Comet (AP 166) - Naval Cruise Book

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IM- . LEYTE REINF ORCEMENT . 1 The Task Group retired to the'South Pacific steaming at an approximate speed of advance of 14 knots, arrived at I-Iollandia 26 October, and anchored in Humboldt Bay. The COMET re- mained in the harbor for 10 days during which time the ofiicers and men enjoy-ed recreation parties on the beach, and minor jobs of maintenance and repairs were completed. On 5 November, after topping off with water and fuel, the ship sailed in company with the KNOX, CUSTER, SHERIDAN, and MERCURY for Noem- foor Island, about 40 miles off the northwest coast of New Guinea. Arriving there on 7 November, the COMET moored alongside the merchantman SEGUNDO RUIS-BELVIS and .began loading cargo from.her in preparation for a return trip to Leyte. The next day due to a heavy ground swell, it was necessary to move to an adjacent anchorage, and on 9 November loading operations were continued using LCT's to transfer the cargo. About 900 troops of the 503 rd Parachute Infantry cameaboard on 11 November, and on the 14-th the COMET again sailed for Leyte as a part of Task Unit 79.15.4 with OTC on the KNOX. The unit included: the KNOX, CUSTER, SI-IERIDAN, MERCURY, LAMAR, ALPINE, BOLI- VAR, STARLIGHT, ALSHAIN, AURIGA, BAXTER and ALCYONE-all U.S. Navy ships. Screening vessels were the des- troyers PICKING, BADGER, ISHERWOOD, WICKES, W. D. PORTER, SPROSTEM, and the destroyer transports QAPD'sJ SANDS and GOLDSBOROUGH. I , During this trip in which reinforcements were transported to Leyte, the ships did not meet as much enemy action as in the initial landings. However, one attack transport, the ALPINE, suffered severe damage when struck by an enemy Kamikaze plane early on the morning of arrival, 18 November. Even though -interrupted by four Flash Red warnings, unloading was completed in one day and at 1711 the ship weighed anchor-and got underway, joining a convoy bound for Manus. Enroute the destroyer WILKES was fueled by the COMET while underway on 20 November. A dispatch received 24 November ordered the COMET to proceed independently to Noumea, New Caledonia. At a point X56

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