Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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fully along the passage, and on out into Gatun Lake, we finally passed through the triple Catun Locks, feeling that we had pretty well mastered the intricacies of the passage by the time we slid into our mooring at Pier 6, Colon, Canal Zone. A few days in port gave us opportunity to drill our landing force for possible parades ahead, receive additional marines to form a full guard for dress occasions and have some pleasant visits ashore. Underway again, heading south as ex- pected, the Louisville was about to enter the domain of the Great King of the Deep. Last - minute preparations were rushed, and, despite sabotage of the Royal Carpenter's efforts, the stage was set for another crossing of the Equator. Precisely on time Davy Jones and his party boarded to deliver the summons of Neptunus Rex to all slimy pollywogs to present them- selves at the feet of his Majesty on the morrow. Early in the forenoon watch of October 4, Hlolly Roger was broken at the peak, and bedlam reigned supreme while the mysteries of admission to the ancient order of the deep were cleared up for the neophytes. Nightfall found us wiser, per- haps stiffer, but united together-Shell- backs all. Entering the port of Recife, Brazil, first foreign port of call on this cruise, was an exciting experience. Language difficulties seemed no real barrier as the oflicial calls and return calls were paid in rapid suc- cession. The ship's company crowded the life lines, staring with intense interest at the crowds on the docks and they, in turn, returned our stares. This visit was in the nature of a preview of the condi- tions we were to find later ashore. The second port of call was the beau- tiful Rio de Janeiro, possessor of one of the most magnificent harbors in the world. Rio was truly a wonderful city. Through the narrow entrance, overshadowed by Sugar Loaf on the port hand, we nosed our way into the harbor and up to our mooring. And so began a 'never-to-be- forgotten period of real liberty and shore leave. Every day our large groups of sight-seers poured up the Avenido Rio Branco, seemingly determined personally to contact every one of the city,s two mil- lion inhabitants. Time waits for no man, nor did it wait for us in Rio, it- simply flew by. All too quickly we were under- way, making course for Montevideo, Uruguay. ' We found Montevideo, capital of Uru- guay, an unusually friendly city. It didn't seem to abound with worldly riches, but neither did it lack for comfort and con- veniences. On our way in that morning, the prow of the well-known German pocket battleship Graf Spec could be seen pro- truding from the shallow water of the Through the Panama Canal. Liberty in the Canal ZOHC- Local Pub in Panama GUY- i

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Papeeteps other boast was cheap cham- pagne, a drink the bluejackets didn't com- pletely understand. They 'gsippedn their drinks in gulps and stood to sip some more. One sailor having just returned from liberty a little on the happy side, plunged overboard and swam for shore. A motor boat, lying nearby, was rushed to the rescue. However, as the boat pulled alongside the swimmer, the bluejacket re- fused rescue and continued thrashing the water toward shore. The rescuers finally pulled him aboard with a boat hook and got him back to the ship. The island city had additional bad effects on our crew, for it is said to have been responsible for a two-hour sailing delay. Two of the ship's crew, who swore they preferred the South Sea Island to returning home, attempted to go Hover the hill. In this case it was actually a hill. The shore patrol dragged them down from a mountain side to give the Lady a full sailing complement. SOUTH AMERICAN CRUISE Late in August of 1940 activity on the Louisville increased impressively. Four months of major overhaul were drawing to a close, rapidly approaching were opera- tional days ahead with the Pacific Fleet. The long overhaul had been a pleasant one for the shipis company, for unlike later high-geared production achieved in the wartime navy yards, work went on during this period at a normal rate. But even so the infinite number of welderps leads, the accumulation of junk and 'gen- eral messiness of repair cluttered the ship's decks. We eagerly anticipated the operations ahead. Clearing the Puget Sound Navy Yard in early September our course was set for familiar grounds-Long Beach, California. This had been our base and home, and it was good to get back just before heading west to the uislandsf' Suddenly new whisperings were to be heard around the ship. Hot scuttlebutt, straight dope, too. Was it true? Yes, in short order it became quite apparent that we were not to join the Fleet as expected. Last-minute prepara- tions were made for a cruise of another type. A pleasure cruise, it was called, but more powerful words were needed to fully describe the glorious times in store for us. A South American cruise, the dope had it, and that time it was straight. Preparations were soon completed for a trip that sounded like a dream. lt was the type of thing one heard about, not actually took part in, yet there it was. VV e pinched ourselves to make sure. Underway with no way on, not a usual status for the Louisville, but it wasn't a normal situation. We were easing up to the entrance to the West Lock of Mira- flores, Panama Canal. As our first lines went over to the donkeys, all hands observed closely the procedure followed in passing through the locks. Across Miraflores Lake, through Pedro Miguel Locks we 'entered the famous Culebra CCaillardD Cut. Moving unevent-

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if 111 1 1 1 H W N P 1 I 1 i 1 1 W 11 N 1 11 V E 11 1 1 .1 J f I 1 1 !1 1 11 ls i 1 1 .Z X 1 1 ri 1 rl H 11 111 l. Top: Fleet Landing at Colon. Middle: Liberty- bound in Colon. Bottom: On to South America, our first stop was Recife, Brazil. Rio de la Plata estuary. Our planes flew low to survey the remains at close quarters. On the third day our Landing Force, under Dress Standard, marched to the central square of the city, where they formed in colorful array for a ceremony in which we honored the country of Uruguay, simply but sincerely, when our Captain laid a wreath on the monument of Jose Artigas, Uruguayan national hero and leader. on the move again, not far this time, we proceeded the 172 miles up the La Plata River to the largest city of South America, Buenos Aires, capital of Argen- tina. City of broad streets and many parks, HB. A., as we soon learned to call it, was indeed a treat for visiting sailors. And we made the most of it. Our one gripe, as always, was too few liberties. We never seemed to get our fill of it. Visiting again, in rapid succession we stopped in the Brazilian ports of Santos, Rio Grande do Sul, a second ten days in Bio de Janeiro, and on to quaint Bahia. Built on a hill, here one had to Whit the beachw by using an elevatorto get up to the city itself. Ship's recreation parties made daily jaunts to the parks, as Christ- mas Eve approached. Our shipis choir readied themselves with their Christmas carols, and on Christmas Eve toured the city singing tender messages of peace and good will. Christmas Eve was long to be remembered as we spent it in Bahia that year. Predominantly a Catholic area, all the churches were having their high masses that evening. Many of us attended the midnight services in one of the old, but impressive, cathedrals there in Bahia. Christmas was spent quietly by most of us, as our thoughts turned their way northward. Rumors were rampant the next morning. December 26, the Louisville got underway and anchored out in the stream off Bahia. This was rather strange, we thought, and it was indeed. All day we lay thereg spec- ulation grew more ridiculous by the hour. Soon we got underway, and not long thereafter the Captain disclosed to us that we were under secret orders proceeding to Simmonstown, South Africa. What next? It was a long voyage to South Africa. The European war, something only in the papers to us, suddenly took on greater significance. We were about to be thrown right in the middle, or at least the edge of it. Installed prominently about the ship, large American flags were illuminated at night by our searchlights. The lookouts