Denver (CL 58) - Naval Cruise Book

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target, but the target was soon lost. For the next thirty minutes the action was fast, and several targets were taken under fire, only one of which appeared not to be in flames. At this time the remaining Japs who could run were doing just that. At 0630 the Dnuvr, Colioiiliuj and three destroyers were ordered to chase the cripples and finish them off, and shortly after 0700 they were shooting at a Katori class light cruiser that was dead in the water with her bow blown off. The target sank in ten min- utes and there was evidence of at least three other ships sinking or having sunk near the Jap cruiser at this time. Debris, fires, masts settling, small boats and wreckage littered the area. At 0730 in the morning the engage- ment was broken off and the Task Group headed north to be in a position to help a group of CVE ' s that was reported to be engaged with another Jap force. But the Denver did not get in on this and it is another story. However, the fact that she was not needed w as another stroke of luck for she had nearly exhausted her allowance of armor piercing projectiles and her high capacity projectiles had been pretty well used up on the shore bombardment. And in all Leyte Gulf she could find only 1100 six-inch AP ' s which she had to share with the Coliiml ' ui. Shooting at the Jap was an exercise the gunners en- joyed, but loading ammunition ' ith a sky full of bogies is no fun; the lads on the Dcii- I ' tT knew they had participated and done their share in a real surface action, and no one can ever talk them out of it or snow them under. A few days later the DLintr ' s AA boys got credit for an assist on a Jap Val and the ship Itself fell victim to one of the first Kamikaze attacks. It happened on October 28, and the plane was repeatedly hit by AA guns and plunged into the sea about fifty feet off the starboard quarter. No per- sonnel casualties were sustained, but the near miss of the plane and its bombs caused moderate underwater damage. Again Lady Luck was aboard — plus a number of fancy lead slingers. This Kamikaze was quickly followed by others in small numbers on that day and in force on the 29th, but thereafter the Divine Winds blew less strongly, and the Denver was sent off to get patched up — this time to Manus in the Admiralties. At Manus she was given excellent treat- ment by the repair ship Medusa, whose ex- perts performed the neat trick of listing her to port some fourteen degrees and very satis- factorily patching the hole in her starboard side. By this time Manus had recreation facilities that were welcomed by all, and liberty on the beach fortified by a few cold beers was greatly enjoyed. As a matter of fact, the repair crews were a little too efficient to suit all hands, for in a few weeks the Denver was again ready for action. She returned to the Leyte area in late November to help complete the securing of that area. Enemy action at that time con- sisted only of sporadic air attacks, and the only close call was a bomb dropped 200 yards off the starboard quarter. Four men were wounded, none seriously, by the re- sulting bomb fragments and the Jap bomber disintegrated in pulling out of its attack dive. No wonder the men of the Denver feel that not only can she get the job done — she ' ll get you back from it! In mid-December, the Denver participated 09

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Wake Carrol in tfie Snow Mason — Heaving Line Bilge Pump Convoy 40— No. 6 4l8

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