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DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
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Photo # 80-G-215947:  USS Reno outbound in the Golden Gate, California, 25 January 1944

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Reno (CL-96, later CLAA-96), 1943-1962

USS Reno, second of the four 6,000-ton Oakland class light cruisers, was built at San Francisco, California. She was commissioned in December 1943, shook down off the U.S. West Coast, and deployed to the Pacific war zone in April 1944. Reno entered combat as an escort for Task Force 58 aircraft carriers raiding Marcus and Wake Islands in May. During June, July and August she participated in the operation to seize Saipan, in the resulting Battle of the Philippine Sea, the invasion of Guam and in carrier raids on other Japanese-held central Pacific islands.

In September and October 1944, as the U.S. offensive against Japan moved into the western Pacific, Reno screened the carriers as they struck targets in the Philippines, the Palaus, the Ryukyus and Formosa. On 24 October, the first day of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, she assisted in efforts to save the bombed and burning USS Princeton, and suffered some topside damage in the attempt. When it was determined that the carrier could not be saved, Reno was ordered to scuttle her with torpedoes. On the following day she took part in the Leyte Gulf's final engagement, the Battle of Cape Engaño.

On 3 November 1944, during continuing operations off the Philippines, Reno was torpedoed on the port side, just aft of amidships, by the Japanese submarine I-41. She was very badly damaged, with essentially no remaining stability, and only great exertions by her crew and calm seas prevented her loss. Once salvage efforts had stabilized her condition, Reno was towed to the advanced fleet base at Ulithi. After temporary repairs, she was able to steam to the Charleston Navy Yard, South Carolina, for a complete renewal. This work was completed soon after the Second World War's end, and Reno then made two round trip voyages to France as part of "Magic Carpet", the operation to bring home American service personnel from the former war zones. She returned to the Pacific in early 1946 and was decommissioned at Bremerton, Washington, in November of that year. USS Reno was reclassified CLAA-96 in March 1949 but remained in the Pacific Reserve Fleet until stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in March 1959. She was sold for scrapping in March 1962.

This page features, and provides links to, all the views we have related to USS Reno (CL-96, later CLAA-96).

For other images concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Reno (CL-96, later CLAA-96) -- Actions and Activities.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: NH 98468

    USS Reno (CL-96)


    Probably photographed in San Francisco Bay, California, at the time of her builder's trials, circa late 1943.
    Reno was constructed by the Bethlehem Steel Company's San Francisco shipyard. The company flag is flying from her jackstaff.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 580 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98466

    USS Reno (CL-96)


    Underway on 11 January 1944, probably in San Francisco Bay, California.
    Photographed by Naval Air Station Alameda, Calif.
    Reno is painted in Camouflage Measure 33, Design 24d.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 610 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-215949

    USS Reno (CL-96)


    Outbound in the Golden Gate, while leaving San Francisco Bay, California, 25 January 1944.
    Photographed by Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Sunnyvale, California.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-215947

    USS Reno (CL-96)


    Outbound in the Golden Gate, while leaving San Francisco Bay, California, 25 January 1944.
    Photographed by Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Sunnyvale, California.
    Reno is painted in Camouflage Measure 33, Design 24d.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-215948

    USS Reno (CL-96)


    Steaming through the Golden Gate, while leaving San Francisco Bay, California, 25 January 1944.
    Note the Pacific Ocean surf in the distance.
    Photographed by Naval Air Station Moffett Field, Sunnyvale, California.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 92KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 98469

    USS Reno (CL-96)


    Underway, circa late 1943 or early 1944.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 122KB; 740 x 570 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98467

    USS Reno (CL-96)


    Following repair of torpedo damage, circa Fall 1945.
    Location may be Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 98470

    USS Reno (CL-96)


    View on board in 1944, looking aft from the bow while the ship was operating at sea.
    Note that the port side forward 40mm twin gun mount appears to be missing. This may indicate that the photograph was taken shortly after Reno was damaged while fighting fires on board USS Princeton (CVL-23), on 24 October 1944.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 54KB; 565 x 765 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 75593

    USS Reno (CL-96)


    Ready for launching, at the Bethlehem Steel Company shipyard, San Francisco, California, 23 December 1942.

    Courtesy of James Russell, 1972.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 72KB; 590 x 765 pixels

     


    In addition to the images presented above, the National Archives appears to hold at least one other view of USS Reno (CL-96). The following list features this image:

    The image listed below is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections.
    DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • Photo #: 80-G-365154
    USS Reno (CL-96) making a high speed turn, circa late 1945. Photographed from a Naval Air Station Charleston, South Carolina, aircraft flying at an altitude of 5500 feet. Probably taken during trials following her battle damage repair and overhaul.
    Vertical view, looking down on the ship and her wake. Wake describes a half-circle, starting (faintly) in the upper right of the photo, curving around through its left half and ending with the ship in the lower right. The ship is very distant, representing only about a sixth of the width of the image and a tiny fraction of its height. The total diameter of the wake circle is approximately 2500 feet.


    Reproductions of this image should be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system for pictures not held by the Naval Historical Center.

    The image listed in this box is NOT in the Naval Historical Center's collections. DO NOT try to obtain it using the procedures described in our page "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions".


  • For other images concerning this ship, see:

  • USS Reno (CL-96, later CLAA-96) -- Actions and Activities.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


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    Page made 7 May 2003