Lexington (CV 16) - Naval Cruise Book

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Lex returned for a strike against japanese ship- ping and aircraft at Kwajalein and Roi, record- ing a toll of two cruisers and a cargo ship dam- aged, three planes destroyed on the ground, and twenty more shot from the air. While returning from this mission, her dive bombers engaged enemy fighters and shot down seven more. After refueling, the ships proceeded on their next mission, where they QTask Group 50.11 were destined to run into stiff opposition. Their warning came in a signal on December 3 from Admiral Pownall: UBe ready for anything after 1700 today. Be accurate, keep cool, and hit 'em hardf, December 4 was a significant day in Lex's history-offensively and defensively. As her War Diary for that day reports: M1016-strike 2 successfully attacked shipping andinstallations on Kwajalein, effecting complete surprise. 2 CL, 1 AO, and 5 AK torpedoed or bombed and be- lieved destroyed. 1 AP severely damaged. 27 enemy aircraft shot down. 'L That afternoon it was the japanese' turn to attack, with the initial wave of torpedo planes coming in from the starboard side. The first two or three one of which had launched a torpedo that passed 100 yards astern of Lexington ex- ploded in the air in the face of devastating fire from the carrier and her escorts, but the majority turned back for the time being. In the early morning, however, the enemy returned for a sus- tained raid against our naval forces This attack itself lasted seven hours, although the men re- mained at their General uarters stations for The under way replenzshrnent and refuelzng ofslzzps was called Arnerzca s secret weapon zn the Pacznc By trans errzng uel arnrnunztzon and supplzes at sea Arnerzcas jiglztzng fleets could be kept zn orward operatzng areas or rnontlts at a tzrne wztlzout needzng to return to any zxed bases The develop rnent 0 under way replenzsltrnent was a rnajor actor znflrnerzca snavalstrengtlz zn the Paczffc

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Y Y i i .mu,,,u, ,,..---.-7. . , , ..--...-,..... . . I Q f 'ak . QW f 'Q over twice that period - sustained by the necessity of keeping alert and the sandwiches supplied them via messenger from the galley. A passage from the ship's log late that day reads: 'c'At 1925 bogies funidentified aircraft as opposed to ban- dits-known enemy planesj began closing and the Task Group began firing. Both groups were maneuvering at high speeds on evasive courses, and firing by the screen was continuous. To those with topside battle stations it seemed like a long, drawn-out, unreal dream- the ship silently steaming through the water, throwing out a bril- liant phosphorescent wake, the moonlight reflect- ed against the planes on the flight deck, and all the while the bright streamers of tracer bullets and the flash of five-inch bursts from the ships of the screen firing at unseen targets. f'At 2150 float lights were dropped in the water to guide the attackers to the target. At 2322 four parachute flares appeared on the port beam. They were beautifully placed to silhouette the ship, and it was obvious we had been picked out as the target. uAt 2325 the ship opened fire, bogies were closing in fast on the starboard bow. A torpedo was seen to drop from a Betty on the starboard beam Qwhichj was immediatel fired on but Y , came in close and got away at high speed direct- ly over the ship. 38 At 2327 the torpedo hit. The ship settled five feet to starboard and lost steering control. Nine men were killed and thirty-five injured in the explosion. Shortly after the detonation, Captain Stump's calm voice was heard over the radio telephone, informing the other vessels of his situation, L'She can make speed but cannot steer .... We are put- ting five submersible pumps in to clean out ship. . .We are going to ina' a way outof this thing. Here fate played an important role in saving Lex from possible further attack. With her rud- der jammed full left, the carrier commenced a sharp turn to port, as a dense cloud of smoke from her ruptured gas tanks on the stern formed an unplanned smoke screen, partially concealing her from other attacking aircraft. The brief respite was well spent, for within twenty minutes the rudder had been returned to an amidships position, and ten minutes later, steering only with her main engines, Lex was making twenty knots in an easterly direction. Attacks continued on her until after midnight, but all were beaten off by anti-aircraft fire. She proceeded all the way to Pearl Harbor in this manner, where Fighting Sixteen was debarked and temporary repairs were accomplished. A return to Bremer- ton, Washington, for permanent repairs was then undertaken, with arrival December 22.