THE MIGHTY A: The Short Heroic Life of the USS Atlanta (CL-51), America's First Warship Commissioned After Pearl Harbor

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Comprehensive account of USS Atlanta covers her construction, commissioning, and full WWII service. Prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Navy's leadership discovered that the surface fleet was highly vulnerable to air attack, thanks to the introduction of drone aircraft that could simulate attacks on its warships. The Navy's gunners simply did not have the coordinated firepower to knock them down. Recognition of this vulnerability resulted in a new class of warship led by USS Atlanta. 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. 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. Contains 25 images.