USS Columbia - Naval Cruise Book

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We ' ve seen it all — we ' ve been to Sydney! COLUMBIA proceeded to Sydney, Australia, for recreation. Returning to the combat area on September 24, rendezvous was made with a large task group and the Gem received orders to proceed with the task group east and north of Vclla La Vella Island to intercept possible enemy vessels en- route to Kolombangara Island. The task group proceeded to a position off Sanka Point, Vella La Vella and deployed. Enemy torpedo planes in small groups made attacks on the formation on September 25 from 0100 to 0330. There was also evidence that enemy submarines were attacking with torpedoes for a torpedo wake was sighted ahead of the Gem at 0311; two at 0326; and another at 0336. No ships of the task group suffered damage and all planes were taken under fire. On November 1, CRU DIV 12 and DESRON 23 aided in conducting a night bombardment of Buka airfield. Later, early on the morning of November 2, bombardments of Falsi Island and Karove Peninsula (on Shortland Island) were carried out. The effectiveness of these bombardments, as far as shipboard observers could judge, was most satisfactory. At Buka, two fires were started, one of which seemed to increase in intensity and was plainly visible for sixty miles. No return fire from the beach at Buka was noted but return fire at the Short- lands, while persistent, did no damage to any ship of the force. X lIs believed that guns of the GOT.TJMBIA silenceH three shore batteries on t he.se islands. U pon completion ot the bombard- ment, the task force took up a position off Empress Augusta Bay in order to cover the American forces landing there. During the night of November 2-3, while CRU DIV 12 and DESRON 23 were screening the landings at Empress Augusta Bay, an enemy surface force which was estimated to consist of a minimum of three cruisers and five destroyers and possibly to consist of four cruisers and eight The bombardment of Shortland Islands.

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Solomon Islands operations. During this period, the DENVER reported and CRU DIV 12 was completed. On April 6, 1943, Captain F. E. Beatty, USN, relieved Captain W. A. Heard, USN, as Commanding Officer of the Gem. On June 27, 1943, a large task group con- sisting of CRU DIV 12 and destroyers, com- manded by Rear Admiral Merrill, USN, sortied from Havannah Harbor. The mission of this task group was to mine the area between Alu and Munia Islands in support and defense of the New Georgia area and to carry out bombard- ments of Poporong, Falsi, Ballale, and Short- land Islands. The task group (covered by a heavy rainstorm) proceeded up the Slot and carried out the mission as planned. The COLUMBIA bombarded Falsi Island expend ing 943 rounds of 6 47 and 525 rounds of 5 38 ammunition. Although the entire bombardment was conducted during a heavy rainstorm, about five large explosions were heard and a dull red glow (probably from a fire) was noted. In July, 1943, another task group was formed under the command of Rear Admiral Merrill. This group consisted of CRU DIV 12, acting as Fire Support Section one; two ships designated as fire support two; and two task units desig- nated as screening sections one and two. The mission of this force was to bombard enemy positions in the Munda area to further their capture and destruction. The task group sortied from Purvis Bay, Florida Island, on July 11, proceeded to the target area, and carried out the bombardment as scheduled beginning at 0300 on July 12. This bombardment was apparently very effective as 15 to 20 large fires were observed and one particularly large explosion followed by int ermittent explosions (probably an ammunition dump) was heard. From July 13 to September 5 in company with the CLEVELAND and destroyers, the COLUMBIA was engaged in patrolling sup- porting areas to the east and south of the Solo- mon Islands area. On September 6, the Bombardment of Munda. 12

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Battle of Empress Augusta Bay destroyers, was contacted. An engagement (the first major surface engagement for the Gem), took place 40 miles west of Cape Torokina, Bougainville Island. At 0230 the American task force commander announced a surface contact distant 32,000 yards and ordered the task force destroyers to attack with torpedoes. At 0241 contact was made on a second group of enemy ships and later contact was made on a third. Range was closed to 6 guns on the first group and firing on that group commenced. At 0300 one enemy ship of the leading group was seen burning in two places; this group probably consisting of destroyers fired torpedoes and then retired. The American destroyer FOOTE was torpedoed in this preliminary round. At 0310 firing on the second group commenced. This group apparently contained most of the Japs ' cruiser strength. The enemy immediately opened fire and illuminated with starshells and directly after the DENVER reported being hit forward. The COLUMBIA was under fire from one or two Jap eight-inch gun cruisers from about 0310 until 0326. Two minor hits were The morning after 14