Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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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.

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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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Fl' ' threat, we soon entered the roaring forties we so often read about. Living up to its name, the area pounded us around considerably that first day, as we altered course to the west. By late after- noon the seas were built up tremen- dously by winds of fifty knots. The ship suddenly took several severe rolls of about thirty degrees, and then, seemingly poised for her greatest effort, she rolled forty degrees to starboard. One observer on the bridge fell down between the binnacle and the compass repeater. By the time he could pick himself up, all hell had broken loose. The clanging general alarm was the first widespread notice of the fact that a man was overboard. Perhaps more than one had gone over. Heavy gear throughout the ship broke loose, momentarily no one was safe any- where. Then gradually as order came out of confusion, it became apparent that at least one man was in the water. We caught sight of him bobbing along on the top of a wave for a second, then going out of sight again. The Captain backed down, and in the growing darkness our search- light beam sought out the man. Every- where could be heard the sharp intake of breath and, God, he's a goner suref, But he wasn't a goner. Our whaleboat was put over the side. It was a tense moment, for the chances of safe return were slim. Then the man was again spot- ted in the darkness sharp off the port quarter. The whaleboat hadn't found him, ' 1, . 511 i N - , i f t I t 1 ' ' JPY, Wff x f tw ' f if Q - 5 f fav ' ,iwsfl 43,5-fg',.5.1f ' 1 , LV.-1, ,Af 'Q ,lf aim.-f , we ffzggfi l ,. Q3.,.,,,..v sa, s,,,, - ,, .f fi v ' , - - -,,,,.,,l f . A 5.4 . ft .z , e f it . ,,,, , ..., H f il e , fr' f33iz:s,.5Qz .2,,.- , In beautiful Rio we found shady, mosaic- patterned walks lined with sidewalk vendors and trinket shops.