USS Columbia - Naval Cruise Book

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COLUMBIA was officially credited with seven planes shot down and sure assists in the destruction of four others. Two days later repeated minor air attacks were staged by the Japs on the ships lying off the Leyte beachhead but these attacks were successfully fought off. However, during the night of Nov- ember 29, a diving enemy plane passed off the starboard bow of the COLUMBIA. The Gem ' s gunners opened fire and the plane swerved off, later crashing into the MARYLAND in the vicinity of her number two turret starting a raging fire which engulfed her entire forecastle. A few days later, the COLUMBIA retired from the Leyte area for the purpose of joining a large task group forming in the Palau Islands. This Task Group, 77.12, under command of Rear Admiral Ruddock, USN, consisted of numerous battleships, cruisers, destroyers and carrier units. On December 10, 1944, this TG sortied from Kossol Roads, Palau Island, on a mission to protect the second phase of the Philip- pine Invasion — the landing on Mindoro Island. The immediate duty of TG 77.12 was to protect the assault units from enemy air and surface attacks while en route to Mindoro and during the landings there. On December 1 3, the TG en- tered the Mindanao Sea. This was the first group of American surface ships to enter the Mindanao Sea since the occupation of the Philippines by the Japs. On the same day TG 77.12 comprised the first American surface force to enter the Sulu Sea. The Japs were waiting here, however, for a suicide attack began at dusk. At 1717 the NASHVILLE was hit. At 1718 the COLUM- BIA fired on a formation of enemy planes diving on the TG. One plane was shot down. A short while later a Jap plane broke through the AA fire and crashed into the destroyer HARADEN about 1000 yards ahead of the Gem. The fol- Right 30 rudder — and they miss us again! Leyte, Nov. 27, 1944. 23

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COLUMBIA was officially credited with assist- ing in the sinking of two enemy battleships, one cruiser and one destroyer. The Jap had received a stinging blow in the Battle of Surigao Strait — a blow which, coupled with other U. S. victories on the sea in that same area, reduced for good the Jap ' s chance of keeping or even defending his stolen empire in the Pacific. It was not pleasant, however, to contemplate that with a large enemy task force just outside the entrance to Leyte Gulf attacking the Ameri- can CVE ' s, the following was all the major caliber ammunition remaining on board the COLUMBIA. 6V47 H.C. 120 V47 A.P. 5 38 A.A.C. 53 1150 5 ' 738 COM. •200 In view of this condition, the COLUMBIA was ordered to replenish ammunition and this was attempted throughout frequent air attacks during the day. Enemy air attacks continued on October 26, 27, 28, and 29, on which date the COLUMBIA with other units of TG 77.2 retired from the Leyte area for logistics. On November 16, the COLUMBIA returned to Leyte Gulf and joined units of TG 77.2 still in that area. The battle for Leyte was still in the balance and the Gem took up her position to furnish protection to the hard-fighting troops ashore. On November 18, one enemy .snooper dove out of the clouds and dropped what appeared to be a 500-pound bomb about 300 yards off the Gem ' s starboard quarter. No damage was sustained. Minor air attacks were successfully repelled on November 23 and 24. On the morning of November 27, the Task Force was engaged in fueling operations with a tanker in the center and the heavy ships and destroyers circling at a distance of 3000 yards. The sky was overcast with a ceiling of about 2000 feet. At 11 25 General Quarters was sounded when an enemy force consisting of 25 to 30 planes was reported approaching from the south. The next indication of an attack was a bomb seen falling near the DENVER. At about the same time a Japanese plane was seen to crash in the center of the formation, apparently shot down by Com- bat Air Patrol. The attack that followed was perhaps one of the first major attacks by the i».. ' ii %r JE •Ammunition available for surface firing against enemy warships. PT rescuing Jap survivors after battle of Surigao Strait. Kamikaze Corps on a group of our warships. The Jap having lost heavily on the seas was turning to more personal ways of dealing with his enemy. This method was to be, he hoped, his trump card. At 1136 that day the COLUMBIA opened fire on enemy suicide planes diving on the ST. LOUIS. One plane crashed on the main deck aft of the ST. LOUIS starting a large fire — a second missed her close astern. COLUMBIA ' S gunners shot down a third plane making a run on the ST. LOUIS. At 1140 three planes made runs on the formation from the port side of the Gem. Guns were hastily brought to bear on these targets and the Gem chalked up three splashes. Between 1140 and 1145 three more planes were brought down by the Gem ' s 40mm and 5 guns. At 1142 a suicide plane crashed into the COLORADO. An instant later a second plane missed the COLORADO by inches and crashed into the water beside her. Two minutes later a plane attacking the MONT- PELIER was shot down by the combined fire of the COLUMBIA and MONTPELIER. In this determined suicidal attack by a large force of Japanese planes, the COLUMBIA ' S fire contributed in a very commendable manner to her own safety and to the protection of the entire formation. Ammunition expended by the Gem was notably high for an attack of this duration: 326 rounds of 5 , 3648 rounds of 40mm, and 1603 rounds of 20mm. The , 22

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Splashing one Betty in Sulu Sea — December 15, 1944. lowing day many enemy raids started towards the formation but all these were intercepted by the Combat Air Patrol of the accompanying carriers. The attacks continued in the afternoon. At 1556 the Fighter Director reported (apologetically) that several Jap planes had gotten by the Combat Air Patrol. These planes made futile attacks and were disposed of by the combined fire of the ships in the TG. The next Recalling the loading of ammunition on Christmas Day, 1944. morning, several groups of enemy planes started in towards the formation. At 0821 the COLUM- BIA fired on two planes making suicide dives on the MARCUS ISLAND. Both planes missed. At 0943 five enemy planes were seen coming in. One started up the starboard side of the formation and 40mm fire from the COLUMBIA could be seen first hitting the tail surfaces and then walking up the fuselage towards the cock- pit. This plane began to burn and then exploded. At the time the Gem was turning hard to port and the 40mm battery opened up on still another plane approaching from that quarter. This plane was also shot down. On the morning of December 15, the army troops were successfully landed on Mindoro Island. There was scarcely any opposition to the landing and the Americans now had facilities for air bases only 90 airline miles from Manila. Upon receipt of news of the success of the land- ing operations, TG 77.12 commenced retiring. The COLUMBIA was officially credited with the destruction of three enemy planes during the Mindoro operations. Christmas Day was spent at Manus loading ammunition and provisions. This necessitated a delayed Christmas dinner on December 26. The Japs had now been routed out of two of the major islands of the Philippines and there 24