Comet (AP 166) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 41 text:

X Charon Kanoa Dock--Saipan .-J' Center : Back f wr another load Bottom : V-Charlie-Oboe Mike-Easy-Tare ef

Page 40 text:

at 2126 enroute to Pearl Harbor, Oahu, T.H., with SC 1320 acting as escort. Arrived at Pearl Harbor the following morning where Navy passengers debarked. - Q A V As-we pulled into Pearl Harbor we saw the half-sunken wrecks of some of the ships that had been hit on fateful Def cember 17th. But around those charred hulles, and almost as ' far as the eye could see, w-as a vast armada of ships of all types . and classes. We were just a small cog in a mighty machine proudly known as the United States Navy. Some of the men aboard who knew the numbers of the larger ships pointed them out by name. The sight'of so many jighting ladies told, us that something was in the air. In a very short time the faps' on Saipan saw plenty in the air and on' the sea and land as well.... ' A ' SAIPAN OPERATION . ' The COMET was underway again on 7 May proceeding to Hilo, Hawaii, T.H. with vessels of Transport Division 28 under Captain H. C. Flanagan, USN, on the USS BOLIVAR CAPAD. .Combat cargo and Marine troops of the V Second Marine Division were taken aboard 8-10 May while moored to, Pier 2, Hilo, Hawaii. The ship moved to Honolulu Harbor, Oahu, on 11 May andireceived additional Marine troops. On 14 May the COMET left Honolulu at 0740 enroute to Lahaina Roads, Maui, for amphibious training exercises in company with Transport Divisions 10, 18 and 28. The ship thus began operating as an Attack Transport in Task Group 52.16 under Commodore H. B. Knowles, USN, OTC on the MON- ROVIA. Training operations were completed 19 May, and the ships ofthe above Transport Division returned to Pearl Harbor the following day. k A - ' Final preparations for the Saipan invasion were made during 38

Page 42 text:

the period 21-29 May as the loaded transports lay moored in Pearl Harbor. The ship was assigned to Task Group 52.16 with Vice Admiral H. W. Hill, USN, the OTC on the USS CAMBRIA. This Task Group was composed of Transport Divisions 10, 18 and 28, the COMET being in Trans Div 28 under Captain H. C. Flanagan, USN, on the BOLIVAR. Other ships in the Division included: USS DOYEN CAPAD, USS SHERIDAN CAPAJ, USS ELECTRA QAKAD, and USS OAKHILL CLSDD. The COMET was in Trans- port Group Able, Attack Group Two. In company with this Task Group and Task Unit 52.14.2 composed of the destroyers,USS PORTERFIELD, USS CALLAGHAN, and USSQLONGSHAW' and the escort carriers USS WHITE PLAINS and USS KALININ BAY, the COMET got underway for Saipan Island in the Marianas group on 30 May, zigzagging in accordance with plan 6 at a speed of advaneeof 13.5 knots. Before leaving Pearl Harbor, we had picked up a' broad- cast by Tokyo Rose, and she had threatened the entire in- 4 vafion arrnada with death, ftating that we would never reach V our objective. All handy aboard got a big kick out of her prophecy, erpecially the M arinef. They had heard her pro- grams before and didn't believe rnuch of what she raid. We figured that .rome attempts to Jtop the convoy, or at leart part of it, would be made, -but oyjfensive action by the Nipr, while A we were enroute, was practically nil, except for anoccasionali submarine contact. i A e The first submarine contact was reported by the escort on 1 June, but no direct attack was launched by the enemy, and no submarines were actually sighted. The convoy was now steaming toward the objective at a speed of advance of 14 knots. Zigzagging was discontinued for awhile each morning for anti-aircraft training exercises and ship handling drills. On 3 June the WHITE PLAINS CCVED reported that a torpedo crossed her bow from port to star- board. A tfew minutes later the same ship reported a torpedo wake astern. Both torpedoes passed harmlessly through the group causing no damage. The international date line was crossed at 1325, 4 June. 40