Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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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.

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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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sg... S Scenes of Montevideo. We honored this statue of Uraguay's hero. A street cene in Buenos Aires. for there he was practically under the stern. Maneuvering the ship brought him within reachiand a line was tossed to him. Too weak to hold on to the line, he was able to tie it around himself and be tugged aboard nearly dead from exhaustion. The sea persisted in its violent pound- ing, and our boat was still out there, first in sight on one side of a wave, then gone again from view. Finally, she came along- side and the touchy task of hoisting it in was completed, but only after a narrow escape from disaster. One man was thrown out of the boat between the shipis side and the gunwale of the boat. For a second it seemed as though a fatal blow would crush him as the roll of the ship brought the boat and the ship together with a powerful crash. Butt for the second time within a very short period we witnessed a miracle. A small scupper protruding perhaps a foot from the side of the ship took the blow and did not allow the helpless, dangling man to be killed, as it seemed inevitably he would be. Twenty-two days at sea we spent, before standing in to New York, and the 6,786 miles in one straight run was not to be sneezed at. The Statue of Liberty ,was not the only, welcome we received as we entered the harbor, for a veritable army of policemen met us at the dock. There they stayed until every last gold brick was safely off and enroute to the Federal Re- serve Bank of New York. The Louisville had concluded a most remarkable cruise. For those that were fortunate enough to be aboard, it fur- nished cherished memories, and made spicy conversation throughout the trying years of war ahead. lt was a little difficult to say good-bye to New York as we headed through the Canal, once again for the West Coast and the broad Pacific.