USS Reno (CL-96)

USS Reno (CL-96) listing two days after being torpedoed
History
United States
Name:	Reno
Namesake:	City of Reno, Nevada
Builder:	Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, San Francisco, California
Laid down:	1 August 1941
Launched:	23 December 1942
Sponsored by:	Mrs. August C. Frohlich
Commissioned:	28 December 1943
Decommissioned:	4 November 1946
Reclassified:	CLAA-96 18 March 1949
Struck:	1 March 1959
Identification:	Hull symbol:CL-96 Hull symbol:CLAA-96 Code letters:NBPO
Honors and awards:	3 × battle stars
Fate:	Scrapped in 1962
General characteristics (as built)
Class and type:	Atlanta-class light cruiser
Displacement:	6,718 long tons (6,826 t) (standard) 8,340 long tons (8,470 t) (max)
Length:	541 ft 6 in (165.05 m) oa
Beam:	53 ft (16 m)
Draft:	20 ft 6 in (6.25 m) (mean) 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m) (max)
Installed power:	4 × Steam boilers 75,000 shp (56,000 kW)
Propulsion:	2 × geared turbines 2 × screws
Speed:	32.5 kn (37.4 mph; 60.2 km/h)
Complement:	688 officers and enlisted
Armament:	12 × 5 in (127 mm)/38 caliber Mark 12 guns (6×2) 8 × dual 40 mm (1.6 in) Bofors anti-aircraft guns 16 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannons 8 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 6 × depth charge projectors 2 × depth charge tracks
Armor:	Belt: 1.1–3 3⁄4 in (28–95 mm) Deck: 1 1⁄4 in (32 mm) Turrets: 1 1⁄4 in (32 mm) Conning Tower: 2 1⁄2 in (64 mm)

USS Reno (CL-96) was an updated Atlanta-class light cruiser - sometimes referred to as an "Oakland-class" - designed and built to specialize in antiaircraft warfare. She was the first warship to be named for the city of Reno, Nevada. Reno (DD-303) was a destroyer named for Lt. Commander Walter E. Reno.

Reno was laid down by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, at San Francisco, California on 1 August 1941. She was launched on 23 December 1942; sponsored by Mrs. August C. Frohlich; and commissioned on 28 December 1943, with Captain Ralph C. Alexander in command. The USS Reno spent her entire service life in the Pacific War, and its immediate aftermath, during 1944 though 1946.

Following a shakedown cruise off the coast of San Diego, the USS Reno departed from San Francisco on 14 April 1944, steaming west to join the 5th Fleet, under the command of Admiral Raymond A. Spruance. As an active unit in Vice Admiral Marc Mitscher's Fast Carrier Task Force (Task Force 58), the sharp spearpoint of the 5th Fleet, Reno first came in contact with the enemy while supporting minor air raids against Marcus Island on 19–20 May. Three days later, she also supported air strikes on Japanese-held Wake Island.