USS Helena War Diary January 1943
Page 3 of 4 pages

USS Nashville (CL-43)

USS Nashville (CL-43), a Brooklyn-class light cruiser, was laid down on 24 January 1935 by New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey; launched on 2 October 1937; sponsored by Misses Ann and Mildred Stahlman; and commissioned on 6 June 1938, Captain William W. Wilson in command. From August December 1941, Nashville was based at Bermuda for the Neutrality Patrol in the Central Atlantic. With the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Nashville steamed to Casco Bay, Maine, where she joined with a troop and cargo convoy to escort them to Iceland. She continued escort duty to Bermuda and Iceland until February 1942.

USS Hughes (DD-410)

USS Hughes was a World War II-era Sims-class destroyer in the service of the United States Navy,
named after Commander Edward Merritt Hughes.

Hughes was laid down on 15 September 1937 by Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine;
launched on 17 June 1939; sponsored by Mrs. Edward M. Hughes, widow of
Commander Hughes; and commissioned at Boston Navy Yard, on 21 September 1939,

Joining TF 16 on 10 November 1942, Hughes participated in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal by screening Enterprise.
Hughes continued screening operations until the end of February 1943.

The third USS Reid (DD-369) was a Mahan-class destroyer in the United States Navy
before and during World War II. She was named for Samuel Chester Reid a US Navy officer
in the War of 1812 , who helped design the 1818 version of the flag of the United States.

Reid was laid down 25 June 1934 by Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny,
New Jersey; launched 11 January 1936; sponsored by Mrs.Beatrice Reid Power;
and commissioned 2 November 1936, Captain Robert B. Carney in command.

On Christmas Day 1942, she escorted Army troops to Guadalcanal before guarding a convoy to
Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. In January 1943, shebombarded several enemy
locations on Guadalcanal.