Santa Fe (CL 60) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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Lush, tropical growth makes jine picture and acrounts for popular mis- conception that South Sea Islands are little short ry' paradise. I ,il ' 'I' If? 1' 1 l in L, I 'I l , , . f I, SANTA EE PAYS BRIEF VISIT TO SOU PACS ADVANCE BASES fifgo STAY-AT-HOME stateside movie-goers the South Seas bring thoughts of swaying palm trees, soft moonlight, rippling tides on sandy beaches and island maids alamour montez. But sailors and marines who saw 'em all-those South Sea Islands-remember the palm trees ripped with shell hre, the moonlight masked in gun smoke, and the beaches stained with powder and oil and blood. The South Seas-Guadalcanal, Savo Island, the Coral Sea, the Solomons, Iron Bottom Bay, Bismark Sea, Bougainville, the Slot . . .l For here Uncle Sam, pounded against the ropes, had sucked in his breath and lashed out in the hrst real offensive against the laps. Twice in 1943 the SANTA FE crossed the linel' into the South Pacihc-first, retiring from Tarawag then en- route to the Fiji Islands but diverted to Bougainville via Espiritu Santo and Tulagi. This action provided many firsts: first time under Bull I-Ialseyg first time up the Slotg hrst night enemy air attackg first enemy planes shot down CSD. On this First trip the SANTA EE's crew saw little of the islands except from the ship. There was time at Espiritu for several crew members to happen in on their first and only advance base U.S.O. show and to barter in a money-wise native village. There were a few hours more for high-priced trading at Tulagi. But that was all. SANTA FE idhv swings around the h lc ' E ' ' ' l ' . handiwork am?0ente:Fnr- spzrztuhs- palm surrounded harbor. Orderhv, well-tended rows Q' coronut trees on heath a mile away zndz 36 P we Wt w fff mm -'gfkmg fl projft. Palmolzve-Peet Co. supposedb' owns plantation.