Bataan (CVL 29) - Naval Cruise Book

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SASEBO Latr in thr aftnndon of 26 Apn . BATAAN passed thioiiRh the sub- marine nets of Sasebo Harbor. Sasebo, second only to Vokosuka in importance as a UN naval base, pro ides excellent protected harbor facilities for all size ships. Developed in secrecy by the Japanese prior to the start of World War II, Sasebo ser ed the Imperial Fleet as an oper- ating base while controlling the China and ' ellow Seas. The strategic position of Sasebo has been utilized by UN Naval Forces because of its proximity to Korean waters. Much time and money has been saved since the start of the Korean conflict by making mainte- nance and repair facilities a ailable at this southern port, eliminating the lone trek to Yokosuka. n Sasebo, as BATAAN passes through the nets. The city built on the shores of this bay has little historical back- ground. It grew mainly as a resul t of Japanese development of the port in the early thirties. It is listed as a major railroad terminal because of its military importance. The popula- tion, now estimated at fifty thousand Japanese, has increased considerably since the start of the Korean conflict. Typical oriental hucksters are to be seen lining the city streets, offering native wares and entertainment in return for ever increasing quantities of yen. However, Naval personnel are quite well provided with recrea- tional facilities on the Naval Station and at the adjoining army base, Camp Mower. While Sasebo offers little in the way of oriental charm, it does pro- ide the UN ships with an excellent base for operating in Korean waters. Buoy 18, our anchoraijr for many long months.

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ADMINISTRATIVE INSPECTION Even with the ship deployed in a forward area, the annual administrative inspection had to be held. On 23 April 1952, while in Kobe, BATAAN was visited by an official inspection party consisting of ComCarDiv 15, Admiral Corn- well, and his staff, assisted by Captain Morsi of the USS BAIROKO and officers from that ship. The administrati e inspection Admiral Cornwell holds Administrative Inspection of the crew. consists of a complete check on all phases of the administration and command rela- tions of the ship, including all departments and personnel. Admiral Cornw ell and his party combed BATAAN from top to bottom scrutinizing Admiral Clornwcll, Captain Morsi (of the Bairoko), C aptain Horncy, Cdr. Arndt, Cdr. Ford. Admiral Cornwell inspects our gcdunk stand. records, spaces, and equipment for discrepancies. Upon completion of their tour a criticjue was held and each officer in charge of a separate phase reported his findings with suggestions for improvement. These suggestions were few in number and were far outweighed by words of commendation. The ship received an overall mark of excellent, a grade which brought a great deal of justifiable pride to the officers and men of BATAAN. Thus BATAAN could show that e en under the rigors of a full operating schedule she had maintained the highest standards of Navy effi- ciency and could be credited with one more job well done. 1

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Back in Yokosuka, BATAAN said good- bye to her friends, VS-25, on 12 April. Her anti-submarine training was ended. Now she was about to begin, for the second time within a year, another campaign in Korean waters. The morning of 14 April 1952 BATAAN was saddened by the departure of a man she had come to know and respect — Captain William Miller. A change of command ceremony took place on the flight deck, where Captain Miller gave his farewell speech. Captain Miller then introduced the new skipper. Captain H. R. Homey. April 19 B. TAAN stretched her sea legs again and churned on toward Kobe, the first leg of her journey to the West Coast of Korea. She arrived there on the 20th, and embarked the famous Marine Checkerboard Squadron VMA-312. On the 23rd BATAAN again played host to Commander Carrier Dixision 15, as Admiral Cornwell held an administratixe inspection. BATAAN felt proud as she was gixen an overall mark of excellent. On the 24th day of April, 1952, BATAAN made history. As she sailed from Kobe to- ward Sasebo, she took a new route and became the first man-o ' -war since before World War H to sail from Kobe to Sasebo by way of the Straits of the Inland Sea. These treacher- ous straits arc situated between the Japanese Islands of Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. BATAAN sweated for thirty hours, as her new skipper. Captain H. R. Horney, and her navigator, Lcdr. T. R. Wheaton, and a fireman named Matsumi Nakao, a Japanese-American boy acting as interpreter between the Captain and the Japanese pilot, stood on the bridge continually to guide her through. Several things make this channel especially dangerous. For one thing BATAAN is 600 feet long, 71 feet wide, displacing 25 feet of water. To this must be added the numerous shallows and islands dotting the straits. Many mines, left over from W orld W ' ar II, are also another hazard that had to be avoided. Nothing unusual was encountered throughout the trip, however, and BATAAN eased into Sasebo at 1600 on the next day, with three very tired people still standing on the bridge. After preliminary warm-up flights to cjualify ten new pilots, BATAAN turned her bow into the chilly waters of the Yellow Sea. On the cold dawn of 30 April 1952, she sent her first flight of Corsairs toward the enemy. The next day BATAAN had her first casualty