USS Dayton (CL-105)

USS Dayton (CL-105) was a Cleveland-class light cruiser of the United States Navy. The ship is named after the city of Dayton, Ohio.

The ship was launched 19 March 1944 by New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey, sponsored by Mrs. H. Rueger, and commissioned 7 January 1945, Captain Paul William Steinhagen in command. Construction for the Dayton was underwritten in part by the citizens of the City of Dayton Ohio through the purchase of war bonds.

Service history
Dayton arrived at Pearl Harbor 15 May for training, and reached San Pedro Bay, Leyte, 16 June to join the 3rd Fleet. On 1 July, she sortied with the Fleet for the final strikes along the Japanese coast, screening the fast carrier task groups and conducting shore bombardments. She entered Tokyo Bay 10 September and, except for a brief period of upkeep at Eniwetok, remained on occupation duty until 7 November when she got underway for San Pedro, California, arriving 19 November.

Dayton sailed from San Pedro 24 January 1946 and arrived at Pearl Harbor 6 days later en route to Japan. Her orders were changed and on 7 February she sailed to join the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, conducting training at Guantanamo Bay on her way to Norfolk, Virginia, her assigned home port.

On 3 February 1947, Dayton sailed from Norfolk for a tour in the Mediterranean, exercising off Malta, and paying calls, including a diplomatic visit to Istanbul, Turkey, returning to Boston in June of the same year.

The ship sailed again for the Mediterranean in late July, where she served as the flagship of the Commander of Naval Forces, Mediterranean (COMNAVMED). During this cruise the ship was dispatched to Bari, Italy to load rockets needed by the U.S. and British forces protecting Trieste from insurgents allied with Yugoslavia. This deck cargo was unloaded in Trieste following a high speed run to that city in October 1947. This visit coincided with the announcement by the Western powers that Trieste would be turned over to newly formed Italian government. The citizens of the city chose the opportunity to demonstrate in favor of the decision and the crowd surged onto the pier where the Dayton was tied, causing concern over the security of the ship. The ship then sailed to Venice, tying up at San Marcos square. After a short visit in that city the ship returned to Trieste and shortly after returned to the U.S. on 30 November 1947.

Following local operations from Newport and another cruise to the Mediterranean between 9 February and 26 June 1948, Dayton was placed out of commission in reserve at Boston 1 March 1949. She was stricken from the Naval Register on 1 September 1961, and sold 6 April 1962, to Boston Metals, Baltimore MD.

Awards
Dayton received one battle star for World War II service.