California (BB 44) - Naval Cruise Book

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yards to ply her five-inch and 40 mm projec- tiles, Japanese defenders began a murderous small arms and mortar attack on the frogmen. Tinian is separated by a three-mile chan- nel from Saipan. On July 23, 1944, the USS CalU'0rnia CBB-441 and the USS Tennessee, directed by Rear Admiral Howard F. Kingman, bombarded coastal defenses near Tinian Town as a diversion for the main landing further north. After the leathernecks hit the beach, the two ships alternated call fire duty through the remainder of the month as U.S. Marines and warships pushed the Japanese toward an- nihilation on the high ground of the islandis southern tip. On July 31, 1944, the USS Calqfornias guns fell silent as a command message came aboard: Your mission com- pleted. .Proceed anchorage. Sorry we could not find more targets for you.', The USS Caliornia and the USS Tennes- see were almost immediately switched back into the Guam fight, where they provided fire from August 2-8, 1944, before anchoring at Eniwetok on'August 9, 1944. Three days later, the sister dreadnoughts joined a small task force steaming for Espiritu Santo, New Hibrides. With the men on the ships anticipating a well-earned bit of rest and relaxation, pollywogs by the hundreds were initiated into the deep in the salty presence of King Neptune and his royal partyi' in the tra- ditional equator-crossing ceremonies, held on August 21, 1944. USS CALIFORNIA CRossEs EQUATOR, AUGUST 21, 1944. A CEREMONY OF THE AGESH KFROM THE CUBI The exact time and source of the begin- ning ofthe ceremony in 'Crossing the Line' is unknown. It is known, however, that ceremo- nies took place long ago when the ships crossed the thirtieth parallel, and also when going through the Straits of Gibraltar. These early ceremonies where of the roughest sort and were, to a great extent, supposed to try the crew to detemiine whether or not the novices on their first cnlise could endure the hardships of life at sea. The Vikings were reported at an early date to carry out these ceremonies on crossing certain parallels. It is highly probable that the present day ceremony was passed on to the Angles, Saxons, and Normans from the Vi- kings. At an earliest date, ceremonies of propi- tiation were can'ied on. Neptune, the mytho- logical god of the seas, was appeased by the seamen, and marks of respect were paid those of his underwater domain. It is plausible that a part of the ceremony grew out of traditions of other days, even though sailors had come to doubt the existence of Neptune. Nevertheless, Neptunus Rex is today the Royal Majesty who rules in the Seas, who officiated at the cer- emony when we crossed the Line on August 21, 1944, and to whom we all as his faithful subjects and true Shellbacks pay allegiance. KING NEPTUNE REIGNS At 0800 hours on the morning ofAugust 21, 1944 all divisions were mustered to wit- ness the arrival of His Royal Highness, Nep- tune Rex andthe members of his Royal House- hold and Court. They were received on board with due respect and honors and as the ship crossed the line at latitude 00 degrees 00 min- utes, longitude 81 degrees 12 minutes and 12 seconds, the saluting battery was fired to Neptunus Rex. After parading to the quarter- deck, King Neptune addressed the Captain, Captain Burnett. 'Captain Burnett, greetings to you and your worthy ambassadors and welcome to My Royal Domain. I have received a very serious report of last night's inspectionf Turning toward Davy Jones, he asked, 'Davy Jones, where are the findings of that inspection?' Davy J ones gave him a document. His Royal Highness again addressed the Captain, 'Captain Burnett, you are charged with suffering your ship to enter My Royal Domain with a full cargo of common polly- wogs. This is a very serious breech of seafar- ing tradition, yes an unpardonable offense, and in view of the fact that you yourself are an ac- credited shellback makes your offense doubly serious. Therefore, I, Neptunus Rex, ruler of the Raging Main, do hereby relieve you of your command until such a time that every last land- lubber, hack driver and pollywog has been trans- formed into a worthy shellback. I have spokenf 'Admiral Tobogaj he ordered his Royal Admiral, 'you will immediately assume com- mand ofthe USS Calyfornia, you will have the Royal Ensign broken at the main truck, you will set a course and a speed in keeping with safe navigation until ordered otherwise. Bear a hand now., 'Davy J onesf His Majesty commanded, 'you will summon the Royal Police Force and gather in all the culprits and suffer them to appear before the Royal Justice Court for such punishment as they may prescribef 'Captain Bumett, you and your worthy ambassadors are cordially invited to witness the aforementioned transformationj he invited. 'Let us proceed forward now., From: Secretary to His Royal Highness, Neptunus Rex. To: Commanding Officer, United States Ship Calyfornia Subject: Instructions for entering the Domain of King Neptune. l, Greetings, Sir, to you and to all other shellbacks under your command. 2. The Commander-in-Chief of the United States Fleet having recently been in consultation with his Most Royal and Exalted Highness and having laid before His Majesty facts concerning the 'state of the United States Navy' under his command, the King, Neptune Rex himself, has directed me, his personal Sec- retary, to appear before you this date. as you are to enter His Realm, to advise and to in- struct you as to his wishes. lt appears that a very serious situation has arisen in the Navy of the United States. Under your direct and personal command, Sir, there are an alarming number of tadpoles, pollywogs, landlubbers. sea-lawyers, would-be sailors who doubt the existence ofthe Equator- a real line- and, more serious still, who doubt the existence of the Kingdom of his Exalted Majesty, Neptunus Rex. The presence on board such a splendid ship of men so ignorant, so conceited, so lack- ing in experience, is a never ceasing source of concem and grave danger, both to the ship and to all loyal subjects of His Majesty. 3. This situation must be corrected at once. These would-be sailors must be con- vinced- must be converted into seamen wor- thy to be admitted as all sailors should desire to be admitted, as subjects of His Royal High- ness. Due preparations have been made for the transformation of these poor misguided souls into honorable subjects of His Exalted Majesty. Following the traditions of the ages, a solemn and a high initiation has been ar- ranged in order that the mysteries of the An- cient and Royal Order of the Deep may be made known to these malingerers and delin- quents- that they too may be made worthy to take their places with me and be able to hold communion with the Noble Order of Shellbacks. 4. Heed, therefore, the following Order and Command: - On the morrow, 21 August, 194-4, on or about 0800 hours, as you enter the Kingdom of His Royal Majesty, you will heave-to and take on board His Royal and Exalted Highness. Neptunus Rex, the members of His Imperial and Royal Household and Court, and his reti- nue of faithful and loyal subjects who accom- pany him. Immediately after his arrival His Royal Majestyis Court will convene on the USS Calnfornia. You are directed to have ap- pear before that Court any and all those under your command, or who may be passengers or serving on board the ship which you command. or who may be passengers or serving on board the ship which you command, who are unable to produce due evidence to the effect that they are members of the Ancient and Royal Order of Shellbacks. 5. Advance information has reached me concerning certain individuals on board your ship who as pseudo or amateur sailors are not worthy to enter His Majesty's Realm. To each of them I bear a summon. in the name of Neptunus Rex, to appear before His Court. Failure to comply with His Command will arouse the wrath of the King and mean dire consequences for all those who disregard his Orders. Thus saith and so commandeth his royal highness, his exalted majesty - Neptune Rex. 6. His Majesty asked that l convey through you to Rear Admiral Richard Connolly his cordial greetings and a hearty welcome upon his return to His Majesty's Kingdom. ls! Davy Jones, Secretary to His Royal Highness. After the summons had been given. the Royal Mail Orderly distributed to representa- tives of divisions, subpoenas for each polly- ,115 is . ,. 3 T! F l S l -sf fa , 'UQ 'sw

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- . - . ..i . '4' j, sg, ' , -milli- ,if 4. ASW Jw We -gf dj , wi X. sf- 'ii' ffl-f 6 we 'J QOBB1 got under way forthe first time on Janu- ary 31. 1944. Taking her down the coast to San Pedro. the skipper oversaw gunnery and rnaclrinery tests. maneuvering and radar drills. conducted by the thousands of new oliicers and ratings. many draftees or reservists fresh from continental training stations. Searrranship drills. first aid and fire fighting lectures, and more gurrnery were the order of the day, but in those first weeks. the newness of the crew caused many a drill to go awry. On May 5, 1944. after an engine check. she steamed to Pearl Harbor. FromJanuary 19. 1944 until May 5, 1944, the USS California QBB-445 underwent post repair trials. shakedown, operational training, and post-shakedown availability. On May 5, 1944. she departed for Pearl Harbor where she joined the Battleship Division Two on May 10, 1944. On May 31. 1944, she was again under- way for Roi. Kwajalein Atooll, from whence after a two day layover she was underway on June 10. 1944 for the bombardment of Saipan, Marianas Islands. She was once again back in full service, back in the fight for freedom. The Prime Barge. the Golden State Battlewagon was back to bring retribution to her attackers at Pearl Harbor. Mooring at 'fFox Threefl the same place in which she was savaged on December 7, 1941. the USS Calyfornia CBB-441 was soon assigned to Fire Support Group One CTask Group 52.173, under the able command of Rear Admiral Jesse Oldendorf. After a week of intensive short bombard- ment rehearsals off Maui and Kahoolawe, Ad- miral Oldendorfs heavies departed Hawaiian waters for Kwajalein. At that central Pacific site, the ships would prepare for Operation Foragerf' commanded by Vice Admiral Rich- ard K. Tumer. On June 10, 1944, the Prune Barge and her task group left Roi anchorage. All rumors as to the former flagship's destina- tion ended when the executive officer, Com- mander F. R. Bunker came on the public ad- dress system with a message from the skipper. The ship's objective was the Saipan Island in the Marianas. On June 14, 1944, as an element of Fire Support Unit One, the USS California CBB- 44J was again in action, which resulted in the death of one seaman, and the wounding of an officer and eight seamen. Action continued until June 22, 1944. Reveille sounded aboard the USS Calyfor- nia QBB-441 an hour before dawn on June 14, 1944. Clothed in fresh garments, many men were at their stations before general quarters was sounded. Rounding Saipan's northem tip as the sun rose, Captain Burnett's vessel launched her float planes for air spotting and gingerly maneuvered into position off Garapan, the islandls capital. With directors on target and the main batteries trained out, the standby buzzer went off in the turrets. Then, at pre- cisely 0548 hours, the USS Calyfornias high capacity CHCJ bombardment shells began crashing home against the enemy batteries and supply dumps inland of the selected landing area- the southern portion of Saipan's west coast- in support of minesweepers carrying out an assault sweep of the landing zone. The USS Maryland CBB-465 drew fire from a con- cealed battery on a tiny islet off Tanapag harbor, but she, together with gunners on the USS Cali- fornia CBB-445 quickly put it out of business. At 0430 hours on June 15, 1944, the pre- landing bombardment of Saipan began. In a new target off the town of Charon Kanoa, a tall sugar mill smokestack was chosen as a base sight in the USS Caljornia Ls preparatory soft- ening of the beach. Her aerial spotters calling corrections, salvo after salvo departed the big guns while tracers from her 40mm projectiles drifted into the beach to disappear in clouds of dust, blossoms of fire. Oldendorf's ships lifted their fire at 0630 hours for an air strike and then recommenced until, with the Second and Fourth Marine Divisions landing craft within a thousand yards of the beach at 0812 hours, the three flares of the cease fire signal appeared in the air. The naval bombardment had proved to be less than a total success and many Japa- nese positions were not damagedg the leathernecks', would face extremely tough going. .Sleamlnf under fullpower and blowing lubes - removing WUT b'4lld'W7 in bmlff M555 bl' MOWIWL' live steam inlo rombuslmn heads. fCoarles'y 0fR bW' Gardngnl Cannonading became a routine call fire pastime for the USS California CBB-449 dur- ing the remainder of the Saipan operationg one sailor called the practice a Navy-sponsored farm project that simultaneously plows the fields, prunes the trees, harvest the crops, and adds iron to the soil. There was one night of excitement, however, which should have bro- ken the routine. On the evening of June 16, 1944, the Japa- nese 136th Infantry Regiment as part of a gen- eral counteroffensive and backed up by armor of the 9th Tank Regiment, moved against the positions of the 6th Marines. This, the first sizable Japanese tank attack of the Pacific Is- land fighting, brought emergency calls to the duty ship USS Caljornia CBB-445. Firing both star and explosive shells, Captain Bumett's gunners helped the U.S. Marines tum back determined enemy charges which left 700 enemy soldiers dead and 31 lightlmedium tanks knocked out. A decided victory won through a cooperative and determined effort. As part of the plan which brought the Japa- nese tanks into the USS Caljornias range, Japanese admirals attempted a naval relief of the Marianas. Departing the beaches at day- light on June 17, 1944, the USS CalU'ornia CBB-445 joined Odendorf's task group in pa- trolling west of Saipan. Over the next three days, planes from Task Force 58 wiped out the Imperial naval air force in what American car- rier men later called the Marinas Turkey Shoot? Released, the USS CalU'ornia CBB- 44J retired to Eniwetok where her battle dam- age of June 14, 1944, was repaired by mid- July. At Guam on July 19, 1944, the USS Cali- fornia CBB-44J and her sister ship, the USS Tennessee, took up their labors as the heavy fire support units in Rear Admiral Richard Connolly's Southern Attack Force. From early on July 20, 1944, until 0830 hours the follow- ing morning. the two Pearl Harbor veterans assisted in the pre-invasion pounding the island's northwest coast. On July 20, 1944, the USS Caljornia CBB-443 was at Guam, firing upon targets of opportunity in support of the landing on Guam. Three days later she was conducting similar operations at Tinian. Heavier guns on nearby Tinian Island joined in and soon geysers were appearing in the wa- ter alongside the USS Calzfornia CBB-445. Then a shell from one of those concealed bat- teries hit on the dreadnought's upper deck aft, penetrating to explode. Damage control par- ties reacted quickly, and as the duel continued, crewmen learned that one of their comrades had been killed and 14 wounded. Late that aftemoon collecting the OS2U planes, the USS Calgfornia CBB-441 took up her night station west of Saipang there her officers and men could reflect on how this war had become such a serious business so quickly. Late on July 21, 1944, after the U.S. Marines were ashore, the sister ships, Calyfornia and Tennessee, re- tumed to Saipan to rejoin TG 52.17. The USS Calyfornia CBB-441 next provided cover for underwater demolition teams recon- noitering the landing area. As the USS Caljor- nia CBB-445 closed the beaches to within 3,000

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xx og. which in turn were delivered directly to thc pollywog concerned. At the conclusioii of this. Daxy Jones took leave ofthe Captain and. in company xx ith the Royal Mail Orderly. left the ship by going down through a hawseipipe. 'Secure' was sounded and all divisions fell in at their regular quarters. after which 'Retreat' xx as sounded and all pollywogs fell out to read their subpoenas- and wonder! With his Royal Household and Court and loy al and faithful followers, they paraded back to the forecastle. with the music of the band, to sit upon the throne and to inflict with good grace the pains and penalties of the awful tortures. The staff officers. being first in order of initiation. wee summoned before King Nep- tune and His Royal Court to answer to their charges. Then followed the wardroom offic- ers. warrant officers and enlisted men. The first of the many trials was to run through the gauntlet of torturers. Upon appear- ing before the Royal Court, the Royal Doctor requested to see the tonsilsg in most cases he found them enlarged or infected and prescribed a preparation of 'salts' and other distasteful ingredients to soothe them. Some pollywogs had bodily defects which were corrected on the operating table rigged with live wires. The Royal Barbers pleased His Majesty by neatly trimming the hair and massaging the face and body. Lamp-black and linseed oil were used to make a neat appearance. Following the shock. the chair was tripped, to deliver the pollywog to the pool, where the bears and tor- turers persisted that staying under the surface of the water and choking through mouthfuls of salty brine to say 'shellback' amused His Highness and the Royal Court. The 'love taps' upon making the exist from the tank completed the progress of converting the land-lubbing pollywog into a trusty, 'salty' shellback. His Majesty commented that all polly- wogs were to be commended for their good sportsmanship and all are fully worthy of their certificates. 5 The f,'.S'.S' California Ts bell on display al ine stare napilol in Sarrafnenro, CA, ICYIMVYH'-SJ' 'lf fume-S' Yfllh j The costumes of King Neptune, His Royal Court. and his followers, fitted the char- acters in every respect and deserve commen- dationf' NUMBER INITIATED As SHELLBA CKS Officers, U.S. Navy Cgl U.S. Marine Corps 57 Officers, United States Army 4 Enlisted Men 1,163 Total 1,224 Just before reveille on August 23, 1944, however, the USS Calgfornia Lv crew received a rude awakening. Wildly out of control due to a steering malfunction, the USS Tennessee smashed her stem into the USS Calnfornias port bow, tearing a large gash forward of the 14-inch turret I. Though the collision pierced several compartments, opening them to the sea, injuries were few. With all trapped sailors res- cued, and all damage sealed, the Prune Barge returned to convoy, her men looking forward to shore leave more than ever. In a record 17- day period, August 25 through September 10, 1944, the USS Calnfornia s collision repairs were effected in Espiritu Santols floating dry-dock. Departing the New Hebrides on September 17, 1944, Captain Burnett's vessel slipped up the New Guinea coast to Seeadler Harbor, Manus, in the Admiralties, arriving four days later. Here she was assigned to that half of the Bombard- ment and fire Support Group destined to sup- port a Southern Attack Force, U.S. 7th Fleet. The time had come to redeem General MacArthur's famous pledge to the people of the Philippines: I shall retumfl On October 17, 1944, after a five-day voy- age, the USS Calnfornia and the USS Tennes- see arrived off Leyte Gulf. Following prelimi- nary minesweeping, the sister ships, stream- ing parvanes to cut cables of missed mines, and followed by the USS West Wrginia CBB- 48j, themselves followed the flagship USS Pennsylvania CBB-383 inside the gulfthrough a marked channel. Around sundown, the star- board paravane of the Prune Barge cut loose a mine which bobbed to the surface and bore down on the WeeVee, which successfully dodged it at the last minute. The ships took up their positions off Dulag before sunrise on October 19, 1944, and at 0645 hours began to bombard the designated land- ing area south of the town, a shoot which con- tinued throughout the day. After additional post-dawn softening, American soldiers re- turned to the Philippines at 1000 hours on Oc- tober 20, 1944. The landings went well and soon the USS Calyfornia was shifting her fire inland and to the flanks to assist the troops as they began carving out a beachhead. As the Leyte invasion unfolded, the Japa- nese decided to strike back and sent four widely-separated forces to destroy the Ameri- can operation. ln an effort tojoin a larger fleet in a pincer movement against the 7th Fleet am- phibious ships and transports, Vice Admiral Shoji Nishimura led the 30-year old 14-inch battleship Faso and Yamishiro, the cruiser Magami, and four destroyers toward Surigao Strait. Alerted by Navy reconnaissance, Ad- miral Oldendorf sought to deal with the situa- tion by placing his six old battleships, eight cruisers, and 28 destroyers across the northem end of that passage late on October 24, 1944. After securing from anti-aircraft defense that evening, off-duty USS Calyfornia crew- men went below to get as much sleep as pos- sible, although several preferred to stretch out and nap on the cooler upper decks. Others watched as the ship took on oilg armorers checked the magazine and flrehoses were faked out and unnecessary gear was secured- or tossed overboard. Fire control instruments re- ceived a thorough check as radar and radio technicians made certain that secondary sta- tions could be rigged quickly if the need arose. Other sailors lugged water, blankets, and C- rations to their stations while a crew, after watching the Kingfishers fly off to the beach, lowered the catapult crane. Below, medical personnel saw to the sick bay's readiness. All anxiously awaited the ship's first surface ac- tion. Moving out in line, the battlewagons pa- trolled the moonless night, moving back and forth across the smooth sea, which neverthe- less featured a strong current, difficult for helmsmen. General Quarters was sounded aboard the USS Calyfornia CBB-441 at 0130 hours. All battle stations wee fully manned and alert, ammunition was redied for instant loading, and the ship's watertight integrity made as secure as possible. Lookouts peering into the dark could make out the other mem- bers of the Pearl Harbor survivors associa- tion, but those below and inside the turrets could see nothing. Beginning his thrust up the straight, Ad- miral Nishimura was soon found out. At 2236 hours that October 25, 1944, United States Patrol Boats CPTSJ deployed in the passage. The PT boats made radar contact and, followed by destroyers, they attacked, causing the en- emy ships much damage and confusion. The USS Calqfornia CBB-445 observers could see the distant flashes of gunfire, searchlight, and star shells which marked the engagement. Just after 0300 hours, the battlewagon's radar picked up the Japanese approach at nearly 44,000 yards and began tracking the lead ship Yarnashiro. Yamishiro, the cruiser, and one destroyer were all that had made it past the lighter American forces and the three wee now acting like the cavalry in the Charge of the Light Brigade. As Nishimura pushed further into this valley of death, his success prob- ability was reduced to zero. Steadily the distance shrank and 0355 hours, after the USS West Wrginia had received the honor of opening fire, Captain Burnett was granted permission to commence firing: the range was point-blank, 20,500 yards. In the brief battle which followed, the USS Calnfor- nia, the USS Tennessee, and the USS West Vir- ginia, owing to their new gunfire radar and instruments, got off most of the telling shots. Firing in six-gun salvoes to consume a precious and limited supply of anti-personnel shells, the USS Caljornia CBB-445 poured 63 rounds of 14-inch shells at the enemy. Only 16 minutes