Hopewell (DD 681) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 34 text:

Task Force 77 1S a fast carrrer task force whose prrmary mrssron IS to send carrrer based planes over Korea to bomb and strafe enemy rarlroads c1t1es fac torres gun emplacements and other targets Our mam Job was to screen the carrrers from ny type of attack arr surface or submarrne However we had other dutres such as plane guard and l1fe guard statrons guard marl transfers and bomblrne assrgnments On trrps to the bombl1ne we usually accompanred a battleshrp or a crurser and shot at targets near the beach. A lot of trme wrth 77 was spent rronrng out the bugs rn the shrp. The br1dge and CIC were busy learnrng all the latest call srgns and srgnalsg our engr neers learned how to marntarn maxrmum speed s1nce those carrrers really move when they decrde to launch or land planesg the gunner's mates and deck force manned the guns every day, and We had target practice qurte often It d1dn't take us long to get the swrng of thrngs Every few days the replenrshment group would arrrve and each shrp would wa1t 1ts turn to reprovrsron and fuel. ' ' ' ' I ' ' - -'- '-'- -'L '--:-.-- -'-f- 'F mr---f-W ,--'M-N -V. -HW.,-,Q--,--...-...-.4..,.T...a,f..,....,, .,,,,,.,.,..,,,,:,,,?-T. ,.,,, 7 9 ' , . at , 1 2 - 1 a ' ' Q C ! I ' '

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With hardly enough time to get a good look at japan we were out to sea, heading for Task Force 77. On the way, we passed through the famous Shiminoseki Straits, the narrows that separate the Japanese islands of Kyushu and Honshu. In a short while we ar- rived at the Task, Force, and were assigned to the screen. We watched the carriers and cruisers and started getting used to our new ro-utine. V On deck we could get a goodyview of the many 'ac- tivities on the shore. We could see thehouses, fac- tories and the picturesque landscape. We waved at the people' ashore and watched the ferries and quaint fishing boats scramble out of our way as we passed through. ' f --.ff 1. ... .... .- ,-. i.......,...a..m...,f4:...4..4......-...........4.-.,......1.,,..,.............u.....L.,..4-L.. Q. .... .... .... - -- ----4 V H ,

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Replenishment days were always looked for- ward to eagerly, as it meant fresh fruit, vege- tables, milk and plenty of fuel-but, most impor- tant to us so far away from home, it meant MAIL. The fueling detail and high line p-ersonnel worked with speed and efficiency so we could have our mail call as soon as possible. Each bag of precious mail was counted as it came aboard and when everyone got their letters work would all but halt as we learned the latest news from home. Our first hitch with 77,' finally ended and we headed back to Yokosuka for a few days of maintenance, replenishment, rest and recreation.