Santa Fe (CL 60) - Naval Cruise Book

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Shipls painter proudly puts finishing touches on Yap flag representing third plane :hot down during first night air attack. High speed, coupled with main battery of 5-inch and torpea'0e.v,mal:e Fletcher class destroyer welcome company on operation. 1 34 ,A 4 'I W -:L fig rf' --if-,A I l I 1.121 , VX ,L , 1 1 . . Y , .R 1 I i , f .11 I g ,A V ,WX I., --y 1' an f f--f--A -ef-.X ii I ' 1 ' 1' 1 . - 1 ., 2. K! i f Q ! ' :f . . . 5111? . P, ' l -1 ,I I 1 1 - f -3 . V1 ry- 1 1 L3 gg r 34.1 . 1 ,, ., LGU J, .st UP THE SLOT, PAST IRON BOT- TOM BAY AND BACK AGAIN HE SANTA FE became a part of the newly created Fifth Fleet October 13, 1943, at Pearl Harbor. This 'T was the Central Pacific Force that was destined to carry the War from Pearl Harbor to the Philippines in a year's time. The first mission of the Fifth Fleet found CruDiv 13 steaming in company with other ships on a strategic training cruise to the Fiji-New Hebrides area. This task group had been assembled for the initial thrust into the Central Pacific, but off the coast of Fiji on November 3, CruDiv 13 received an unexpected and exciting order to relieve bagtile Worn CruDiv 12 which had been supporting the Mariyiielglanding on Bougainville. .Steaming at maximu1n.ffiS1gief.,,g1 and stopping at Espiritu Santo only to fuel, eached Florida Island in short order. g The Word sodngg pt around that the ship's inissioni'Wasi.to 'escort axgrouplybf' landyigjfgtfsii-gs carrying . f sc A 1 ,,.wvifQ1Lv:'z2f? - - rein orcements, to theMai:15iesa1,BQugain1v1l1e. This relief detail steamed outxofTu1agi, througl'iQ55Iron Bottom Bay , around Savo, and lieadesdffnortli fol Bougainville. The transport groups tliat1VWerei'iQofsefnd r- inforcements ashore joined at sunset. 'lia tl da!WnA'orgg.-ifffflfloxfcember the Marines were landed ashgiiitffxprn schedul'eQQ3ffThat evening a lone Jap snooper skiited the formatioziifl- out of range of the' AA batteries and gave the ship's location to every Nip south of Tokyo. After sunset, an estimated 30 to 35 twin engine Bettys made an all-out attack with bombs and torpedoes. Every ship in the group let loose with its anti-aircraft batteries until finally the attackers became discouraged by their losses and decided to retire. The respite was short lived, for about mid-night mile bogeys were back again. They were even more daringg this time, but accurate AA Ere sent Bettys blazing iiiwno, the sea one after another. One flaming coflin passedoveii' the SANTA FE so close that its torpedo rack fell om thee main deck. Cruisers Zig-Zagging .at high speed Were: difficult targets to hit, but so were torpedo planes making, runs at 250 knots. When it ended the Japs had lbstfat' least 15 of their finest torpedo planes and Were: quitC Willing to call it quits. CruDiv 13 did not comerout' unscathed. The BIRIVIINGI-IAIVI had taken 2 tin-f'ish ' plus a bomb hit atop turret No. 3, but her losses were: slight and she reached port Without trouble. When transports sent a message saying Thanks for keeping the: bastards off our necks . The Marines had landed anda the special job given to CruDiv 13 was over. F116 tWo groups joined, the commander of the: 1 X

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KN Q Ykfvxf wks :Qs digg X K K it ix QL si ,,,-,,. X .Q NA Ns X. - s Sa!! wafer lreatment eonlinzzesztlzrozzglzozzt entire 1'nz'fz'eztion. up knife, and the Dentist tested out a mouth Wash of soap, quinine, and Diesel oil. Most of the Barber's Work had been done the night before, however, he insured that no prized locks remained.' Blinded with oil and still being encouraged via paddles and shillelaghs, the Pollywogs remaining trial was to crawl through a long canvas chute filled with garbage, oil, and bilge Water. His final test passed successfully, the recruit, bruised from stem to stern, emerged a full-fledged Shellback already contemplating his new station when the next school of Pollywogs should cross the equator. He was not to be disappointed, for While carrying out battle missions, four separate schools of SANTA FE Pollywogs were initiated into the mysteries of King Neptunels Domain. Board paddles and canvas elzzbs raised, double line of Slzellboeks give fast-moving eonvert ez dorsal beating hed!! never forget. Full Lieutenoni Cezbovej exeusedfrom no part of ceremony kisses Raya! Babys belbf. Slap elzule diselzarges newly-made Sliellbaek. l E

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Only GOOD :YAP I5 a dead onef' - Nfghfx darknese is saddealy Jlzattered by Jmoke andj7ame ax anallzer Belly craflzes of the SANTA FEE beam. Only br-zllzantflaylz of gasoline exploxzon marks the burial Jpal of :even would-be world eanquerom. A , .I if ,, , ' e WW Captain Berkey holds alaflfragment Q' jfap plane whfelz landed 071 .flzip Alerl :ky lookout reeeluex eorzgratnlfztiam and X10 prize promffed by when .Vip pauerl overhead and frzlflzed claye aboard. ,vklpper for .vfglzling ,filfl afrafkfng enemy plane. 35 4 xM