---
title: "A WWII ship that killed 5 brothers when it sank was just found"
description: "About two weeks after he found the sunken aircraft carrier USS *Lexington* (CV 2), Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has located another legendary wreck. This time, according to [a release](), it's the Atlanta-class anti-aircraft cruiser USS *Juneau* (CL 52), best known…"
date: "2019-01-28"
modified: "2020-10-22"
authors:
  - name: "Harold C. Hutchison"
    link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/haroldhutchison/"
url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/a-wwii-ship-that-killed-5-brothers-when-it-sank-was-just-found/"
categories:
  - "History"
  - "Navy"
  - "War History"
  - "World War II"
---

# A WWII ship that killed 5 brothers when it sank was just found

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17493283/origin.jpg>)

About two weeks after he found the sunken aircraft carrier USS *Lexington* (CV 2), Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has located another legendary wreck. This time, according to [a release](<https://www.paulallen.com/uss-juneau-wreck-located-famous-for-sullivan-brothers/>), it's the Atlanta-class anti-aircraft cruiser USS *Juneau* (CL 52), best known as the vessel that the five Sullivan brothers served on.

---

USS *Juneau* had been one of two anti-aircraft cruisers (the other was USS *Atlanta* (CL 51), [the lead ship of the class](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-tactical/this-was-americas-first-anti-aircraft-cruiser/>)) sent to join the light cruiser USS *Helena* (CL 50), the heavy cruisers USS *San Francisco* (CA 38) and USS *Portland* (CA 33), and eight destroyers under the command of Rear Admiral Daniel Callaghan. Callaghan's orders were to stop a Japanese force that included the fast battleships *Hiei* and *Kirishima*. [In a furious naval battle](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-history/daniel-callaghan-saved-henderson-field/>), Callaghan's force succeeded — but at great cost.

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17493284/origin.jpg>)
*USS Juneau in June, 1942, off New York. She packed 16 five-inch guns. (US Navy photo)*

The *Juneau* survived the initial battle but was badly damaged when hit by a Japanese Type 93 "Long Lance" torpedo. As she was steaming home, some of her crew had transferred to assist casualties on USS *San Francisco* — that's when the [Japanese submarine *I-26* fired](<https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/j/juneau-i.html>) a spread of three torpedoes. One hit, right where *Juneau* had taken the previous torpedo.

The anti-aircraft cruiser exploded, broke in two, and sank in 20 seconds. Captain Gilbert C. Hoover radioed a plane with the location, but ordered the ships not to stop. In doing so, he left behind over 100 survivors. Only three of those would live. Among the lost sailors were the five Sullivan brothers. Hoover was promptly relieved by Vice Admiral William F. Halsey for leaving the survivors behind.

![](<https://www.wearethemighty.com/wp-content/uploads/legacy/assets.rbl.ms/17493285/origin.jpg>)
*The five Sullivan brothers, killed in action after the sinking of USS Juneau. (US Navy photo)*

The USS *Juneau* rests a little over two and a half miles below the sea's surface. A new USS *Juneau* (CL-119), a modified Atlanta, served after World War II. A third USS *Juneau* (LPD 10) was an Austin-class amphibious transport dock that served until 2008 and is still being held in reserve.

## Author
WATM contributor Harold Hutchison was consulting senior editor at Soldier of Fortune magazine and is the author of the novel Strike Group Reagan. He has also written for the Daily Caller, National Review, Patriot Post, Strategypage.com, and other national web sites.