Radar setup on
USS Flint (CL-97)
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USS Flint (CL-97) was an Atlanta class light cruiser that joined the fleet in time to take part in the Pacific campaigns of 1945, including the invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and the raids on the Japanese Home Islands. She received four battle stars for World War II service.
The Flint was launched on 25 January 1944, commissioned on 31 August 1944 and ready to join the fleet by December. She reached the 3rd Fleet at Ulithi on 27 December 1944, just in time to accompany TF 38 when it began a new sortie at the start of January.
This first combat sortie was made in support of the invasion of Luzon. The Flintprovided anti-aircraft cover during raids on Luzon, Taiwan and China, firing her guns in anger on 21 January 1945 during a kamikaze attack on the fleet.
The Flint was back at Ulithi from 26 January-10 February before joined TF 58 for her second combat sortie. This time the carriers hit Tokyo, the first major carrier raids on the Japanese capital. The fleet reached Iwo Jima on 21 February, two days after the invasion. The Flint stayed with the fleet off Iwo Jima until 12 March.
This time she was only at Ulithi for two days, before TF 58 set off to hit Kyushu. Between 18-22 March the fleet came under heavy air attack, and the Flint played a part in fighting off the Japanese aircraft. The fleet then moved to Okinawa to support the invasion. She took part in naval bombardments of the landing beaches, a rare chance to use her guns against anything other than aircraft. She then remained off Okinawa, supporting the invasion, until 14 May when she returned to Ulithi again.
The Flint was back off Okinawa for a second stint from 25 May to mid June, before sailing to Leyte Gulf, arriving on 13 June.
On 1 July the Flint left Leyte to support the carriers as they pummelled the Japanese home islands. During this period she also took part in the bombardment of targets on the Home Islands.
After the end of the fighting the Flint was stationed off Nii Shima to act as a rescue ship and a homing station for transport ships flying American troops to Japan.
The Flint was in Tokyo Bay from 10-15 September. She then formed part of a carrier task force that watched central Honshu, before departing for Eniwetok. She then returned to Japan for a 'Magic Carpet' trip, carrying US servicemen home. She left Yokosuka on 13 October and reached San Francisco on 28 May. A second Magic Carpet trip took her to Kwajalein, but like most of the Atlanta class ships her post-war career was short. She was decommissioned and placed into the reserve on 6 May 1947, and struck off on 1 September 1965. She was sold for scrap in 1966.
Displacement (standard) |
6,718t |
Displacement (loaded) |
8,340t |
Top Speed |
32.5kts |
Range |
8,500 nm @ 15kts |
Armour – belt |
3.75in |
- bulkheads |
3.75in |
- armour deck |
1.25in |
- gunhouses |
1.25in |
- deck over underwater magazines |
1.25in |
Length |
541ft 6in oa |
Armaments |
Twelve 5in/ 38 guns (six two-gun turrets) |
Crew complement |
623 |
Laid down |
23 October 1942 |
Launched |
25 January 1944 |
Completed |
31 August 1944 |
Stricken |
1 September 1965 |
US Navy Light Cruisers 1941-45, Mark Stille.
Covers the five classes of US Navy light cruisers that saw service during the Second World War, with sections on their design, weaponry, radar, combat experience. Nicely organised, with the wartime service records separated out from the main text, so that the design history of the light cruisers flows nicely. Interesting to see how new roles had to be found for them, after other technology replaced them as reconnaissance aircraft [read full review]
