Santa Fe (CL 60) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 109 text:

i A, Qlil ' if Hire I -'lil Wire will 5 ire. '- 'A' ' mg.. ,. ian, - - -I 711153 'RQNXIIYS I -if I side 1 iv .jj mel 5 ffji was '-1: :equip- :': .rid IO KRNRLIN. .. qi lull. - i, gvipel ' A -is nl 'Vi flllllf Q- ,lf Tier many lay down and quickly fell asleep . . . KANSAS CITY STAR Entered Ulithi March 2-1 for onward routing to Pearl Harbor and scheduled overhaul . . . 'I SANTA FE ACTION NOTES COP! arrival in Hawaiian area afew days Zaler Colzzilzafzdef' in Cfzicjf, Pafyfc Ffeef, Jem' flzir mefyagc' to FRJIVKLIIV aim' SANT.-I FEJ It is evident that the return of FRANKLIN to port required skill and courage of the highest degree on the part of those who participated. The oH'icers and men who returned on FRANKLIN and also the ofiicers and men of the SANTA FF who rendered invaluable assistance have set a high standard of seamanship, courage and devotion to duty which will always be an inspiration to the Fleet. VVell done to all hands.

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i, llly, directionsf Captain Gehres said, 'but the SANTA FE skipper sized us up and then came in at 25 knots, at a wide angle. He slammed her in against us and held her with the engines. It was the most daring piece of seamanship I ever saw.' The SANTA FE got five large hoses going and many of her crewmen joined in fighting the fires. . . . UNITED PRESS Men immediately began leaping from the main deck of the FRANKLIN to the forward six-inch gun turrets of the SANTA FE. Others dropped down lines to the cruiser,s deck. Over a projecting radio antenna from the FRANKLIN men scrambled wildly . . . A catwalk was finally placed between the flight deck of the carrier and the top of one of the SANTA FE'S mounts . .. . KANSAS CITY STAR The two forward, starboard antenna masts were damaging the SANTA FE'S forward section, and the 40 MM mounts on the FRANKLIN'S starboard side were acting as fenders for the cruiser's stern. VVounded were shuttled from just forward of the FRANKLIN'S five- inch turrets to the SANTA FE'S side five-inch mounts, which were being badly beaten up by the relative motion of the ships. The 40 MM sponsons of the FRANKLIN'S starboard side tore the deck plating from the-cruiser's side and inHicted other appreciable damage to her . . . FRANKLIN NAVIGATOR Meanwhile the USS PITTSBURGH had approached and cast a line to the FRANKLIN. A towing cable was hauled to the FRANKLIN, which had no workable equip- ment to lift it. The SANTA FE'S Winches were used to hoist the cable from the sea and pass it to the FRANKLIN. Hjust before 12:30 o'clock the SANTA FE cast off. The still smoking FRANKLIN, now in tow, limped along south at three knots . . . Sailors on the SANTA FE gave up their bunks and clothing to survivors from the FRANKLIN. One sailor came aboard wearing an Admiral's life jacket. Another was wearing a Commander's coat. Completely fagged out,

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,'R 1, il ,W ,M ,Q -S ,,A,,, .s si ll, ii ik li il ll Ll I I iv i l , E f I f With Long Beachfaeling slafion as haclegroancl, some of ship's hlaejacleefs try fo appear natural in presence of white women. 106 SANTA FE cautiously noses lo-wards receiving clocle at Terminal Island, while Navy hand plays and Dinah Shore sings God Bless America FOR SHIP, REPAIRS - FUR CREW ITS I HEN the SANTA FE left Ulithi on 26 March with the damaged FRANKLIN, her homeward bound pennant Hew proudly in the breeze. Not since the ship's commissioning had she spent any appreciable time in the States, not since 12 January 1944, almost fifteen months before, had a crewman made a decent liberty. Anticipation of Stateside duty could be read in every man's face. Days were spent squaring away uniforms, stowing sea- bags, polishing shoes, nights were spent in conversation about what transportation to take home, which line would still work on which woman. All back pay WQS drawn from the books , all was right with the world- Suddenly, right at Sunday's noon chow, an official dispatch was received thatlsupposedly reordered tht' SANTA FE to Pearl Harbor for only temporary repair-