Upon U.S. entry into World War I , '' Tacoma '' returned to the Atlantic seaboard to prepare for convoy duty . During the war , she made five round trips to Europe protecting troop and supply convoys . While returning to the U.S. from her third voyage to Europe , she stopped at Halifax , Nova Scotia , just after the French munitions ship , exploded on 6 December 1917 and severely damaged the city in the Halifax Explosion . '' Tacoma '' assisted in relief work ; and , for eight days , the cruiser 's officers and men worked diligently to help the devastated port community
Halifax Explosion
Halifax Explosion
USS Tacoma (CL-20)