 until April 1945 "Biloxi" screened fast carrier task groups, bombarded shore installations and covered amphibious landings:
* during the Eniwetok, Marshall Islands, seizure (31 January–8 February 1944)
* Truk raid (16 February–17 February)
* Marianas raids (21 February–22 February)
* Palau-Yap-Ulithi-Woleai raid (30 March–1 April)
* raids in support of the Hollandia (currently known as Jayapura), New Guinea landings (21 April–24 April)
* Truk-Satawan-Ponape raid (29 April–1 May); Saipan invasion (11 June–24 June)
* Battle of the Philippine Sea (19 June–20 June)
* 3rd Bonins raid (3 July–4 July)
* occupation of Guam (12 July–15 August)
* Chichi Jima bombardment (4 July)
* Palau-Yap-Ulithi raids (25 July–27 July)
* 4th Bonins raid (4 August–5 August)
* Volcanos-Bonins-Yap raid (31 August–8 September)
* occupation of the southern Palaus (6 September–14 October)
* Okinawa raid (10 October)
* northern Luzon and Formosa raids (11 October–14 October)
* Luzon raids (15 October and 17 October–19 October, 5-6, 13-14, and 19 November–25 November, and 14 December–16 December)
* Battle of Leyte Gulf (24 October–26 October)
* Luzon raids (6 January–7 January 1945)
* China coast raids (12 January and 16 January)
* 5th Fleet raids on Honshū and the Nansei Shoto (15 February–16 February and 25 February and 1 March)
* Iwo Jima invasion (15 February–1 March)
* Okinawa operation (25 March–20 April)

The "Biloxi" was damaged by a Japanese kamikaze off Okinawa on 27 March 1945, in an attack that could easily have been much more serious. She continued in action, delivering anti-aircraft fire against further attacks. After the suicide attack, a 500-kilogram (1100 pound) Japanese dud bomb was found aboard her, that had failed to explode. Once rendered harmless by bomb-disposal personnel, that bomb was put on display in the quarterdeck for a period of time.

The "Biloxi" departed from the fighting area on 27 April 1945, en route to the West Coast of the U.S. for an overhaul. She steamed westward again in July, took part in the attack on Wake Island on 18 July, and arrived at Leyte Gukf on 14 August 1945. Following the immediate surrender of Japan, she assisted in the evacuation of Allied prisoners of war from the port of Nagasaki. Remaining on occupation duty of Japan until 9 November 1945 she then steamed to Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian Territory, and then to the U.S. West Coast. She steamed to Port Angeles, Washington, on 15 January 1946 and reported to the Commander of the 19th Fleet, for deactivation. On 18 May 1946, she was placed in reserve while still in commission, at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard; but and on 29 October 1946, she went out of commission in reserve. She was part of the Pacific Reserve Fleet for the next decade and a half. The "Biloxi" was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on 01 September 1961, and she sold for scrapping on 05 March 1962 to Zidell Explorations, Portland, Oregon. The cruiser's superstructure, however, was set aside and re-erected in the Guice Park near the Biloxi Small Craft Harbor, on Interstate 10 where it still stands today. The ship's bell is housed in the lobby of the Biloxi City Hall.

Awards

The "Biloxi" received nine battle stars for her service in the Pacific during World War II.

External links

* [http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-b/cl80.htm Navy photographs of "Biloxi" (CL-80)]
* [http://biloxi.ms.us/PDF/ussbiloxi.pdf Before and after Katrina Photographs of the USS Biloxi superstructure at the small craft harbor]
* [http://biloxi.ms.us/PDF/ussbiloxihistory.pdf Compilation of World War II press releases about the wartime exploits and achievements of the Biloxi]