USS Raleigh (CL-7)
History of the USS Raleigh Cruiser
The USS Raleigh (CL-7) was ordered for the U.S. Navy after World War I. Her keel was laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Massachusetts on August 16, 1920. She was launched on October 25, 1922 and commissioned on February 6, 1924 under the command of Captain William C. Watts.
In her early career, USS Raleigh joined the Light Cruiser Division, Scouting Fleet at the end of July 1924 in connection with the Army World Flight. She made ports of call in Norway, Denmark, and Scotland before arriving on station for reconnaissance at Iceland. The cruiser shifted to Greenland on August 10 before returning to the Boston Navy Yard in Massachusetts for repairs in September.
Over the next few years, the USS Raleigh took part in exercises and the annual Fleet Problems, operating off Panama, Cuba, California, and Hawaii. In February 1927, she carried two Marine detachments from Charleston to Nicaragua to address the country’s bandit infestation. In September 1928, she became the flagship of Vice Admiral John H. Dayton, Commander Naval Forces Europe, making a number of diplomatic ports of call before her return home to Hampton Roads in Virginia in September 1929.
USS Raleigh operated out of Boston with Light Cruiser Division 3 before her transfer to San Diego, California in August 1933. After an overhaul at Norfolk Navy Yard in Virginia in June 1936, she joined Squadron 40-T to evacuate Americans from harm’s way during the Spanish Civil War. The cruiser served as the flagship of Rear Admiral Arthur P. Fairfield from September 17, 1936 until April 28, 1938.
After another overhaul at Norfolk, the USS Raleigh joined Flotilla One, Destroyer Squadron in August. She operated out of San Diego until her transfer to Pearl Harbor in October 1939. The cruiser then became the flagship of Destroyer Flotilla One.
When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, USS Raleigh was hit portside. Her crew fought to keep her afloat, and though a few of her crew members were injured, there were no fatalities. The cruiser’s gunners splashed five enemy aircraft during the attack.
Towed into the Navy Yard for repairs, the USS Raleigh was out of action until February 21, 1942. She then escorted a convoy to San Francisco and put in for overhaul at Mare Island Navy Yard in California. The cruiser joined Task Force 15 in July to escort convoys between Hawaii, San Francisco, Samoa, and Fiji.
On November 24, USS Raleigh arrived at Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands to search for enemy ships. She also escorted troop transports and supply ships between Kulak Bay and Dutch Harbor. On January 10, 1943, she sailed with Task Group 8.6 to cover the occupation of Amchitka Island. After patrolling the area and continuing escort duties, she headed to Puget Sound Navy Yard in Washington for repairs at the end of March.
The USS Raleigh returned to Alaska in April, arriving at Adam to join Task Group 16.6 on April 28. For the next several months, she patrolled the Alaskan waters and covered the southern approach to Kiska. On August 2, she bombarded Kiska, returning for more of the same on August 12. The cruiser then proceeded to San Francisco, California for overhaul.
Once her yard work was completed, USS Raleigh headed back to the Aleutian Islands. On February 1, 1944, she got underway with Task group 94.6 to bombard Japanese shore installations in the Northern Kuril Islands. She then returned to Puget Sound Navy Yard for overhaul in early March.
On June 6, the USS Raleigh rejoined Task Force 94 at Massacre Bay. Her number two main engine went out en route to Matsuwa Island, forcing her to return to Puget Sound for repairs. Following her repair work, the cruiser reported to Norfolk to take up training duties.
USS Raleigh was decommissioned on November 2, 1945. She was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on November 28, 1945 and sold for scrap on February 27, 1946. The cruiser earned 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
