USS Birmingham fighting fires on USS Princeton

USS Birmingham fighting fires on USS Princeton
Here we see the Cleveland class light cruiser USS Birmingham (CL-62) attempting to help put out the fires on the light carrier USS Princeton (CVL-23), after she was hit by a single dive bomber during the battle of the Sibuyan Sea (part of the battle of Leyte Gulf). The Birmingham was badly damaged by a major explosion on the Princeton, and the carrier eventually had to be sunk by torpedoes.
USS Princeton, The Life and Loss of ‘Sweet P’, David R. Leick. Looks at the career of the light carrier USS Princeton, one of a class built on cruiser hulls in an attempt to get new carriers into service quickly, and which made a valuable contribution to the war in the Pacific before suffering fatal damage during the battle of Leyte Gulf. Looks at the reason for her construction, the effectiveness of these smaller carriers and the Princeton’s own impressive combat record, before ending with the prolonged efforts to save her after she was hit by Japanese bombs, and the cost of its eventual failure, tragically felt heavily on the cruiser USS Birmingham as she attempted to aid the carrier. (Read Full Review)
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How to cite this article: Rickard, J (24 February 2014), USS Birmingham fighting fires on USS Princeton , https://www.historyofwar.org/Pictures/pictures_USS_Princeton_on_fire.html

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