USS Columbia - Naval Cruise Book

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.sm • . i : ' i ' -?i! ' fi : Columbia and sister cruiser s blasting Jap ships at Surigao Strait. that direction. On October 24, allied air intelli- gence information revealed that a Japanese sur- face force containing battleships, cruisers, and destroyers was sighted in the Mindanao Sea apparently en route to Lcyte Gulf via Surigao Strait. Battle orders were issued and TG 77.2 proceeded towards the north end of the Strait to meet the challenge. This was to be the second test of the Gem in a major surface engagement. In the minds of the crew there was confidence in the ultimate outcome. The TG was formed in typical battle disposi- tion. PT ' s and destroyers were sent down the Strait to serve as pickets. A left flank of cruisers were in column in the following order: LOUIS- VILLE, PORTLAND, MINNEAPOLIS, DEN- VER, and COLUMBIA. Heavier units re- mained in the rear. The enemy entered Surigao Strait about 0230 on October 25, in two columns, heavy ships leading each column, the second column four miles astern of the first. Steaming through the darkness, this enemy force consisted of 2 battle- ships (Fuso and Yamoshiro), 2 light cruisers, 2 heavy cruisers and 10 destroyers. At 0300 American advance destroyers came out of hiding and went in firing torpedoes at the leading group (5 ships designated target A ). Two of the targets were apparently hit by this initial attack for they slowed down appreciably. At 0310 another group of destroyers fired torpedoes, and a large flare indicated another enemy ship had been hit. At 0323, a second group of enemy ships ( designated six ships target B ) was picked up on the TG radar screen. At 0336 a third group of about five ships was picked up by radar, standing up the Strait. It was evident that the Japs were risking major units in the defense of Leyte: the hunted fleet had come out to fight. At 0337 another destroyer group moved in and fired torpedoes at the oncoming ships and immediately a second large flame explosion was seen in the enemy group followed by another and three minutes later by still another. At 0350 cruisers left flank were ordered to open fire. The COLUMBIA opened fire on target A immediately in response to the Captain ' s orders to Let them have it! Range at this time was 15,450 yards: firing was rapid and continuous. In two minutes a fifth large explosion was seen in the enemy group. As to the effectiveness of the cruiser gunfire during the battle, the following is quoted from comments of a destroyer commander: It was a privilege of Commander Destroyer Squadron FIFTY-SIX to watch the gunfire of the cruisers from a position considerably removed from the line of fire. The devastating accuracy 20

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coast of Lcytc in order to assist the U. S. Army troops in the seizure and occupation of that area. The Task Group arrived off Leyte unopposed and it is believed that the COLUMBIA and the DENVER were the first major U.S. surface ships in visual distance of the Philippines since the Japanese occupation. On October 19, 1944, the scheduled pre-landing bombardment of the Leyte area commenced. The targets were the Dulag airfield and gun emplacements on Cat- mon Hill. At first, some return fire (probably from mortars) was directed at the COLUMBIA from Catmon hill. No damage was sustained. The next day (the landing day) the COLUM- BIA moved in to within 2400 yards of the land- ing beaches and laid down a heavy pre-landing bombardment including 40mm fire. Enemy shells began landing in the water near the Gem and at 1009 six enemy shells landed about 200- 300 yards off her quarter. At 0 5 four more shells hit the water uncomfortably close. The Gem laid down a heavy fire in the vicinity of Catmon Hill whereupon the enemy fire was silenced. At 1600 a Japanese plane torpedoed the HONOLULU, about 3000 yards on the starboard bow. There developed a growing conviction that the Japs were going to fight and fight hard for the Philippines. American troops, however, waded ashore on that day and secured a beachhead. On October 22 (two days after the landing) while the Gem was conducting call fire, an enemy plane was taken under fire and later seen to crash. This plane was considered as probably destroyed. At dawn on October 21, an enemy plane was seen to deliberately crash into the bridge of the H. M. A. S. AUSTRALIA. It is believed that this deliberate suicide attack marked the beginning of the Kamikaze Corps (Divine Wind) attacks on allied vessels. On October 22 and 24, attacks by Kamikaze pilots were witnessed from the COLUMBIA on the DENVER, LOUISVILLE, and CALIFOR- NIA. On October 23, COLUMBIA ' S guns delivered effective rapid supporting fire in dis- persing an enemy troop concentration in the vicinity of Tabontabon Village on Leyte. Each evening during landing operations on the Leyte beachhead, Task Group 77.2 pro- ceeded to the north end of Surigao Strait to protect the beachhead from a surface attack in Columbia bombards Tabontabon Village on Leyte. 19

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of this gunfire was the most beautiful sight I have ever witnessed. The arched line of tracers in the darkness looked like a continual stream of lighted railroad cars going over a hill, . ' o target could be observed at first, then shortly there would be fires and explosions, and another enemy ship would be accounted for. I witnessed, personally, three ships destroyed one after an- other in this fashion. Such shooting certainly testifies to the superb fire control equipment and personnel of our Navy. At 0355, destroyers went in and fired tor- pedoes again while secondary batteries opened up at target Baker. One minute later a sixth large explosion was observed in the enemy group and in the next two minutes two more violent explosions were observed. At 0359 large caliber enemy shells began falling close astern of the Gem and a few min- utes later near misses and straddles aft were observed. (The COLUMBIA at this time was plainly silhouetted to the enemy by main battery flashes of BB ' s firing directly over her) . A total of 14 enemy salvos were noted landing in the Gem ' s vicinity, six of which were straddles. The cease firing order came at 0407 and a silence settled over the Surigao Strait. At 0414, this silence was shattered by a large explosion in the enemy group. Enemy ships that were hit burned furiously punctuated occasionally by large explosions, similar to fireworks, apparently the result of magazine explosions. At 0415 target A disappeared from all ladar screens. At 0418 target B disappeared from radar screens. At 0440 the remaining enemy ships began retiring. At 0530 the COLUMBIA commenced firing with main battery at a target designated C. This target although burning furiously was still retiring at a speed of 16 knots. Salvoes from the COLUMBIA at a range of 21,000 yards were observed to be hitting and fanning the blaze and the ship subsequently sank. At daybreak all that could be seen (except one damaged Jap destroyer scurrying around) were blazing pools of oil covering the positions where the enemy vessels had been sunk. Many survi- vors were also seen in the water. At 0650 the COLUMBIA and DENVER were ordered down the Strait to polish off the cripples. Fire was opened in company with the DENVER at a range of 11,500 yards on a crippled enemy destrover. The enemy destroyer soon rolled over and sank. Thus ended the Battle of Surigao Strait, per- haps for the American Navy the most successful surface engagement of the war. The COLUM- BIA fired a total of 11 47 rounds of 6 47 A. P. and 339 rounds of 5 38 common during the engagement. As a result of the engagement the Columbia and Denver turn to firing course prior to opening fire on crippled Jap destroyer — Surigao Strait. --;3i!»