Ammen (DD 35) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 16 text:

We pulled into Furla Futi in the Ellice Islands at 1500 the next day where we re- fueled, discharged some passengers and settled down for the night. Next morning we were off again for Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides. On the fifteenth all hands rushed topside to see their first waterspout and on the sixteenth we en- tered Segond Channel, Espiritu, where the President Garfield had been sunk by an Allied mine. Moored to the fueling dock, all hands were able to take a good look at jungle similar to that which they were to help win in the months to come. The air had an orchid perfume to it, and here and there we could see gorgeous red blos- soms dotting the jungle landscape. Even the water was sparkling clear and fish HMILK RUNH T0 GLOUCESTER could be seen swimming lazily beneath the ship's hull. However, we cou.ldn't remain here for long and were underway immediately upon the completion of fueling for Milne Bay, New Guinea. On 18 December we passed through the China Straits, enjoying a fine View of the coconut palms and jungle on either side, and entered Milne Bay where we reported for duty with the Seventh Fleet. After a short stay here which included four days alongside the U.S.S. Dobbin for repairs, we left on December 24 as part of Task Force 74 for the landing at Cape Gloucester, New Britain. The twenty-fifth was a beautiful day and all hands enjo ed a Y magnlficent Christmas feast w1th1n easy fighter range of the Japanese air strips at Madang Rabaul, and Cape Gloucester. , We acted as anti-submarine patrol during the landings next morning. ln the after- noon just after we began to retire with our cruisers a large force of Japanese aircraft came in for an attack. Nearly all the enemy planes were destroyed in the engagement but the first ship of our squadron was lost when the Brownson was sunk and several other ships were slight- ly damaged. Next day we returned to Buna Roads to pick up an echelon of LST's to return to Cape Gloucester, thus beginning our period of 'Gmilk runs between these two spots each one hav- ing the serious navigational hazards of Ham Reef, Mitre Rock, and Margaret, Eleanor and Eve Shoals. On ur t th ' ' h M ll o en mission t e u any and Ammen were sent to conduct a bombardment of Gali, New Guinea, on the night of January 17, 1944. The next morning we met the convoy of assault troops headed for Saldor, New Guinea, where the landing was made on the nine- teenth without opposition. BOMBARDMENT On 26 January we bombarded Madang together with the Phoenix and Bush while the Boise and Mullany were shelling Alex- ishafen. This was a very dark night and there was considerable danger of the ships firing on each other. On 30 January while patrolling off Cape Gloucester with the Bush and Mullany, we were attacked by a single-engined Jap fighter which dropped a bomb in the center of the formation causing no damage and making good his , ,,,,, ,,,.,..,,,..,,.-,. ,,,, --f-..,..-,. ..-- 7-w----- f escape. After one more escorting job we j 1, received orders to proceed to Sydney, Aus- tralia for 'ten days of rest and recreation. February fifth we picked up 39 passengers at Millie Bay and headed for 46down-un- derw. Un the sixth, dimmed running lights were permitted for the first time since the Ammen started her tours.

Page 15 text:

POLYWOGS SWIM ACROSS THE LINE NEPTUNUS REX AND HIS COURT H. WILLIAMS, JR.. POLYWOG On December ll, mysterious preparations were noticed. We were nearing the equator and King Neptunus Rex was sched- uled to come aboard and receive new members into his Royal Domain. The Squadron Commander passed the word for all ships to be prepared to receive him. Scuttlebutt that the tt01d Mani, was a polywog and would also be initiated caused con- siderable speculation among the crew. A few minutes after noon on 12 December his presence was announced and King Rex and his Royal Party made their appearance. The Captain relinquished command of the ship and was ordered below. The Skull and Crossbones was hoisted to the peak of the foremast and initiation proceedings commenced. There were 301 poly- wogs initiated that day and the Royal Barber had a busy after- noon before Neptune disappeared at 1700 and command of the ship was returned to the skipper. That was the day we almost ran out of water and salt water was being used for practically everything. Even fresh water for drinking purposes was low and water hours had to be established. One snipe was heard to remark that 'gthey shore want us somewhere in a hell of a hurry not realizing at the time that he had hit the nail right on the head.

Page 17 text:

Wi, arrived in Sydney February eighth and moored alongside the Wooloomooloo BMIY NAVY DE PT f .iff f , I TARGET 10 dock. It was summer in Australia and everyone had a wonderful time with plenty of liberty, girls, fresh fruit, milk and ice cream, everything, in fact, that had been lacking for the past six months. On 19 February our stay was completed and we again shoved off for New Guinea. On the twenty-fifth we exercised with the submarine Scamp in the area south of the Louisade Archipelago. We left on the twenty-seventh with the Warramunga, Mul- lany and Hamilton as escorts for the Fifth Cavalry to reinforce and supply the pre- liminary landing party on Los Negros ls- land in the Admiralty group. We conducted many shore bombardments here and on 3 March while attempting to knock out shore batteries on Hauwei Island at the entrance to Seaddler Harbor we encount- ered severe return fire from at least three guns which completely straddled the ship. Only expert maneuvering of the ship saved us and we came out unscathed. That same evening we were again called on to bombard the beach but were interrupted by approaching enemy planes. One made a run on us dropping a stick of four bombs close off the starboard bow which gave the ship quite a shaking but caused no damage. March 5 we returned to Buna an-d the next day went alongside the Dobbin for repairs. Upon completion we returned to Milne Bay and conducted night battle practice. We left on the fifteenth with the Daly, Hutchins, Mullany and Beale for the bombard- ment of Wewak, New Guinea arriving the night of the eighteenth and retreating at thirty-two knots upon completion of the mission. From Buna we went to Milne Bay where we stayed for a week holding tactical exercises with Task Forces 74 and 75. 1 April we sailed to Buna to exchange our torpedoes and received a new camouflaged paint job at the same time. Then back to Milne Bay for practice, shooting down towed sleeves. Now we went back to the Admiralties and from there sailed on to assist in the landings at Tanamerah Bay, New Guinea. We caused numerous explosions in our target areas and then were ordered to investigate oil barges, troop movements, and storage areas in Demita Bay a few miles to the west. Here we left five large oil barges in flames, then chased after two light tankers which were reported to us by a spotter plane. One of these tankers was sunk while the other burst into flames and exploded, disintegrating before our eyes. On our re- turn to Tanamerah we were sent to Moeris Bay where we accounted for another con- centration of escape barges. For the next week we served as part of the screening force for the escort carriers Manila Bay, Natoma Bay, Corregidor and Coral Sea, patrolling the approaches to Hollandia and Aitape. We returned to the Admiralties group on the twenty-seventh and were out again the next day assisting the Mullany, Wilkes and Welles in escort duty to and from Hollandia. Un ll May Lieutenant Commander James H. Brown came aboard to skipper us for the next months. TASK GROUP 75