Brooklyn (CL 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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- run at it, dropping the stern anchor right on time and ramming the bow way up on the beach. Swing open the doors and down went the ramp. Didn't realize it but we were scaring the life out of the natives. This big monster coming at them right up on land and opening its mouth and sticking out its tongue. They all ran up in the hills with their goats. They soon came back very curious and tried to sell us eggs and handmade baskets. Pm making this beaching of a big LST sound easy. It really is if you have a nice calm day, know the slope of the beach from the chart and nothing better to do if you happened to get stuck. The process of beaching is to study the slope of the beach first and know if it is steep or shallow. A steep one is better because you can put the bow on and not much of the rest of the ship is aground. On a shallow beach you are pretty much all aground and probably will have quite a bit of water between the bow door and dry beach. The real secret to getting off is the handling of the stern anchor. It is on a reel on the stern of the ship and has 1100 feet of cable not secured at the end. It is up to the captain's eye, and this alone, to know when to drop it going in. The worst thing is to drop it too soon and when 1100 feet run out, so does the end of the cable and you will have to find other means of getting off the beach. The next worst is to drop it too late so you don't get a bite on the bottom and pull the anchor up when trying to get off. This is bad but at least you will have the anchor and if all else fails, you can put it in a small boat and take it out the proper distance to get a bite. W It is obvious you must drop it right and every skipper I knew had his own method. I tried to have a place where I stood on the conning tower and put my head at eye level with the railing and site the approaching shoreline against the edge of the bow of the ship. Even as I write this I know I knew what I meant when I did this. I know I wanted it to look to the men with me on the conning tower that I was doing a scientific thing and give them confidence. Remember we were to do this in poor li ht of dawn with smoke, haze and shells going off arouncl us on a hostile beach. What I really did was to get a point that my judgment told me was right. Say a little prayer I knew that I timed to take ten seconds for insurance against being too soon, and then with all the authority I had from my squatting position looking at the beach I would yell, Let go stern anchor. It worked for me and no skipper ever taught anyone else on the ship how to do it. It was one responsibility you didn't want to delegate because you couldn't teach anyone else how you did it. We beached once more and went back to a little cove just inside the harbor at Nemours and anchored. If there are going to be air attacks, it's better out here. And there was an air alarm after midnight. We went to General Quarters fast, could hear the planes but nothing happened near us. Explosions over near the town. Next morning found out five soldiers were killed and nine sailors injured. We will have air alarms every night now. The next day we had gunnery practice shooting our mighty A.A. battery at balloons filled with helium. That was our only gunnery practice. On Wednesday, May 26, we moved out and went up to Mostaganam about 100 miles closer to Bizerte. They put us in between two Liberty Ships unloading ammunition and this place has one or two air alarms a night. The next morning we open our doors and ramp on the dock and have our first loadin of tanks, half tracks and trucks. Also took on six boats and the crews for them. As the tanks and trucks load, they come up over the ramp and the first ones are run on the elevator just aft of the ramp and lifted to the main deck. There they are maneuvered into their spot and chained down solidly in position with chains and special holding clamps in the deck. After the main deck IS filled, they come right into the main tank deck and are also secured by chains and clamps. Big loading job and I thought it Was going okay in the hot sun. I was on the dock by the ramp giving directions when I heard a loud voice behind me ask, What the hell is holding up the loading of this ship? I never really appreciated the situation until I saw the movie. It was General Patton riding around in a jeep. He asked me a few questions and was off. But he did make an impression. Was impressed how much George Scott looked like I remember him that day. We are loaded now and in the morning move out to outer harbor and anchor to make room for other LST's to load. In the evening come back in to the more protected area for night. Mostaganem is also a town where the night life consists of the free sandwiches at the Red Cross plus donuts and coffee. All that night we fueled and took our capacity of fresh water. I now have on board 100,000 gallons of fuel for cargo, 50 tanks and trucks and over 400 men. German planes come over at night and we could see shooting from Arzeu, but no damage here. Tuesday, June 1, at 9:00 A.M. we go out the harbor and join up with 26 fully loaded LST's plus LCI's and LCT's as far as our eyes can see. We are going to Bizerte that was just captured a couple of weeks ago, to end the African war. We are column leader with seven LST,s behind us. We can see the coast of Africa all the time and have fighter planes over us and move around the edges of the convoy., Picked u five more LST's as we passed Tenes. Went to General fsuarters at 7:00 P.M. and didn't secure until after 10:00 because the sun goes down so late. While at General Quarters before sunrise, we do an emergency turn as a sub pops up right in front of us. Turns out to be French. Pass under Sardinia and Sicily with a very good air cover. I took a pair of khaki pants and cut them off for shorts and a shirt that I cut the sleeves off and this becomes my uniform. Held drills while underway putting troops in boats and lowering the boats down but not in the water. Both our side and the Germans have taken turns laying mines in these waters for a long time so we slow down to be sure we go through the newly swept channels in daylight hours. Wind is much stronger and we are rolling. One of the small boats was not properly secured in the davit and it came loose and was banging out and in as we rolled. Had a tough job gettin it back in place and secure. We are nearing Bizerte ani the columns are forming to enter when a sub chaser came right alongside us, hit a mine and sunk in four minutes while we watched. Some depth charges went off while there were men in the water. The wind was too strong for us to try an entry even into the shelter of Bizerte breakwater because of all the sunken ships there. So we anchored outside with the mines. The next mornin we got inside the breakwater and anchored. Took small boat to conference in a shell-torn building in wrecked Bizerte. We were shown a big chart of the channel we will have to go through to get into the inner harbor and lake. The channel is fine once you get to it but there are 29 ships sunk at the entrance to block it. They had made a path as best they could 70 feet wide four ship is 50 feet widel. To get past the sunken ships, it required an angle approach marked by buoys and then a sharp left, sharp right and left again into the straight channel. There were buoys there. All you had to do was stay in them. A few feet outside were pieces of sunken ships sticking up. We had our turn with a pretty strong wind, made the turns and were going up the channel past the blasted city when someone started shooting at us. Snipers, a couple of shots hit in the water alongside the ship. And into Lake Bizerte which looked so pretty now but was to become a real nightmare. As more and more ships were put in here, and it is a big lake, the Germans sent bombing planes, anywhere from one to big formations five or six times a night. No one really got any sleep because we would go to General c ,,.. ,,,.. ..,.,.,.. , .,., .. .,., ,,