Dashiell (DD 659) - Naval Cruise Book

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4-Q ate long range aircraft agamst Japan, secure control of the Central Pa- cific, isolate and neutralize the Carolines. Task Forces 58 and 59 were directed to provide strategical and tactical air support for the operation. How well they complied was demonstrated by their rout of the Japanese fleet that had set out from the Philippines and by the overwhelming ratio of plane losses suffered by the enemy. The northern attack force was to strike Saipan on D-Day, set for 15 June. The southern force, Task Force 53, was to act as a Heating reserve for the northern and to be in position for the Guam landing on D plus two, though it was estimated that the attack would occur on the 18th. The DASHIELL was assigned to the southern attack group of the southern force. G 9 The Saipan landing came off as scheduled, though the hard-lighting Marines met even more resistance than they had expected. On D plus two the DASHIELUS group was in the appointed position but was or- dere'd to retire and come in again twenty-four hours later. Next day the same thing happened. -In fact it happened for two weeks, much to the increasing wonder and disappointment of the ship's company. The monotony was broken the night of 19-20 June when the '659 was or- dered to conduct hunter-killer operations in an area where a submarine had been reported. Results of tl1e search were negative, however, and the ship rejoined at 0800. After a few days the east-west route traveled over and over by the task group was christened U. S. Route 1. Some souls even claim to have seen a few billboards and filling stations. Finally on 30 June the Captain announced, 'GBelieve it or not, we're on our way to Eniwetoklw It was an anticlimax but at least the tension was relieved, and the plans for Guam, though postponed, were by no means abandoned. The DASHIELL entered the lagoon at Eniwetok, westernmost of the Marshalls, the afternoon of 3 July. As at Kwajalein, palm trees on the atollls principal islands, now bereft of foliage, at- tested to the fury of the fighting that had taken place earlier in the year. For two weeks the DASHIELL remained anchored at Eniwetok ex- cept for two patrolling details and a day of anti-submarine exercises. Her men got a chance to stretch their legs again on some of the islands that still had trees, to drink some beer, and in some cases to brave the knife- like coral and go swimming. Generally speaking, though, Paciic atolls are not equipped as amusement parks. At 0930 on 17 July the DASHIELL shoved off again with Task Group 53.2, this time for the real thing. The transports were in four

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iaisfie 0 tions approximated those of the group's support area in the coming op- eration. Sectors and reference points made up for Cape Esperance co- incided with those which would be used for Orote Peninsula and the ad- jacent shore area on the west coast of Guam. The 3659 returned to Purvis by dark and was at anchor till 24 May, proceeding then to join a transport screen off Tassafaronga, Guadalcan- al. That night shenbecame part of a cruising disposition that proceeded to Esperance, where early the next morning a simulated amphibious land- ing by two combat teams took place. Service ammunition, bombs and rockets were employed under cover of naval gunfire and air support. The strong force of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers participating was essentially that which would see action at Guam. The DASHIELL returned to Tulagi on the 25th. Rehearsals completed, all ships were well acquainted with their assignments and ready for the real test. During the next ten days while she was waiting to set out for the Central Pacihc area the DASHIELL was either in Purvis Bay or screening transports off Tassafaronga. At 0930 on 4 June she formed with a large task group of transports, cruis- ers, destroyers, and smaller ships. A carrier support unit joined later. The group was enroute to the spacious anchorage at recently taken Kwa- jalein Atoll in the Marshall group, from where a large part of the Mari- anas attack would be launched. The ships arrived and anchored at Kwajalein the afternoon of the 8th, Next morning the Captain assembled all hands on the forecastle to announce the purpose and details of the operation. News of the forth- coming attack on the strongly garrisoned Mariannas-the first reconquest of American territory-had an uplifting effect. As a dramatic climax the skipper s talk was cut short by an air raid alert that sent all hands to their battle stations. No enemy planes, however, came over the atoll. The DASHIELL remained at anchor till the morning of the llth, when she was given patrol duty outside the channel entrance. Next day at 1000 she formed up with Task Group 53.2, which had gotten under- way for the Marianas. This group was part of a powerful joint expeditionary force that was to capture, occupy, and defend Saipan, Tinian, and Guam. The enemy was strengthening these bases as a barrier to our advance to the West- ern Pacific. The expeditionary force was to develop airfields on the three islands and gain control of the remaining Marianas so as to oper- f --

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K columns of four ships with the destroyers and minesweepers as an anti- submarine screen and two CV'E's operating astern in a carrier area. At daybreak of 21 July the coast of Guam was sighted. Simultaneously with 53.2's landing of troops, the northern group landed on the other side of Orote Peninsula. The DASHIELL was desig- nated to form a fire support unit with the U. S. S. Murray. At 0400 the ship went to general quarters, commencing prearranged fires on targets below Agat two hours later. For ten minutes before the first landing wave at 0836 the rate of fire was increased from one salvo every two or three minutes to 10 rounds per gun per minute. The umbrella of naval gunfire was largely responsible for the success of the landings. The DASHIELL continued tiring in her assigned area throughout the morn- ing. At 1100 she neutralized Japanese mortar positions on the slope of Mt. Alafan. Soon thereafter contact was established with the shore fire control party, and during the afternoon various enemy strongpoints in the line of advance were neutralized. Most of the firing was conducted at a range of 5000 to 8000 yards from the beach. The only casualty re- ported was a small fire on the forecastle caused by burning cork which was quickly extinguished. That night the DASHIELL was assigned to the transport screen. At 0700 next morning the ship was back in her fire support area. She delivered effective call fires against enemy artillery, tanks, emplace- ments, and other targets until 1600, at which time she replenishd her dwindling ammunition supply from an LST. Upon return to the area she delivered more salvos, then furnished starshell illumination till 0200. In the morning the 2659 proceeded to F acpi Point for a fire mission. She returned to her assigned area at 1600, having liquidated numerous Japanese troops and tanks. During the night 23-24 July she furnished illumination and harassing fire in the Mt. Alafan area. At 0800 next morning the DASHIELL'S second change of com- mand took place under the dramatic circumstances of action against the enemy Lieutenant Commander Barham, now assigned to a shore sta tion after nine years of active sea duty was relieved by Commander D L Cordlner, who had come aboard at Emwetok All this time the DASHIELL S men had been closely following the reports of our advancing front lines By the morning of the 24th the north ern and southern troops had joined and were closing 1n on the mam body of the enemy trapped on Orote Peninsula The DASHIELL now took under fire a specific enemy strongpomt that was holding up the advance f , . . I I 0 Q . , . , fl A ' 0 0 ., , W 9 0 ' Q , I . . , 0 I U . . Q . . O O I 0 O ' a I 0 O . . ., if . , . , . , . an 1 QI, g 3 X' n . v Q g,12g.Lg A 2 15 J . 5 , 'S fr aims: .