Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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listed two more planes bearing 159 de- grees at 25 miles. As another five minutes passed, the TBS crackled with reports of enemy planes. General Quarters rang throughout the ship. As we dashed for our battle stations, the ship swerved sharply to port to avoid a possible tor- pedo strike. g Thirty seconds later our guns opened on and attacking torpedo plane, and at 1930 a torpedo wake slithered from port to starboard between the Louisville and Chicago. Our Captain passed word to the crew to hold fire for definite targets. The purpose was to hide us as much as pos- sible in the semi-darkness. Within the next seven minutes a large group of unidentified planes was picked up nine to eleven miles off the port quar- ter. We moved astern the Chicago and lead ship. The planes maneuvered around the task force. Then with a shriek of rac- ing motors they plunged down among us. The volume of anti-aircraft fire scatter- ing in all directions to meet the attack was unsurpassed in the Louisvilleis history up to that timep One plane was knocked down on the starboard quarter of the de- stroyer Waller, then steaming to the right of the Chicago. Another was shot down in flames off the Chicago's bow, illumi- nating the heavy. cruiser. Three minutes later a torpedo struck the Chicago at the after engine room. Seconds later two more planes crashed in flames-one on the Chicagois port bow and the other on her port quarter. Then at 1943, two minutes after the first hit, a second torpedo drove through her starboard side in the area of number three fireroom. Meanwhile, one competent observer aboard the Louisville reported seeing six distinct torpedo wakes drive at our ship at one time. All passed in front or be- neath us. There were those aboard who swore they felt the strike of duds against the hull. Men in the lirerooms heard a crash against the skin of the ship and felt the dizzying vibrations that should precede such an explosion. 0ccurring simultaneously with the Chicago's hits it is believed by others that the vibrations and sound were the results of her explosions The Louisville swerved to starboard as the Chicago lurched to port upon being hit. Topside men say she appeared as a Halloweien decoration with orange flames leaping out of a black hull. Her crew quickly extinguished the blaze. At 2020 we made preparations to take the damaged cruiser in tow. It was almost an impossible job. Neither ship dared show a spark of light in the black, moon- less night. All communications between the darkened ships were by megaphone- hollow voices shouting through the heavy darkness. Meanwhile, the task force maneuvered miles away. As we lay dead in the water a few hundred yards ahead of the Chicago, our radar warned that a surface target was racing down upon us from the north. Excitement gripped us as all guns were brought to bear on the unidentified ship. While the mystery craft rushed on us at 30 knots, officers made decisions in hurried whispers. Should the Lou open fire? It could be one of our own de- stroyers unaware of our position. There was a grave chance that it was an enemy destroyer coming in on a torpedo attack. In that case the enemy might get both ships. A hurried decision was made to await the contact. Jap radar being weak, it was decided the mystery ship might easily pass nearby without seeing us. We lay quiet, hardly breathing as the minutes ticked by i 1 l y

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i Y BaH'Ie of Rennell Island TMJ Then on January 16, we got underway for Havannah Harbor, Efate lsland, under orders of the commander of the South Pacific Fleet. Arriving the following day we became a member of Task Force 16. 'Other ships of our fighting forces were the Wichita, serving as flag ship, Cleveland, Mont- pelier, Columbia, Sangarnon, Suwanee, Conway, Waller, Meade, and Frazier. Rumors of action to come sifted among the crew as unusual happenings occurred. Admiral Halsey made an official visit aboard ship January 22, remaining until morning. A few days later, the Chicago steamed in fresh fom the States to join the task force. She had just come out of the yard where she had undergone a com- plete overhaul and been equipped with the latest radar and gunnery facilities. At 1658, January 27, the task force moved out for the Solomons. We took formation with the Wichita, Chicago and Louisville in the right column, the light cruisers Montpelier, Columbia and Cleve- land in the left. We were steaming chal- lenge to any and all Jap forces. January 29 was a day filled with warn- ings of enemy planes. At dawn, the Chicago reported unidentified aircraft. Radar picked up an air contact 40 miles away at 1043 and another within 17 miles at 1102. Then all was quiet from the air for several hours. Late in the afternoon radar detected two unidentified planes 12 miles off, and four minutes later they had closed to nine miles. But a raid did not develop. The eight-plane air coverage for the task force was dispersed at 1852 because of darkness. As twilight settled over the fighting ships, ubogiesj' were reported closing from the south. Three minutes later the Chicago Top: Passing thro gl b t th New Hebrides. Mlddl N HI d Bottom: The L

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and the ship raced nearer. Soon it was at a range of 6500 yards. Suddenly we could observe the roll of the sea as the shadowy bow cut through the water. From the shipjs speed and silhouette we could tell she was a de- stroyer, but we could not make out her colors. Words took shape in our minds. uWe could throw a lot of steel into her in a split second. '6What was her inten- tion? Nervous lingers waited at firing keys. THE LOUISVILLE AND THE CHICAGO SHOOT DOWN A JAP NIGHT RAIDER Range-4,000 yards. We still waited. The darkness seemed to echo our beating hearts. Within seconds the mystery ship came abreast our bow. We waited. 6'Would she fire ?9' Then, suddenly, the mysterious destroyer was 3,000 yards beyond--and in moments had passed into the night. A motor whaleboat was hurriedly low- ered to carry an eight-inch line and lighter messenger to the Chicago. Thus the tow- ing cable was finally passed to the disabled ship after nearly three hours had elapsed.