Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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began to mean business, and they didn't limit their line of sight to the horizon either. We could not even raise a radio station for New Yearis Eve because we were so far out. Finally, January 6, 194-1 found us approaching the South African coast. The visibility was quite limited, a general overcast and haze persisted. Suddenly the dim-outline of a large ship was observed off the port bow. GENERAL QUARTERS! We raced like mad to our battle stations for the first time in the war. One talker opened his mouth three times, moving his lips frantically each time, before he could mumble, Main Battery ma-ma-manned and r-r-ready, Sir. Rapid, loud commands from the Gun- nery Oflicer were being passed down the line insuring that all was in readiness for a proper challenge. As the range closed a bit more the shape of a carrier could be made out, and soon the answer to our challenge revealed that it was a British carrier, H. M. S. Hermes, patrolling off the entrance. She then gallantly turned and led us into the entrance channel of their Naval Base at Simmonstown. In record time, with the help of many men from ashore, we were refueled and loaded with GOLD, British gold, destined for deposit in the United States. In all, the amount was valued at 31448,342,212.55, a lot of change for the Louisville. Departure from Simmonstown was made the next morning. Heading north at 25 knots to avoid possible German submarine In Recife the people looked upon us with curiosity, but we thought them a bit 0-dd also. Official visits were exchanged with these Brazilian mine layers. Below is the Sangres, Portuguese training ship.