General R M Blatchford (AP 153) - Naval Cruise Book

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' CHOW 1,210,272 rations were served in the general mess and 50,476 in the wardroom mess from 12 March to 30 September. To feed this many meals 2,500,000 pounds of food were used, of which 1,200,000 was canned fruits and vegetables, 750,000 were fresh fruits and vegetables and 400,000 were fresh meat. 45,000 dozen fresh eggs were consumed. 120,000 two-pound loaves of bread were baked and eaten on board and it took 20,000 pounds of butter to butter it. With a full load of troops aboard, over 200 men were kept busy preparing, cooking and serving three meals a day for about 4,000 men. As each man con- sumed a daily average of about 4V4 pounds, it was necessary to prepare, cook and serve approximately Blfz tons of food each day, of which almost 2 was potatoes, 1 V2 was meat and one was vegetables. lf fresh fruit was on the menu it would take about 1 V2 tons of whatever kind it was to give each man one piece of fruit. Needless to say, the galley and bake shop operated 24 hours a day. However, it took an average of only one and three-quarter hours to serve one meal to each of about 3,000 men in the troop mess line. San Francisco, Cal. San Pedro, Cal. Finschafen, N. G. l-lollandia, N. G. Manila, P. l. PORTS OF CALL Tacloban, P. l. Biak, N. E. l. Balboa, C. Z. LeHavre, France Boston, Mass. Leghorn, ltaly FAMOUS WATERS THROUGH WHICH THE Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean Bismark Sea Coral Sea China Sea Mindanao Sea Sulu Sea Sibuyan Sea Caribbean Sea Ligurian Sea English Channel Gibraltar Cristobal, C. Z. San Fernando, P. l. Guiuan, P. l. Seattle, Wash. BLATCHFORD SAILED Mediterranean Sea San Bernardino St. Suragao Straits Gibraltar Straits Panama Canal

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H1Z.ml VITAL STATISTICS ENGINE MILES STEAMED ln the six and one-half months of actual operation lfrom I2 March to 30 Septemberl over 60,000 miles were steamed, an average of almost l0,000 miles per month and better than 300 miles per day. During this time only eleven days were spent in United States Ports and the ship had no availability for alterations or repairs. ln the month of June there were only 88 hours during which the ship was not underway. ln steaming 63,000 miles 2,750,000 gallons of fuel oil were consumed and 5,200,000 gallons of fresh water was distilled by the sh.ip's evaporators. About three times that amount of water was taken aboard at various ports. January . February . March. . . April . . . May . . . June . . . July . . . August . September TOTAL 27 2,408 6,922 3,5l 6 8,434 l0,882 9,234 l0,850 l0,872 63,l45 ARMY Officers 976 NAVY Officers MARINE Officers TOTAL ARMED FORCES . 994 CIVILIANS: Red Cross. 58 PASSENGERS CARRIED Enlisted Men I2 694 Total I3 670 Enlisted Men Total Enlisted Men Tofal USO . . 43 Others . . 28 ii GRAND TOTAL ........... l4,4l6 l3 293 14287 These figures do not include Navy men carried as temporary ship's company,

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CITATION In the name of the President of the Unitd States, the Commander Sec- ond Carrier Task Force, United States Pacific Fleet, presents the BRONZE STAR MEDAL to ERNEST C. HOSS, CHIEF MACHINIST MATE UNITED STATES NAVY for services as set forth in the following 011121111111 'A' For distinguishing himself by meri- torious achievement in connection with operations against the enemy during the period 15 January to 15 August 1944, while serving as leading machinist mate in the U.S.S. COGSWELL, a unit of Task Force 58. He skillfully maintained the engine room machinery in a high state of readiness despite difficult oper- ating conditions and limited repair fa- cilities. His ability to check casualties before they became serious breakdowns, and to keep the plant operating at high capacity for long periods during the seven months which included 12 en- gagements with the enemy have con- tributed to the battle efficiency of the ship and have been in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. fsf J. S. MCCAIN Vice Admiral, U. S. Navy MEDICAL STATISTICS Patients treated at sick call . 32,000 Patients admitted to Hospital 5-40 Major operations performed . l3 lnoculations ..... 5,000 Units ot penicillin used . 60,000,000 Prescriptions filled .... l,823 Patients carried as passengers l,5Ol Meals served in Sick Bay . . 23,823 Sittings in Dental Chair . . l,5l3 Teeth filled .... . 1,239 Teeth extracted . l93 Teeth cleaned . . . 604 Miscellaneous dental treatments . . . l ,062 Dental X-rays . . 48l