CL50/A16-3                   U. S. S. HELENA             10-s
(TS133-007)                               
                                          November 17,1942.


From:              Senior Known Survivor, U.S.S. JUNEAU (Lieutenant
                    Roger W. O'Neil, MC-V(G), U.S. Naval Reserve).
To  :              Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet.

Via :              Commanding Officer, U.S.S. HELENA.

Subject:           Report of U.S.S. JUNEAU Activity from November 11 to
                   13, 1942n inclusive.

References:        (a) U.S. Navy Regulations, 1940, Arts. 712 and 874(6).
                   (b) PacFlt Conf. Ltr. 24CL-42.

      1.           In accordance with references (a) and (b) the following
report covering the activity of the U.S.S. JUNEAU from November 11
to 13, 1942, inclusive is submitted:

November 11

  Occupied our positions in formation of Task Force.  Nothing of
Unusual note occurred aboard ship.

November 12

   Captain and Gunnery Officer were very much satisfied with anti-
Aircraft performance during afternoon air attack by Japanese planes.
They felt that we had accounted for a good percentage of planes
destroyed.  Planes were described as twin engine bombers of Mitaubishi
type, and very large.  There were no casualties on board the JUNEAU
during this attack.  At nightfall we were on our way out the channel,
and to the best of my knowledge we were outside the channel about
2230.  We reentered with the Task Force sometime later, approximately
between 2300 and 2400.  We had radar contact about 2400 which was at
first thought to have been enemy contact but later found to be land.
We were advised on station at approximately 0130 of November 13 to
expect enemy contact momentarily.  Scene of action illuminated by
star shells, searchlights, and some of JUNEAU personnel thought also
enemy planes were dropping flares.  We commenced firing somewhere in
the vicinity of 0140  to 0150, at which time we were on the port side
of the SAN FRANCISCO.  I understand that she ordered us to get out
of the way in order that she might get a broadside on a heavier Jap-
anese warship on the port side, and we proceeded to pick up speed, cross
the SAN FRANCISCO's bow, and come back on her starboard side where we
were when hit by an enemy torpedo which I feel was originally intended
for the SAN FRANCISCO.  We had fired a very small amount of ammun-
ition.  I would say approximately 25 rounds of 5" plus 20 mm and
1.1 ammunition.  The torpedo hit was of sufficient concussion to
buckle the deck just aft of turret 8  plus throwing 3 depth charges
overboard.  The port motor whaleboat was also torn to pieces and
lost by the impact of that hit.  I should say that the torpedo hit
somewhere between frames 42 and 45 on the port side and entered the 
forward fireroom.  The hit was below armor belt and a above rolling
chalks.  All hands, approximately 17 inside, were lost immediately.
Immediately forward to the forward fireroom was the plotting room,
And later on I learned from Enisgn Kloter, who had been there, that
They were thrown to the floor but were protected from the forward
fireroom by a double bulkhead.  The first one had given away and the
second had buckled somewhat and was leaking in spots at seam.  The
deck had also buckled and oil fumes were coming through.  They at-
tempted to carry on but had to secure a short time following this.
The Chief Engineer was quoted as having said that in his opinion the
keel had been broken by the torpedo hit.  Immediately following the
hit the ship seemed to rise and settle deeper and listed somewhat to
port.  All lighting forward of after mess hall was lost.  I under-
stood that immediately following the hit we shifted to the after
engine room generators for power but that they could not carry the
load, so we shifted immediately back to emergency diesel for our power.
We had lost all fire control of our turrets.  We immediately
left the scene of action; to best of my knowledge proceeded
through Sealark channel, and headed northeast for Malaita Island.
had occasion to do some minor surgery on the Navigator and Chief
Engineer about dawn and had occasion to overhear their discussion
From which I was given to understand that we were running on our
after fire and engine room and doing approximately 20 knots, and
were headed towards Malaita where Captain Swenson had hopes of find-
ing a cove which might offer sufficient shelter to enable us to ac-
complish temporary repairs before making a dash for Button.  By dawn
we had accomplished sufficient repairs so that we had local fire
control in one turret at a time.  This was previous to sighting the
remainder of the Task Force - HELENA, SA FRANCISCO, ect.  We sighted
them about dawn on our starboard side until which time we thought we
were alone.  We were not sure at this time whether they were friendly
or enemy ships.  Also at dawn there was evidence the JUNEAU was 10
to 12 feet down by the bow with approximately 2 degrees list.  I
understood this remark was attributed to the First Lieutenant.  We
had also lost suction in the main feed causing reduced pressure
and the ship to go dead in the water several times about dawn.  We
were making turns for 27 knots and doing approximately 20, according
to Dennis, who was a throttleman in the after engine room.  Due to
the excessive casualties on the SAN FRANCISCO, the senior medical
officer of the later asked assistance, and my senior medical officer,
Lieutenant Commander James G. Neff, 9MC), USN, who had struck his
head at the time of the first torpedo hit, asked me if I would care
to go over.  The destroyer O'BANNON a short time later, sent over a
boat and I took three of my corpsman, namely, Theodore D. Merchant,
Orrel G. Cecil, and William T. Sims, plus some medical supplies and
proceeded to the SAN FRANCISCO.  I was in the Admiral's cabin just
donning a mask prior to a assisting Lieutenant Commander Lowe to oper-
ate on Captain Young of the SAN FRANCISCO, when the JUNEAU was tor-
pedoed the second time at approximately 1101, November 13th.  In
view of the fact that the Admiral's cabin is located on the port side,
and the JUNEAU was on our starboard side when it hit, I did not see the
actual hit.  However the SAN FRANCISCO swung to the starboard side
and within 30 seconds of the hit I saw the spot where the JUNEAU had
been.  The only thing visible was tremendous clouds of gray and black
smoke.  I could not see any debris in the water but I was at least
two to three thousand  yards distant.  Later on I questioned men on
the SAN FRANCISCO, who had been on watch on the starboard side and
ad witnessed the incident, from the gist of which I gathered that
three torpedoes had been fired.  The first crossed the SAN FRAN-
CISCO's bow and just missed astern of the JUNEAU.  The second appear-
ed to come from beneath the SAN FRANSCISCO and its wake was not visible
immediately.  The third came aft of both ships.  It was the second 
torpedo which struck the JUNEAU on its port side very close to the
location of the first torpedo hit in the early morning.  It was
impossible for the SAN FRANCISCO to inform the JUNEAU of its imminent
attack, and if the JUNEAU actually saw the torpedo wake I am of the
belief that it was impossible to heel hard starboard because of its
broken kell and the possibility of breaking the ship in two.  The men
told me that the JUNEAU appeared to explode instantaneously and ap-
peared to break in two, both segments of which sunk within 20 seconds.
The debris from the explosion flew many feet in the air, one portion
of which struck number 1 gun of the SAN FRANCISCO, putting it out of
commission.  The signalman on the bridge of the HELENA was in the 
process of taking a message from the JUNEAU and his glass trained
on the signalman of that ship and reports that the signalman was blown
at least 30 feet into the air.

      2.           I wish to state emphatically, that during the operations
described above, my shipmates conducted themselves magnificently.



                                   ROGER W. O'NIEL



                                BT

     JUNEAU TORPEDOED DISAPPEARED LAT 1032 LONG 16102 AT 1109 X

     SURVIVORS IN WATER REPORT COMSOPAC



R S V VISUAL TOD 0052-13 NOV     SUPV WSB        DATE 13 NOV '42

FROM:  
       HELENA
TO:    B 17 PLANE

The Last Morning of USS Juneau

The sea off Guadalcanal lay uneasy beneath a heavy tropical sky on November 11, 1942. 
The light cruiser USS Juneau (CL-52) steamed quietly in formation with the American task 
force, her gray hull cutting through the dark Pacific. Nothing unusual happened that day. 

Sailors went about their duties-checking guns, cleaning equipment, watching the horizon. 
It was the calm before a storm none of them yet understood.

The following afternoon, November 12, the calm shattered.

Japanese aircraft appeared high above the fleet, large twin-engine bombers diving through 
the clouds. The gunners aboard Juneau sprang to their stations. Five-inch guns thundered. 

The smaller anti-aircraft batteries spat streams of fire into the sky.

Shell bursts surrounded the incoming bombers.

The captain and the gunnery officer watched with satisfaction as several enemy planes 
spiraled downward, trailing smoke. The men aboard Juneau believed they had destroyed a 
good number of the attackers. When the last plane vanished into the distance, the crew 
cheered quietly in relief.

Not a single man aboard the cruiser had been hurt.

But night was coming.

By late evening the American ships were moving through the narrow waters near 
Guadalcanal. At about 10:30 p.m., the task force cleared the channel, only to reverse 
course and re-enter shortly afterward. Radar contacts flickered on the screens shortly 
before midnight. For a tense moment the operators believed enemy ships were 
approaching-but the contact proved to be land.

Still, everyone knew the real battle was close.

Around 1:30 a.m. on November 13, word spread through the fleet:
Enemy contact expected momentarily.

Moments later the darkness erupted into chaos.

Star shells burst high overhead, turning night into a ghostly daylight. Searchlights slashed 
across the water. Some sailors thought Japanese planes were dropping flares as well. 

Silhouettes of warships appeared and vanished in the glare.

At about 1:45 a.m., Juneau opened fire.

She was positioned just off the port side of the heavy cruiser USS San Francisco (CA-38). 

Suddenly a signal came from the larger cruiser-she needed room to fire a full broadside at 
an enemy battleship looming in the darkness.

Juneau increased speed and swung across San Francisco's bow to clear the way.

In that instant, a torpedo streaked through the black water.

It struck Juneau along the port side with a violent concussion. The explosion buckled the 
deck and hurled depth charges overboard. The forward fire room was ripped open. 

Seventeen men inside were killed instantly.

The ship shuddered.

Lights went out across much of the vessel. Oil fumes drifted through the compartments. 

Engineers struggled to keep power flowing, switching from the damaged generators to 
emergency diesel systems. Somewhere below, the chief engineer grimly concluded the 
unthinkable-the keel might have been broken.

Yet Juneau still moved.

Damaged and wounded, she limped away from the battle through Sealark Channel, 
heading northeast toward Malaita Island. The crew hoped to find shelter in a small cove 
where emergency repairs could be made before attempting the long run to safety.

By dawn the battered cruiser was still afloat.

She rode low in the water, ten to twelve feet down by the bow with a slight list to port. 

Engines that should have driven her at full speed struggled to produce even twenty knots. 

Yet the crew worked tirelessly-restoring partial gun control and keeping the ship alive.

Then, through the morning haze, other American ships appeared.

The survivors of the night battle were gathering again: San Francisco, Helena, and several 
destroyers.

Medical help was desperately needed aboard San Francisco, whose crew had suffered 
terrible casualties during the night fighting. A small boat from the destroyer USS O'Bannon 
(DD-450) soon arrived.

A Navy doctor from Juneau crossed the water with several corpsmen and medical supplies.

Shortly before noon, while preparing to assist surgery aboard San Francisco, the doctor 
heard a distant roar.

At 11:01 a.m., a Japanese submarine had fired three torpedoes.

One missed. Another passed behind the ships.

The second torpedo struck Juneau.

From the deck of San Francisco, witnesses saw the explosion tear through the already-
crippled cruiser near the same place where the first torpedo had hit hours earlier. The blast 
was catastrophic.

The ship seemed to disintegrate.

A towering cloud of gray and black smoke erupted where Juneau had been sailing moments 
before. The cruiser broke apart, debris flying hundreds of feet into the air. One fragment 
slammed into a gun mount on San Francisco, disabling it.

Within twenty seconds, the two halves of Juneau vanished beneath the sea.

Across the formation, a signalman aboard the cruiser USS Helena (CL-50) had been 
watching Juneau through binoculars while receiving a message. He later reported that the 
signalman he was watching was blown thirty feet into the air as the ship exploded.

Then there was nothing.

Where the cruiser had sailed only moments before, there was only smoke drifting across 
the Pacific.

And the ocean closing over the wreck of USS Juneau.

              Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
                          U.S.S. JUNEAU CL-52
  
JUNEAU (CL-52) was laid down by Federal Shipbuilding Co., Kearny, 
N.J., 27 May 140; launched 25 October 1941; sponsored by Mrs. Harry I. 
Lucas, wife of the Mayor of the city of Juneau, and commissioned 14 
February 1942, Captain Lyman K. Swenson in command.

  Following a hurried shakedown cruise along the Atlantic coast in the 
spring of 1942, JUNEAU assumed blockade patrol in early May off 
Martinique and Guadeloupe Islands to prevent the escape of Vichy 
French Naval units. She returned to New York to complete alterations 
and operated in the North Atlantic and Caribbean from 1 June to 12 
August on patrol and escort duties. The cruiser departed for the 
Pacific Theater 22 August.

  After stopping briefly at the Tonga Islands and New Caledonia, she 
rendezvoused 10 September with Task Force 18 under the command of Rear 
Admiral Leigh Noyes, flying his flag in WASP (CV-7). The following day 
Task Force 17, which included HORNET (CV-8), combined with Admiral 
Noyes' unit to form Task Force 61 whose mission was to ferry fighters 
to Guadalcanal. On 15 September WASP took three torpedo hits from the 
Japanese submarine I-l9, and, with fires raging out of control, was 
sunk at 2100 by LANSDOWNE (DD-486). JUNEAU and screen destroyers 
rescued 1,910 survivors of WASP and returned them to Espiritu Santo, 
New Hebrides, 16 September. The net day the fast cruiser rejoined Task 
Force 17. Operating with the HORNET group, she supported three actions 
that repulsed enemy thrusts at Guadalcanal: the Buin-Fasi-Tonolai 
Raid; the Battle of Santa Cruz Island; and the Naval Battle of 
Guadalcanal (Third Savo).

  The ship's first major action was the Battle of Santa Cruz Island 26 
October. On 24 October HORNET's task force had combined with the 
ENTERPRISE (CV-6) group to reform Task Force 61 under the command of 
Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid. This force positioned itself north of 
the Santa Cruz Islands in order to intercept enemy units that might 
attempt to close Guadalcanal. Meanwhile, on Guadalcanal, the Japanese 
achieved a temporary breakthrough along Lunga Ridge on the night of 25 
October. That short-lived success evidently was a signal for enemy 
surface units to approach the island.

  Early in the morning 26 October, U.S. carrier planes uncovered the 
enemy force and immediately attacked it, damaging two Japanese 
carriers, one battleship, and three cruisers. But while our aircraft 
were locating and engaging the enemy, American ships were also under 
fire. Shortly after 1000 some 27 enemy aircraft attacked HORNET. 
Though JUNEAU and other screen ships threw up an effective AA barrage 
which splashed about 20 of the attackers, HORNET was badly damaged and 
sank the net day.  Just before noon JUNEAU left HORNET's escort for 
the beleaguered ENTERPRISE group several miles away. Adding her 
firepower, JUNEAU assisted in repulsing four enemy attacks on this 
force and splashing 18 Japanese planes.

  That evening the American forces retired to the southeast. Although 
the battle had been costly, it, combined with the Marine victory on 
Guadalcanal, turned back the attempted Japanese parry in the Solomons. 
Furthermore, the damaging of two Japanese carriers sharply curtailed 
the air cover available to the enemy in the subsequent Naval Battle of 
Guadalcanal.

  On 8 November JUNEAU departed Noumea, New Caledonia, as a unit of 
Task Force 67 under the command of Rear Admiral R. K. Turner to escort 
reinforcements to Guadalcanal. The force arrived there early morning 
12 November, and JUNEAU took up her station in the protective screen 
around the transports and cargo vessels. Unloading proceeded 
unmolested until 1405 when 30 Japanese planes attacked the alerted 
United States group. The AA fire was devastating, and JUNEAU alone 
accounted for six enemy torpedo planes shot down. The few remaining 
attackers were pounced on by American fighters; only one bomber 
escaped. Later in the day an American attack group of cruisers and 
destroyers cleared Guadalcanal on reports that a large enemy surface 
force was headed for the island. At 0148 on 13 November Rear Admiral 
D. J. Callaghan's relatively small Landing Support Group engaged the 
enemy. The Japanese force of 18 to 20 hips, including 2 battleships, 
far outnumbered and outgunned his force, but did not outfight it.

  American gunnery scored effectively almost immediately sinking an 
enemy destroyer. JUNEAU teamed with ATLANTA (CL-51) to destroy another 
as the two forces slugged it out at close range. During the exchange 
JUNEAU was struck on the port side by a torpedo causing a severe list 
and necessitating withdrawal. Before noon 13 November, the battered 
American force began retirement. JUNEAU was steaming on one screw, 
keeping station 800 yards on the starboard quarter of the likewise 
severely damaged SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38). She was down 12 feet by the 
bow, but able to maintain 13 knots. A few minutes after 1100 three 
torpedoes were launched from the Japanese submarine I-26. JUNEAU 
successfully avoided two, but the third struck her at the same point 
which had been damaged during the surface action. There was a terrific 
explosion; JUNEAU broke in two and disappeared in 20 seconds. The 
gallant ship with Captain Swanson and most of her crew, including the 
five Sullivan brothers, was lost. Only 10 members of the crew survived 
the tragedy.

  JUNEAU received four battle stars for World War II service.

                      Atlanta Class
                    CL-Light Cruisers

CL-51 ATLANTA
CL-52 JUNEAU
CL-53 SAN DEIGO
CL-54 SAN JUAN


Dimensions:
Displacement:  6,000 tons (stand)
               8,200 tons (Mean war service)
Length:        541'(oa)
Beam:          53'
Draft:         27' (max)

Armament: 
               16 5"/38 
                3 40 mm twins (SAN JUAN 5)
                1 40 mm quads 
               15 20 mm (SAN JUAN 9)
                2 DC tracks
                2 21" quad TT

Propulsion:
Speed:         32 knots (max)
Max. Cruising 
       radius: 4,000 miles @ 25 knots
               7,700 miles @ 15 knots
Horsepower:    75,000 (shaft)
Drive:         2 screws
               geared turbine
Fuel:          1,528 tons oil (max)

Aircraft:      3 SC-1

War Time Losses:
               
ATLANTA CL-51 
JUNEAU CL-52

Remarks:
The San Diego and her sister, the San Juan, are the smallest 
cruisers built for the U.S. Navy since he 3,700-ton CHEASTER 
Class (CL 1-3) OF 1904.  Like the 5,450-ton British DIDO's, they 
were designed from the keel up as Anti-Aircraft cruisers.  With 
the heaviest main battery yet mounted in vessel of their specific 
type, the San Diego's can not only put up a sizeable high 
altitude A. A. barrage, but can also deliver a great volume of 
fire against light surface and shore targets.  They are flush-
deck vessel, but with more sheer forward and without the built-in 
aircraft hanger aft of other modern American cruisers.  They can 
be readily distinguished from the CLEVELAND and BALTIMORE Classes 
by the arrangement of their center-line twin turrets and the two 
waist turrets abeam of the after superstructure.  They are also 
the first newer cruisers to be fitted with torpedo tubes.
Two vessels of this class are war losses: the Atlanta (CL-51), 
the former nameship of the class, and the Juneau (CL-52)
The OAKLAND Class are practically duplicates of the ATLANTA's 
differing mainly in armaments.