Changes

Following a hurried shakedown cruise along the Atlantic coast in the spring of 1942, ''Juneau'' assumed blockade patrol in early May off Martinique and Guadaloupe Islands to prevent the escape of Vichy French Naval units. She returned to New York to complete alterations and operated in the North Atlantic and Caribbean from 1 June to 12 August on patrol and escort duties. The cruiser departed for the Pacific Theater 22 August.  

Following a hurried shakedown cruise along the Atlantic coast in the spring of 1942, ''Juneau'' assumed blockade patrol in early May off Martinique and Guadaloupe Islands to prevent the escape of Vichy French Naval units. She returned to New York to complete alterations and operated in the North Atlantic and Caribbean from 1 June to 12 August on patrol and escort duties. The cruiser departed for the Pacific Theater 22 August.  

After stopping briefly at the Tonga Islands and New Caledonia, she rendezvoused 10 September with Task Force 18 under the command of Rear Admiral Leigh Noyes, flying his flag in ''Wasp'' (CV-7). The following day Task Force 17, which included ''Hornet'' (CV-8), combined with Admiral Noyes' unit to form Task Force 61 whose mission was to ferry fighters to Guadalcanal. On 15 September ''Wasp'' took three torpedo hits from the Japanese submarine I-19, and, with fires raging out of control, was sunk at 2100 by ''Lansdowne'' (DD-486). ''Juneau'' and screen destroyers rescued 1,910 survivors of ''Wasp'' and returned them to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 16 September. The next day the fast cruiser rejoined Task Force 17. Operating with the ''Hornet'' group, she supported three actions that repulsed enemy thrusts at Guadalcanal: the Buin-Fasi-Tonolai Raid; the Battle of Santa Cruz Island; and the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (Third Savo).  

After stopping briefly at the Tonga Islands and New Caledonia, she rendezvoused 10 September with Task Force 18 under the command of Rear Admiral Leigh Noyes, flying his flag in ''Wasp'' (CV-7). The following day Task Force 17, which included ''Hornet'' (CV-8), combined with Admiral Noyes' unit to form Task Force 61 whose mission was to ferry fighters to Guadalcanal. On 15 September ''Wasp'' took three torpedo hits from the Japanese submarine I-19, and, with fires raging out of control, was sunk at 2100 by ''Lansdowne'' (DD-486). ''Juneau'' and screen destroyers rescued 1,910 survivors of ''Wasp'' and returned them to Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, 16 September. The next day the fast cruiser rejoined Task Force 17. Operating with the ''Hornet'' group, she supported three actions that repulsed enemy thrusts at Guadalcanal: the Buin-Fasi-Tonolai Raid; the Battle of Santa Cruz Island; and the [[Naval Battle of Guadalcanal]] (Third Savo).  

====Guadalcanal====

====Guadalcanal====

The ship's first major action was the Battle of Santa Cruz Island 26 October. On 24 October ''Hornet's'' task force had combined with the carrier ''Enterprise'' (CV-6) group to reform Task Force 61 under the command of Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid. This force positioned itself north of the Santa Cruz Islands in order to intercept enemy units that might attempt to close Guadalcanal. Meanwhile, on Guadalcanal, the Japanese achieved a temporary breakthrough along Lunga Ridge on the night of 25 October. That short-lived success evidently was a signal for enemy surface units to approach the island.  

The ship's first major action was the [[Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands|Battle of Santa Cruz]] 26 October. On 24 October ''Hornet's'' task force had combined with the carrier ''Enterprise'' (CV-6) group to reform Task Force 61 under the command of Rear Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid. This force positioned itself north of the Santa Cruz Islands in order to intercept enemy units that might attempt to close Guadalcanal. Meanwhile, on Guadalcanal, the Japanese achieved a temporary breakthrough along Lunga Ridge on the night of 25 October. That short-lived success evidently was a signal for enemy surface units to approach the island.  

Early in the morning of 26 October, U.S. carrier planes uncovered the enemy force and immediately attacked it, damaging two Japanese carriers, one battleship, and three cruisers. But while our aircraft were locating and engaging the enemy, American ships were also under fire. Shortly after 1000 some 27 enemy aircraft attacked the ''Hornet''. Though ''Juneau'' and other screen ships threw up an effective anti-aircraft barrage which splashed about 20 of the attackers, ''Hornet'' was badly damaged and sank the next day. Just before noon ''Juneau'' left ''Hornet's'' escort for the beleaguered ''Enterprise'' group several miles away. Adding her firepower, ''Juneau'' assisted in repulsing four enemy attacks on this force and splashing 18 Japanese planes.  

Early in the morning of 26 October, U.S. carrier planes uncovered the enemy force and immediately attacked it, damaging two Japanese carriers, one battleship, and three cruisers. But while our aircraft were locating and engaging the enemy, American ships were also under fire. Shortly after 1000 some 27 enemy aircraft attacked the ''Hornet''. Though ''Juneau'' and other screen ships threw up an effective anti-aircraft barrage which splashed about 20 of the attackers, ''Hornet'' was badly damaged and sank the next day. Just before noon ''Juneau'' left ''Hornet's'' escort for the beleaguered ''Enterprise'' group several miles away. Adding her firepower, ''Juneau'' assisted in repulsing four enemy attacks on this force and splashing 18 Japanese planes.  

That evening the American forces retired to the southeast. Although the battle had been costly, it combined with the Marine victory on Guadalcanal, turned back the attempted Japanese parry in the Solomons. Furthermore, the damaging of two Japanese carriers sharply curtailed the air cover available to the enemy in the subsequent Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.  

That evening the American forces retired to the southeast. Although the battle had been costly, it combined with the Marine victory on Guadalcanal, turned back the attempted Japanese parry in the Solomons. Furthermore, the damaging of two Japanese carriers sharply curtailed the air cover available to the enemy in the subsequent Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.  

On 8 November ''Juneau'' departed Noumea, New Caledonia, as a unit of Task Force 67 under the command of Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner to escort reinforcements to Guadalcanal. The force arrived there early morning 12 November, and ''Juneau'' took up her station in the protective screen around the transports and cargo vessels. Unloading proceeded unmolested until 1405 when 30 Japanese planes attacked the alerted United States group. The anti-aircraft fire was devastating, and ''Juneau'' alone accounted for six enemy torpedo planes shot down. The few remaining attackers were pounced on by American fighters; only one bomber escaped. Later in the day an American attack group of cruisers and destroyers cleared Guadalcanal on reports that a large enemy surface force was headed for the island. At 0148 on 13 November Rear Admiral D.J. Callaghan's relatively small Landing Support Group engaged the enemy. The Japanese force of 18 to 20 ships, including 2 battleships, far outnumbered and outgunned his force, but did not outfight it.  

On 8 November ''Juneau'' departed Noumea, New Caledonia, as a unit of Task Force 67 under the command of Rear Admiral Richmond K. Turner to escort reinforcements to Guadalcanal. The force arrived there early morning 12 November, and ''Juneau'' took up her station in the protective screen around the transports and cargo vessels. Unloading proceeded unmolested until 1405 when 30 Japanese planes attacked the alerted United States group. The anti-aircraft fire was devastating, and ''Juneau'' alone accounted for six enemy torpedo planes shot down. The few remaining attackers were pounced on by American fighters; only one bomber escaped. Later in the day an American attack group of cruisers and destroyers cleared Guadalcanal on reports that a large enemy surface force was headed for the island. At 0148 on 13 November Rear Admiral D.J. Callaghan's relatively small Landing Support Group [[Naval Battle of Guadalcanal|engaged the enemy]]. The Japanese force of 18 to 20 ships, including 2 battleships, far outnumbered and outgunned his force, but did not outfight it.  

====Loss====

====Loss====