Commissioned in 1937, she served in the Atlantic during World War II, as a convoy escort and as fire support for amphibious landings.

[4] Following shakedown training out of Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, Brooklyn joined the fleet in the Panama Canal Zone during the latter part of 1938.

Brooklyn then steamed to the west coast, where she joined the Pacific Fleet and participated in the opening of the Golden Gate International Exposition on 18 February 1940.

[4] With the entry of the United States into World War II, Brooklyn got underway from Bermuda to patrol the Caribbean Sea.

Unhappily, it was later determined Brooklyn fired upon friendly troops (Seventh Infantry) before the nearby French fort surrendered.

Unbeknownst to the cruisers' crew, Brooklyn was also attacked by French second-class submarine Amazone, but her torpedoes missed wide of the mark.

From January–July 1943, she made three convoy escort voyages between the east coast and Casablanca and then steamed to the Mediterranean where she carried out screening and fire support duties during the invasion of Sicily (10–14 July).

On 15 August, Brooklyn furnished part of the heavy naval gunfire which preceded the landing of Allied troops on the coast of southern France.

[4] Comedian Lenny Bruce, who joined the navy at 17, served aboard Brooklyn during the period between 1942 and 1944 as a forward turret shell passer and saw combat in the Mediterranean.

[citation needed] From December 1944 to May 1945, Brooklyn underwent extensive overhaul and alteration at New York Navy Yard.