A Task Force Commanded by Admiral William F. Halsey struck Wotje, a major Japanese base in the Mandated Marshall Islands , 1 February, 1942. The USS SALT LAKE CITY opened fire a few seconds before her fellow ships and it is believed that her shells were the first American Naval Shells to fall on Japanese Land.

Military installations on Wotje were ruined. Five 4,000 to 8,000 ton vessels and four smaller cargo ships were sunk. One twin engine bomber was shot down and another damaged by the Salt Lake City. Other Jap planes made bombing runs on the ship but skillful maneuvering caused their bombs to miss with only shrapnel hits mostly on the fantail.

A picture of the USS Salt Lake City firing that first 10 gun salvo, 1 February, 1942, was taken by a Newsreel Photographer believed to be aboard the Cruiser USS Northampton.

The News Release, Somewhere in the Pacific, states "Where is the Pacific Fleet"? It was being answered when this photo was taken during a brilliant raid on the Japanese Bases in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands. A cruiser of the raiding force is cutting lose with all she's got at military installations on the Wotje Atoll.

Before the boys called it a day 15 Jap ships were nestling on the bottom, barracks, hangars, planes gunnery emplacements and other installations were smoking ruins.