USS Juneau (CL 119)

- later CLAA 119 -
- decommissioned -

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USS JUNEAU was one of the OAKLAND - class light cruisers and the second ship in the Navy named after the city in Alaska. Redesignated CLAA 119 in March 1949, USS JUNEAU was decommissioned in July 1956 at Philadelphia, Penn., and remained there until sold for scrapping in 1962.

General Characteristics:	Awarded: 1943
	Keel laid: September 15, 1944
	Launched: July 15, 1945
	Commissioned: February 15, 1946
	Decommissioned: July 23, 1956
	Builder: Federal Shipbuilding Co., Kearny, N.J.
	Propulsion system: geared turbines, 75,000 shp
	Propellers: two
	Length: 541.7 feet (165.1 meters)
	Beam: 53.15 feet (16.2 meters)
	Draft: 20.7 feet (6.3 meters)
	Displacement: approx. 8,340 tons fully loaded
	Speed: 32.5 knots
	Aircraft: none
	Armament: twelve 12.7cm 5-inch/38 caliber guns in six twin mounts, fourteen 7.6cm 3-inch/50 caliber guns
	Crew: 63 officers and 785 enlisted

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS JUNEAU. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

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USS JUNEAU Cruise Books:

Mediterranean Cruise Book 1953

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USS JUNEAU History:

USS JUNEAU was laid down by Federal Shipbuilding Co., Kearny, N.J., 15 September 1944; launched 15 July 1945; sponsored by Mrs. B. L. Bartlett; and commissioned 15 February 1946, Captain Rufus E. Rose in command.

JUNEAU spent her first year of commissioned service in operations along the Atlantic seaboard and Caribbean. Prior to the Korean War, she deployed three times in the Mediterranean. The ship cleared New York 16 April 1947, and joined the 6th Fleet at Trieste 2 May where she aided in stabilizing the unresolved question of territorial ownership between Italy and Yugoslavia. During an extended tour of Greece, she provided ample warning to the communists that aggression would not go unchallenged. The ship returned to Norfolk 15 November for training, and was back on duty with the 6th Fleet from 14 June to 3 October 1948 and again from 3 May to 26 September 1949.

Having been reclassified CLAA 119 on 18 March 1949, JUNEAU departed Norfolk 29 November for the Pacific. She arrived Bremerton, Wash., 15 January 1950 and took part in operations along the Pacific coast. On 22 April she became flagship for Rear Admiral J. M. Higgins, Commander CruDiv 5, and reported for duty in Yokosuka, Japan, 1 June where she began surveillance patrols in the Tsushima Straits. When the Korean War broke out on 25 June, JUNEAU was one of the few ships immediately available to Vice Admiral C. Turner Joy, Commander of Naval Forces, Far East. She patrolled south of the 38th parallel to prevent enemy landings, conducted the first shore bombardments 29 June at Bokuko Ko, destroyed enemy shore installations, engaged in the first naval action 2 July when she sank three enemy torpedo boats near Chumonchin Chan, and supported raiding parties along the coast. On 18 July JUNEAU's force, which included British units, laid down a deadly barrage on enemy troop concentrations near Yongdok which slowed down the North Korean advance southward.

The ship departed Sasebo Harbor 28 July and made a sweep through Formosa Straits before reporting for duty with the 7th Fleet at Buckner Bay, Okinawa, 2 August. She became flagship of the Formosa Patrol Force 4 August, remaining until 29 October when she joined the Fast Carrier Task Force operating off the east coast of Korea. The ship conducted daily plane guard for the attack carriers, and returned to Long Beach, Calif., 1 May 1951 for overhaul and a period of operations off the Pacific coast and in Hawaii. She returned to Yokosuka 19 April 1952 and conducted strikes along the Korean coast in coordination with carrier planes until returning to Long Beach 5 November.

JUNEAU engaged in training maneuvers and operations until 7 April 1953 when she arrived Norfolk to rejoin the Atlantic Fleet. On 13 May the cruiser departed for duty with the 6th Fleet once again, and returned home 23 October. She operated in the Atlantic and Caribbean until 18 November 1954, then returned to the Mediterranean for her last tour of duty. After her return to the East Coast 23 February 1955. she was placed in reserve at Philadelphia 23 March 1956, and remained inactive until decommissioned 23 July 1956. The ship was then attached to the Philadelphia Group of the Atlantic Reserve Fleet until 1 November 1959 when she was struck from the Navy List. JUNEAU was sold for scrapping to Union Metals & Alloys Corp., New York, in 1962.

JUNEAU received five battle stars for Korean War service.

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USS JUNEAU Image Gallery:

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