レンネル島沖海戦
"Cleveland" sailed for the Pacific on 5 December 1942, and arrived at Efate Island on 16 January. Her first mission in the consolidation of the Solomon Islands was with Task Force 18 (TF 18) to guard a troop convoy to Guadalcanal from 27 to 31 January, "Cleveland" fired on the enemy as she came under heavy air attack in the Battle of Rennell Island on 29–30 January.