Hamlin (AV 15) - Naval Cruise Book

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nit coil llllSSlllllllllll Prior to l944, patrol seaplane operations consisted usually of anti-submarine and search-reconnaissance flights from shore based tending activities, at a considerable distance from the forward areas. The increased tempo of the Pacific war, coupled with the rapid advance of our forces into enemy territory, created a great need for the patrol seaplane in the immediate vicinity of maior invasive actions, before land bases could be established. Only a tender-patrol plane combination should fill such needs. lt was to meet the resulting demand for sea- plane tenders that the U.S.S. HAMLIN was commissioned. llllMMISSlllNllllll. The days of training, the man-power hours of labor, the tons of steel for construction, the weeks of planned organ- ization, all were behind, both in memory and in activity, for the day of trial had arrived. lt was at the Todd Pacific Shipyards in Tacoma, Washington, on the twenty- sixth of June, nineteen hundred and forty-four that this ship was officially granted the privilege of bearing the name HAMLIN, and so christened. The locale was but a minor incidental to the crew which was to man this ship, for their minds were yet turgid with details of the vigorous program of loading and indoctrination which had been inaugurated. No man would have dared conjecture that a ship could hold so much materials of war, so many supplies, or be loaded in so little time. Ton after ton of spare parts, boxes of Title B, crated bombs and truckloads of ammunition were winched into gaping hatches to stowage below. And then the men, the all important crew, under the Commanding Officer, took charge of the l-lAlVlLlN, to link the life of men and ship for the remainder of the war. There were rugged days ahead, time in which to settle into the routine of shipboard life, time in which to test every limit or capability of this vessel of steel, and time in which to test the men who would fight the ship. Shake- down, with its speed runs, endurance trials, maneuver- ability check and hours of drills. General Quarters, Fire, Collision, Stream Paravanes-it was all work and sweat. There were days of pleasant pastimes too, of liberty in Tacoma, Bremerton or 'Frisco, and the Commissioning Dance for all hands and their friends. Yes, June 26 was a big day. There were to be many big days in store for this ship and her crew, and the sixteenth of August was one of them. On this, the fifty- first day after Commissioning, the HAMLIN turned her stern toward San Pedro and set course for Pearl Harbor. The shakedown before was like the first, experimental drops of rain preceding a deluge, for now, error in iudg- ment, unpreparedness or malfunctioning of equipment would be measured in terms of material, of men and of final Victory. L. 2532 4' 5 if ' X 'i' v I X. With seaplane tending the primary reason for the exist- ence of our ship, the Air Department, of necessity, is the core of the ship's organization, about which all other departments are coordinated. The activities which main- tain the planes, schedule flights, control the seadrome and plot the weather are directly supervised by the Air De- partment. As composite groups within this outfit are the V and V-2 Divisions, differing in the type of work attended to but each a part of an efficient aviation team. The V Division claims to have more varied duties than any other division aboard, with divisional rates of Aviation Metalsmiths, Meachnics, Ordnancemen and Radiomen, Photographers, Aerologists, Yecmen, Shipfitters and Boatswains Mates. The important function of the Division in the care and maintenance of the gasoline pumping system. With 400,000 gallons of high-octane aviation gas in our tanks and daily topping off of squadron planes, this function carries a grave responsi- bility. lvlany tasks of lesser responsibility but still important fill the day of operation. Each new base estab- lished required the laying of seaplane buoys and seadrome lights. The seaplane crane, in constant use, demanded cleaning and painting. Photographers were kept busy in and out of the photo lab, with thousands of shipboard and aerial photographs iust waiting to be snapped. Fur- nishing both ship and squadron with advance information on the weather, the aerological group played a singularly essential role in this plane tending activity. The success of bombing and search missions, and the safe return of many planes was often entirely dependent on these weather forecasts. To keep the flying boats of the squadron armed and operating is the first task of the V-2 Division. The Patsu, as they are commonly called, is divided into four units: engineering, radio-radar, ordnance and adminstra- tion. Engineering concerns itself chiefly with the flying ability of the planes, including engine maintenance, metal Page 5 repair, instrument checking and the thousand and one incidentals so important to safe aviating. The men in radio-radar and the ordnancemen are specialists, trained for specific iobs. They must be qualified, for the lives of others depend on their work and iudgment. vi . lllifi V GUQ RY 6 f , The primary purpose of the gunnery department is to provide for external defense and protection of the ship. On this type of ship from which Patrol Bombers are dis- patched on offensive strikes, the department also furnishes the implements for such action: The bombs, depth charges, incendiary clusters, torpedoes and machine gun ammuni- tion. Our record in fulfilling these requirements can be learned by reading the ship's log covering the lwo Jima, Karama Rhetto and Okinawa operations, where our de- fensive strength was many times tested in actual combat. To carry out more efficiently the varied duties of Ord- nance and Gunnery, the department is divided into five major sub-departments, with qualified officers and enlisted men in charge. These five groups, coordinated into an organized unit, are as follows: ill Ship's guns, l2l Tor- pedoes, C3l Aviation Ordnance, l4l Fire Control, and l5l Special Ordnance. The ship's guns on this vessel, as on the maiority of non-combatant ships, are primarily anti-aircraft weapons. There are long range 5 f38 dual-purpose guns, 4OlVlM twin and quad mounts for intermediate ranges and QOMM machine guns for the planes which get in close. The proiectiles from each of these contain explosives and de- tonate either upon impact or by time fuse. These are capable of inflicting heavy damage on the comparatively fragile construction of aircraft as well as serving effectively against lightly armored surface vessels. Perhaps you cannot visualize a Flying Boat carrying torpedoes, but it has been done. Our Torpedo gang, handling, overhauling and cursing torpedoes can testify to that fact. Consider their superhuman efforts in doing

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yr E l i I i1 ll 1 I ll 'l i '1 ,1 .z1a,1..:1 E.: f. -:Il1rf:2fanrv- fln2315'?iZ'Jx J? f. it 5 si P! is 1 . rs: if E5 if -5 fd 'll -s L1 r 1 - lic ,w 5 u 'si 1. if r 1 it .-1 J 4 1 it '11 ir F K, Q. r H V ,1 4 i f 1 1 1 r CMDR. WILLIAM G. MCKEEL, USNR Squadron Commander of Patrol Bombing Here is Commander ivicKeeI our Executive Officer. All the internal business of the ship came under him. His office kept rec- ords of every man on board, handled the liberty-if and when, got out the plan of the day and scheduled the drills. These same drills which at first wore us out later made us good Navy men. With us from the beginning, the Commander has done much to make thegship what she is. Squadron 208 during their stay aboard the HAMLIN. Respected and admired by men of bcth plane crews and ship, he has work- ed to make the once untried squadron an efficient, fighting air-group. Through their combined skill, he and his men have shown the Martin Mariner to be a versatile weapon beyond the scope of mere search-recon- naissance. We are proud to have served with such a man. CMDR. ANTON J. SINTIC, USNR Chaplain Samuel Hill Ray who is father LT. CMDR. SAMUEL H. RAY, USNR and confessor, advisor and shipmate, but most of all a friend, wanted every man to be happy, to be comfortable and to be a better man today than he was yesterday. To sailors in trouble, in sin, in doubt, or intemperate, the Navy has an answer: See your Chaplain. IIEAII c11fIIEPiIIi'I'M LT. CMDR. CONNOR LT. BREDEHOFT LT. ROACH Supply Communications Medical LT. STIEFVATER LT. KELSEY LT. figl KENNEDY ist Lieutenant Gunnery Navigation LT. iigi BOOKER LT. CMDR. LEWIS iinsetl Engineering Air This Book was published under the direction of CAPTAIN G. A. McLEAN, usN Commanding Officer '- Editor ENSIGN J. P. LeBLANC, USNR Assisted by R. A. BURKE SF Ifc, USNR W. N. BECK AOM 2fc, USNR 1 E. D. DAVIS S Ifc, usNR ART DEPARTMENT , L. D. HUFFAKER AMM 2fc, USNR H. .I. STAPLETON S Ifc, USNR PHOTOGRAPHERS l J. F. DONOVAN PhoM ifc, USNR W. W. LANIER AMM 3fc, USN F. W. MUNKNER PhoM 2fc, USNR IINTRIIIIUCTIUN This is the story of a ship and the men who sailed her, a history created by their travel across the flak-ceilinged Pacific during the greatest conflict the world has ever seen. Here in is their tale, of far-flung islands, of exotic peoples, of actions engaged in and of vast ocean expanses. It is proper and fitting that this book should' be dedicated to the USS HAMLIN and her fighting crew, for had they not been, neither would this. ' Page 4

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a malor overhaul Iob on forty eIght torpedoes In seven teen hours makIng somethlng of a record and earnIng a Well Done from AdmIral Hoover Later at SaIpan AdmIral Halsey hImself sent congratulanons on a rush Iob of loadIng one of hIs outboard carrIers wIth needed fIsh More concerned wIth offenslve actlon of the seaplane IS the AIrcraft ordnance department Under thIs group comes the bomb type ammunItIon and fuses .lato propulslon unIts small arms ammunItIon as well as aIrcraft arma ment Rush Iobs are the specIalty of thIs unIt and more dIffIcult because of the few men to do the work Smaller yet no less capable IS the FIre Control group whIch has as ITS prIme responsIbIlIty the care of all fIre control equIpment gunsIghts dlrectors hydraullc gun mechanIsms sIght settIng equIpment and communIcatIon between the guns and Control Ask any old Navy man and he wIll tell you that the rate most dIffIcult to make In the Navy IS Flrecontrolman All the maIntenance of the guns and proper handlIng of ammuntIon IS to no avaIl unless the gun whIch fIres the proIectIle IS properly posItIoned In space to hIt the target The functIon of FIre Control IS to so posItIon the gun It IS ImpossIble to say much about SpecIal Ordnance SIDCG theIrs IS a secret work and even wIth the war over no InformatIon can safely be released f i QQ' ww The EngIneers commonly known as the Black Gang IS one of the most vItal departments aboard SIDCS we took on board our TIFST supply of fresh water In Tacoma the department has been self sustaInIng After thIs water was aboard our boIlers were llghted off and there has been a fIre ID at least one of the boIlers slnce From the boIlers the steam IS pIped to all maIn and auxIlIary machInery all the responsIbIlIty of the Englneers Steam after beIng superheated IS used for maIn pro pulsIon Men from A DIVISION are In the steerIng room to make possIble the maneuverIng of the vessel Others of the B DIVISION keep the boIlers In operatlon Elec trIcIans of the E DIvIsIon at the electncal swltchboard dIstrIbute the power throughout the shIp And the motor mechs of the M DIVISION make It posslble for all other UNITS to functlon Work In the A DIVISION IS IHTGTGQTIHQ varted and essentlal DIstIllatIon and supply of fresh water compress Ing aIr operatlon of ICS machInes and scuttlebutts and ventIlatIon for the entIre shIp are dally tasks ln addItIon IS the operatlon of the steerIng engIne and maIntenance for the seaplane crane The Boat Shop provIdes maIn tenance men to enable all hands to have boat transporta ION The Important Iob of receIvIng fuel and keepIng the shIp on an even keel by shIftIng lIqUldS between tanks IS delegated to the B DIVISION The dIrty work of clean Ing the boIler fIresIdes IS theIr lot for they are responsIble for the effIcIent operatlon of all boIlers E DIVISION also has a Wlde range of dUlleS such as the shlps lIghtIng communIcatIons deck wlnches and all other electrIcally operated machInery They maIntaIn and repaIr all ventIlatIons systems and electrIcal systems of boats For maIn propulsIon we depend upon the M DIVISION ThIs unIt stands watches over the maIn turbInes reductlon gears condensers and pumps of every descrIptIon Much PFGISG can be gIven the snIpes for there are few places aboard whIch can compare wIth the engIne room machlnery spaces and bIlges for cleanllness In summarIzIng It can be saId that complete UNITY between offIcers and enlIsted personnel has made possIble the hugh standard of operatung effIcIency under adverse condItIons We of the ArtIfIcer branch have a record to be proud of lfsft '-'NY The ConstructIon and Repalr Department wIth the FIrst Lleutenant IH charge IS responsnble for the general upkeep and repaIr of the shIp If we were lIvIng In the days when Noah buIlt hIs ark there would be no need for Carpenters ShIpfItters Paunters Deck Force and Master At Arms ThIngs were so sImple In those days that Noah was all three rolled Into one The vast complIcated stream lIned shIps of today are a far cry from that old ark Con structlon upkeep and repaur are man SlZed Iobs The Importance of keepIng the shIp In 40 condItIon rates prIorIty over everythIng else Unless the shIp IS able to QIVE her maxImum effIcIency her crew wIll be of llttle value Just as a mans character IS Indlcated by hIs clothes so also IS the organIzatIon of a shIp known by her condItIon Slovenly looklng boats advertIse through out the fleet QIVIHQ the shIp a bad name The HAMLIN S boats have always been outstandIng In every port and harbor IndIcatIng a skIllful and well tranned Carpenters 9009 One of the dutIes of a ShIpfItter IS the maIntenance of watertIght fIttIngs There would be as lIttle sense In wear Ing cheesecloth for foul weather clothIng as In sendung a shIp to sea wIth leaky bulkheads compartments or fIttIngs The world has been at war long enough for everyone to Page 6 know If only by readIng newspaper accounts that any shIp whIch suffers underwater damage can and usually does slnk If watertIght IntegrIty IS not maIntaIned Water tlght IntegrIty sImply means the abIlIty of a bulkhead to keep out water Thus a leak proof compartment or fIttIng IS an example of such IntegrIty You may wonder why a Pamter lS needed aboard The type of paInt used IS of necessIty composed of Ingredlents makIng It heat and flre retardent and Immune to salt water GFOSIOH The mIxIng and colormg of thIs paInt requures skIll lt IS necessary to paInt a shIp to preserve ITS structure prevent foulmg of underwater sectIons, Im prove InterIor IllumInatIon obtaIn camouflage effects Im prove sanltary condItIons and maIntaIn a smart appear ance The Deck DIvIsIons besIdes followIng a daIly FOUTIDG to keep the exterror of the shIp In tIp top condItIon spend many hours worklng cargo of every varIety as well as handlIng boats In the water and aboard For every shIp maneuver of docklng moorIng anchorIng taklng on fuel mannlng boats and a thousand and one other seaman dutIes the FIrst and Second DIVISIOHS relgn supreme No other group of men work harder for less credlt than do the deck force The Master At Arms Force IS an OFQGDIZOTIOH aboard enforce orders that the Commandtng Offlcer may deem necessary to reach the hlgh standard of mIlItary perfec tIon of a well organIzed shIp and crew ses rim OMIIUNIQATIO s CommunIcatIons IS our lInk wIth the outsxde world Whether It IS by letter bllnker radIo WIQ wag or pony express If It leaves the shIp It IS because CommunIcatIons sent It And the press news for your breakfast table or the PIed PIper for more lelsurely evenlngs are Sldellnes of thIs department The men who make posslble our rapld CommunIcatIons system are many RadIomen wIth theIr ceaseless dI dI dI dahs slgnalmen expertly WOVIHQ theIr arms or runnIng colored WISPS of buntlng up a hal yard yeomen gettIng out endless reams of reports sche dules and records Add to them the SeeIng Eye men wIth that marvel of the War Radar radIo technIcIans who have never been found wantlng when electronIc gear acted up prInters who wIll turn out a perfect Iob In 'Ig tIme and maIlmen Theres the team that on or off the Shlp IS Cfedlfed Wllh knowIng Its stuff -'Y R T ' ' ia' . -. 1 , ii ' V -' '1'zsf ' W-W - Y - ' f - V , , ,. 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