My father served on the St.Louis from 1939 -1945. He served on many other ships during his 30 year naval career, but the St.Louis was the ship he loved the most.

Thanks for the video. My uncle served aboard her from 1943-1945. I was glad to learn more of her story. The only story I remember from my uncle was that the first Kamikaze hit the beer locker which made everyone fighting mad.

Well done and thank you. This was my dad's ship from commission to and through '44. His math skills placed him in control of the 15 6-inch guns despite his rank. The Old Girl lives well with me wherever I go as I have a lot of clothing designated to her and dad's memory. Hooyah!

Another Fighting Ship that stubbornly fought to the end. An incredible history

From a St.Louis native to those in the comments who had family aboard my city's beloved warship, I thank all of them. There ain't a day that goes by where I wonder if she's(LCS-19 the current St.Louis)safe out there. I know she has a little bit of both the Enterprise and Essex with her keeping her safe for all of us here, both downtown and in the county where I'm at

My uncle was aboard her at Pearl Harbor and during her service in the Pacific, but I don't know if he was aboard all throughout the war or if he was ever reassigned; only talked about it if pretty inebriated and I never pressed the issue. It was stated she was reassigned to the Pacific Fleet in November 1940; I still have the ship's Christmas dinner menu from 1940 and it has her home port on the cover as Norfolk, Virginia. Maybe she just hadn't left yet. He did say the captain got his ass chewed for getting underway and exiting Pearl Harbor during the attack because she might have been sunk in the entrance and blocked anyone else from leaving. Been trying for years to get a decent history of the St Louis, most are sketchy at best. This is the most complete record I've ever found of her service. I didn't realize she had sunk under tow to the scrapper; most narratives leave with her being sold to Brazil.

Ya know, I'm kinda glad Lou went out on her own terms rather than let someone else break her hull down. It gives me a chance to actually go down to her resting place and see her. I mean, I could always bug my dad to take me to the soldiers' memorial downtown and see her old bell from 1908 I'm sure MO was proud of her distant cousin for everything she did. I know I am

Love these videos, great accounts of our fighting men and ships. Would love to hear more battleship content.

nicely done, informative. thank you recommended

Awesome presentation. Just one note here, the image at 14.28 shows Japanese "Betty" G4M torpedo bombers attacking the US fleet at Guadalcanal on 8 August 1942. Note the aircraft practically skimming the water; impressive flying indeed.

My grandfather served on the St Louis just after escaping from the Utah, only 4 days afterward.

These are great videos, I'd love to see one on the Atlanta-class cruisers!

Interesting video. Thanks !

Two IJN J-6 submarines were sunk by Lucky Lou on Dec. 7, 1941. One via ramming and one hit by a shot from the #3 five inch gun turret right after the submarine fired a torpedo that detonated harmlessly on a shoal. They both were recovered and identified. New Jersey congressman Robert Andrews gave the Gunner who fired the five inch round through the sub ( Frank DuBosque) an award for this action many years afterward. Frank never talked about his actions as ordered. He was told to say it was a Pilot Whale, not a J-6 IJN miniature sub if ever asked what he shot at but the proof was finding the dead sub that was just like the one shot by the gun crew of the USS Ward three hours before the air attack. The USS Monaghan also sunk a mini sub that day via ramming and depth charges dropped very close to the stern of the USS Monaghan. Sadly the USS Monaghan was sunk during Typhoon Cobra along with sister Destroyers USS Spence and USS Hull.

You humans arn't scrapping ME, I choose MY OWN destiny.... I salute you and all the sailors who entrusted you with their lives.

My dad served on the Lucky Lou from I think May 1942 until 1945 or so. He was an electrician.

Absolutely Positively

I was the only person my grandfather talked about the war with when I was too young for him to think I’d remember. He told me that one kamikaze pilot brought a pig with him for good luck. Could be a story but still funny. He smiled when he said it.

Brooklyn class CLs had 8 single 5"/25 AA guns (not unusable against surface ships, but low muzzle velocity meant poor armor penetration).

A lot of those 152mm rounds from the Honolulu Helena and St Louis were sadly duds or over penetrated at Kula Gulf.

That’s kind of funny my ship I was on in the Navy was also sold to Brazil where she served for another 10 years, and when they went to scribe her she found it also and sunk so she set in one piece and a bomb the ocean just like the St. Louis iskind of ironic

SALUTE

Not sure how she got the name lucky.It saw more than its fair share of damage.