Menifee (APA 202) - Naval Cruise Book

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RIGGING FOR SEA C3F5 Another day ' s steaming brought the Menifee to San Pedro and two weeks ' shakedown exercises. Every- thing that the Menifee might expect to perform in ac- tuality from battle problems to streaming paravanes was tried. Firing exercises, boat and debarkation drill, tactical maneuvers, full power run, and fueling at sea were some of the things called for in the ambitious pro- gram of the San Pedro shakedown group. Ship ' s charac- teristics were learned by all hands, but not from a book. They were all tried out. Deck officers learned, for in- stance, that the time to bring the ship to dead in the water from backing full is 58 seconds. Inspections by Captain flbernathy, Commander, San Pedro shakedown group, and party began and ended the Menifee ' s two weeks ' shakedown at San Pedro. A slight respite from the grind was afforded the crew starting 9 December when the Menifee left San Pedro for San Diego. Nine days of alterations and repairs at the naval repair base followed. The final phase of rigging the Menifee and crew for sea commenced 19 December when amphibious train- ing off Coronado, California, in preparation for combat operations started. While the shakedown at San Pedro was in general the same as any Navy ship would get, the work at San Diego was aimed at developing the Menifee ' s specialty — taking assault troops onto an ene- my held beach. The boat group assaulted Coronado ' s beaches for four days, and the men aboard learned their jobs in an amphibious operation by lowering and hoist- ing boats, by handling dummy cargo, and in debarka- tion drills. Tv o days were taken off for Christmas and a final three-day period of exercises in company with other fiPA ' s wound up stateside rehearsals for the Menifee. During this San Diego training, the Menifee was Flagship of Transport Division 56, Captain Town- send commanding. The year was closed with three days ' repairs and a topping off of ammunition. Menifee sailors celebrated New Year ' s Day at Pier B, San Diego, by commencing to load cargo of a Marine Corps outfit. Stateside duty for 500 men on flPfl 202 was drawing to a close, fit 1305, 4 January 1945, the U.S.S. Menifee was underway for Pearl Harbor and points west, ready to fulfill her mission as an assault transport. was degermed and all hands turned to again to load

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