Lanier (APA 125) - Naval Cruise Book

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Lieutenant Commander and Mrs. Hubert W. Fisher, first executive officer, and Commander and Mrs. Walter W. Rockey, first skipper of The LANIER shiny MMEDIATELY after commissioning ceremo- nies, the LANIER proceeded tothe Naval Supply Depot, Oakland, where everything from potatoes to light bulbs, enough supplies to last for weeks, were taken aboard. A three-day delay at the request of the Central Commissioning Detail, West Coast, was effected beginning 28 December, due to faulty engine room valves. After this brief overhaul at Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, San Francisco, the ship moved out to anchor almost beneath the 7-mile-long Oakland Bay Bridge. At this time the ship's allowance of 26 assault boats was taken aboard, and preparations were made for shakedown training. The new year of i945 was inaugurated for the LANIER by its participation in a month s period of withstanding trials and tribulations such as only a shakedown detail can sponsor Boats were lowered and hoisted booms rigged, winches operated, compasses com- pensated, radar gear tested, paravanes streamed, speed trials run, turning circle es- tablished, as well as drills conducted for abandon ship, fire, fire and rescue, general quarters, signals and collision. Simple tactical maneuvers were conducted, accompanied by the APA's AUDUBON, CORT- LAND and BRAXTON, from 18 to 20 January. Four days later a personnel and material in- spection was held by the San Pedro Shake- down Group. Later, word was receivedthat our ship was quite satisfactory. Anchored off the Coronado Strand, San Diego, from l February through 4 February, the LANIER S boats and personnel were exer cised in the rough surf Numerous T 3 and T 4 practice landings were made debarka tion and net handling drills conducted and communications procedure was tested A gate to heaven . . , U ll I I C 0 , . . - . I I I I I C 'I . ' T I ' I 9 O O . . V . . , I ' .

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f .X ,Q-,wggq Chests, hair and helmets Ensign Tuttle's Twenty ' 'Ready, load! ' ' Target practice Off to the beach

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THE LOG - Continued On 5 February the LANIER proceeded to the San Clemente Island area, where for five days, Together with the APA's AMERICAN LEGION, HUNTER LIGGETT, BROADWATER, PONDERA and CORTLAND, it participated in mock invasion. On 9 February the ship moored in a well-cluttered bay at San Pedro, where, until the 20th, it underwent repairs during its availability period. The next day the LANIER set sail for San Francisco. It was Washington's Birthday, the 22nd of February, when the LANIER loaded 335 rather sober-looking civilians, together with 80 officers and 9 enlisted men, bound for Pearl Harbor. The ship left on 23 February, 1945. A good share of the crew as well as many of the officers got their first glimpse of On the beach at Waikiki Cloud-shrouded Isle of Oahu territory outside the United States when the LANIER, after sailing alone, arrived at Pearl Harbor on 2 March. Commander Rockey, on 3 March, was de- tached for hospitalization at Pearl Harbor. Three days later, on 6 March, Captain Ben- iamin W. Cloud, USN, assumed command, reading his orders before the entire ship's company. With the SAN SABA skipper as O. T. C. lOfficer in Tactical Commandl, the LANIER, CLEBURNE, CORTLAND AND CRENSHAW got underway on 17 March for Maui, Territory of Hawaii, to conduct practice amphibious operations. Five days were spent in T-3 and T-4 exercises, including laying of smoke screen and streaming of paravanes. Embarking at Oahu Oahu ff 7:4 f . 5 'X 5 K