Lanier (APA 125) - Naval Cruise Book

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Rail loading, Tokyo Bay A Wef ramp indicates slight choppiness fNofe 14-ball on P boaf engine hatch-1 Marines are not faking invasion foo seriously Marines walk up seaplane ramp, Red Beach Marines march off fo sever peninsula Modern bus sfands idle as Marines hike 36

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island of Honshu. On 27 August the entire Task Force received orders to proceed to Sagami Wan lBay1, Japan, iust outside Tokyo Bay. The LANIER dropped its hook in the calm waters of Sagami Bay, overlooking beautiful Mt. Fuiiyama, at 1702, 27 August. L Day was scheduled for Thursday, 30 August, 1945. TransDiv 60 lwhich now included the APA GARRARD and the LSV OZARK, to bring the total in the transport group to six APA's, an AKA and an LSV1, left Sagami Bay at 0241, heading for the Yokosuka area, Tokyo Bay, follow- ing a mine-swept channel. At 0717 Condition One Able was set, and at 0741 the LANIER anchored in Berth D , transport area Able , Tokyo Bay, iust off Yokosuka. By 0811 all boats had been lowered into the water. H hour, originally set for 1000, was moved back one half hour to 0930, taking advantage of the good weather, calm water and absence of any great difficulties in lowering boats. At 0915 the boats left the line of departure, and the USS LANIER, APA 125, put ashore the first wave of Marines to land amphibiously on the shores of Japan, exactly at H hour, 0930, 30 August, 1945. A The first few waves contained a host of photographers, newspaper- men and publicity men who gave the landing good coverage in newspapers and over the air throughout the United States. Mail comes aboard, at sea Man being transferred at sea hovers over water with Captain Cloud holds press conference enroute to Japan but six feet to spare IOWA ' lOWA and Third Fleet

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YOKOSUKA OCCUPATION Continued The 4th Marines from the l.ANlER, after hitting the beach, deployed to cut off the peninsula which protrudes from the southern tip of the Bay. Cargo un- loading proceeded very slowly at first, due to lack of facilities on the beach, but the next day American trucks, caterpillars and cherry-picker cranes had the stuff moving along very well indeed. On l September Task Unit 30.3.5 got underway for Saipan. lt consisted of the following ships: GRIMES lO.T.C.l, MERI- WETHER, BRAXTON, WAUKESHA and LANIER, with BANGUST and KYNE as es- corts. The group arrived on 6 September, refueled and took on troops. 'kirir On the following pages are snapshots taken by Ensign Tuttle staff photog rapher of the sceres in and around the Japanese Naval Base Yokosuka Japan 'M Zniiwi' Bkilhigftkti Wtnrm 'fisfii 'lA'KM?iti Yfikiiif ggi, s The Blue ribbon sign at Yokosuka Tougher going at Green Beach fnear Yokosuka Ens Staudf, U l.'l9.l H'-M5001 Ens ROUUB and Naval barracks-'I Lf MCGOWHI PeePm9 UU' LCVP's and LCM s had to take turns unloading 'funk lealfes LCM df Green Bead' Jfwwhwww W WW Oia