Louisville (CA 28) - Naval Cruise Book

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'ville with their destroyers to act as a screen against a Japanese sortie to the south. This task group, under the com- mand of Rear Admiral Crace, R. N., took up a position off the Louisiade Archipelago southeast of New Guinea. There they could intercept any J ap forces which might come down intending to attack the convoy or to attack the two carriers stationed in the Gulf of Papua. On the morning of March 10, 103 planes took off, successfully navigated the pass' in the Owen Stanley Mountains and completely surprised the laps. They sank five transports and cargo shipsj a light cruiser and a destroyer. In addition a minelayer was left burning, a 500-pound bomb exploded the magazine in a heavy cruiser and caused fierce fires, a 1,000- pound bomb hit plus two near-misses left a second cruiser in a sinking condition. Serious damage was done to two other destroyers, two gunboats, and a seaplane tender. Besides this, anti-aircraft installa- tions, airfields, and other shore facilities were destroyed or badly damaged. By noon all planes, except one, were safely aboard their respective carriers. The raid had been a success. CinPac congratulated Task Force 11 on a raid 'cwell planned and well executed. The war of attrition on the part of the allies had been forwarded another step toward the foreseeable and hopeful future when direct and concerted attacks would be waged on all the strongholds of the far- flung .lap Empire. During this battle we had acted as part of the screen to protect the troop convoy and the carriers. This duty, though impor- tant, was uneventful. Excitement, however, came our way two days later after we had rendezvoused with the carriers and were steaming back to our base. ln the after- noon on March 12, we catapulted two of our planes on a scouting mission. They took off with other cruiser planes at 14-00 and were to return in late afternoon. When they failed to return, we made smoke puffs to help guide them home. Later we em- PATROLING WESTWARD INTO THE SETTING SUN

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would have been able to capture Port Moresby and begin their operations east- ward into the Solomon Islands at an earlier date. If the .laps held these South Pacific islands, then they would be in a position to attack Hawaii, the Panama Canal Zone, or Australia. As it was, the ,laps did cap- ture Salamaua and Lae on New Guinea, Rabaul on New Britain, Kaviang on New Ireland and launch an attack on the Solo- mons which carried them to Guadalcanal. We of the Louisville steamed Westward from Pearl Harbor on February 16, 1942. Enroute to the Southwest Pacific we joined a Pacific Fleet force under Vice Admiral Brown on the Lexington, the consolidation becoming Task Force 11. This force was destined to assist in checking the Japanese onslaught. The mission given Task Force 11 in the middle of February was of vital importance in the light of this background. We were to harass the Japanese as they tried to push south and eastward through these islands, and endeavor to prevent them from cutting off our life line to Australia. After careful deliberation at a conference on March 8, it was decided to attack Lae and Salamaua from the landward side. It was a bold plan, for the planes from the Yorktown and Lexington were to be launched on the Australian side of the unsurveyed Owen Stanley Mountains and attack the Nips from the rear. It was hoped that they, expecting a seaward, attack, would be surprised. An even bolder plan to conduct a cruiser bombardment of Rabaul was given up at the last minute as being too risky. The day chosen for the air attack was March 10, 1911-2. The best information available was that a pass existed through the three-mile high mountains at about 7,500 feet. This gap had beenused by an air line between Salamaua and the Gulf of Papua, fifty miles inland. The valley was usually clear between 0700 and 1100. The planes were to be launched at 0800, fly through this valley, make the attack, and return by noon. 0 At the last moment, word was received that a convoy of troop ships from the United States bound for New Caledonia would need protection. The force com- mander detached the cruiser H. M. A. S. Australia, the Chicago, Astoria, and Louis- OUR CARRIER RAIDS STRUCK AT JAP SHIPPING

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OUR PURPOSE WAS TO PROTECT THESE PRECIOUS CARRIERS WHOSE EFFORTS WERE SAVING OUR COUNTRY FROM DEFEAT IN THE PACIFIC ployed searchlights with no better results. At 1911 the task group formed a scouting line in an attempt to locate our planes and also the planes belonging to the other cruisers. Our hearts were heavy as we searched for our shipmates that night. Late the next day they were still missing so we gave up the search to return to guarding the carriers. Some weeks later, in Mare Island, we were surprised to see our pilots come aboard ship. Their story was incredible at the time, but soon became common in that area. Unable to locate us at night- fall, they landed at sea to save gas. The next morning they took off, searching again for sight of their ships. When their gas supply began to run out, they headed for the nearest land on their emergency tanks. This was the southern tip of Rossel Island, appropriately entitled Cape Deliv- erance. Setting themselves up in a de- serted native village, they lived like kings on fresh chicken and the fruits of the land. Persistent efforts to establish radio contact with patrol planes in the end were finally successful. Identification was a bit more difficult until one of the officers discovered a personal friend in the unit contacted, and was able to supply information of his family as a Hpasswordf' Gasoline was dropped to the stranded fliers, and arrange- ments made for them to rendezvous with cruisers still in the area, a hundred miles to the eastward. Our pilots were flown back to the U. S. via Australia and Pearl Harbor. Meanwhile, after returning to patrol duty, with the temporary loss of our planes, our task force received orders to return to Pearl Harbor. We looked forward to this opportunity to once again stretch our legs on friendly soil and have a bit of relaxa- tion before we set out again for future attacks on the enemy .... f.5'g A2f 'J' I A 4tmf?L5ff6Q1 j .' . .'.5r.I.