USS Cassin Young DD-793 - USS Princeton (CVL-23)
Independence-class aircraft carrier
General characteristics
- Displacement- 13,0000 Tons
- Length- 622.5 ft
- Beam- 109 ft
- Draft- 26 ft
- Complement- 1569 Offices and Crew
On 24 October, during the battle of Leyte Gulf, the carrier Princeton (CV-23) was hit by a single bomb from a Yokosuka D4Y July dive bomber. The explosion caused fires which triggered further explosions, and the carrier lost speed. The cruisers Birmingham and Reno and three destroyers slowed down to support the carrier, and the Birmingham moved alongside her to help fight the fires. At first it seemed as if the massive damage control effort would save the Princeton, but at 15.22 her aft magazines exploded.
Cassin Young Rescues 117 Princeton Survivors, 1 Birmingham Sailor and 4 Irwin Sailors for a total of 122 men rescued from water. Survivors transferred to USS Lexington 26 Oct-44, transfer started at 1030 Completed at 1320.
Plague from Princeton to Cassin Young mounted on starboard side bulkhead
USS Birmingham (CL-62)
233 were killed, 211 seriously wounded and 215 lightly wounded
