Ault (DD 698) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 48 of the 1945 volume:

,fi 3,5-1 , ' -' , M 1 ' : ' ' 1 f b J, n 2 .W I is 1 ivan' 11 4 '-fra! i Q l t 4 , X . , X. b 374 ,O ,Gy , pw 1 my ,f , 53 A H ,- 1 N up . an X iw mf? ' ' ff r ffa ' I f iq-vb-,,V 1,1 x '61 W t 76:1 , S k N U g ii i. ,Mt -,z 1 L, if?e'f' ff G -. F Y. X 1' yt 3 4 1 U.S.S. Al' LT 5 DD 69g 11 M S kr if WI if ff QE rl. , . ,LB Y if 5 5 Lb 'Cf x .KJ vi V Wu ' , in w . fi War History of lf.S.S. AULT Launched Marrh 26, 1944 Commissioned . 11531, 1944 ' e 113533 M 4,5 V J 135, 'H 1' ' if lw -1 55' 1 ,I 5 , ' Wwiif f ' .gk Y, 5 1 '3J4.,B, 11,11 ,gn YIM. W Z! -j' gif' .- ., WE ., ', PA yah f , .vafu 4, ' ' ax -' M .i WY! amaa, 4 ' Q ,,, :V fm , ,. ,V V1 ,, - .Av-' Q '.4xGi'wfw1fpyV?gp9Q'1H9 -M A, .44 ...H,i.,--N h ' ' f u p 1 P- X' 4 - H V if 5 .v ,q sf! 'K E t e il ,mx IHA lb have written this Sxiph History for tho ADL! - tor hu' oftiooro and mon, hor plat-owners, and for hor any friends at homo. lay wo all nlnhor with prido- hor part in tho nr, and hopo that sho will oontiml in poaoo to train thou in whoa hands tho dofonoo of our beloved oountry one day nat.. DAVID S K- .f H 1 co . mm-.1,..n.g...1.:,L..qf m..U.L.uvf,m,m'. ff' .-wfvvq 4-.1 fwwnr - '- TAIDIIEOFYICBS l'l'I'll0!l'ICH8 HILDSOF DIPARHHT !G... COIIMIDIMG OFFICER Callandor Joseph C Iiloy, Jr , U S Navy IIINTIVI OFFICE! Lieutenant Vincent. P Honky, U 8 Navy MUNI!!! OFFICE! Luuumnf. um J zu-nmum, usm. FIRST LIHITINANT Llcutomnt 'man 8 Hoitsoborg, USR. ENGINE OFFICE! L1-uuum. Inna r P1-nam-4, umm. COIIIINICATIONS OFFICE! Lieutenant Alvin Lathrop, USB. , TICAL OFFICE ' ' Lieutenant CJ g.J Jolm I Schleichor, U f I DISHIRSIIB on-'mm ' Ensign mm a. sannfusna. Ik C- .., 1 T1 v .sfh1.':L. ' . 7 ' ,li lx.. he '-A. 3. L Aw L .1 - 1- F- I lv 5' .1 1 ' f u .1 A r . ',, I 'I I 6' 1 ,' .:.'.xfi'-1,4 v .' v .zfgxxuw -,'- 1 ,,.., x ,V , , - 'N J' ' V1 T f 1: f raw.. ......,. 5 Nugaf-, 555 ' wif ' 4 ' ' ' Q ,xg .yr 1 J 4 by ,M 1: 1. K ' --1 Q 5- . ' in v A fg, .. , 4 J .1 . Y.-.., , , 1 'Il f gm 1, !', '- .4-pf H. ..,--.1 ' i V ny. x . A 142- frm: . a f,v-.- Q . 4 rf ,r vw ','1f'f L any Q. E1 M. 611' I l', !fn 1. , AY A L51 rQ,.,mf Y , LL, hw 5325? ,aww xiii' 12. e,.kk A Q , n u QMIANDING OFFICEI 2 ETBBE. 1916 Commander David 3. Bchrerda, Jr., U.S. Huy zimcuuvz orncm ummm! orncza Lieutenant Robert H. Grayson, U.S.N.B. Lieutenmt C351 Charles H. Tiedele, U.S. Huy FIRST LIEIJTBNANT Lieutenant 'Rxomu 3. Heitseberg, U.S.N.B. 'EHIINEER OFFICER Lieutenant lilliux P. Prticherd, U.S.l.R. ,WHIIUNICATILJNS OFFICER Lieutemnt C332 Robert C. Stover, U.8.B.R. IIBDICAL OFFICER i 'DISHIRSIIB OFFICER N tumumz 4353 .nmpn n. nanny, n.sQnJn. mia Arthur Be Bdlm, uesoneno J 4, -'u Q. im ,ig - ,gf , ,Jw fi Q .M X M Y gf fp 3 W 5 M.: ff? . if Us-Y M -if-4-W ,, - f f -- ff- lgzh- -,-,.,.,,.,,,,.,..,,.,.,.,.W ..,.---f-nv-'iff - iyp -..J F .A R3 53 F E ,Q 4 1 1 i 1 - i 1 r Q I x F ii Decembgr'19lJr. The famed Task Force 58, Powerful carriu tau Admiral SPruanoe's Sth Fleet, was the Symbol of Nmrican 59 ni'n dn the Pacific when on December 25511, the AULT em 'r'd Uuthi her officers and men, seefng for the first time that 81 9'f 9t' 4 b ' of navel outer, knew that at last the long P9I'i0d of S1'00I11-U18 for 'cum behind them. The AULT was about to see action. LAUNCHDB AND COMMISSION ING That long period began on larch 26, 19l.l., when the widow of, Commander Bowen Ault, United States Navy, christened the ship in honor of her e husband nhoflosz hiselife in the Battle of the Coral sea mile nn- ae Air Group Commander of the old LEXINGTON ,, having led the gttggk du,-gn. one Jap carrier was amk and one severely damaged. When the AULT slid down the ways to her first taste of eelt water, thoee State N who had fought un. Nazis in the North A of the next year 8 Avy, Commander Destroyer Squadron glxyygrm and mem who were to man her were, most of them, training intensively Norfolk: but finally on Hay 31, 19L.1., an had been brought. to In rm the oommnd of Commander Joseph C. YI lie J , U J' , 1' , nited States Navy, vener- many earlier Pacific, e a U8 gements. Aboard also was Captain John I. 813143 , In old destroyin- tlantic and had later loved aging many battles in the South Pacific. AULT ws to 3 Clffy his flag .1.. 14 ,W ' 4 ,. s 7? in E +1 ,,' 2 ,,, ,ax k ,. .1 1 .. , 1, 1 . , ,. I .Ng . 4. sf' ' ,1 ' QE , 3,9 ff, -vw SIAKIDOUI p ' . t After the flret med rut: of wartime outfitting and trial runs :Ln Long .Ieland Sound, AUI1' headed for Bermuda and her flret real training ae e fight- ing ehip, with days and nights of ehooting, drille, achoole, battle problems, and inepectione. Pronounced fit, ehe returned to New York Navy Yard for pon--ummm eveilmnny, for nn. completion of ounrnning, 4 :mn check on engineering and ordnance equipment, and probably the last etateeide liberty her crew would enjoy for a long time. When the AULT went to eea again, her pereonnel began to think more about 'the active pert they would certainly have in Pacific operations. In the month! peat, our forcee had pushed up from the Solomons, past R-abaul, past Truk, peat the outpoete of the Japanese Empire, and were firmly eetebliehedu on Guam and Saipan in the Marianas, Task Force 58 had gone dauntleeely on .eortiee into territory the Jape had believed would never again be threatened -by Mnrican forces. NESTWARD 'ID THE FLEET AND ACTION Q AUL1' .semen me wmcss-Bums to Trinidad, mm, steaming aingly, me a quick passage through the Canal, and was unexpectedly ordered to Sen Diego for a quick check before heading weetwarde. In Pearl Harbor and in the adja- cent waters, there was more intensive drilling, shooting, bombarding, school- ana genernyavanabmny. 'men on December 18th, with ummm, mx and , ehetheaded for the forward area to join the Fleet. On Christmas Day 'f I-ahipef stopped at Eniwetok long enough to fuel, and-cont:Lnued on to J ,,.1 W .4 1 1 1 Q . X n 'Q mmmmnuna...q..:mz-,w:muum:1, ,umm-.Q . w. 111-2-f nmuhnws V.,-.1.w:4snswmrw,:..annn:nu fa- wx 1 Max. 1, -I K , 6 og -A pl 7 . me ef . , .,, .4 ,Q 4 ., .. fy, , - ' 'W strategic situation brought the Phiiippines into focus. Leyte had Q A nredg thenext landingwastohenadeazthe Ld.nga,yenGu1f, onl-uson.. famary operations were to support that landing. To that effect, ied on Decenber 30, l9lJ., with Task Force 38 under Vice Admiral lc- . part of Task Group 38.2 under Rear Amiral Hogan. A tes days later, 1 3rd, the first strike against Formosa was made, and the AULT took he carrier operations that were to becane so familiar as to be almost CHINA su f strike was made against Luton, and then cane the exciting passage Iaehi Channel. AULT, with WALDRON, SDERRY and WEEKS, swept the chan- L of the task force. There was no enemy contact, but we were the pe to enter the South China Sea einoe the early days of the war. It d aotiong anything might have happenedg we were ready for it. e follared exciting days - exciting becmse of our proximity to ritory on all sides, and because of the foul weather which hampered f tions' and made refueling difficult and sometimes impossible. Heavy ght some damage to ships and made life uncomfortable , but in the as the ninth to the twentieth of January the force swept the French a coast and made .strikes against the Camranh Bay area, Hong Kong, 2 natal, and the Formosa Straits area. On one day alone, January 12th, s' sank 1.1 shi' wean 127 ooo tons. Tren on me zour Auur . Psa 18 OVW' a 9 1 Q t arcs, out through Balintang Channel. The next day Formosa was the W f m - , atfthe task force also became the target for Jap a:Lr attacks: 'hvo 'Q 4 .?,, Q ' ' -e G--. 'Lf 1 1 , ,3 , destroyer were damaged. Undaunted, the. force struck Okinawa? 5 iv -, Q ,tif . A I Vx , 4 1 tool if at - e n e o Y .AIw, .g X 4 ,. A he ' f ' e , .. h ' . , 1. .aa Ae sn A . V I A? wt, Y ,. 'u ,lf W - . , , ' - , l ,P 1,, ','ff--4' 1, YW, i. 'ff' . . ' . , - 1 L' A' ' mir' ', . 1 . if, err.: e I' megan ' ' 1 -is' eg. .Q f 'i5gq'7,wG'5 l 1, - V 'a ' fl- iLl Af' : 515.3 , .21 s-33 ,- +4 Q' -+ ,Q 5, .Q ' 'A ,d nf . , .f V 'ff' 'Y-i' ',.'- ' V1 I - J? ,e-ifsfl' f 313, Typ. ,V J y Q ' X twin?-. K2 -'-G3 as , jg, 4 ' Q ,, X 45 if A . U F if QP w ,, K 1 wsu -' ow. 1 , f f rf 'L X E 5 x,'w,L? .e if , Mx -H j 1l,j.,igg::2 -z gy kv 1 N ' pm! if J-qu qv YF 3 A g Y t 7. ' - f ,ag ' ,gr fa f U ' of fLi..i,. ?Lh.w:L'f 1, A -.ff-'fwQ3 '4'. fy f Af f' Af 1592 f ,, , ga wh X gmii: , .JJ -V, . ,,,3Vfv.,gh-yy-um,Q W 51: -' v L, ga- ,- 2 ,b . , , . , ,4jQlQkmJM , V-5 1, W QSQL7 .Mx Imw' ' ZQ, ' -Ma , .V w?1f'fH . Wx? 1 . ,QQ W , 5mmk+gM 'Q' ' pi 1 I Wm? MNH CHINA - JANUARY 1916 1 j wrqfvf- f 1-pu 'FM fi! n ? .1 1 F I ' L F u E 'Ask w K K, vw. , I 7'2- 4' 'Q' 1 w ,-X I 4 ' H. . V XY I K .Ki l. .1 1 A s f k . x 1 1 . 4 -X .,' ,r I '- . l X , , f K .x '- Jn X V 114' f. 2 , sf W K.,- I i ,X fn .gsm 3? . L ,gi-n ,fx L f -335+ ,. ...gif f -'f -. 53.5 ,LA bw, -5 j 16: .fi 'L' , 'ryan' w,j. ,M Pm, .- 'T' QA If ,125 .T ,V ' R a . 1' fs 1' ', If , ., X' I . , 4, I5 E f of and then comenced its retirement to Ulithi for a breather. Q TOKYO BAIDS sortie was on February tenth. AULT was pert of Task Grmp under Bear Achirel Sherman :Ln ESSEX, the force now being under Vice litscher, with Adnirsl Spm-usnce es Commzxder 5th Fleet. Iwo Jim about to be taken. To minimize Jap air threat from the north and to 'E create e diversionary threat of our own, the force proceeded directly to Tolqo eree. There was the greatest excitement when that objective use d. To have sailed boldly into the South Chine See hed eeened brazen dnoudn now we were on our way to the very heart of the Empire. The Tokyo ere! hed not hithertofore 'been struck from the see. If we could get euey rlth this, we were nearer the dey of victory than we had dered hope! Amazingly enough, we met no opposition. On the my up to Tolqo, one ,Hep bomber was intercepted end shot down . Following two successive deye of ffitrue. Cer. the 16th end .l.7thJ uh. rem. 1-.un-ed, encountering . group or picket boats on the evening of the 18th. They were destroyed, but HQLDRON sustained damage to her bow, and was detached for repairs. ' The force supported the operations on Iwo Jim beginning on the 19th, lending air cover of both defensive end offensive nature, and on the 25th struck the Tokyo area once more. Heavy weather prevented a further strtke Nagoya, and on the 28th the force commenced a higm speed run towards launching strikes against that stronghold on larch first, then A towards Ulithi. the two weeks at Ulithi, we were grimly reminded how desperately jgere determined to gnssh the fast carrier force that had harraseed ' from one end to the other and, together with American subs, t -Q 4 21 g IA, wr 1 ,.e 1- 1 me Jwsbefl,-.. ' . 2 'fgqf f uf ... '- 1 g:fuQ1fx1'fk,mul1mm'As,'mmr1im w- nf my V r ........m,,.,,-.t ....-V-.N.- it F- , L , , . .E M V. ' -k -Ffmfgf . F 1 - ri.. shipping to a pm-ee.-u-ima trickle 5 for on nu-an num, a Jap 'r crashed without warning into the after end of the B.AH113I.PH's flight rhile a seccnd struck a mall-boat pool nearby. All hands looks at raged carrier as the AULT passed close aboard while sortieing three :ter with Rear Admiral Shermn as group Comander in the CANT. If we could inflict damage at that range, wtnt would they do now when d in on thee? e answer was not long in casing. On larch 18th, four days after tb force stood of! Kyushu, launching strikes. Early that morning, s had discovered our position, and their enoopers commenced attacking ce. Our men were kept at general quarters almost continuously. On lowing day, still more Japs came to attack, this time they were suc- f the FRANKLIN and the WASP were both hit. The force moved north a was now of! Honshu. Still the Japs came. 'lhe night of the 20th was une. 0ur night fighters were unable to stop all the enemy attackers, P cams uncomfortably close. The AULT's guns, knocked down two of larch 21st, and another day under attack, but our Combat Air Patrol perb Job, knocking down 21 bombers and 12 fighters. OKINAWA - BUSY DAYS an Sofa w- Q' ffffm smut-Ex again to strike at Okinawa on the 23rd and 2Lth, n on the 27th. That night came opportunity to try our hand at shore ent, with four cruisers and Destroyer Squadron SIXTY-TLD AULT bo re m' he Japi-haLd :Leland of linami Daito Shima, rejoining the Egroup the I0 carrier operations in support of the landings at Okinanm were to It seapfor the record time of 80 days, longer than ever before, or - 'vas u.. . x 4 :Vi y fi .ff-1,1 jg A , Q53 .gk I . , 5 ,VA 1 , . , A 55 . A wg '-'W - .,, A v l fl if v ' -f-4'-.m1 .'-at ' ' rigga ,Asc F: ,mf . . W I . Q, ,J A . X. 54559151-g f,, A-V l 1 'il - ,uf . I -,:.'af1' ' ,' -' - U ' ' . - 'W uf AQ .,.al.?1,!- f ,, -, ,. .P 1 ,- . . . . Q ,A 2a.....a U., ...H , .,.,,.,,-....-.!...,,.....--- 2.--.M--W-V ,M-M -we-.....................,-v....v.-W- --W -Y ---M WW ze ' G' A XXV A: W A 'Ai' , ff' ' Z3,,,95w , , 1 ff M V, EQ ,. 1: L . v , . 72 A 4, 4 0. , 1 . -,-,Jr 18 , 4 , , . ' Sa., ,A ,S gag it f 1: '-A5 3 ,' fi 91 ' :.j',,?,a1 I . pf , . .., iw W M if in ' I -ff 'f 1 y ix ml Q f, 1. i V , 1 ' wif? Jin-.4.a.....n.......L ALM., in-mg 4.5.11-AHmf,hwu.h4,m.dlta-1 32,1 F ,H 7 . X ,. WX- X X K XX XX- QQ. X J 'X T vx-is gwv Qfgik,-.Qi XF , -.X X X x x - ' if X5E.X-zfyaixx nw:--Q X . X M-fxifx-,xi x. .mx-X s A L , ,Y x ,X., - g..X , , A - - x ' . gg, :w X X X XX- A X NLSQ.:-:Q X Nw Xsxwx-.s--z'X:N X Q5 Agp xi fc. QNQ ,N SX K Q Am V '95 S XS.Q5?l'1'TxX52i9-N5 Q x g .QQ-4 X' A. i ESQ-VSXSSFSSRN-w'a' . . Q- .N.3s,:Xxzf,.Q 'Q X xv S x X' mil may . x- x s -SEQ ' -A - J . , ..x,5g:33:iQ55fgg,xif , xg -X x .X ,,,,,x:ff X xwkxyws uw, r X 0 -X X 0 ff!! I-.5-.V , . ag' K 153 . iw., x. nil' . .Q iii? Ti- ' LQ 'E fn . gf Q. w.. , 3, , fs it, I x NZD' 4, xx.-+. fc., .', .ur V .3 , 'rm ,. Q 1 -' - :fx 45' 'A tiger. f There were astroyer pickets and the task :k and good gunnery served r out of a cloud, missed the y other euicidera. be 1 nap of suicid 'fi- we '? i' A ,. 41-an r .X ' a . 2 aw, A '54 K . A A j , weary days of routine fli ht t g opera ions, long hours eral quarters when attacks were t when the attacks materialized, 19 6th day of landing operation lly b a suic'de expec ed, and many tense days and as on the 6th of April - which was e on Okinawa - when Jap planes attacked group. On that day the HAYNSHOPTH was y 1 P, and L7 Jap planes were s la h d 1 nd us off Kyushu, which we were be s spotted us that day, and one deck of the HANCOCK. UBW r riads that were made on us that da AULT. He was coming fast, and to bear and began dxooting. Badl i 8 3 plash at the la t We began to breathe again. The KIDD r hit a micider that day. Lt went, with att: -ke almost ev leling days for reepit f s possible moment close' aboard p a e by the orce. The ginning to consider an unlucky spot of their euicidere crashed into the ell on the llth when during one of y, a suicider came down at ue ESSEX with a bomb, a.nd headed directly close. All posdble guns were quickly y h t, the Jap still kept coming on our starboard , on destroyer picket dity, ery day, and we began to look forward . e rom what seemed to be perpetual general ' On the 29th, two more destroyers, the HAGGARD an Oth of lay we bombarded llinami Daito 3111118 d HAZELWOOD, were once again, after IB, had gaze through, this was tame sport, but we hatedto think ere might do to ou x vered and attacked. We came t the force ugh darkness that the roar , 4 4 1 ? k , -6. , 4.13 , , . .am . early the following morning, Jap bombers came so clos r little bombardmrt force hrougm unscratched, although on our ifwe g of their engines was plainly heard 9 aw' A R was -f fwi -fi? ,saw Jr-at - ' V 31: X-gi . J' Lf 44..,?Jl 5 ,, 2 ' y'. iw a ,W,j ,,' Q. 1,1 , . lg. 47 ' 'fi-i n ' if 3.,i' . 1. ':i.ffflf 'i 's'.!i , ' if if iii if r -'W me 0... m nv ' I I my , , Ju w 1,g9'-- , lmhT0u8h the firins Of OUP Suns. we rejoined the force, only to take part fin resisting another attack. It was May llth, sadly remembered as the day ghe,BUNKER HILL was hit. Here is the story in the terse words of the AULT's. War Qiary: NAt 1010 sighted enemy plane CZekeD which came out of low cloud on starboard quarter. Informed task group commander by voice radio. Plane made a suicide dive on U.S.S. BUNKER HILL and crashed into the after part of the flight deck. Formation commenced evasive maneuvers. Sighted another enemy plane which came in from the same general direction as the first. Took this plane under fire with LOMM guns and observed several hits in the wings. Plane began to smoke and was hit by gunfire from other ships. It dove burning into the flight deck of sumcsa HILL opposite the island struc- ture. at this time BUNKEH HILL was burning furiously and several explosions were observed, presumed to be gasoline and ammunition. Many men were observed in the water. 1023 Observed a dogfight to the southeast and saw two enemy planes CZekesP shot down by fighters. One plane commenced a run towards this group with a friendly fighter on its tail. Reported this to the task group commander by voice radio and prepared to take the plane under fire. The friendly fighter continued after the enemy plane but seemed unable to shoot it down.v At a range of approximately 2,500 yards opened fire with the LOMM guns at which time the friendly fighter retired. The enemy plane was observed to be hit several times in the fuselage near the wing roots and engine and commenced smoking. All guns that could bear opened fire. When astern of this vessel the plane turned to the right and commenced a suicide dive towards this ship. Started right with full rudder in an effort to avoid. The plane was hit .almost nose on by a burst from mount three C5 38J and emerged from smoke burning furiously. It fell into the water close board the port quarter. At 1035 commenced rescue operations of UNKER HILL personnel in water. Rescued' . vm- V l K . , , ' 1 , - my u 4 n Q. l e , . . f,,1g,, p s Fr 'wiki '. , ' W asf W ' ,yep g - fi' ff , aiflfi 'A fl ' .og 4., .. , 5 e.s.. f 1 nvv' i9 .'.pu.5.. W wsu -. x 1 g, ,,- Abs,'H,',-'I thang, 'EW -Q , 4 'Q Q ' Q 1 v ... , . A ti .x - A ' 0 x i 1 ,. - 4 11- , g. 4 ' 1 M u , I l x f 1 Rflhri it Y ' ax I ' ' , X , y 5 hw 9 I 4132 ff 'f p -,., ' N t .gf - . - .f 1 ,M -ful 1 five officers and twenty four men from BUNKER HILL.U ' AULT'escorted the BUNKER HILL to the replenishment group, rejoining the force in time for the next strike against Kyushu on the 13th. The next day was a hectic one also. ENTERPRISE was damaged hy a suicider, and many Japs got in close that day, AULT's guns accounting for three of them. It was the last bad day for awhile. On 22nd of May Captain W.D. Brown, United States Navy, relieved Com- modore Higgins ae Commander Destroyer Squadron SIXTY-TWO on this vessel, the latter became Commander Task Flotilla THREE, remaining aboard AULT until we again reached port. We'laughed at the Japs on the 25th, when ten groups of theirwsuiciders .were seen airborne and on the prowl for us but couldn't find usg we were ..more relieved than amused when the last of them headed away from us, having failed even to sight any of our ships. The story of that day might easily E have been sadly different. MORE EMPIRE RAIDS I On the 28th the task organization was changed again, and on the first of June we entered San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, as part of Admiral Halsey's THIRD Fleet and Vice Admiral McCain was again Commander Task Force 38. Captain Brown transferred his flag to the ENGLISH, Commodore Higgins left the AUII also, having beenaboard since commissioning, and Rear A miral Began re- lieved Rear Admiral herman as Task Group Commander. V ' we had been at s a for 80 days, and the month we were allowed for avail- ability and training was none too much to get in shape for the next operation which began when we set out again on the first of July heading directly for 'Tbkyb. On this operation we roamed boldly up and down the Japanese coastline N we , . I -8- , a , A ,Ah 1 is-f ,Q ' 1' s 2-. ,V 'iq til, , N, are 'am M mx 'gnf ,, . 9 . M 4' f n I E MA! ,1- a M 'u E ,4- f v ,., m ri, f . I 1 . :AQ ,I W, K. ff, v 1 ' .r,!,, . I -. , X. -1 w 1' x x s X N l .Ji 1 .1- x, N K I , Q ,,,. ,, .1 -. X - , ,z 1. X ,m,, , ., wx NEA.. V 'x 1 f-.if ff. jf - -1' ,,V x , ' -if ,' f .sh f K , , ,. X . - , X. - A -o-Q 4 I g ,u . M wi, A, x IW .35 -5. . gf? ,., , K 1. 2 . , , K, . lx 3- r F ,,. 1 K , 14.-- fn-ff Q For the first time, ships of the force bombarded Hokkaido. On the AULT, Commander David S. Edwards , Jr., United States Navy, relieved Commander Joseph C. Wylie, Jr., United States Navy as commanding officer on July Sth- Then on the H5-9'l'G of 18-19 July, our destroyer squadron, with cruiser division 18, steamed almost to Tokyo itself, conducting an anti-shipping 3WeeP ef Sage-mi Wan, and bombarding Nojima 5-ski. This boldest venture of all seemed to good to be true when we completed the mission and rejoined the force without having been taken under fire, either from shore batteries or by enemy planes. We knew that victory could not be far off now. On August 8th, while cruising off Honshu, AULT had a distinguimed passenger, Rear Admiral Byxd, whom we transferred from ALABAMA to ESSEX. But the very necct day, just when things seemed brighter, came another grim reminder that we were very much at war. The Destroyer BLRIE of our Squadro while on picket duty, was attacked and severly damaged by a Jap euicider that came screaming and burning down into her forward superstructure. SURRENDER Thesewere strange days, days of routine flight operations, of alert apprehension, and rumors of peace and Japanese surrender. Strangest and exciting of all was the great day, the 15th of August. President E'z.sw1: 1 Japanese had accepted the terms of th6'P0t3d8-m ultimatumi has .urffrtmed to the voice of Admiral Halsey on the radi0 as he gave thanks f ,,.n 1 our victory and a 'Well Done' to the force. But at the close of his address, we went to general quarters. L7 JSP Pla-nee 'er' shot dom! That was virtually the end of the war for ue. On the 21st we joined Task Group 38.14, On the next day AULT added to her distinguished list of . p .9- na .1 J. 'Y . , 1 ' -A 1 - ,M .-.,-..,.,--s--.V-W -V f ' ' ' - ' ' ' 'T J ' H ...kk-A ,I ', H ,mm , Q V W k , . ...-., .- -e--M---'-W' ' ' Q ' -,W QM , 7,5 ,, , V ., Q , . . - - V A - ,- -4 'In 4. we lf . .V -Y' 0 I ' ' ' ,n Q 1 Aa, a ' 41' - ..f. 1 U . fv -e hm 5151 A av' My 4 y ,., V4 ,A ., F: ve x ,,a , '7 1 .YA - V Y I ' ' v r I ' like, X - P . 5 41. ,ar-, N. M ' e 4 1 ' W, x, X, .- 1 N . wh ,f ,ag x .mi ,+L-'lf I ,M A 1 r H1 ' 4 E M passengers Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, Commander of the British Pacific Fleet, Whom we transferred from his flagship, DUKE OF YORK to our carrier IORKTOWN. A glad sign of the times was the transfer of the first contingent of men to leave this ship under the Navy Demobilization system, on 30 August. September 2nd, and the great day of the surrender ceremony. Aura' was fortunate to the last, and nlth Admiral H.F. Kingman, Commander Battleship Division 9, and Commodore Higgins aboard , she steamed into Tolqo Bay for that grand occasion, anchoring just a shouting distance from the MISSOURI as due had been in New York Navy Yard on the other side of the world :Ln the month they both were commissioned, a cycle had been ccmpleted, a good job well done, and there our story may rest. -ILC- fi 5 ? 5 5 A. s is P A V if S: rr wx M ,' a:-',v:.ix N. . X 1 , 1 v- H12 .slr si F, - A a.:nn.eMR I A FEW STATISTICS I In the cou e of AULT's history from commissioning to the day of the signing of surrender terms in TOKYU BAY, it is of interest to note the amounts of UBeans, Bullets, and Fuel Oiln she accounted for. Over these extremely active sixteen m nths, the crew consumed the rather startling amount of seven hundred and ninety nine thousand, seven hundred and eight five pounds of provisions - two thousand, two hundred eighty pounds per man - roughly five pounds per ms: pe f In the same period, the ship's guns fired a total of eight ,et. . fred seventy seven thousand, one hundred thirty three pounds of ammunition of all calibers - slightly over two thousand, six hundred pounds of bullets per man. Traveling over a great portion of the globe, AULT steamed l2O, 803 miles up to the day of the signing of terms of surrender, To steam this far she consumed o,l7o,262 gallons of fuel oil - roughly 17,916 gallons of oil per man. To use this oil, AULT visited Bermuda, Trinidad, Panama, San Diego, Hawaii, Eniwetok Atoll, Ulithi Atoll, Leyte, Samar, Saipan, and Tokyo. The great bulk of her traveling was not done in making ports of call however, and for the most part the long and weary miles were spent steaming through waters off the once mighty Japanese Empire in company with Task Force 58 and 38 where the carrier aircraft had the honor of leaving calling cards for all ships of the Force. AULT has not been a nlibertyn ship - twice she has stayed at sea in excess of 80 days while rolling up steaming miles.' I . he In Boans, Bullets, and Fuel Oil,H the spark of the Navy at war, AULT hal accounted for her end. 4 -11- Einsnli P E m E W? wir. 1' , Arif' xg-'J' ' -' pig? be g , e , . Q. 4 ITINERARY or u.s.s. ADLT 3Dne69e1 Shakedown to Surrender Day 10 July l9Lh 12 July 19kt 13 August l9hh lA August l9Ah' 30 August l9hh 31 August 19hA 3 September 194A L September 19Lh 6 September l9LL 10 September 19hL 10 September l9Lh 12 September 1944 13 September l9LL 21 September l9LL 23 September l9hL 29 September l9hL 17 December l9LL 25 December l9L4 25 neeember l9LL ,D 28 December l9Lh 30 December l9LL as January l9h5 Departed New York. Arrived Bermuda, B.W.I. QShakedown cruiseD Departed Bermuda, B.W.I. A Arrived New York. Departed New York. A Arrived Casco Bay, Maine. Departed Casco Bay, Maine. Arrived Norfolk Navy Yard. Departed Norfolk Navy Yard. Arrived Trinidad, B.N.I. Departed Trinidad, B.W.I. Arrived Balboa, Canal Zone. Departed Balboa, Canal Zone Arrived San Diego, Calif. Departed San Diego, Calif. Arrived Pearl Harbor, T.H. CAdvanced Training cruise, Departed Pearl Harbor, T.H. Arrived Eniwetok Atoll, M.I Departed Lniwetok Atoll, M. Arrived Ulithi Atoll, C.I. KJoin d Fast Carrier Task F Departed u11eh1 Atoll, C.I. I. orcel CCruised in South China Sea, raids on Formosa, Luzon Supportl Arrived Ulithi Atoll, C.I. u -12- Q P? r 1, 6 1 Q my a Q February 1945 Departed uutni Anon, 0.1, . 1 ' 3 V p CStrikes on E'ormosa,t 1 . Q - Strikes on Tolqo areaJ. - f Q. 1914.5 Arrived U111:-h1 Atoll, 0.1 14 March 19145 Departed Ulithl Atoll C-I 1 - Clio Jim, Kyushu, Okinawa, 'Ifokyoji 1 June 1916 Arrived San Pedro Bay, P.I. V1 July 19145 Departed San Pedro Bay, P.I A A lliyushu, Honshu, Tokyo, Hokkaido, , off east' coast of' Empire? ' ' 1 N I V 4 f 2 Septeqzber 1945 Arrived Tokyo Bay, Japan A ' CPresent. at Surrender Ceremoniesl 2 September 1916 Departed Tokyo Bay, Japan. A ,. . - 5.21 fi , ' 'T . , V.. 3 ,f,, f I ff at Wi'-' Q A, af- w ' , il. . 3' ,WK ,kv 1 f 1 5 , , Q , 1 'I , X ,if ef 42 , Ha 4' 1 , 4 D.. 4 .1 Q MV N. ,,, z, X, 4 ,I I 15' u f .kgs t nw-i ,' .xii N 'Y , 9, .av x.,1 VU' ,P ws- hx ' s j' 1. A A . -, a 431 ' A 4 I A , 'k . :fs 5 M l ' A. 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