Santa Fe (CL 60) - Naval Cruise Book

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Near-miss from Chichi Yimafs coastal hatteiy falls close aboard. Although handicapped hy disadvantage q' long stern chase, cruiser column at .Hank speed stirs up impudent walre through Imperial W aters. 60 . Chasing convoy of ffap rnerohantrnen northward towards Tokyo, SANTA FE ,S U lkflf lvl' li Q lil lf? ltsl il M Qo DesDiv 91 and attack the enemy units. After proceeding for 5 hours at 30 knots the DD's, in an attack group slightly ahead of the cruisers, sighted and sank a small oiler and a vessel similar to an LST. At about 1930 a third ship was sighted and identified as a Jap destroyer. The SANTA FE and the other cruisers immediately opened fire. Return fire was fairly accurate but light. After half an hour the DD's were ordered to polish off the target but it sank without further action. Survivors picked up by the DD's identified the ship as the destroyer MATSU. Meanwhile the cruisers headed northwest to close a large AK. After unceremoniously sinking the cargo ship, the units made an unsuccessful sweep north and east in search of the rest of the convoy. Early the morning of 5 August the cruiser and destroyer group headed south toward Chichi Jima. After several un-coordinated plane attacks were driven oHf with AA fire, the units formed into a bombardment disposition and began to Work over rocky Fukamito Harbor. Enemy fire from a heavy coastal battery was accurate-one shot splashed close aboard the SANTA FE's starboard quarter -but the shore gun was silenced before any damage WaS done. At 1119 cease fire was ordered and the OTC set a course towards the main carrier groups for the return to port. The SANTA FE then finally arrived at Eniwetok, having in 42 days added 17,656 miles to her total mil6S steamed.

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11-q Iwo 7ima's beach between bombardment smoke and Mt. Saribaehi, unknown at the time, is destined to beeome Paeyids bloodiest beaelzlzead. carriers launched daily air strikes, alternating between Guam and Rota. The force next moved farther south for more air strikes-this time against Yap, VVoleai, Ulithi and Palau. A few enemy planes intercepted by our CAP on 25 July constituted the sole enemy attack. VVhen the operation was completed, 28 July, the SANTA FE steamed back to the Marianas with the carriers, anchoring briefly off Saipan for the morning of 2 August. Afternoon of the same day found the task force enroute to the Bonins. Early 4 August search planes spotted a Jap convoy leaving Chichi Jima. Planes Were immediately launched from TG 58's carriers and CruDiv 13 was ordered to take Palau, a eomplieated group of small isiands, eoves and bays is diversionary target of Task Groups 58.1, 58.2 and 58.3for three days beginning Z5 fzzly. Primary responsibility of seapower is safeguarding amphibious troops now landing on Guam. 59

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X X, S fK7707'f5 bffffffflg AK fllffafb' 5fnk 71Xf 0 l fmdfng df5f 03'f7'y5 gfmjgff- Destroyer steaming pas! the beam is lzeadedfor screening 5f6ZlZ,071 Sd.VTA7 FE's mrgel, fzzter identzfed as Yapzmese DD IVIATS U, is abou! to receive business end of I?-gznz, main battery salqo. Nfp skipper proved to be skifyzfl, U' zzrzszzeeesjzzf, ship lzzzndfer faking zzzhzzzzlzzge of maonfess niglzl, his lzfglz speed and slzorl tzzrnzng ezrrle. 61