Home > USS Boise (CL-47)

The Boise (CL-47) was a United States Navy Brooklyn-class light cruiser.

Boise was launched 3 December 1936 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia, sponsored by Miss Salome Clark , daughter of Governor Clark of Idaho; and commissioned 12 August 1938, Captain B. V. McCandlish in command.

In February 1939, following a shakedown cruise to Monrovia, Liberia, and Cape TownCape Town ( Afrikaans: Kaapstad , is one of South Africa's three capital cities serving as the legislative capital ( Pretoria being the executive capital and Bloemfontein the judicial capital). It is also the capital of the Western Cape province. It is mo, Union of South AfricaThe Union of South Africa came into being on May 31, 1910 when the old Cape Colony and Natal Colony were combined with the defeated South African Republic and Orange Free State (renamed the Orange River Colony) after the Boer War. The various parts were t, Boise joined Division 9, Cruisers, Battle Force, at San Pedro, CaliforniaSan Pedro is a community within Los Angeles, California, annexed in 1909 and a major seaport of the area. History The site, at the southern end of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, on the west side of San Pedro Bay, was used by Spanish ships starting in the 154. Until November 19411941 is also the title of a Steven Spielberg movie made in 1979 see 1941 (film). Events January January 6 Franklin Delano Roosevelt delivers his Four Freedoms Speech in the State of the Union Address. January 10 Lend-Lease is introduced into the United St she operated alternately off the west coast and in HawaiiFor the 1959 novel and 1966 movie, see Hawaii (novel). Hawaii ( Hawaiian/ Hawaiian English: Hawai‘i with the ‘okina is the archipelago of the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii constitutes the 50th state of the United States, and as of the 2000an waters. She then escorted a convoy to Manila, Philippine Islands; arriving 4 December 1941.

The outbreak of war in the Philippines, 8 December 1941, found Boise off Cebu. She joined TF 5 in the East Indies, but on 21 January 1942 struck an uncharted shoal in Sape Strait and had to retire to Colombo, Ceylon; Bombay, India; and Mare Island Navy Yard for repairs. Her repairs completed, she sailed 22 June 1942 to escort a convoy to Auckland, New Zealand. She then returned to Pearl Harbor and during 31 July- 10 August 1942 conducted a raiding cruise in Japanese waters as a feint to draw attention away from the Guadalcanal landings. In August she escorted a convoy to the Fiji and New Hebrides Islands. During 14- 18 September she helped cover the landing of Marine reinforcements on Guadalcanal. In the succeeding hard fighting she was hit by Japanese shells in the American victory of Cape Esperance after taking six planes under fire. She made her way to Philadelphia Navy Yard where she underwent repairs ( 19 November 1942- 20 March 1943).

Boise departed 8 June 1943 for the Mediterranean, arriving at Algiers, Algeria, 21 June. Between 10 July and 18 August 1943 she acted as a cover and fire support ship during the landing on Sicily. In September she took part in the Italian mainland landings at Taranto (9-10 September) and Salerno (12-19 September). She returned to New York 15 November 1943 and once again steamed to the South Pacific, arriving at Milne Bay , New Guinea, 31 December.

During January-September 1944 she took part in operations along the northern shore of New Guinea, including: Madang - Alexishafen bombardment (25-26 January); Humboldt Bay landings (22 April); Wakde - Sawar bombardment (29-30 April); Wakde - Toem landings (1 5-25 May); Biak landings (25 May-10 June); Noemfoor landings (1-2 July); Cape Sansapor landings (27 July-31 August); and the occupation of Morotai (1-30 September). The cruiser moved northward as the battle front advanced into the Philippines taking part in: Leyte invasion (20-24 October); Battle of Surigao Strait (25 October); Mindoro landings (12-17 December); Leyte-Mindoro covering action (26-29 December); Lingayen Gulf landings, with General Douglas MacArthur embarked (9-13 January 1945); Luzon covering force (14-31 January); Bataan- Corregidor occupation (13-17 February); and Zamboanga landings (8-12 March). She then moved to Borneo for the Tarakan landings (27 April-3 May). During 3-16 June she carried General MacArthur on a 35,000 mile tour of the Central and Southern Philippines and Brunei Bay , Borneo, and then returned to San Pedro, California, arriving 7 July.

The cruiser remained in the San Pedro area undergoing overhaul and training until October. She sailed 3 October for the east coast, arriving at New York 20 October. Boise remained there until decommissioned 1 July 1946. She was sold to Argentina 11 January 1951.

Boise received eleven battle stars for her service in World War II.

See USS Boise for other Navy ships of the same name.

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.