About this Unit
USS Topeka (CL-8) was an Omaha-class light cruiser commissioned into the United States Navy in December 1925. Throughout the interwar years, she primarily served with the Scouting Force in the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, participating in fleet problems and training exercises. During World War II, Topeka was utilized mainly for patrol and escort duties in the Pacific, safeguarding convoys and supporting operations in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. After the war, she was decommissioned in 1949 and eventually sold for scrap in 1959.
Historical Facts
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Omaha-Class Light Cruiser: USS Topeka (CL-8) was an Omaha-class light cruiser, one of ten built for the United States Navy in the early 1920s.
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Commissioned during Prohibition: She was commissioned on December 23, 1925, during the Prohibition era, and her early service reflected the peacetime navy’s focus on training and goodwill visits.
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Named after Kansas' Capital: The ship was named after Topeka, the capital city of Kansas, following the U.S. Navy’s tradition of naming cruisers after American cities.
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Pacific Fleet Service: USS Topeka spent most of her pre-World War II career with the Pacific Fleet, operating from San Diego and frequently visiting ports along the west coast of North and Central America.
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Goodwill Missions: In the late 1920s and early 1930s, Topeka took part in several goodwill cruises, visiting countries throughout Central and South America as part of U.S. diplomatic efforts.
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Training and Reserve Duties: The ship was intermittently placed in reserve or reduced commission, serving as a training ship for Naval Reservists in the 1930s.
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World War II Service: Reactivated during World War II, USS Topeka was assigned to Atlantic convoy escort and patrol duties, helping to secure vital supply lines.
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Operation Torch: In late 1942, Topeka participated in "Operation Torch," the Allied invasion of North Africa, providing naval gunfire support and screening for invasion forces.
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Decommissioning: After WWII, Topeka was decommissioned on July 18, 1949, and later sold for scrap in 1959, ending her naval career.
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Not to be Confused: USS Topeka (CL-8) should not be confused with USS Topeka (CL-67/CLG-8/SSN-754), a later Cleveland-class cruiser and a modern Los Angeles-class submarine, respectively.
