Piedmont (AD 17) - Naval Cruise Book

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BLUE STAR qi?-Y ai , , he in H' ' h h! ming T e becc Beach-head established Vice-Admiral Yoshimori Terai Piedmont manning rail for General Chiang Kai-Shek

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OPERATION Blue Star was a maior U.S. amphibous exercise conducted on a division-wing scale and with the cooperation of the Government of the Republic of China. lt was scheduled by Commander United States Seventh Fleet and was under the tactical command of Rear Admiral Charles O. Triebel, USN, Amphibious Task Force Commander and Lieutenant General Thomas A. Wornham, USMC, Landing Force Com- mander. The purpose of BLUE STAR was to provide training in Navy- Marine Corps doctrine and techniques of amphibiousloperations and promote a close working relationship and understanding between the forces involved. Approximately T30 ships, 450 aircraft and 50,000 men, were involved in the exercise. This assemblage includes naval surface and air units, the Marine Corps air-ground team of the Seventh Fleet, and Navy, Marine Corps, and Air force units of the Republic of China. Exercise activity commenced on l0 March with the loading of troops and equipment into ships of the task force. While enroute to the obiective area in Southern Taiwan during the period T7-20 March, the task force was opposed by a series of realistic mock attacks by aircraft, surface units and submarines of the exercise play Aggressor force. Upon arrival at the obiective area, a rehearsal was conducted, followed by an air and shore bombardment exercise. On D-Day 22 March, Marine troops stormed ashore in landing craft and helicopters to seize and hold designated obiectives. Operations ashore continued until 27 March when backloading commenced in preperation for de- parture. Units arrived at their home ports or bases about 7 April when the exercise was officially concluded. ,.i--W... LCM's heading into the beach for landing

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Q TAIWAN With the tall of Taiwan iFormosal into Japanese hands in 'l900, plans fo,- redevelopment of Kaohsiung were formulated including the development ofifs harbor facilities. Large-scale construction work in the development of the harbor was not started, however, untill l908. By 1920, Kaohsiung became one of fhe two most important ports, and the largest harbor on the island. During 'World War ll, the Japanese used this harbor as the main naval and supply base for staging their military advances to the south and southwegf, Consequently, it was one of the key air targets for allied bombers, and the city suffered heavy destruction. ,Following V-J Day, rehabilitation and reconstruction work was strenously pushed. As a result of these eftorts, the present condition ot the harbor equulg or even surpasses its peak during Japanese occupation. Located in Tsoying, seven miles north of Kaohsiung, are the Headquarters of the Chinese Nationalist Navy and Marine Corps. V Kaohsiung is the second most important seaport in Taiwan. The city of Kaohsiung is situated in the southern part of Taiwan 325 miles east ot Hong Kong and 552 miles north of Manila.