Manchester (CL 83) - Naval Cruise Book

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Tension among the crew eased off whenever we were with 77 . Gun watches were given a chance for a little more sleep after round-the-clock bombardment on the bombline. We had a chance to go topside and breathe fresh air, for our job had become one of vigilance, rather than drudgery.

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In the Sea of Japan, off the Eastern Coast of Korea, Manchester operated with the Valley Forge, Antietam, Philippine Sea. Boxer, Princeton, and Kssex. The now famous Navy Panther Jets became a familiar sight to us. FAST CARRIER TASK FORCE 77 Our job: to provide the primary defensive bulwark of the carrier formation. The carriers launched and recovered their planes, and the orbit of destrovers on the horizon screened for enemy submarines, while the Man -hcster steamed in the center of the formation with her eyes and ears alerted. If air or surface attai-k should come we would supervise the defense. Our Combat Information Outer continuall) watched with her radars: Pilot House wheeled us through the changes of formation and course; the (ire rooms kept the boilers producing the steam so necessary to drive us into the wind while the carriers launched an l recovered their planes during air-ops ; the radio room with radio and teletypewriter circuits, supplied the Task Force with last-minute press from home.

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WORK The work of the Manchester began when she was commissioned 29 October 1946, and since that lime she has done odd-jobs from the Mediterranean Sea to the Sea of Japan. During the winter of 1951-1952, the Manchester was called for another type of work. FM: I ROK CORPS TO: MANCHESTER CL-83 REQUEST IF AVAILABLE YOU REPORT TO FIRST MARDIV FOR WORK 0700 TOMORROW. FM: I ROK CORPS TO: MANCHESTER CL-83 REFERENCE MY LAST X BELIEVE ALL WORK YOU CAN DO IN THIS AREA OF GREAT IMPORTANCE X YOU ARE CLEARED FOR TARGETS HERE X REQUEST ANY INTERESTING RESULTS AS THEY OCCUR. FM: MANCHESTER CL-83 TO: I ROK CORPS INFO: FIRST MARINE DIVISION REFERENCE YOUR LAST AFFIRMATIVE MANCHESTER WILL REPORT TO FIRST MARDIV FOR WORK TOMORROW.