Brooklyn (CL 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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the first time. By using our ballast tanks and stern anchor, we came off in good shape. The next day we had tactical maneuvers with the 376, the leader of the second division. The next day we hit the beach all together at sunrise and all got on and got off four times in a row. It wasn't planned this way but that was the extent of our training. Whether we know it or not, we are ready for the Germans. Ship was fueled to capacity and supplies were loaded aboard. Had a conference of Commanding Officers, loaded the deck full of boats to transport to New York, filled all our fresh water tanks and took on a draft of 60 men for passage. Eight LST's pulled out and formed up. Again I am in charge of the second division. The calendar tells me another year has gone by. It is March 9, my 25th birthday. Same kind of thing, through the mine fields in the dark and then rain and wind. I stay up all night to keep my ships in column. The whole next day rain then fog, a supposed sub sighting, the leader got lost in the fog and we couldn't find him so I got his remaining ships to follow us and we found New York Harbor, got pilot to lead us to Staten Island and anchored. The ship went into the yard at Bayonne, New Jersey, where a lot of changes were made. The four additional boat davits to give us six landing boats and the loading of a 105 foot, 120 ton LCT fLanding Craft Tankl on deck with two other LCMS inside it. The huge tank deck below is completely loaded with cargo including carefully measured plates to repair a cargo ship, Thomas Stone, that has a torpedo hole in it waiting at Oran. Moved to New York and loaded Army and Navy passen ers to give a total of 250 men on board. Regina and I livecl at the St. Regis Hotel as a gift from the family fit was the only room we could get in crowded New Yorkl. Then on the 5th of April we left the United States to be gone for a long time - 25 LST's including 5 British with a tanker and 10 escort vessels including 5 destroyers. We were put in lead of the 8th column. The day was rough again and most of the passengers and crew seasick. I live in the chart house on a transom to sleep and on the conning tower to direct the ship. Sleep when I can but am up on the conning tower at least once an hour during the night as things happen. Aside from rough weather, one very dark night where we went for hours without seeing another ship, 13 depth charges dropped by destroyers on sub contacts, the trip was uneventful. We sighted Bermuda very early but it was afternoon before we got pilots down the long channel to Great Sound and anchored at King's Point. For the three days we were here I enjoyed showing the officers the places and introducing them to families I had met while being here with the Brooklyn. We had invitations for all of us for dinner at homes each night. The Smith family who have the department store in Hamilton were particularly gracious. We were to have a convoy meeting before we sailed and another skipper got me aside and pointed out that the leader of each column should be the most experienced skipper and he thought we should speak to the convoy commander and tell him of our experience and how we felt. I listened because I knew he was no dope and had seen the same thing I did on the way down from New York to Bermuda. With the LCT on the deck, you can't see over it from the conning tower. However, if you were one of the column leaders, all you had to do was to look sideways at the tanker that was to be the guide at the head of the center column and that way you had a clear, unobstructed view. It was a tremendous advantage Earticularly on a long trip and cparticularly at night or in ad weather. So I figured I ha nothing to lose and went with him. He did most of the talking and was sitting next to me at the convoy conference when they unveiled the big master board of ship positions and there was the 376 the leader of the column just to port of the tanker and his LST way back about sixth in an outside column. On Tuesday, April 13, we moved out the channel early. Ninety two ships in all, the tanker, LST's, LCI's fLanding Craft Infantryl and escort vessels. As always, very rough and seasick boys. The crossing is to be 30 days and first few were uneventful except for the occasional depth charges, and even clear sunny weather. On the third day our port shaft was slipping out of the flange and we had to stop the engines and dropped out of column and way back to figure it out. We finally decided that by driving it ahead in forward position it would go in and not out and we would drive it ahead and never slow or stop it. So we started and went with all our speed to get back to the lead of that column. I hadn't thanked my lucky stars all the times for that break in convoy position to lose it now. We got back to the lead after a loncg run and kept that port shaft going ahead at the same spee no matter what. Any station maneuvering was done with the starboard engine and shaft. We figure in the building of theship one crew must have started to tighten the flange in :place and the next crew didn't finish it. Anyway, we know if we try to stop or back the port engine, the shaft would probably go right out in the ocean. That's what the Engineering Officer said anyway. I go above deck. Not so knowledgeable about those things down there that make the ship go. The days melt together in their sameness. Weather warm and calm sea. I sleep with my clothes on in the chart room at night and get called every couple of hours as officer of the deck has a problem. In the morning after General Quarters, I go to my very comfortable cabin on main deck consisting of an outer office with desk, couch and chairs and inner bedroom with two big innerspring mattresses on the bed, a washroom and head. I wash and eat breakfast in the nice wardroom with tablecloths on the tables, good silver, plates and glasses and three stewardmates to prepare and serve the meals. Then I lie in the sun by the conning tower. Take a salt water shower washed off by a towel soaked in fresh water and have lunch. More of the same and then dinner. Read a little and have General Quarters before sundown and usually an evasive course change at 9:00 and again at midnight. Sleep in my clothes and have General Quarters an hour before sunrise. Cover about 200 miles a day except the days when we slow so the tanker can 'fuel the smaller escort ships. These LST's carry enough fuel in their many tanks to go around the world - a couple times. I have a good tan and have read everything there is to read on the ship. Big events are like the Army doctor, who is a passenger, operates on another passenger's ear. We are getting close to the Azores, Madeira and Cape Verde that had all the subs during the Casablanca bit. Wonder if they are still around. Saturday, April 24, the big event was we saw a bird, and then on Easter Sunday, at the request of the crew, I said a sermon and conducted a church service for over 225 men on the stern of the ship. Right after this things started to happen and we had to drop back to fix a fuel pump. Then, just got back our precious spot in the lead, when our steering stuck and we went over and collided with the ship next to us carrying a cargo of gasoline and put a couple of holes in her above the waterline. We lost our anchor in the collision and some small holes in the bow. Did emergency steering and got the regular steering fixed. Maintaining our place in column and then at 7:00 P.M. the fuel pump went again, dropped way back and had to come up in the dark. A Large patrol bombers are comin out from Africa now and stay with us all day. As we get closer to Africa the weather gets rougher. We had been taking shots all the way across for Cholera, Typhus, Tetnus, etc. Today the Army doctor' gave us all the last Cholera, a big dose, and the lot must ave been bad because it knocked the whole ship out. Fever, swelling arms, backaches, headaches and all but ten had to go to bed and stay there. Officers of the deck were passing out on watch. I was just as sick as anyone and it

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The waves were about ten feet hi h, which is fairly high, and before I knew what happenefl about 40 men and six officers were violently seasick. We weren't even out of the sight of land. The only thing I could do was drop the anchor. It didn't take me long to find out what I hatln't bothered to check in the service records. There was only one other man, the Quartermaster, who had ever beenoutside the I2 mile limit. In fact, for most of them this was the first ship they had ever really been close to. ' In the morning it was not too bad, and we managed to get underway and go through the Cape Cod Canal where the wind kicked up to 50 knots. These waters are known to have some enemy mines in them and you are supposed to stay in the swept channels. But the wind kept blowing this empty ship off course and the only way we could get back on was to make a circle and try again. Five times we did this and then Dave Jones, the lst Lieutenant, fell and hurt his back badly. I saw on the chart we were off Newport, Rhode Island, and I headed for the harbor. It wasn't nice what I did to that dock and only hit one other ship doing it. An empty ship in a 30 knot wind with a seasick crew is no way to practice your first docking. They told us we were the largest ship to come into New ort in years and when they found out what we wanted? rushed for the ambulance and got Dave to the hospital. So it wouldn't be a total loss, we went to a movie. The wind had definitely died down as we started out the channel the next morning when the steering gear stuck and I had to back full to keep off the rocks. We anchored and luckily fixed it. Had the first calm sail with the ship and, not to pressour luck when it started to get dark, I went in near Stamford, Connecticut, and anchored. I had an idea and put one of our two small boats in the water and had the coxswain take me ashore after dark. We couldn't figure out why it was so pitch black and we kept running into things and then found the shore when searchlights were turned on us and shouts went up. Seems I had picked the time to come ashore just when Stamford was having a trial blackout and Civilian Defense drill. They thought we were part of the exercise of a small landing party trying to sneak in and they were so proud to capture us. When I explained what I was doing, they drove me to the train station. I called Regina and we stayed at the Savoy Plaza that night and I left at 3:30 A.M. to get the train back to Stamford. The boat picked me up in spite of the ice that had formed overnight and we got the LST underway for Hell Gate. Took a pilot and let him off after we had gone by Manhattan and we proceeded out the New York Harbor when, the thrill of my life, I see the Brooklyn coming towards us. In the Navy when two ships of the line pass each other they render honors. This consists of a blast on the bugle as the ships come bow to bow and all hands come to attention and salute. You hold this position until the ships are stern to stern and then the bugle sounds secure. - I had enough trouble finding men let alone bugle. Most of this crew is still feeling their lack of seaworthiness and are sacked out below. I run around like crazy yelling, Everyone on deck. and trying to find something to blow. The outfit that was standing on deck half undressed when I blew a whistle, the only thin I could find, and yelled at them to salute was a real laugh. But the Brooklyn went along with it and my men's eyes popped out as that cruiser slid by close aboard so you could see every face of the officers, marines and men at stiff attention and saluting. As we moved away from each other, we exchanged many messages until we were out of sight. And then out on the ocean for the first time and heading for Norfolk. We steamed darkened all night and almost hit another ship off her course and darkene . It started to snow, then rain and was very cold. I was up all night on the conning tower LST 376 renders Honors to BROOKLYN and thank goodness for the windshield. We went through the mine fields off Norfolk with another 40-50 knot wind blowing and a snowstorm. The Exec and I went ashore in a wet small boat ride and there found we are badly needed in North Africa. We are to go back to New York and get fitted with four more boat davits and boats to become an Assault LST which means in a landing on hostile beach we goin first and land troops with small boats and then beach to land the trucks and tan s. All the next day we awaited word to get underway for New York when a boat came alongside and summoned me to a conference. Here I was told that 13 LST's would get under way at 6:30 tonight and go up the Chesapeake for a week's maneuvers together. I had a hospital case on board to take care of and didn't et away until 8:00 and in the dark first tried to find the Chesapeake and then the other LST's. Almost hit an LCI and, of all things, almost hit an aircraft carrier. I anchored and said the hell with it. The next morning got underway and found the rest of the group. For five hours we steamed in circles calibrating a R.D.F. frequency we already had and when we got to the one we could use they quit. Held .another conference and were told to get underway at midnight and hold daybreak beaching exercises. We steamed all around after midnight in a heavy rain and when morning came the column leader was lost so we drifted around, for awhile. I got mad and anchored because you couldn t see in this weather and didn't want to hit anything. I fell fisllffep after being up all night and when I woke up was a .little afraid since I hadn't asked anyone f0l' permission to anchor. But when I went up and looked, all the other LST's were anchored around us and it was still falnlng Very hard. So I went to sleep again and got up after noon- It WHS Pea SOUP weather and raining cats and dogs. So we just stayed anchored there. all Sunday morning another conference and picked SIX S IPS to 80 to New York. We were one of them. In the afternoon sailed all the way up the bay to calibrate R.D-F- OH 450 KCs and came back near a beach. Then at sunset, a .a One, W9 ran that ship up on the beach and it was really quite 8 thrill to run this big thing way up on dry sand for I I i 6 l l l u l ...J gm

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I' was bad. The weather is rough and so is the' night - much pain and no sleep. We are just off Africa. No one feeling much better as we went close to the African shore past Casablanca and dropped 12 LCI's at Port Laueyte. Weather calmed as we got closer to the Straits of Gibraltar. Next morning had the coast of Africa in plain sight. Kept getting larger and then the coast of Spain came into VIBW on the other side. With Spain on one side, Africa on the other and a swarm of British spitfires low and Hudson bombers high we went through the mine fields of the Straits of Gibraltar. Soon the Rock came in sight and we went in the harbor. I would have been enjoying it more if I d1dn't have to think of that port shaft that couldn't stop or back. Hard enough to put this ship where I want it with two screws. A British pilot came on board but he turned out to be a young officer just qualified to tell us where to go. After scaring everyone and bumping into a few ships in the crowded harbor, a British tug with a loud speaker came up and yelled, Just stop, we'll put you in. And he did, alongside a dock. Went on a British LST for a party and then slept on my innerspring mattresses for the first time on the trip. A conference in the Gibraltar Navy Yard the next morning was followed by a tour of Gibraltar by several skippers fthe only ones that could go ashorel. During the day walked over the Spanish border and into Spain, also ate lots of fresh sea food. While we were doing this, the yard was securing the flange on the port shaft and it was completed that night. Underway in the morning and it felt good to have both screws to maneuver the ship away from the dock without pilot, all around the many ships in the harbor, and out into a fairly heavy sea. The ships formed up and We went through a pitch black night with hard time keeping in formation, early morning sub alarm and then all straightened out on a course along the North Coast of Africa to Algeria. We dropped ships off at Nemours and Benisap and went slow to arrive in daylight tomorrow in Oran. At dawn were off Arzeu and entered Oran Harbor at 10:00. Pretty little harbor that has seen much activity already in the war. We tied up bow to the dock, opened the doors and put the ramp down to go back and forth on the dock. Went ashore that evening to find there is very little to do in Oran even though it is a good size city. Everything closes at 8:00 P.M. with a curfew at 10:00 P.M. Everyone clears the street, so we came back to the ship. In the morning started unloading. The big LCT was lifted off the deck with a crane. The cargo was taken off by being lifted with the crane from the ship and onto floating barges alongside the ship. Hard to forget the scene when they were unloading all those plates that had been so carefully engineered and each made to fit perfectly so the torpedoed ship Thomas Stone here in Oran could be repaired. There must have been about 20 plates of different sizes and shapes, each at least 25 feet long and almost as wide. The crane operator lifted each plate and the men on the barge were maneuvering them into place one on top of the other. The stack was getting pretty high and you could almost tell something was going to happen. The boss on the barge looked up at the crane operator and even in Arabic sign language you could tell he was asking, How many more. The crane operator relayed a sign language to the man in charge on the ship and we could see the answer, One. So they picked that last big plate up and gently set it down on top of the others. Straw that broke the camel's back - after all that careful planning and work to make them in the States and us to carry them here, the barge slowly tipped on its side and dumped the whole load to the bottom of Oran Harbor. The front is only 300 miles from here and planes and ships arrive hourly bringing in wounded. In the evening had our up-to-8:00 P.M. night life and back on the ship. Worked all the next day seeing that the ship was completely unloaded and took on fresh water - which must be ed in this area. Went to the Red Cross in the giiesiiiiidlon. The Red Cross really is the whole life here. It feeds the U.S. soldiers and sailors, the natives, the U,S, Officers and nurses, etc. They pass out sandwiches and coffee constantly. They also put on shows. Saw one the next afternoon after a bad morning when the wind came up strong and we broke our lines to the dock. We and one other LST went adrift across the harbor. It was real bad for awhile, our engines, of course, were secured. We smashed and sunk two small boats before tugs got to us and pulled us back. That evening the radio tells the unbelievable news that Tunis and Bizerte, right over there to the east of us, were about to quit and the war in North Africa was almost over before we got into it. We kid each other that the sight of all these mighty LST's coming down the Mediterranean scared the hell out of them and they ran for home. Several loads of German prisoners were unloaded here in the harbor today. Seemed very young. We have air alerts two or three times a day, but no planes have come over so far. The night spots in town, that really only operate in the day, are the Coq d'Our, Florida and American clubs. They serve wine and have music with some rather unexciting girls around. A couple days of this is enough. When we were completely finished unloading and the ship cleaned up, we were moved to the outer end of the harbor just inside the breakwater. Berthed by dropping the anchor to swing stern to the jetty. It is quiet here after all the activity of ships unloading and the view of the city and hills is pretty. Did exciting things like target practice with our 22 pistols on the breakwater and play football on our now clean huge tank deck. It is beautiful, warm and the Mediterranean just over the breakwater as we sunbathe with a constant reminder of what is ahead. Convoys arrive almost daily. Today, May 13, we watch a big one bringing almost 50,000 troops plus supplies come past us and into Oran to unload. The battle of Africa ended today after wild times down at Bizerte. News said 150,000 Germans and Italians, including 12 Generals, surrendered at the end. Sitting here minding our own business when we get orders to go out with the LST 357 and go to Nemours, about 90 miles away. We got underway with the 357 and had an escort. At Benisaf the escort left us even though these are sub waters and we made Nemours just after dark. Went in a blacked out harbor, had to go around two nets, a small opening in the breakwater and around to tie up at a dock. It's a very interesting town we found the next morning. Really only two blocks long and is a walled city. Today the whole town and us turned out to see the beautiful annual horse show by native and French Algerian horsemen. In evening invited officers of the U.S. Rangers, who are here getting toughened up for their part in what's to come, on the ship for dinner and then went to see their camp where they all do the rugged things to keep in tip top shape. We found a beautiful little sandy beach here and seem to be the. only ones using it. Of all things, I am senior Naval Officer ln Nemours. How about that? Of course, there aren't many other Naval Officers here. Had a conference with the Commander of Western Bases today as he came for a visit. Tried to find out what we are dolng here and he said I am on my own to train my crew. Guess they just want to spread these empty LST'S along the coast until we are needed. Another LST, the 352, came in and joined us today. During the night Oran was bombed. Good thing we are here. We have to move into the Olltel' harbor because Liberty Ships are coming in here due to the congestlon at Oran from the bombing. That night we had a real a1r raid alarm here and ran for the ships. The planes came close but were driven off. The Comman. er of Western Bases had told me to try a few beachings lf I could find a spot. So today we went out to a spot we picked out on the chart. Took an approach course and had a real lm.-nd