The Mighty A: The Short Heroic Life of the USS Atlanta (CL-51) - (9781636245027)
The attack on Pearl Harbor shocked the nation. Following the declaration of war lines formed outside of recruiting stations as Americans desired to don the uniform. With Margaret Mitchell serving as the ship's sponsor Atlanta's commissioning on Christmas Eve 1941 served as a rallying point for a country weary of bad news overseas. Some of those new recruits would find their way to Atlanta's quarterdeck. For the capital of the Peachtree State the ship was not only a source of civic pride but a reason for many young men to join the Navy with the promise of assignment.br>
The commanding officer Captain Samuel Jenkins had just weeks to ready a group of nearly 700 sailors—the majority having no seagoing experience—into a crew that could effectively fight the ship in combat. Joining the Pacific Fleet in time for the epic Battle of Midway Atlanta's guns would fire the first salvos in the vicious Naval Battle of Guadalcanal early on November 13 1942. Heavily damaged by gunfire and torpedoes Atlanta would be scuttled later that day only hours after the tragic loss of sister ship Juneau (CL-52).
Atlanta was awarded five battle stars for her World War II service and a Presidential Unit Citation for her fighting spirit in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. This first comprehensive account of Atlanta's war covers her construction commissioning and full war service.
Features
- 288 pages
- Includes over 25 photos
- Book dimensions are 6 x 9
- Hardcover
The attack on Pearl Harbor shocked the nation. Following the declaration of war lines formed outside of recruiting stations as Americans desired to don the uniform. With Margaret Mitchell serving as the ship's sponsor Atlanta's commissioning on Christmas Eve 1941 served as a rallying point for a country weary of bad news overseas. Some of those new recruits would find their way to Atlanta's quarterdeck. For the capital of the Peachtree State the ship was not only a source of civic pride but a reason for many young men to join the Navy with the promise of assignment.br>
The commanding officer Captain Samuel Jenkins had just weeks to ready a group of nearly 700 sailors—the majority having no seagoing experience—into a crew that could effectively fight the ship in combat. Joining the Pacific Fleet in time for the epic Battle of Midway Atlanta's guns would fire the first salvos in the vicious Naval Battle of Guadalcanal early on November 13 1942. Heavily damaged by gunfire and torpedoes Atlanta would be scuttled later that day only hours after the tragic loss of sister ship Juneau (CL-52).
Atlanta was awarded five battle stars for her World War II service and a Presidential Unit Citation for her fighting spirit in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. This first comprehensive account of Atlanta's war covers her construction commissioning and full war service.
