USS Detroit ( CL - 8 ) USS " Detroit " ( CL - 8 ) was an " Omaha " - class light cruiser of the United States Navy . She was the fourth Navy ship named for the city of Detroit , Michigan . " Detroit " was launched on 29 June 1922 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation , Quincy , Massachusetts ; sponsored by Miss M . Couzens , daughter of James J . Couzens , the Mayor of Detroit , Michigan ; and commissioned on 31 July 1923 , Captain J . Halligan , Jr . , in command . Inter - war period . After a shakedown cruise to the Mediterranean , " Detroit " joined the Scouting Fleet for exercises and maneuvers along the east coast and in the Mediterranean . From September – October 1924 , she was on lifeguard station for the Army round - the - world flight , then served as flagship for Commander , Light Cruiser Divisions until 23 November . After overhaul at Boston , she sailed on 2 February 1925 for the west coast and fleet maneuvers along the coast and in Hawaiian waters . She returned to Boston on 10 July with the Scouting Fleet . As flagship for Commander , Light Cruiser Division 3 , from July 1925 to March 1926 and July to December 1926 , " Detroit " continued to participate in maneuvers and fleet problems along the east coast and in the Caribbean . From March – April 1927 , she patrolled off the coast of Nicaragua to protect American interests during political disturbances there . " Detroit " sailed from Boston on 16 June as flagship for Commander , US Naval Forces in Europe . She made goodwill visits to various ports in Europe , North Africa , and the Middle East , and received official visits from the Kings of Norway , Denmark , and Spain , and the President of the Irish Free State . She also transported Secretary of State Frank B . Kellogg between Ireland and France for the talks which led the following year to the signing of the Kellogg - Briand Peace Pact . The cruiser returned to Norfolk , Virginia on 12 September 1928 , for duty with the Scouting Fleet , serving as flagship for Commander , Light Cruiser Divisions , from 6 July 1929 to 29 September 1930 . In January 1931 , she sailed for a combined fleet problem off Balboa , then became flagship for Commander , Destroyer Squadrons , Battle Force on 19 March 1931 , based on San Diego , California . In 1931 , Captain Nathan Post was placed in command . " Detroit " s operations included exercises along the west coast and maneuvers in Alaskan and Hawaiian waters . Except for a fleet problem in the Atlantic in 1934 , she remained in the Pacific with the Battle Force , operating from her base at San Diego . In 1941 , " Detroit " s home port became Pearl Harbor . She was moored at her base with and when the Japanese attacked on 7 December . The other two ships bore the brunt of an attack by six torpedo planes , and despite several strafing passes " Detroit " , was able to get underway safely and set up an Anti - aircraft fire which accounted for several planes . She was ordered to sail at once to investigate the west coast of Oahu for any indications of a landing by the Japan ese , then to join the search for the retiring Japanese force . World War II . Returning to Pearl Harbor on 10 December , " Detroit " took up Convoy escort duty between her home port and the West coast . On one of these voyages , she took 9 short tons ( 260 , 000 ozt ; 8 metric tons ) of gold and 13 short tons ( 350 , 000 ozt ; 12 metric tons ) of silver from ( which had evacuated it from Corregidor ) and delivered them to the United States Treasury Department at San Francisco . In September 1942 , " Detroit " escorted two convoys to Naval Station Tutuila in Pago Pago , American Samoa , rescuing the crew of a downed PBY Catalina during one passage . " Detroit " sailed from San Francisco on 10 November 1942 for Kodiak , Alaska , to become flagship for Commander , Task Group 8 . 6 ( TG 8 . 6 ) , and patrol between Adak and Attu Islands to prevent further enemy penetration of the Aleutians . On 12 January 1943 , she covered the unopposed landings made on Amchitka to gain a base from which to cut the Japanese Supply line , and after repairs at Bremerton from February – March , returned to patrol duty to intercept reinforcements trying to reach the Japanese garrisons on Kiska and Attu . In April , she bombarded Holtz Bay and Chichagof Harbor on Attu , returning the next month to join in the assault and capture of the island . In August , under the command of Captain H . G . Sickel , she took part in the bombardments of Kiska , then covered the landings of 15 August which revealed that the island had been secretly evacuated . " Detroit " remained in Alaskan waters until 1944 , operating with the covering group for the western Aleutian bases . In June , she saw action with Task Force 94 ( TF 94 ) during the bombardment of shore installations in the Kuriles . She sailed from Adak on 25 June , and after repairs at Bremerton , arrived at Balboa , Panama on 9 August to serve as temporary flagship of the Southeast Pacific Force . She patrolled on the west coast of South America until December . Clearing San Francisco on 16 January 1945 , " Detroit " arrived at Ulithi on 4 February for duty with the 5th Fleet . She acted as flagship for the replenishment group serving the fast carrier task forces until the end of the war , and entered Tokyo Bay on 1 September . " Detroit " was one of two ships present at both Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 and at the signing of the Japanese surrender ( the other being ) . " Detroit " continued to direct replenishment operations for the Occupation fleet and in addition , the repatriation of Japanese to the home islands from Pacific bases . She left Tokyo Bay on 15 October for the United States with returning servicemen on board , as part of Operation Magic Carpet . " Detroit " was decommissioned at Philadelphia on 11 January 1946 , and sold for scrap on 27 February . Legacy . Detroit Seamount of the Hawaiian - Emperor seamount chain is named after " Detroit " .