The USS Atlanta (CL-104) was a Cleveland-class light cruiser constructed during World War II, designed as a heavier development of the earlier Brooklyn-class cruisers. She measured approximately 610 feet 1 inch (186 meters) in overall length, with a beam of 66 feet 4 inches (20.22 meters) and a draft of 24 feet 6 inches (7.47 meters). Her standard displacement was 11,744 long tons (11,932 metric tons), increasing to 14,131 long tons (14,358 metric tons) at full load. The ship was powered by four General Electric steam turbines, each driving a propeller shaft, fueled by four oil-fired Babcock & Wilcox boilers, rated at 100,000 shaft horsepower, capable of reaching a top speed of 32.5 knots (60.2 km/h; 37.4 mph). Her crew numbered approximately 1,285 officers and enlisted men. The armament of USS Atlanta included twelve 6-inch (152 mm) /47-caliber Mark 16 guns arranged in four triple turrets along the centerline—two forward and two aft—forming her main battery. Her secondary armament comprised twelve 5-inch (127 mm) /38-caliber dual-purpose guns in twin turrets, positioned to maximize coverage. Anti-aircraft defenses were robust, featuring twenty-eight Bofors 40 mm guns in quadruple and double mounts, alongside ten Oerlikon 20 mm guns. Her armor protection included a belt of 3.5 to 5 inches (89 to 127 mm), with the thickest armor amidships covering vital spaces such as magazines and machinery. The deck was protected by 2-inch (51 mm) armor, and the main turrets had faces protected by 6.5 inches (170 mm) of armor. The conning tower was armored with 5-inch (127 mm) sides. Commissioned on December 3, 1944, under Captain B. H. Colyear, USS Atlanta saw active service in the Pacific Theater. She participated in screening aircraft carriers during operations off Okinawa and supported strikes on Japanese Home Islands. She was damaged during a typhoon in June 1945 and subsequently underwent repairs. Atlanta was present in Sagami Bay for the Japanese surrender aboard the Missouri on September 2, 1945, and took part in the initial occupation of Japan, including a visit to Tokyo Bay. She earned two battle stars during her brief wartime career. Post-war, USS Atlanta conducted various tours of East Asia and participated in training exercises and fleet visits, including a cruise to Australia. She was decommissioned on July 1, 1949, and transferred to the reserve fleet. Later repurposed as a weapons testing ship, she was extensively rebuilt with experimental structures for testing next-generation guided-missile ships. After being used in Operation Sailor Hat tests in 1965, she was laid up and eventually expended as a target off San Clemente Island in 1970, marking the end of her maritime service.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.