USS Nashville CL-43

The USS Nashville was a Brooklyn-class light cruiser and the second to be named for the city in Tennessee. Construction began on January 24, 1935 and she was launched on October 2, 1937 under the sponsorship of Misses Ann and Mildred Stahlman. She was then commissioned on June 6, 1938 under the command of Captain William W. Wilson.

History During World War II

The Nashville had her shakedown in the Caribbean in July 1938 and then in August she headed to Europe on a good will visit. She arrived in France on August 24, 1938. She left again nearly a month later for England to pick up gold bullion for deposit, and then headed back to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. She arrived there at the end of September and returned to her home port of Philadelphia on October 5.

The Nashville took representatives to the Pan American Defense Conference in Brazil in the spring of 1939, returning to Maryland in June. On June 23, she headed to the Pacific, arriving in San Pedro, California in mid-July. She spent the next two years there and in early 1941, the Nashville was sent to Wake Island. On May 20, 1941, she departed again for the east coast to act as a convoy to Iceland.

The Nashville was based in Bermuda from August until December, but when Pearl Harbor was attacked, she was sent to Casco Bay, Maine. From there, she acted as an escort, making runs to Bermuda and Iceland until February 1942.

In March, the Nashville met up with the USS Hornet and acted as her escort to the west coast. They arrived in San Diego on the 20th, leaving again on April 2 while carrying bombers for the raid on Japan. The two ships met with other warships at the Midway Atoll on the 13th and proceeded onward. The ships were spotted, losing their element of surprise, and the ships struck and then reversed for Honolulu.

On May 14, the Nashville left Hawaii for Alaska, arriving their 12 days later. She joined Task Force 8 as the flagship on the 28th. From June until November of that year, the Nashville remained in the North Pacific Ocean.

In late November, the Nashville headed back to Pearl Harbor en route to the Fiji Islands, arriving there on Christmas Eve. At Espiritu Santo, she became the flagship for Task Force 67 and escorted troops to Guadalcanal before attacking the air base at Munda in early January 1943. She continued engaging the enemy until May 12, when an explosion caused damage to her turrets and injured and killed members of her crew. She headed back to Mare Island Naval Shipyard for repairs, staying in San Francisco until August.

In August, the Nashville arrived at Pearl Harbor and made strikes on Marcus and Wake islands during the next two months. In late October, she returned to Espiritu Santo. For the next seven months, she attacked targets in New Guinea and the Admiralty Islands.

On June 4, the Nashville suffered moderate damage from a near miss and retired to Espiritu Santo for repairs. She continued attacks on the Dutch East Indies before heading to Manus in mid-October. There she provided support for the Leyte Island landings. On November 28, she left to act as the flagship for the Visayan Attack Force during the invasion of Mindoro.

On December 13, the Nashville sustained damage from a kamikaze hit. The resulting explosions and fires killed 133 of the men and wounded another 190. She was sent to the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard for repairs, arriving there in mid-January 1945. She remained locally undergoing training until mid-April, when she was sent back to the Philippines.

Arriving at the United States Naval Base Subic Bay on May 16, the Nashville joined Task Force 74. She worked out of that area for the rest of the war. In mid-September 1945, she entered the Shanghai harbor, picking up returning soldiers and heading back to the west coast in November. She arrived in San Pedro on December 3 and immediately headed back out for more returning troops.

On January 21, 1946, the Nashville left San Francisco for Philadelphia. She was decommissioned on June 24, 1946, though she remained in reserve. She was sold to Chile on January 9, 1951 and became a member of the Chilean Navy under the new name Capitan Prat.

Asbestos Hazards

Like other crews of the time, the sailors that served on the Nashville were at risk for asbestos exposure. Most of the ships of the era were built using asbestos as insulation because 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.

Cruisers Index