Ludlow (DD 438) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 23 text:

YS 5' v wmmpw fx - A X 14-.-ff: C X X- -f:. gqA5 + W: f y fff' -s . N YS' is X ,N 5 X ' xv-, . 1 . H X ' ' L L I 'W w ' Fm s 5 s ..Vbb i :4f, , 5. 'bv f 2 A f 7 ' , i f KQQZQI4 'X'?7'!:.3':7 yf , 45, 'K -f f ff? f, ,, .96 VW? wwf nd, ,, V ffl ff fa I .9

Page 22 text:

, - ' , Tl E-boat was lying to VVe illuminated a suspicious contact with our searchlnght q TC I . , . Q lf.-boat opened up with Em - 1 1 the searthlxght, the . wedsaliv tt. AS Ziciiaiieziis tldiifaiildniis like luminous bubbles. VVC lllflifd UH tht light and an t e racers ' d them with twenties forties and 5 . Then they really meds knots' idioms an e up on i L f b t fift f knots. , fCP01:Si?uliiei1aciai21f Sie Zhi? had? few dents in them, but no serious damage resulwd ffomffhihfifg 535523558 a run for it we picked up speed in the chase. We tried to illumi- s e - - i t .t ith Star Shells and chased it for about 30 miles into enemy waters before losing na e 1 w Contasae then Went to Marseillegwliere we found out from the local Naval authorities that -' ' erman E-boat. as far as is known, there was no a Eurlilvciir d Eze? Eilgllifg u?1'1fgOIinUiglS.OiW was the only Allied ship in the engagement. Ot erffnCiCaFg1liISECA S25 USNR, had the sentry watch on the forecastle, and as soon as the .tracers began flying, lie threw his rifle over the side and was back strapped into the gunner's station of a twenty millimeter machine gun when the rest of the ship went to qeneliiiimggdliitiillysi following this encounter, the LUDLOW traveled to Marseilles and thence to the Straits of Gibraltar and a quick escort journey with the Army transport, MARIPOSA, to Oran, and again prior to the end of the year another round trip to Marseilles. UNCLE SUGAR LOOK OUT! HUS the LUDLOW'S third Christmas found us in Marseilles. Even so it was a merry Christmas as the end of the European War at least was in sight. Between the holidays we escorted the same troop ships back to Oran and thus saw the New Year among the Arabs, then back to Marseilles and thence to Gibraltar. On January 9th we were underway from Gibralter to 100 west where we met and es- corted the Navy transport, MT. VERNON to Marseilles. A few days in Marseilles while the troop ship unloaded and we were off again with her stopping at Oran for passengers and then through Gibraltar to about 90 west where we sent her on her way in comparative safety for a high speed run alone for the States. The LUDLOW returned to Gibralter. At this time after months of action away from the States orders for the States were ex- pected daily. On January 23, 1945, the LUDLOW was detached from the EIGHTH Heet Morale went high as all hands thought of going home. We even turned in our jeep. Two days later we were on our way as part of Task Group 62.1 bound for the States, but no such luck-one more assignment fell to the LUDLOW 'The President was about to make his famous trip to the Yalta conference Ten de- iroyers were to be stationed at intervals of 500 miles across the Atlantic The LUD OW drew the station 400 miles southwest of the Azores We received orders and headed for that station It was a calm warm lazy week steaming slowlv in our assigned area while transport planes flew overhead enroute to Yalta 'lhen during the conferen vue re- ce turned to Casablanca and laid over there a week the first u eek in February 1945 That was a ha t h ppy ime not mg left to do but Wall out the week in Casablanca return to our sta tion for another week as the planes returned our officials from the conference and then head for home After a k b C16 Wee ack on station I UDI OW put into Ilorta Arores for fuel 2111 nally started for the states One might sav no time was lost enroute in spite of one fig. lstyorm lasting 4 days the Captaln kept up our speed 285 men and officers were heading me o made It lpfifrazgiglig Siiigicallgdfsclmligilnafteri 10 months of combat and danger F veryone had half the Crew was h ebruarv 24th we rode into Boston tied up md over t e side and homeward bound vvnthm two hour ft 8f1'iV8l bound for all parts of the United States T Q a er our wo weel s leave--one went all the may to GMM 14

Page 24 text:

l i Q 2 7 3 I Q. I 1 A V 1 E