USS Boise ( CL - 47 ) USS " Boise " ( CL - 47 ) was a United States Navy " Brooklyn " - class light cruiser . The cruiser was named for Boise , the capital city of the state of Idaho . " Boise " was launched on 3 December 1936 by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company , Newport News , Virginia , sponsored by Miss Salome Clark , daughter of Governor Clark of Idaho ; and commissioned on 12 August 1938 , Captain Benjamin Vaughan McCandlish in command . United States Navy . Inter - war period . In February 1939 , following a shakedown cruise to Monrovia , Liberia and Cape Town , Union of South Africa , " Boise " joined Cruiser Division 9 ( CruDiv 9 ) , Battle Force , at San Pedro , California . Until November 1941 , she operated alternately off the west coast and in Hawaiian waters . She then escorted a convoy to Manila , Philippine Islands , arriving on 4 December . World War II . The outbreak of war in the Philippines on 8 December 1941 found " Boise " off Cebu Island . She joined Task Force 5 ( TF 5 ) in the East Indies , but on 21 January 1942 struck an uncharted shoal in Sape Strait and had to retire to Colombo , Ceylon ; Bombay , India ; and Mare Island Navy Yard for repairs . Her repairs completed , she sailed on 22 June to escort a convoy to Auckland , New Zealand . " Boise " returned to Pearl Harbor and was tasked to conduct a raiding cruise in Japanese waters in hopes of creating an impression , including generating radio traffic , of a striking force heading for Japan to draw attention away from preparations for Guadalcanal . " Boise " departed Pearl Harbor 27 July and was expected to begin this raid on the Japanese sampan patrol line guarding approaches to Honshu about 750 miles east of Tokyo on 5 August . She completed the raid on 8 August . Two seaplanes that had to land on the water at sunset were lost , one being found by the Japanese with indications this caused apprehension of a strike force preparing to attack Japan . In August , she escorted a convoy to Fiji and New Hebrides . From 14 – 18 September , she helped cover the landing of Marine reinforcements on Guadalcanal . On the night of 11 — 12 October 1942 , during the Battle of Cape Esperance , the task force of which " Boise " was part encountered a force of Japanese cruisers and destroyers to the west of Guadalcanal . In the engagement " Boise " was hit a number of times , twice by fire from a Japanese heavy cruiser from about range . One hit exploded upon impact on her armor causing little damage . The other exploded in the 6 " magazine located between number I and II turrets causing a powder fire and flooding , putting turrets I , II , and III out of action and causing a number of casualties . A total of 107 crew were killed by the fire . Under the command of Captain " Mike " Moran , who was later awarded the Navy Cross for his leadership during the battle , " Boise " made her way to Philadelphia Navy Yard , where she underwent repairs from 19 November 1942 to 20 March 1943 . The gunfire damage was the first case available for complete Bureau of Ships analysis . " Boise " departed on 8 June for the Mediterranean , arriving at Algiers , Algeria on 21 June . From 10 July to 18 August , she acted as a cover and fire support ship for the Amphibious Battle of Gela during the Invasion of Sicily . In September , she took part in the Italian mainland landings at Taranto ( 9 – 10 September ) and Salerno ( 12 – 19 September ) . She returned to New York on 15 November , and once again steamed to the South Pacific , arriving at Milne Bay , New Guinea on 31 December . During January – September 1944 , she took part in operations along the northern shore of New Guinea , including : Madang - Alexishafen bombardment ( 25 – 26 January ) ; Humboldt Bay landings ( 22 April ) ; Wakde - Sawar bombardment ( 29 – 30 April ) ; Wakde - Toem landings ( 15 – 25 May ) ; Biak landings ( 25 May – 10 June ) ; Noemfoor landings ( 1 – 2 July ) ; Cape Sansapor landings ( 27 July – 31 August ) ; and the occupation of Morotai ( 1 – 30 September ) . The cruiser then moved north , as the battle front advanced into the Philippines , taking part in : Leyte invasion ( 20 – 24 October ) ; Battle of Surigao Strait ( 25 October ) ; Mindoro landings ( 12 – 17 December ) ; Leyte - Mindoro covering action ( 26 – 29 December ) ; Lingayen Gulf landings , with General Douglas MacArthur embarked ( 9 – 13 January 1945 ) ; Luzon covering force ( 14 – 31 January ) ; Bataan - Corregidor occupation ( 13 – 17 February ) ; and Zamboanga landings ( 8 – 12 March ) . She then moved to Borneo for the Tarakan landings ( 27 April – 3 May ) . From 3 – 16 June , she carried General MacArthur on a 3 , 500 mi ( 5 , 600 km ) tour of the Central and Southern Philippines and Brunei Bay , Borneo , and then returned to San Pedro , California , arriving on 7 July . There she remained , undergoing overhaul and training until October . She sailed on 3 October for the east coast , arriving at New York on 20 October . " Boise " remained there until decommissioned on 1 July 1946 . Argentine Navy . " Boise " was sold to Argentina on 11 January 1951 , along with , where they were commissioned as the " Nueve de Julio " ( " 9 July " , Argentina ' s Independence Day ) and " Diecisiete de Octubre " ( later renamed " General Belgrano " ) respectively . During her years as an Argentinian warship , she took part of the so - called " Revolución Libertadora " , shelling oil depots and military facilities around the coastal city of Mar del Plata , on 19 September 1955 . She was accidentally rammed by ARA " General Belgrano " on exercises in 1956 , which resulted in damage to both cruisers . " Nueve de Julio " remained in service with the Argentine Navy until 1978 , when she was decommissioned and towed to Japan for scrapping . Awards . " Boise " received 11 battle star s for her service in World War II .