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The United States Navy Memorial

Navy Memorial Honoring the Men & Women of the Sea Services

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Atlanta

Ship Designation: 
CL-51
Date Lost: 
Friday, November 13, 1942
Naval Battle of Guadalcanal
While operating off Guadalcanal, Japanese dispatched 25 aircraft to destroy the US forces and disrupt the invasion. Atlanta was credited with shooting down two of the aircraft, but as the air attack ended. A Japanese surface action group was detected entering the area. During the early morning hours the Japanese surface force comprised of 2 battleships and twelve other ships was detected steaming into the area. Atlanta, the lead ship in a column of 13 ships was initially illuminated by Japanese searchlights and within 10 minutes of engagement commencement, she had taken two surface launched torpedo hits and 50 major caliber hits from the battleships and cruisers. As a result of battle damage Atlanta lost all ship's power other than auxiliary power. Before drifting out of the fight in the urgency of battle, darkness and confused intermingling of friend and foe, San Francisco mistook Atlanta for an enemy cruiser and took 2 additional hits from eight inch projectiles. ... Shipboard damage control parties valiantly set to work repairing battle damage, shoring up holes and jettisoning topside weight to improve stability. Remaining powerless, other than auxiliary power Atlanta drifted perilously close to enemy held island east of Cape Esperance and was forced to anchor rather than going aground. ... A total of 172 men died and another 79 were seriously wounded during the battle.

Lost At Sea Log

Number of sailors in this log: 168

Name Service Branchsort ascending
CCS Clifford Grimsley USN
Sea 2c Wesley Belaire USN
Lt Oliver Ramsey USN
LCdr Philip Smith USN
R Adm Norman Scott USN
Sea 1c Frederick Alden USN
MM 2c Jack Armstrong USN
CMM Raymond Arrigone USN
FC 2c James Bailey USN
Sea 1c Hubert Barbour USN
GM 3c Beryl Baum USN
Lt Roger Currier USN
Matt 1c Winfield Bell USN
Sea 2c Frederick Benny USN
Sea 2c Clifford Bernard USN
F 2c Weyman Bond USN
Sea 1c Alfred Botelho USN
TM 3c Charles Brantley USN
M 1c Emil Bremer USN
Sea 1c Orval Briggs USN

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Prepared by CAPT R.O. Strange USN (Ret.)