LST (471) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 33 of the 1945 volume:

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I ' 5601564 ' LANDING HIP TA K 477 '- ,f '5 - A rg - .-r -- ff: -'V 1 1 1, xx -7 .,- '5 D . , H 2. :eff 1 -LJ -Pb. .4 gm., .mx -J L Ex-I A 5 fjffn: Q4 1m 3 H 'ifweng YWP1' Di'EP?eRWi2NT LIBRASE ,, F Q -5 47 f SHIPS HISTORY The people of the Nation in 1942 little realized when the Navy first started building LSTS that the Navy was embarked on a building program of transport ships that would en- able it to put more men and equipment ashore in a given time than any method existing at that time. The Kaiser shipyard at Vancouver, Washington was well engrossed in the construction of the 6'ATLC fthe original designation for Landing Ship Tank? when the four seven one came down from the yards for commissioning on ll March 1943. ' The crew that came aboard shortly before the ship was waterborne were all green hands. There were six officers and about seventy men under the command of Samuel C. Otto, Lieut., KDIUSNR besides the flag staff of ComLST Group nineteen. None of the officers and only one of the men had ever been to sea in the past. Amphibious training schools had yet to be organized to any degree, yet the men had the determination to win over all odds, and win they did. After partial outfitting at Portland, Oregon, the ship sailed for .San Diego, California, for further tests and outfitting. lt was the first of its type seen in that port and when the Captain shoved the ship's bow onto a beach there were many cries of wonder that such a thing could be done successfully. OFF WE GO As soon as the ship was found fit, it was provisioned for a long voyage at San Francisco, and all loose gear lashed down for sea. The last week of April, in company with a few other ships, it sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge for far distant shores of the Southwest Pacific to join the Seventh Amphibious Force in Australia. Few men realized how far they were to 1 2 go, how much cargo their ship would carry before they saw the United States again. For the majority it was two years before they returned, for a small number it would be never. After joining the ranks of King Neptune and the Realm of the Golden Dragon, the men finally had the long awaited opportunity to place their feet on solid ground once more as the ship came into New Zealand. In the course of the many weeks voyage from the states on a rolling, pitching, waddling oversized barge, which was the nearest thing to a home available to the crew, it soon began to assume aspects of a comfortable vessel as all hands began to con- struct things out of scraps that would make their life easier. Although many became deathly seasick the first few days, this fear was soon overcome and they became seasoned salts in a short while. Under the light of the Southern Cross the ship proceeded to the land of the Walaby and Koala bear where it was to eventually spend many a month. At Brisbane, Australia, the LCT carried on the maindeck was unloaded by heavy cranes and the ship proceeded to Towns- ville for its first cargo load to be carried near the forward area. Several months were spent in carrying cargo from one recently recovered base to an- other, then on the eleventh of August, l943, the ship had its first real air raid alert while in the vicinity of Woodlark Island, New Guinea. Although several bombs were dropped by the formation of Japanese planes which flew over the convoy, no damage was done, partially be- cause the solid screen of lead thrown up by the LSTS anti-aircraft guns served to bewilder the enemy. George L. Cory, Lieut., KDJUSNR, succeeded Lt. Otto as the second commanding offi- cer of the vessel on 20 August, 1943. Up to that time a few other LSTS had been sunk as a result of enemy action, but the crew had seen no such results. FLASH RED On the fourth of September the four seven one was sailing with a task group from Milne Bay to Buna, New Guinea when enemy planes were sighted. Immediately all hands manned their battle stations and the decks were cleared for ac- tion. Two groups of planes approached the convoy, one composed of bombers and the other of torpedo planes. Both were immediately identified as uhogiesn and the order to fire was given. Coming in at masthead height under a constant barrage of fire from the automatic weapons, two torpedo planes attacked the ship. One torpedo passed clear while the other en- tered the hull on the port quarter well under the counter carrying away the port rudder and screw and jamming the starboard rudder over to hard right. Both planes were shot down and the crew gained some satisfaction in seeing them explode in flames as everyone survey- ed the damage done to the ship. The impact of the torpedo caused the main deck and many other parts of the structure to buckle in numerous places. Water began leaking into the main engine room spaces through the shaft stufling tubes, but members of the black gang brought the leaks under control by packing the holes with their shirts or anything else that was available and could be used as stuffing, so that the ship would not be rendered complete- ly helpless. A list to port developed immediately, but was soo-n corrected by counterllooding of ballast tanks up forward. After the ship had been taken into tow by the LST 458, a count of casualties showed that five men and one officer had lost their lives in the accident along with fifty Australian soldiers. Of the crew, five more were injured and one was missing. At Morobe Harbor, New Guinea, the USS Otus effected temporary repairs so that the ship would be seaworthy for a trip to Australia. From there it was towed to Brisbane via Milne Bay where the ship was stripped of unneeded essentials so urgently needed at that time for other ships. Again in tow, the 471 left Brisbane for the Navy Maintenance Repair Yard at Sydney where it spent exactly ten months in what men still claim is the best liberty port in the world. Everything they desired was to be found in complete abundance. During the time the ship was being repaired, some of the crew members were sent back to the States to form skeleton crews for new ships not yet in commission. Other men spent the days going to more training schools and the nights ashore on liberty. Several of the crew found the one and only girl for them and have since been married. While still in drydock, John Kisterbock Haman, Lieut., QDJUSNR, took over the command of the vessel. Leaving Sydney with many regrets, the men spent several months enjoying the scenic beauty of the New Guinea Army bases, usually returning to Hollandia at the end of what they termed 'gmilk runs . AWAY AGAIN ' The date eventually arrived for the ship to load for its first operational trip in more than a year. After retracting from the beach at Hollandia with a full combat load of men, vehicles, ammunition, gasoline, and provisions, it joined the other LSTS of Task Force 78 and headed for the shores of Leyte in the Philippines, some l300 miles away. MacArthur had returned with the aid of the amphibious forces to regain the land that was once his. Cautiously avoiding the mines strewn in Surigao Strait, the ships entered Leyte Gulf to witness the bombarding of the beaches by planes and ships. Although D-Day had been two days previous, many areas of the beach had not as yet been consolidated, the reen- forcements aboard the LSTs in this convoy being needed. Unloading was carried out as rap- idly as possible so that -the ships could retract and leave for Hollandia to re-supply the front. As the ship left the Gulf, the men little realized that the heavy units of the fleet steam- ing by at flank speed were going to intercept the Japanese task force in the forthcoming Battle of .Surigao Strait. Although the convoy was attacked several times by enemy planes, no dam- age was done until one night a submarine hit a nearby LST with a torpedo. A merry Christmas and happy New Year day were celebrated by well nigh continuous air raid alerts with general quarters stations being manned throughout most of the nights. The following log excerpts were written on the mid watch and the morning watch of New Years day. Still anchored as before With ships in the bay galore And bogies in the sky somewhere, The whistles blew and the signals flew, All hands at G. Zero one zero one of forty five All is clear and we're all alive. Flash red same as before With all hands groaning as they mount once more, Bogies here and bogies there, But we don't see any any wheres. The alarm has rung thru out The ship but now Itis finished, no shots fired Except the two which spelled jinis. Leaving Leyte, again with Task Force 78, the ship rolled along through the Philippine archipelago to join in the post D-day landings at Lingayan. During the approach, for the first time, the men experienced the desperation of the Japanese as they time and again were attacked by Kamakaze pilots. While on watch at Lingayan, the men became trigger happy with their rifles as Japanese suicide boats and swimmers were thought to be approaching the ship. On March tenth, 1945, the ship saw its first D-day beaching when it participated in the landing at Zamboanga, Mindanao, P. I. Japanese opposition was light and no planes were ob- served througho-ut the entire trip, but several other ships on the nearby beach were damaged by mortar fire. There followed a period of comparative inactivity in the forward areas as the ship had many of its worn out parts repaired and participated in the freight movements of re-supply and the rolling up of bases in the rear areas. This included a trip to the quiet little town of Cairns, Australia, for a load of Aussie men and gear. Returning from there to Morotai N. E. l., preparations were made for the in- vasion of Balikpapan on Borneos' southeast coast. This concluded the combat operations of the 471 and never again was it to sail in convoy through troubled waters. ALL CLEAR Following many months of tiring voyages came the announced surrender of Japan which was met with great joy by all members of the ship. At this time Donald Allyn Field, Lieut., QDJUSNR, relieved J. K. Haman of command after the latter had spent two years in the Southwest Pacific theater. Forthcoming were more short runs in the Philippines carrying whatever was in need of being transported, including Japanese Prisoners of War. Embarking a few Army guards and officers, the ship set forth from Aparri, Luzon, to the Batan Islands some distance north to effect surrender of the Islands. On Batan, 2358 POWs were loaded aboard along with lnuch equipment, enabling all hands to obtain some treasured enemy souvenirs. More Sons of Heaven came aboard at another island for the trip to Manila. After unloading at Manila, the co-mmand was transferred for the fourth time to .lulius Marvin Bentley, Lieut., CDJUSNR. By Uctober, scuttlebutt, which in the past had been rather indefinite began to take feet and walk around the ship, proclaiming that her job was over and all would soon be headed for the West Coast. However, as is forever true in the Navy, one never knows when anything will occur un- til it has happened. Then on the twentieth day of November, 1945, the signal gang broke out and two-blocked the homeward bound pennant that they had made some months before to fly from the truck as the ship proudly sailed out of Manila Bay for Pearl Harbor and the United States. A After roaming the bounding main for three weeks, she arrived at Pearl Harbor. All hands eagerly went ashore when time permitted to visit the Pearl of the Pacific. Captain Bentley, after computing his discharge points, turned the command over to the executive officer and went on his way to become a civilian again. Lt. Qjgj Harold W. Lloyd, USNR, commanded the ship from then until' she finally was decommissioned. From Pearl, she sailed to San Diego, California, with an LCIQLJ in tow astern. Come Christmas eve and all hands were bitterly regretting that they were still two days out of port, when the towing cable parted. The sun had come up on Christmas day before the LCI was again in tow, leaving many with memories of a night not soon to be forgotten. Arriving at San Diego, the men aboard eligible for separation from the service were pleasantly surprised to discover that they would debarked within a matter of minutes. Re- maining only long enough to take on provisions, the ship pulled out on the last journey she was to make. Accompanying her was a small AGC. The latter was having engine trouble so both ships put in to the pleasant sleepy little port of Manzanillo on the west coast of Mexico for twelve hours. As soon as everyone had a quick taste of liberty and the engines were re- paired, the ships steamed on to Balboa and the Panama Canal. Receiving no chance to rest, she transited the Canal to the Atlantic side, where she remained for the night. Going through the Canal, many of the crew had the opportunity to see for the first time the beauty and scientific wonders involved in the construction of this feat of modern engineering. After a few hours of work and liberty, it was away again, this time on the last trip. HOME AT LAST Underway to Charleston, South Carolina, her new home port, everyone became more eager to reach the final destination. Although the seas were rough, all possible speed was made and mileage shortened so finally on the twentieth day of January 1946 the 471 finished her last journey which had taken many hundred thousands of miles in both Atlantic and Pa- cific oceans. lt was soon discovered that Charleston was a slo-w moving city where all people took life easy and there was little to do in the way of recreation. While all were working at top speed during the daytime to hasten the day of decommission of the ship, there was still time at night and weekends for relaxation. As a climax to all of this, a ship,s banquet and dance were held. After a month of wo-rking and waiting, the day of final decommissioning was to come about 22 February. At this time the old lady had little equipment left aboard and none of the crew. She was soon to be taken up the Wando River and left waiting for someone to buy her for scrap. Although she came to an unglorious end, she served her purpose well and during the three years she was in commission, more than once received the praise 4'Well done',. Er .. Q, ,f--L ii ., 1 may 1, - ' ' I ' - - , .. f f- ' . f - M ' ' f- 1 : ' v f f- f, f ': Mwf1 -' tu - f- f f f f f . 1 K , . zu, ,f ...,--.4-:4+:....aa-+ ff -,E 4. f...yv.,.-wA.4.1w.v::..:e..1.a:::-::- ,,:f.- uf, ,W -, . , , . xg fx X1 X F-'mix N X, Y . LJ N .X x.-. A A 'vw 1- YC ,w .41 x ww-w x X X x . X . NX Yix. X. . 4 E 247. 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