Manchester (CL 83) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 115 text:

During the next two weeks the Manchester s efforts were divided between Songjin and Wonsan. But neither Chongjin, Songjin nor Wonsan was ever without an assailant, for while other units of TG 95.2 harrassed two of the cities, the Manchester dealt out poison to the third. For us, Songjin was a lucra- tive target. After several days, primary bridge, rail and highway objectives assigned us were sus- taining deep wounds . . . and our gunners had other activities on the side: DESTROYED: — 3 barracks and troops within — 1 AA emplacement — 13 railroad box cars — 2 large brick buildings; 1 gutted. 1 levelled — 37 direct hits out of 41 salvos on 8 waterfront warehouses — 150-ton freight barges and several docks nearby — 9 storage warehouses along main coastal railroad

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CHONGJIN THE BLACK LIST: SONGJIN WONSAN As the siege of Wonsan entered its 19th day, the Manchester left the harbor firing line and headed north. Our mission: further strangulation of the east coast transportation system at two more of its three most strategic points. The ship assumed command of TE 95.22, and Admiral Smith foresaw the same dismal future for this area as Wonsan was now suffering. We opened fire on Chongjin targets on March 5th. Chongjin railroads and highways were especially vul- nerable to naval attack because their lives depended upon a series of bridges to span the numerous rivers and streams of that lowland sector. After two days and nights of working over Chongjin and another day in Wonsan, the Manchester declared war on Songjin. In addition to rail and highway essen- tials fostered by the city, our spotters found Songjin alive with military activity. JL « i

Page 116 text:

Communists .it Snngjin didn ' t like helicopters They knew now what Won:. m Communists could have told them weeks before the appearance ot that clumsy steel bird above would invariably mem imminent drstruction below. At right. .1 token ot tlieir esteem in the Manchester helii opter ' s landing gear. It wasn ' t much; it was -ill tlu-v hud to otter .it the time, but the second shot was luckier it passed through the delicate main rotor rei uirmg a ;!■ nni blade replacement We found that North Koreans at Songjin were astonish- ingly industrious. Every day we broke their bridges and ripped up their railroads — but every night they set about making temporary wooden repairs in spite of our night interdiction tire. Then, on the outskirts ot the city we discovered their lumber source, a sawmill, and dealt with it as shown below. ' JP V. w 4p --- f ■ V