September 6, 1941-The Atlanta is launched.
December 24, 1941-The Atlanta is commissioned, setting out on a shakedown cruise until March 13, 1942. Afterwards, the cruiser returned for repairs before joining the war.
March 31, 1942-The Atlanta departs, passing the Panama canal on April 5, Cristobal on April 8, Balboa on April 12, finally making a reconaissance pass mission at Clipperton Island, 670 miles southwest of Acapulco (Mexico). The cruiser finally reached its duty station at Pearl harbor on April 23, where the ship's crew began anti-aircraft training.
May 3, 1942-The Atlanta and destroyer McCall escort the rearming vessel Rainier and fleet oiler Kaskaskia to Noumea (New Caledonia), arriving May 16. The ship then continued on to join carriers Enterprise and Hornet as they return to Pearl Harbor in preparation for the defense of Midway Island.
May 26, 1942-The Atlanta and Task Force 16 arrive at Pearl Harbor.
May 28, 1942-The Atlanta departs with the carrier force, screening them during the Battle of Midway.
June 4, 1942-The Atlanta is on alert as a unit of the screen for the carrier Hornet.
June 11, 1942-The Atlanta and Task Force 16 are ordered to return to pearl Harbor, arriving June 16 and engaging in anti-aircraft training on June 21, and again on June 24 and 25.
July 1, 1942-The Atlanta enters drydock until July 2 to have the ships hull cleaned, readied for action again by July 6.
July 15,1942-The Atlanta departs with Task Force 16 for Tongatabu, arriving on July 24 to refuel the destroyer Maury before being refueled in return by the tanker Mobilube, moving ahead to catch up to Task Force 16.
July 29, 1942-The Atlanta joins Task Force 61 in preparation for the Guadalcanal campaign, screening carriers throughout the landings on August 7 and 8.
August 9, 1942-The Atlanta is ordered to return with the carriers to the Solomon Islands.
August 24, 1942-The Atlanta screens carriers as they launch strike aircraft after contact reports of enemy aircraft launched from the Shokaku and Zuikaku arrive at 1710. Throughout the attack, the Atlanta shoots down five enemy aircraft.
August 25, 1942-The Atlanta is assigned to Task Force 11, which is the redesignated name for Task Force 61, operating until August 30.
August 31, 1942-The Atlanta screens cruiser Minneapolis as a towline is rigged to the carrier Saratoga, which was heavily damaged by a torpedo fired from Japanese submarine I-26.
September 6, 1942-The Atlanta and Task Force 11 arrive at Tongatabu, where the cruiser is refueled, rearmed, and underwent upkeep repairs.
September 13, 1942-The Atlanta departs to rendezvous with the rearming vessel Lassen and aircraft transport Hammondsport, meeting on September 15, to continue to Noumea.
September 19, 1942-the Atlanta arrives at Noumea for refueling and rearming.
September 21, 1942-The Atlanta departs with Task Group 66.4, then joining Task Force 17 on September 23.
September 24, 1942-The Atlanta is detached to join the battleship Washington and destroyers Walke and Benham, en route to Tongatabu, arriving September 26.
October 7, 1942-The Atlanta and the same three ships escort transports to Guadalcanal between October 11 and October 14, arriving at Espiritu santo to refuel October 15.
October 15, 1942-The Atlanta is assigned to Task Force 64 to resume support operations in protecting Guadalcanal.
October 23, 1942-The Atlanta departs Espiritu Santo after brief refueling and rearming operations.
October 26, 1942-The Atlanta screens the fueling group supporting the carriers throughout the Battle of Santa Cruz. The next day, a torpedo fired from the Japanese submarine I-15 narrowly misses the battleship Washington, detonating a safe distance away and alerting the warships to the presense of the submarine, which was able to maneuver to safety with no damage.
October 28, 1942-The Atlanta becomes flagship for Task Group 64.2 when Admiral Norman Scott transfers from the cruiser San Francisco. The Atlanta is then refueled by Washington before departing with four destroyers to shell Japanese positions on Guadalcanal.
October 30, 1942-The Atlanta and four destroyers shell Point Cruz, although Japanese on the island do not return fire, and the ship is ordered to return to Lunga Point. Afterwards, the ship continues on to Espiritu Santo on October 31.
October 31, 1942-The Atlanta is assigned to escort the transport Zeilin and cargo ships Libra and Betelgeuse to Guadalcanal, screening them throughout the unloading process at Guadalcanal. Shortly after 0900, Atlanta received a report of 9 Japanese bombers and 12 fighters approximately 20 minutes from their position. When the Japanese "Val" bombers arrive, the TaskGroup shot down several with anti-aircraft barrages, defending the three ships from any major damage. At 1050, a second wave of 27 Betty bombers is reported, and the warships had to cease fire, since the bombers were out of range, although the twin engined aircraft ignored the ships and continued on to bomb Henderson Field.
November 11, 1942-The Atlanta, sister-ship Juneau, San Francisco and destroyer Buchanan receive word of 25 inbound Betty bombers, and this time several aircraft were shot down. At 1800, Task Group 67.4 departs to cover the departure of the auxiliaries, returning at 2300 to defend against incoming Japanese battleships in what would be called the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.
Helena made the first contact, and Atlanta responded, engaging the Japanese destroyer Akatsuki, as well as two Japanese destroyers that crossed in front of the line of fire, and a cruiser. One of Akatsuki's torpedoes struck the Atlanta, but shortly afterwards, the combined gunfire from the cruiser and San Francisco sank the Japanese destroyer.
Shortly afterwards, the Atlanta was devastated by approximately 19 hits by an 8 inch turret. The shells did not explode, but the shrapnel and impact killed or wounded nearly a third of the crew, decimating the superstructure of the ship and killing many of the bridge officers. Atlanta nearly returned fire, but through the gun flashes, the captain recognized that the ship that had fired, had actually been the San Francisco, which had mistaken the cruiser for a Japanese vessel and opened fire. With the firing ceased, the crippled Atlanta drifted away from the battle, the surviving men working furiously on saving the ship.
November 12, 1942-The Atlanta has the wounded sailors offloaded as the ship drops anchor to avoid drifting any closer to Japanese-held Cape Esperance.
November 13, 1942-The Atlanta is taken under tow by the Bobolink. Captain Jenkins, commanding officer of the cruiser, is given discretion as to the fate of his ship. However, upon looking at the condition, he determines that the ship could not be repaired, even assuming there are adequate facilities. Instead, the captain orders the Atlanta sunk with demolition charges which detonated at 2015.
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