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USS Miami file photo [20767]

Miami

CountryUnited States
Ship ClassCleveland-class Light Cruiser
Hull NumberCL-89
BuilderCramp Shipbuilding Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Laid Down2 Aug 1941
Launched8 Dec 1942
Commissioned28 Dec 1943
Decommissioned30 Jun 1947
Displacement10,160 tons standard
Length610 feet
Beam66 feet
Draft25 feet
MachineryGeared turbines, 4 screws
Power Output100,000 shaft horsepower
Speed33 knots
Crew1,255
Armament12x150mm guns, 12x130mm guns, 28x40mm guns, 10x20mm guns
Armor5in belt, 6in turrets, 2in deck, 5in conning tower
Aircraft4

Contributor:

ww2dbaseUSS Miami entered service in Dec 1943 and held her shakedown cruise in the Caribbean Sea. After a period of training along the east coast of the United States, she sailed for the Pacific Ocean alongside of her sister ships Vincennes and Houston, arriving at the Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii in May 1944. In Jul and Aug, She supported actions in the Mariana Islands and Bonin Islands during the American campaign to capture the Mariana Islands, mainly in the role of escorting aircraft carriers. In Sep, she escorted carriers and their aircraft hit Japanese positions on Peleliu and Angaur of the Palau Islands and in the Philippine Islands, in indirect support of the Palau campaign; her scout planes rescued downed US airmen on four occasions during this action. In Oct, she operated off the Okinawa, Japan and the Philippine Islands. During the Leyte Gulf campaign, the aircraft of the carriers she escorted achieved a significant vicotry in the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea on 24 Oct, accompanied the carriers northward as the Americans were baited away from the main action off Samar on the following day, and she, joined by other warships, sank Japanese destroyer Nowaki near the San Bernardino Strait. In Dec 1944, she survived Typhoon Cobra in the Philippine Sea, but suffered the loss of one seaplane and minor damage to the hull; on 19 Dec, the day after the most violent day of the typhoon, she helped rescue survivors of lost ships. In Jan 1945, she escorted carriers while their aircraft hit Japanese positions in Taiwan, Luzon of Philippine Islands, French Indochina, southern China, and Hong Kong. In early Feb, she operated close to Tokyo, Japan while the carrier aircraft struck targets near the Japanese capital. In Mar and Apr 1945, she operated east of Okinawa, Japan, serving in similar roles alongside carriers, facing very frequent Japanese air threats. She departed from the front lines in May for a scheduled overhaul in San Francisco, California, United States, where she would be when the war ended. She returned to the Ryukyu Islands in Sep, accepting the surrender of a Japanese garrison of a small Ryukyu island north of Okinawa. Returning to the United States in Dec 1945, she would serve off California until her decommissioning in 1947. She remained in the Pacific Reserve Fleet until she was scrapped in 1962.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia

Last Major Revision: May 2014

Light Cruiser Miami (CL-89) Interactive Map

Photographs

Launching of light cruiser Miami, William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 8 Dec 1942Aerial view of William Cramp & Sons shipyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 15 Mar 1943
See all 19 photographs of Light Cruiser Miami (CL-89)

Miami Operational Timeline

2 Aug 1941 The keel of light cruiser Miami was laid down by William Cramp and Sons in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
8 Dec 1942 Light cruiser Miami was launched in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, sponsored by Mrs. C. H. Reeder, wife of the mayor of Miami, Florida, United States.
28 Dec 1943 USS Miami was commissioned into service with Captain John G. Crawford in command.
16 Apr 1944 USS Miami departed Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
6 May 1944 USS Miami arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
7 Sep 1944 USS Miami escorted aircraft carriers while the carrier aircraft struck Peleliu and Angaur of the Palau Islands.
12 Sep 1944 USS Miami operated off the Philippine Islands in indirect support of the Palau Islands campaign.
13 Sep 1944 USS Miami operated off the Philippine Islands in indirect support of the Palau Islands campaign.
14 Sep 1944 USS Miami operated off the Philippine Islands in indirect support of the Palau Islands campaign.
15 Sep 1944 USS Miami operated off the Philippine Islands in indirect support of the Palau Islands campaign.
29 Sep 1944 USS Miami arrived at Saipan, Mariana Islands.
10 Oct 1944 USS Miami operated off Okinawa, Japan.
11 Oct 1944 USS Miami operated off Okinawa, Japan.
12 Oct 1944 USS Miami operated off Okinawa, Japan. After dark, she shot down a Japanese aircraft and assisted in the downing of another.
13 Oct 1944 USS Miami operated off Okinawa, Japan.
14 Oct 1944 USS Miami operated off Okinawa, Japan.
18 Dec 1944 Many ships from the United States Third Fleet, Task Force 38 sailed into Typhoon Cobra in the Philippine Sea. Three destroyers and 790 men were lost.
20 Jan 1945 USS Miami transited the Balintang Channel between Taiwan and the Philippine Islands.
21 Jan 1945 USS Miami shot down a Japanese A6M fighter.
1 Feb 1945 Captain Thomas Howell Binford was named the commanding officer of USS Miami while the ship was at sea south of Tokyo, Japan.
10 May 1945 USS Miami departed Ulithi, Caroline Islands.
17 May 1945 USS Miami arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
24 May 1945 USS Miami arrived at San Francisco, California, United States.
25 Aug 1945 USS Miami arrived at Pearl Harbor, US Territory of Hawaii.
11 Nov 1945 USS Miami arrived at Truk, Caroline Islands to survey bombing damage to the Japanese base.
25 Nov 1945 USS Miami received orders to return to the United States.
10 Dec 1945 USS Miami arrived at Long Beach, California, United States.
30 Jun 1947 USS Miami was decommissioned from service.
1 Sep 1961 Miami was struck from the US Navy Register.
20 Jul 1962 Light cruiser Miami was sold to Nicholai Joffe Corporation of Beverly Hills, California for scrapping.




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. nuno rodriguez says:
11 May 2014 06:27:40 PM

Thank you for the great work you guys do.
greetings from Portugal!
2. Jack says:
25 Dec 2017 02:36:04 PM

Is there a survivor group, blog or association of the USS Miami CL-89. My father in law was a crew member in the printing shop during WWII
3. Kristen says:
7 Feb 2018 09:46:53 PM

My grandfather was stationed on the USS Miami CL-89. I'm not sure what he did on board. I need to ask my mom about any details, and have asked her to see any records of his.
4. Darryl Randolph says:
1 May 2018 02:40:39 PM

My Uncle, Howard R. Randolph, served on the USS during WWII, i don't know his rank or rate, but i just find a book ie., THE STORY OF THE UNITED STATES SHIP MIAMI (CL 89), as i was going threw his mother, my grandma's files, not only did i find this book, put a rolled up black and white phone of the complete ship. who can i talk to about what i found? thanks, DARRYL L. RANDOLPH, SFC, USA, (ret)
5. Darryl Randolph says:
1 May 2018 02:41:25 PM

My Uncle, Howard R. Randolph, served on the USS Miami during WWII, i don't know his rank or rate, but i just find a book ie., THE STORY OF THE UNITED STATES SHIP MIAMI (CL 89), as i was going threw his mother, my grandma's files, not only did i find this book, put a rolled up black and white phone of the complete ship. who can i talk to about what i found? thanks, DARRYL L. RANDOLPH, SFC, USA, (ret)
6. Commenter identity confirmed David Stubblebine says:
1 May 2018 10:43:23 PM

Darryl Randolph (above):
USS Miami Muster Rolls show Seaman 2nd-class (later Seaman 1st-class) Howard Ray Randolph, service number 672 14 29, served aboard from mid-1945 (just before war’s end) to sometime in 1946 and possibly beyond. These records are a little unclear and incomplete. The best source of information on his service will be his service record, which you can request a copy of from the National Archives. See https://ww2db.com/faq/#3.
7. Kevin Garrison says:
26 Jul 2018 05:52:19 AM

In 2002 my wife and I purchased our first home in Valley Cottage NY from the daughter of one of the original crew of the Miami CL-89. When we took over the house they had left behind s beautiful had made and quite large model of the Miami. We knew it was a proud piece and we did some research and found a former sailor on the Miami living in Maryland. We packed the model in our car and drove down to their home to give him the model. They were so proud to have it. Later they donated it to a cruiser museum.
I had also found a box of material from his time in service, letters to and from his wife, the telegram announcing the burg of his first child. My wife and I knew this also was special and held onto it. We are in our second home and just sent the material to the National Museum of the American Sailor.
We feel happy to help in some small way help to save a bit of his story for history.
The sailors name was Arthur Carlson.
8. Ken Reader says:
3 Feb 2019 06:25:08 AM

Hello I believe my Father was Naval officer on USS Miami 1943 to 1945.
I believe he transferred on to this ship form another ship in 1943.
John N. Reader enlisted 1942 Salt Lake, Utah
9. John Bindon says:
23 Jun 2019 09:24:17 AM

My Brother in law served on the USS Miami during the second world war. His name: John W. Combs
10. Keith Chasse says:
20 Jul 2020 06:42:11 AM

My grandfather Robert A. Chasse served on the Miami. I’m looking for more information about when and where he served. I would also like to know his rank and position on the ship.
11. Clayton Lancaster says:
2 Nov 2020 12:13:23 AM

My grandfather served as unrestricted line officer on the Miami from December 1943 until April 1946: Norman G. Lancaster
12. MaryAnn Cardullo says:
26 Feb 2021 04:24:13 PM

My father Pat Basilio served on the USS Miami in World War II as a Boatswain's mate. He is alive and well at 95 years old.
13. Eletha Duffy says:
15 Jun 2021 12:10:47 PM

My father, Arthur Duffy, served on the USS Miami. His best friend was Harry Carney. Both have passed away, but I would love to connect with anyone who knew them or about them.
14. Joan Kocher says:
17 Aug 2021 06:24:38 AM

My Father-in-law served on the USS Miami and I have many pictures from the reunions that he went to. He passed in 2006 and if anybody would like these pictures from the reunions. Please e-mail. kocherjoan@gmail.com
15. susan hoberman says:
8 Jun 2022 01:37:40 PM

our good friend Rollin E Stanton served on this ship as radar operator during world war 2. Does anyone still alive remember him?
16. Scott Christ says:
29 Jul 2022 08:55:46 AM

My father served on the Miami. His name was Robert Christ and I have photo’s of him and his name Lefty.
Although my father passed away in 1980 I still google different things about his service. I have his, what I would call a yearbook from the USS Miami while he was on it. I have a few photographs that he saved from that time and a telegram to his parents to let them know he was safe when he arrived in San Francisco

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More on Miami
Event(s) Participated:
» Mariana Islands Campaign and the Great Turkey Shoot
» Palau Islands and Ulithi Islands Campaigns
» Philippines Campaign, Phase 1, the Leyte Campaign
» Typhoon Cobra
» Raid into the South China Sea
» Okinawa Campaign

Light Cruiser Miami (CL-89) Photo Gallery
Launching of light cruiser Miami, William Cramp and Sons, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 8 Dec 1942Aerial view of William Cramp & Sons shipyard, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 15 Mar 1943
See all 19 photographs of Light Cruiser Miami (CL-89)


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