Changes

====South Pacific service====

====South Pacific service====

On 26 December, in company with the light crusier ''Nashville'' (CL–43), she bombarded the Cape Gloucester area of New Britain smashing shore installations in a four-hour shelling. ''Phoenix'' covered landing forces as they went ashore and furnished support fire against enemy strong points which had not been demolished. On the night of 25–26 January 1944, the ship took part in a night raid on Madang and Alexishafen, New Guinea, shelling shore installations.  ''Phoenix'' then moved to the Admiralty Islands to support the 1st Cavalry Division in a reconnaissance in force on Los Negros Island 29 February. When the troops went ashore after the prelanding bombardment, enemy resistance was so weak that a withdrawal was not necessary and the island was occupied.

On 26 December, in company with the light cruiser ''Nashville'' (CL–43), she bombarded the Cape Gloucester area of New Britain smashing shore installations in a four-hour shelling. ''Phoenix'' covered landing forces as they went ashore and furnished support fire against enemy strong points which had not been demolished. On the night of 25–26 January 1944, the ship took part in a night raid on Madang and Alexishafen, New Guinea, shelling shore installations.  ''Phoenix'' then moved to the Admiralty Islands to support the 1st Cavalry Division in a reconnaissance in force on Los Negros Island 29 February. When the troops went ashore after the prelanding bombardment, enemy resistance was so weak that a withdrawal was not necessary and the island was occupied.

On 4 and 7 March 1944, ''Phoenix'', ''Nashville'', and Australian heavy cruiser ''Shropshire'' bombarded Hauwei Island of the Admiralty Group. Enemy guns on this island had threatened Allied positions in the Admiralties, particularly on Manus; and, although return fire from the beach was heavy, enemy batteries ceased firing when shells from the cruisers burst in their vicinity.

On 4 and 7 March 1944, ''Phoenix'', ''Nashville'', and Australian heavy cruiser ''Shropshire'' bombarded Hauwei Island of the Admiralty Group. Enemy guns on this island had threatened Allied positions in the Admiralties, particularly on Manus; and, although return fire from the beach was heavy, enemy batteries ceased firing when shells from the cruisers burst in their vicinity.

The long-awaited reconquest of the [[Philippines]] began with the landing on Leyte. ''Phoenix'', attached to the Close Covering Group, heavily bombarded the beaches before the highly successful landing 20 October. Her batteries silenced an enemy strong point holding up the advance of a battalion of the 19th Infantry Regiment and continued to furnish effective callfire.

The long-awaited reconquest of the [[Philippines]] began with the landing on Leyte. ''Phoenix'', attached to the Close Covering Group, heavily bombarded the beaches before the highly successful landing 20 October. Her batteries silenced an enemy strong point holding up the advance of a battalion of the 19th Infantry Regiment and continued to furnish effective callfire.

In the now-famous [[Battle for Leyte Gulf]], ''Phoenix'' was a unit of Admiral Oldendorf’s group which annihilated the Japanese Southern Force as it passed through Surigao Strait. ''Phoenix'' fired four spotting salvoes, and when the fourth hit opened up with all of her 6-inch batteries. The target later proved to be the Japanese battleship ''Fuso'', which sank after 27 minutes. The enemy also lost another battleship and three destroyers, and American planes sank a damaged cruiser the next day.  ''Phoenix'' then patrolled the mouth of Leyte Gulf to protect Allied positions ashore. On the morning of 1 November ten enemy torpedo-bombers attacked her and accompanying ships. At 0945 ''Phoenix'' opened fire and five minutes later destroyer ''Claxton'' was hit by a suicide plane. Almost at the same instant, hits from ''Phoenix’s'' 5-inch guns set another plane afire but could not prevent it from diving into destroyer ''Ammens’'' starboard bow. At 0957 a plane making a a torpedo run on ''Phoenix'' was splashed by the ship’s machinegun fire, but in a few minutes a bomber hit a third destroyer, ''Killen''.

In the now-famous [[Battle for Leyte Gulf]], ''Phoenix'' was a unit of Admiral Oldendorf’s group which annihilated the Japanese Southern Force as it passed through Surigao Strait. ''Phoenix'' fired four spotting salvoes, and when the fourth hit opened up with all of her 6-inch batteries. The target later proved to be the Japanese battleship ''Fuso'', which sank after 27 minutes. The enemy also lost another battleship and three destroyers, and American planes sank a damaged cruiser the next day.  ''Phoenix'' then patrolled the mouth of Leyte Gulf to protect Allied positions ashore. On the morning of 1 November ten enemy torpedo-bombers attacked her and accompanying ships. At 0945 ''Phoenix'' opened fire and five minutes later destroyer ''Claxton'' was hit by a suicide plane. Almost at the same instant, hits from ''Phoenix’s'' 5-inch guns set another plane afire but could not prevent it from diving into destroyer ''Ammens’'' starboard bow. At 0957 a plane making a torpedo run on ''Phoenix'' was splashed by the ship’s machinegun fire, but in a few minutes a bomber hit a third destroyer, ''Killen''.

After a lull of two and a half hours enemy planes returned, and, at 1340, scored a hit on destroyer ''Abner Read''. Japanese aircraft attacked the other destroyers as they stood by the sinking ship, but ''Phoenix'' shot down one of the raiders.

After a lull of two and a half hours enemy planes returned, and, at 1340, scored a hit on destroyer ''Abner Read''. Japanese aircraft attacked the other destroyers as they stood by the sinking ship, but ''Phoenix'' shot down one of the raiders.