USS Miami CL-89

The USS Miami was a Cleveland-class light cruiser and the second to be named after the city in Florida. Construction on the ship began on August 2, 1941, and she was launched on December 8, 1942 under the sponsorship of Mrs. C. H. Reeder. She was then commissioned on December 28, 1943 under the command of Captain John G. Crawford.

History of the USS Miami CL-89

The Miami had her shakedown in the Caribbean followed by training along the Atlantic coast. She then left Boston on April 16, 1944 for the Pacific, arriving in Pearl Harbor on May 6. There she joined the Fast Task Force and in June, participated in the Marianas campaign, launching strikes against Guam, Pagan, Rota, Saipan and Tinian.

In July, the Miami operated west of the Marianas giving support to the ground forces. In August, she assisted with the raids on Iwo Jima and Haha Jima and then headed to Eniwetok. In early September, she hit Peleliu and Angaur before heading to the Philippines. While there, she was able to rescue downed American pilots.

In mid-October, the Miami left Ulithi for Okinawa, where she was able to hit two enemy planes. From there, she headed on to Luzon on October 18. A few days later, she participated in the Battle for Leyte Gulf, protecting the Intrepid, the Hancock and the Bunker Hill.

Miami departed Ulithi for strikes on Okinawa on 10-14 October. While her task group was under air attack on the night of 12/13 October, Miami's guns brought down their first enemy plane and assisted in splashing another. Planes from her carriers hit targets on Luzon on 18 October. Thinking that the Japanese had retreated, she headed north before being rerouted to the San Bernardino Strait where she sank the Nowaki.

The Miami continued with strikes in the Philippines in November and she encountered a typhoon in December. She lost one of her aircraft to the storm and received some damage, and after it passed, she assisted with the search for survivors. In January 1945, the Miami assisted with strikes on Formosa, French Indochina, Hainan, Hong Kong, Luzon and the South China Coast. On February 1, she passed near Japan, attacking targets near Tokyo.

On May 10, 1945, the Miami left Ulithi for the United States, passing by way of Pearl Harbor before docking in San Francisco on May 24. She remained there for an overhaul until the end of the war, returning to Pearl Harbor in late August. She was then sent to accept the surrender of some islands north of Okinawa before heading to Truk to survey bombing damage.

The Miami then returned to Long Beach on December 10, and she remained in operation along the California coast until she was decommissioned on June 30, 1947. She remained in the Pacific Reserve Fleet until September 1, 1961 when her name was removed from the Navy list. She was sold for scrap the following year.

Asbestos Hazards

Like other ships of the era, the Miami saw significant risks during the war efforts. However, she had another risk that wasn't as obvious - the risk of exposure to asbestos. The use of asbestos can potentially harm those around it if asbestos fibers have been released into the air. If the fibers are inhaled, there is a risk of developing an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma.

If you served aboard the Miami or any other vessel and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you may have legal options for compensation. For more information, please fill out the request form on this page to receive a free informational packet.

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