Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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heavy bombardment. Safety, and yet safety through speed, was the thought uppermost in our minds as the gunner sprang across the rail with our ammuni- tion order in his hand. Soon the booms were going at top speed, whipping up box after box of projectiles, and net after net of powder charges to deposit them on our decks. Long lines of Louisville hands quickly shouldered the containers and hustled them to stowage places. Normally each division handled its own type of ammunition, but in the interest of speed all strong shoulders were put to the wheel of progressg' on any lagging type. Walkiiig each container to the low- ering hatch was only the first step. Next the ammo was struck below by whip or hoist and then manhandled to its final spot in the magazines. Meanwhile other eager hands were pass- ing empty containers from previous bom- bardments in bucket-brigade fashion to the ammunition ship. Workiiig until we felt our muscles could stand no more, then working on, we com- pleted the job in double time. We had received several 'cred alerts while han- dling the explosives, but luckily nothing materialized from them. Although all our eight-inch armor-piercing projectile needs were not filled, we felt reassured as we pulled from the side of the ammunition ship late in the afternoon. We were not, however, fully aware of how important that ammunition was soon to become in the night engagement at Surigao Straits. This skyscape of a flaming Jap raider, highlighted against L 145 o . . r .. .

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