Quincy (CA 71) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 29 text:

plane hovered, radioing corrections to the shots. Up near the beach the Third Division of the U. S. Army slowly closed in. But not one retort was made by the Nazis. Not one shore battery challenged the Quincy crew. The enemy just dissolved into the distance before the advancing troops. Cn the next day the Quincy moved to another support area. Here four shells splashed within ZOO yards of the ship before a Quincy bullet detonated the ammunition dump of the firing 120 MM battery. But the Germans were still reluctant to really fight and it was only occasionf ally that the Quincy gunners were able to knock off a batf tery, AA gun, or other troublesome S.F.C.P. target. Still as the army moved westward the Quincy rode along with it, offering assistance wherever possible. The Quincy and two destroyers, on August 20 were The Quincy fires at the Germans through a defensive smoke screen. The Germans fight back at Southern France. The invasion of Southern France graphically portrayed

Page 28 text:

wr -' rattle of fire, Behind them billowed layer after layer of smoke to screen the ships from the beach. One Scan took a hit on this operation, but she remained under control. The big ships poured white smoke shells to cover the smokers. Again and again the Quincy,s gunners shoved bullets into Cherbourg, but fanatical men manned those guns and still they fired back. Shrapnel rattled against gun shields. One life jacket was torn by a spent piece. Another piece dented a man's helmet. 600 yards off our port side the H. M. S. Glasgow received a straddle and then a hit, but she continued to hre. Another near miss thundered past the Quincy, peppering the hull with small holes and floodf ing a compartment of candy. One shell splash drenched a 20 MM gun crew on its station. Yet time and again came the welcome words from the spotting radio Cease ire, target neutralized. Then the army moved in and made naval fire impossible. At 15 30 the force was given a well done and orders to retire. Those who turned their heads for one last look at the town saw two last splashes settling in the distance. p Smokers lay a defensive screen. Over Oherbourg that night flew those beautiful Stars and Stripes. SOUTHERN FRANCE August 15, 1944, found the veteran ship Quincy exf ploding shells against the shores of Southern France. One more segment of the circle of steel surrounding the Axis was being added and the Quincy's guns were forging it into place. When she received her orders for the Mediterranean, the Quincy was resting in Belfast Lough. She complied at once, and on July 10, she steamed through the Straits on her way to Oran, Algeria. Here ammunition was loadf ed aboard and vital information about this latest assault against the Nazis was received. Palermo, Sicily, was the first practice spot for the Quincy crew. Ten days later the ship moved on down to Valetta, Malta. Here she was assigned to a British bomf bardment group and old friendships of Normandy and Oherbourg were renewed. Drills and practices again nlled the days for the Quincyis crew. The old familiar hush hush of secret meetings and classified papers once more pref vailed. Short trips to Filfia Island and Oamerata, Italy, were taken so that the gun crews could sharpen their marksmanship. But the big guns were trained out in deadly earnest on August 15. The time for drilling was past. Silently through the dawn into station in Baie de Oavalaire slipped the bombardment group. By 0600 the entire force hemmed the edge of the grey bay-an ominous challenge to the defenders on the beach. Then on command, gunfire pierced the silence. A fourfgun 150 MM battery felt the first shock of the power. Overhead the Quincyis seaf i As shells come closer, more smoke is laid, Another shell splashes harmlessly into Cherbourg Harbor.

Page 30 text:

T l KN? ON ll-K German shells come closer ' W' 'K --v -A----W -V 7-A--Y-:,.w,.Q.w ..L:L:z.QL.,...,.-.-.,n