USS Houston (CL-81)
History of the USS Houston Cruiser
The USS Houston (CL-81) was originally planned as the USS Vicksburg. She was ordered for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her keel was laid down by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company in Virginia. She was launched on June 19, 1943 and commissioned on December 20, 1943 under the command of Captain William W. Behrens.
USS Houston arrived at Pearl Harbor on May 6, 1944. She conducted training exercises before joining the Fast Carrier Task Force at Majuro on May 31. The cruiser prepared to take part in the invasion of the Marianas and the Palau Islands, departing on June 5 to screen the carriers as they hit the Mariana Islands and the Bonin Islands in the following weeks.
On June 15, the USS Houston helped cover the troop landings on Saipan. Later that week, she became involved in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. The cruiser then moved on to bombard shore targets on Guam and Rota, taking out an air strip, a radar station, and 10 aircraft on the ground.
After returning to Eniwetok on August 12, USS Houston became part of Rear Admiral Gerald F. Bogan’s Task Group 38.2. On September 6, she covered the air attacks on Palau and bombarded targets on Peleliu and other nearby islands. She then struck at enemy airfields and shipping in the Philippines before returning to Peleliu in support of the ground troops there.
From there, the USS Houston returned to Ulithi for refitting. Five days later, she sailed with her task group to support air strikes against Okinawa as they moved toward Formosa. During the ensuing Battle of Formosa, the cruiser helped repel heavy enemy air attacks, splashing four planes on the first day, October 12. Two days later, her guns shot down three torpedo bombers, but a fourth bomber scored a hit that took out her engine room.
Taken under tow by USS Boston, USS Houston headed back toward Ulithi for repairs. One of the Japanese torpedo planes followed from Formosa, scoring another hit to her stern that flooded the hangar for her scout planes. Damage control parties remained aboard as they continued on to Ulithi, hoping to use her and the also-damaged USS Canberra as bait for Japanese forces. The enemy did make one air attack before deciding against it, and the disabled cruisers arrived safely at Ulithi on October 27.
After receiving temporary repairs at Ulithi, the USS Houston proceeded to the floating dry dock at Manus. She then moved on to Pearl Harbor and the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York for permanent repairs, as the West Coast was unable to accommodate her repair work. The cruiser arrived in New York on March 24, 1945.
The USS Houston departed New York on October 11, after World War II had ended. She conducted training exercises in the Caribbean and out of Newport, Rhode Island for several months. On April 16, 1946, she departed for a good will tour that brought her to Scandinavia, Portugal, Italy, and Egypt. Upon her return to the United States in December, she conducted more training operations. The cruiser then sailed for the Mediterranean with Cruiser Division 12 on May 17, 1947.
USS Houston was decommissioned on December 15, 1947. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on March 1, 1959 and sold for scrap in June 1961. The cruiser was awarded three battle stars for her service in World War II.
The use of asbestos was common in shipbuilding components for much of the 20th Century because of its resistance to heat, fire, water and corrosion. Because of their asbestos exposure onboard ship and in the shipyards, seaman, shipyard workers and longshoreman are at risk for developing asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma.
Sources include:
Asbestos and Ship-Building: Fatal Consequences, by John Hedley-Whyte and Debra R Milamed
