General Mann (TAP 112) - Naval Cruise Book

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TABLE OF CONTENTS I SAN FRANCISCO TO NEW ORLEANS II NEW ORLEANS TO BREMERHAVEN III BREMERHAVEN TO FRENCH INDOCHINA IV FRENCH INDOCHINA TO SAN FRANCISCO V PERSONALITIES

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SHIP ' S HISTORY The v. S. S. General William A. Mann is a 623 foot, 20,000 ton gray beauty, belonging to the young two-year-old Military Sea Transportation Service family. She is classed as a dependent transport and has been doubling since the outbreak of the Korean situation as a troop carrier. The Mann and her five sisters, the U. S. S. General A. E. Anderson (T-APlll); V. S. S. General H. W. Butner IT-APll}); U. S. S. Gen- eral W. M. Mitchell (T-AP114): U. S. S. General G. M. Randall (T.AP115). and the U. S. S. General J. C. Breckenridge ( T-AP176 ) — all easy to recognize by their two towering black and gray stacks and graceful cruiser-type bow — are capable of transporting better than 3,000 passengers and crew half-way around the world at a cruising speed of approximately 20 knots, without refueling or rcprovisioning. The Mann was built by the Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Kearny, New Jersey, and was introduced to the world at an impressive launching ceremony on July 18, 1943. She was christened by Mrs. Robert P. Patterson, wife of the then .Acting Secretary of War, in honor of General William Abraham Mann, organizer and first commander of the famous 42nd Rainbow Division of the first ' orld War. On November 16, 1943, the U. S. S. General H ' . A. Mann was placed in full commission and joined Uncle Sam ' s mighty expanding fleet which was soon to be the World ' s largest and fightingest navy. Christmas Eve 1943 the Mann reported to the Chief of Naval Operations and the Commander in Chief of the U. S. Fleet for duty in the Naval Transportation Service (now MSTS). During the period from December 29, 1943, to Octo- ber 8, 1945, the Mann established an excellent reput.ntion for herself and steamed a n incredible total of more than 641,000,000 passenger miles. Unofficially it has often been stated that the Mann was the first U.S. transport to traverse the Suez Canal. This occurred on another round-the-world cruise in 1944 when the vessel carried a full load of combat troops from Norfolk, Virginia, to Bombay, India, returning to the United States by the way of Australia. During her World War II journeys the Mann never had to defend herself against an enemy plane or an enemy ship, although she traveled widely in dangerous waters where enemy activity was always anticipated. After the Japs cried Uncle the Mann became oni of the important cogs in the wheel of the famous magic carpet which returned thousands and thousands of GIs home for demobilization. Completing its assignment with the magic carpet the Mann was reassigned and drew the San Francisco, Pearl Harbor, and Guam run. During this run she carr ied so many infants that she was appropriately nicknamed the Diaper Run Mann. The day of 25 June, 1950, when the Russia-supported North Koreans struck across the 38th Parallel, found the Mann in the last stage of her regular Navy yard overhaul at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California. Immediately upon completion of her yard work she was dispatched to the war-torn country of South Korea with combat loaded troops from Hawaii. It is said that our ship was the first U.S.S. transport to land United Nation troops in Korea to fight the Communists. How well we remember the warm reception we received from the courageous Korean people who lined the docks to welcome our big ship when she nosed into Pusan! Seoul, the South Korean capital, had been captured by the Reds and Pusan was being seriously threatened on our first visit to the large Korean seaport. It was then that the Mann had the distinct honor of being selected to receive the South Korean ' s financial assets (gold and silver) and valuable Government and historical documents for delivery to the U.S. Government for safekeeping. Since our initial visit to Korea in July, 1950, the Mann has made Korea a port of call on several occa- sions, visiting Pusan, Wonsan, and Inchon. The Mann was a member of the units which participated in the amphibious landings at Inchon and Wonsan. At Inchon the ship was required to man her battle stations during a couple of nuisance air raids which resulted with two or three 500-pound bombs being dropped on Kimpo Airfield which is located on the outskirts of Seoul. Although these raids were negligible, the fur- nished the crew with an immeasurable amount of confidence and experience which is required to make up a well-knitted fighting team. The recent round-the-world cruise commenced on June 16, 1951, and was completed on September 22, 1951, requiring a total of 99 days. Although the global trip was somewhat disappointing due to the fact that liberty could not be granted in the ports of call, especially in Oran, .Mgeria; Port Said, Egypt, and Colombo, Ceylon, it was a memorable experience which shall remain with us forever.