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USS ''Helena'' (CL-50) was a light cruiser of the United States Navy. Completed shortly before World War II, she was damaged in the attack on Pearl Harbor, and participated in several battles in the Pacific War. She was sunk by a surface-fired torpedo at the battle of Kula Gulf in 1943. She was one of three U.S. light cruisers to be sunk during the war. ''Helena'' was the first US Navy ship to be awarded the Navy Unit Commendation medal in November 1942. ==USS ''Helena'' name history== Four United States Naval vessels have carried the name of Helena, the state capital of Montana. The first ship was the gunboat , in service from 1896 to 1932. She saw action in Cuban waters during the Spanish–American War and later joined the Asiatic squadron for the Philippine Insurrection and was part of the Yangtze and South China patrols. The second ship of the name was ''Helena'' (CL-50), a light cruiser in service from 1939 to 1943. Damaged at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, she sailed again to action at Guadalcanal, Savo Island, and Cape Esperance where she sank a Japanese cruiser and a destroyer. She was lost in Kula Gulf in 1943 with 165 of her crew. Her survivors call her "the fighting ship that went in harm's way." After CL-50 was sunk in 1943, war bonds were collected to fund a light cruiser to be named , but due to labor problems and other interference this ship was cancelled on 5 October 1944 before construction began. In late 1944, war bonds raised in Montana were used to purchase the third ship to carry the name ''Helena'': the heavy cruiser . She was launched 28 April 1945 and commissioned on 4 September 1945. She saw distinguished service in European and Chinese waters and combat service in Korea. During that time, the ''Helena'' served as flagship of the US Pacific Fleet and the Seventh Fleet. She became flagship of the First Fleet in 1961. Until her decommissioning on 29 June 1963, her crew gave financial assistance to disabled children in Helena. She was sold for scrap in 1974. Her brass propeller and some anchor chains were procured by the City of Helena and placed in a park honoring all the United States Navy ships that bore the name ''Helena''. The fourth and newest ''Helena'', , is a nuclear submarine. She was built at the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut in 1986 and commissioned in 1987. Assigned to the Pacific Fleet, she serves as a potent part of America's defense capability. ''Helena''s insignia depicts the city's iconic fire tower. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「USS Helena (CL-50)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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