World War II Database

Contributor: David Stubblebine

ww2dbaseThe light cruiser Pasadena was laid down at the Bethlehem Fore River Shipyard, Quincy, Massachusetts, United States 6 Feb 1943 and launched 28 Dec 1943. She was commissioned 8 Jun 1944 with Captain Richard B. Tuggle in command.

ww2dbaseUSS Pasadena completed shakedown and training during the summer of 1944 and on 27 Sep got underway for the Pacific in company with battleship USS Wisconsin, also on her way to the Pacific. Pasadena transited the Panama Canal on 2 Oct 1944. Sailing from Pearl Harbor in company with cruiser USS St Louis, they crossed the International Date Line on 3 Nov 1944 and arrived at the fleet anchorage at Ulithi five days later.

ww2dbaseAssigned straightaway to the Fast Carrier Task Force, Pasadena sailed with the carriers in support of the Philippine Operations on Leyte and Luzon, steamed through Typhoon Cobra, and was part of the force that conducted the Raid into the South China Sea in Jan 1945. Pasadena moved against the Japanese home islands and covered the landings on Iwo Jima where she also shelled the island as part of the Naval bombardment.

ww2dbaseAfter replenishment at Ulithi, Pasadena and the carrier force sailed in support of the Okinawa operations, first by screening the carriers on strikes on the Japanese southern islands and then in the waters around Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. At sea for 80 days straight, Pasadena made night bombardments of Minami Daito and continuous strikes against positions on Okinawa and Kyushu through the end of May 1945. After a brief stop at Ulithi and then Leyte Gulf in Jun 1945, the force sortied from Leyte Gulf for their last strikes of the war, again around Japan and Okinawa.

ww2dbaseWith the ending of hostilities on 15 Aug 1945, Pasadena and the carrier task force remained 200 miles southeast of Tokyo as the terms of occupation were negotiated. On 1 Sep 1945, Pasadena anchored in Tokyo Bay where she was present during the surrender ceremonies aboard USS Missouri the following day. Pasadena remained in the area in and around Tokyo Bay supporting the occupation forces until mid-Jan 1946.

ww2dbaseOn 19 Jan 1946 Pasadena got underway for San Pedro, California and a long overdue overhaul. She returned to regular duties on both sides of the Pacific until Sep 1949 when Pasadena entered Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for deactivation overhaul. Decommissioned 12 Jan 1950, she became part of the Pacific Reserve Fleet at Bremerton, Washington. The ship was sold for scrap 5 Jul 1972.

ww2dbaseFor service during World War II, USS Pasadena was awarded five battle stars.

Light Cruiser Pasadena (CL-65) Interactive Map

Photographs

Pasadena Operational Timeline