USS Montpelier CL-57

The USS Montpelier was a Cleveland-class light cruiser and the second to be named for the city in Vermont. Construction began on December 2, 1940 and she was launched on February 12, 1942 under the sponsorship of Mrs. William F. Carry. She was then commissioned on September 9, 1942 under the command of Captain Leighton Wood.

History During World War II

In January 1943, the Montpelier was sent from Norfolk, Virginia to New Caledonia and she became the flagship for CruDiv 12. On the 25th, she arrived in Efate, New Hebrides, which was to be her home for the next several months. From there, she proceeded to Guadalcanal where she participated in the Battle of Rennell Island.

In late February, the Montpelier headed to the Russell Islands. In early March, she attacked Kolombangara in the Solomons and was involved in the Battle of Blackett Strait. In late June, she assisted with the preparations for the invasion of New Georgia, and in July, she headed to Munda. She continued patrols in that area for the next four months.

From there, the Montpelier headed to Sydney, Australia where she became the flagship of Task Force 39 and invaded the Treasury Islands and Bougainville. On November 1, she continued attacks against the Japanese forces in the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay, preventing them from assaulting Bougainville.

The Montpelier covered landings on the Green Islands in mid-February 1944 before heading to Truk in March. From there, she hit Saipan in mid-June as part of the Marianas invasion, moving on to join Task Force 58 in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. She remained in the Marianas until August 2, when she was sent back to the United States for an overhaul.

The Montpelier returned to the Leyte Gulf on November 25, receiving minor damage from a kamikaze plane two days later. In mid-December, she covered the invasion of Mindoro and then she protected troops in the Lingayen Gulf in early 1945. She continued to support operations in the area until June, when the Montpelier was sent to Brunei Bay, Borneo. For the rest of the month, she worked off of an oil center in Balikpapan as support for the minesweepers, demolition teams and amphibious forces. July and early August were spent making anti-shipping sweeps in the East China Sea.

The Montpelier remained anchored off of Wakayama, Japan as the war ended so she could assist with the evacuation of Allied prisoners. She headed back for the east coast on November 15, stopping in Hawaii, San Diego and the Panama Canal before reaching New York. The Montpelier worked out of the Atlantic until she was decommissioned and placed in reserve on January 24, 1947. She was then removed from the Naval Register on March 1, 1959 and sold for scrap the following year.

Asbestos Hazards

Like other ships of the time, the Montpelier saw many battles and was in constant danger of attacks by the enemy while in service. However, the men who served aboard her were also at risk for asbestos exposure. Most of the ships of the era were built using asbestos as insulation. It was inexpensive, resistant to heat and fire and easy to use.

What the shipyard workers and sailors didn't know was that asbestos can be very hazardous. The mineral is fibrous, and small fibers can break off when it is disturbed. These fibers can be inhaled or swallowed, becoming trapped in the body. Over time, irritation and inflammation may develop, which could result in asbestosis or mesothelioma.

If you 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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