Picking (DD 685) - Naval Cruise Book

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si-npts HISTORY The USS PICKING was commissioned at the BrooklYn NUVY Ydrd on September YI' l943f dl Wl1lCl1 lime d. . Cdmglfdnder igiffgakggljwssiiulllidBginlhlhndcan area of the British West Indies and a post-shakedown over- er G Slx ' lboa C. Z. on December 9th she haul the PICKING proceeded to the Canal Zone. Upon arrival at Ba , , , .reported ' ' ' ' FI , f d t d shortly thereafter was assigned to the North Pacif' FI f, lo the Commonde' ln Chled' ZCFIHCD lfdll I-lacllrbbryihmthe Aleutian Islands and upon arrival, December 25 1823 Th PICKING th u , 1 reporteed to Commarlaelllesatlllbrth olgacific Fleet and CommanderPliglralif-tIZ'3eYo5QJUC:3ndUf:l9:1 43. giptaln H. F. Gearing, ' ' t b d th USS I1 , Y , USNFO?dw?itrepldteilglldnllslrhcsfllftlllljdthhclsIdCnlal1lnGQor?grbtedewith the NINTH Fleet in the Aleutian area and during this time five offensive operations were carried out agsl eflemY Shlpplng Und lnslalldllons in the ICD-held-Kurlle lslcnldtle first of these attacks occurred on February Q4, I944, when the destroyers and cruisers of the NINTH fleet bombarded the Karabusaki area on Paramushiru. 'lhis was the first naval bombardment of Japanese homenterrl- tory of World War Il. Though there was some return fire from enemy batteries, none of the ships were hit and all returned to port unharmed except for damage caused by heavy North Pacific Seas. On the l3th of June, the PICKING, with destroyers and cruasers of the NINTH fleet, bombarded Matsuwa. Since dense fog preventeddsighting of the island, the approach to the target and subsequent bombardment were carried out entirel b ra ar. , The lst of August? the force sailed from Attu, Aleutian Islands, for a third bombardment of Paramushlru. However, during the approach, the task force was twice detected by enemy planes and since surprise, was con- sidered essential to the success of the mission, the bombardment was abandoned. . ' During the intervals between these operations, the PICKING was employed in routine assignments of escort duty, antisubmarine sweeps, searching for pilots of friendly planes forced down at sep, and training exercises: the ship being based at Adak and Attu during the entire period. A considerable portion of the time in port was spent repairing damage to the ship caused by the foul weather-'of the Aleutians. It was a testimony to the ex- cellence of Navy material that the ship was able to take the constant weather battering without suffering more damage than she did, for she was never prevented from fully carrying out any of her assignments. Thi RlCKIIj:Gb.left the Ageutian alrea for San Francisco, California, on August 8, I944, and upon arrival spent a ten- ay avai a nity perio or up eep. C Duriallg thibpreriod, LiejuEnant.CcEm?z1aRXle-r B. luierrlnnesi Jr.,dUS:N, reliexsdFCc23mmandeI-SA. S. lamb, USN, as omman ing icer, an aptain . . c ean, , re ieve aptain . . erring, 'N, as Commander, Destroyer Squadron 49. ,- The PICKING then left the East Coast and sailed for Pearl Harbor, territory of Hawaii, where she arrived on August 3l, I944, and reported to the Commander, THIRD fleet for duty. After a period of training and re- hearsal exercises in Hawaiian waters, the destroyer departed for Manus, Admiralty Islands, on September l5th as one of the escort vessels for several divisions of attack transports The ships reached Seeadler Harbor, Manus, on October 3rd after an uneventful voyage. .For the next six months the PICKING was temporarily assigned the SEVENTH Fleet and, during this time, participated ln.the Philippine Campaign Operations With destination the Philippine Area, the PICKING left Manus on October l4th as an escort vessel for the Southern Attack Force The attack force entered Leyte Gulf, Philippine Islands, on the 20th after an un- eventful voyage and, during the next four days, the DD 685 functioned as part of the antiaircraft and anti- submarine screen for transports and landing craft during the assault on the southern beaches At sunset on the 20th, three high-flying Japanese Sallys were taken under f're by the PICKINGS 5-unch and automatic weapons with unobserved results Though other planes were seen during the succeeding four days, none of them COMEDWITTH effective gunfragge b n t e a ternoon o cto er 24, I944, the PICKING' weighed anchor from Le te Gulf as art of tl'e 35552pf,?2Q2hheedU'E,f'Tt'lidU.lf.?2SlT?T2'5 pllllill JIEQTH tlte l5l'5'Kili1 eH0 I?d l' New G 'e'l Tho' n'ghll'he me stroyed and the other retired without attacking. e loo Under flre' one of lhe planes was de On the 26th of October, I944, the PICKING was detached to loin the escort of the MOUNT OLYMPUS and AURIG which were leaving Leyte Gulf for Manus From this date until December 27th the destroyer was engaTg1ed :Engine escort duttes or tasks in connection with ships replenishment and mqmfenqnqe e escorted transports loaded with reinforcements back into Le te Gulf o N ber 20th and rt?.af Ia':ina.2:e.:st:.2.m..r:.z:e..':gOf,ee'?t1nQ the fsfff 'masked brfwf funds 1Q'?m335'i'Qhfef Y e S 'ps at eries an the PICKING was credited with an assist in splashlng one of these planes This was the only action of importance which occured during this period During the assault on the beaches at Lmgayen Gulf on Januqr Qfh fh PICKING f t d as arf of th Y 6 unc lone p t..i.S 5'3Z2?'2i2'eb T+?. pI2'EIEl'3f'bSf'ee lo' 'he QnSp0 S and 'Gndms Craft several enemy ...Mft were Y u no o served damage wa d h f the 9th the PICKING d th S one 'O' e enemv planes On the eVe '9 0 wtfhouf ,modem lome e screen for llle Unlddded IYGNSIOOYTS and the group retired to Leyte Gulf g0 1hl2e1g31dg? Ill:53rLf2Py0ihl2el?D1lE:0l3rNg1e shlp operated in and about Subic Bay, Phillpplne Islands arlng known mmeflelds from the w t and 'he USS YOUNG gave Close flfe SUPDOFT to mmesweepers ed manesweepmg vessek the PICEIEYEGgsglxglamggvpclegeiayofannd Cotrregidor Ags th: enecmy dlddnot f:1 aroun t t t M PPOI' UDIY on out r orregl or a into Correzlggrrance o arlveles Bay The PICKING fired the first shell of the war fromeanU S Navy vessel On the night of February I4 I5 the DD 685 t lanedlngsf rgvllwdlzh vid ecceffgglteduhvilhlclidUllidlclliltynbacdblrlnedl ollllle eosl Slde of the BUY lmmgdlolely prlor lo l lhe Shlp engaged in screening operations oc ock G m Tllroughoul lhe femomdef of the day e o owlna mor F b Se Support of the belggghioz::d1qYeggnl?Slil3c:he PIEEING carried out a scheduled bombardment Cl d opp!-ortupity wlere taken under fire At least onecellemsrbzffgor fAfler 'he ltcnlllmg of lhe U S Hoops loldqe :rec its rom t e P CKINGS 5 'Y Irma at t e d ft I nce April 15, 1945 the P'CKINlG'nv52sgg2Sigrag5l fmortiar fire from the beaches Sdslrdllkdlrcdeutlrbclfzdlie the Okmqwq operation She remomed wnh th 0' UiY In Task Force 54 the fire support and covering fo on Ship for land opemhons and occasional' is force for the next 68 days operating prmclpallY 05 f y as a screening vessel for the cruisers and battleshtps of the n I ' . . - . ' .' . ' cle ' ' ' . . l . at th ' ' , , n . . YS Th id t h ' - ' screened dssdull Shipping from Subic Ba to Mariveles BCLY- ' T ' ' ' I 1 I I D . - e Th I Q ' u . . clto ' ' ' ' ' e U ' nd o ' - - , . ' . . , , ts . O . 0 , . . I ' I .. I , ' I , by Tl , , . ' . for ' - I . . . , ' ' rce supp ' ' - . I ' ' ' ire

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' DI ISION Ensign H. J. V. Snyder's R Division keeps our auxiliary machinery, electricity, and interior communications in shape for the daily rou- tine. The R Division also forms the nucleus ofthe ship's damage control and repair parties. f .,., S f ., ,,,, if W P 2 ' 6 if-'J S

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task' force. Also, she sometimes acted as fly catcher to prevent Jap small craft activity, particularl that of suicide boats. During this period of constant day and night bombardment, the PICKING fired over 15,000 rounds of 5-inch ammunition into Japanese positions on southern Okinawa, destroying a number of enemy artillery pieces, dumps, vehicles, pill boxes, sealing numerous caves, and killing an unknown number of enemy troops. The ship was almost constantly on firing station except for those periods when it was necessary to replenish fuel and ammunition or when she was assigned screening duties. During the day, the firing was directed by air and land spotters. At night, illumination and harassing fire as conducted by sector fire and, when necessary, directed by land spottersy Hardly a day passedwithout at least one enemy air raid, usually there were several. During daylight most of the enemy planes were intercepted and destroyed before reaching the area of concentrated shipping around southern Okinawa, but atlnight the Japs were able to reach the area almost at will. While the Jap activities were a nuisance, they did very little effective damage. On the 3rd of April, shortly after midnight, while screening battleships and cruisers of Task Force 54 in their night retirement west of Okinawa, the PICKING was attacked by a low flying Betty which dropped a torpedo. After passing close astern of the destroyer, the tin fish exploded harmlessly. The PICKING was fired on by a shore battery, April 5th, which 'was located on southern Okinawa. The principal target for the enemy battery, however, proved to be the USS NEVADA which was hit several times. Together with the other fire support ships, the PICKING conducted counter battery fire which speedily eliminated the enemy gun position. The following afternoon, while proceeding to ioin the heavy units of Task Force 54 for the night retirement sortie, the PICKING was attacked by four Tony type Japanese planes approaching low over the water. Two of these were driven off by gunfire but the other two persisted in their attack. The first of these exploded from 40 millimeter hits and crashed into the water 200 yards off the port quarter. Less than 60 seconds later the second was hit by a 5-inch burst and splashed 500 yards off the port beam. ln the late afternoon of April 7, 1945, off western Okinawa, the PICKING ioined a battle force of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers which were forming up to meet a Japanese task force, centered around the YAMATO, and was reported heading in the direction of Okinawa. Just before sunset, the PICKING opened fire on a Zeke diving out of the overcast some three miles off the starboard bow. The Jap plane, however, was not hit and made a suicide crash into the USS MARYLAND. Late that night, the PICKING learned that the Japanese surface force threat had been disposed of by the lanes of Task Force 58. On the night of April 9th, while retiring with other ships of Task Force 54, the DD685 shot down an enemy aircraft believed to have been a Betty which approached the formation. Shortly after midnight on May 2nd, while conducting night harassing and illumination fire northwest of Naha, shells began to splash close aboard the destroyer. The ship got underway immediately and conducted counter battery fire. The enemy battery, believed to be near Naha, ceased fire very shortly thereatfer. Shortly after dawn on May 18th, the PICKING went to the assistance ofthe USS LONGSHAW, a destroyer which had gone aground on a shoal iust off Naha Airfield on southern Okinawa. After making an attempt to tow, the cable parted, so the PICKING stood by to render assistance while the ARIKARA lAT-981 attempted towing. At 11 o'clock a.m. the LONGSHAW reported herself under fire from enemy shore batteries and the PICK- ING immediately turned her guns on the Jap emplacements. The LONGSHAW was hit amidships and then, again, forward. There followed a violent explosion which destroyed the forward part of the ship as far back as the mast. This blast was followed by a raging fire which appeared for a time to engulf the entire ship but was later seen to center about the demolished forward sction. Meanwhile, the shore battery shifted its at- tention to the PICKING. Several shells hit fairly close aboard but, by this time, all fire support ships in the vicinity were concentrating their fire on the enemy gun position and quickly silenced it. The PICKING immediately put a boat in the water to aid in the rescue of LONGSHAW survivors, many of whom could be seen amidst the floating debris and burning oil. Some 30 LONGSHAW men were picked up and taken to an LCI which was standing close in for rescue work. While the boat was alongside effecting the transfer, the LCI was also hit by enemy shell fire from the shore and many of the survivors iumped back into the water, necessitating their re-rescue. By afternoon it was apparent that the LONGSHAW was beyond salvage and the PICKING was or- dered to destroy her by torpedo fire. This proved difficult because of the shallow waters and strong current and only two hits were gained out of five torpedoes fired. One of the hits failed to explode and the other destroyed the after portion of the ship. What remained of the stricken vessel was destroyed by 5-Inch gun fire from the USS EDWARDS and PICKING. l U . On June 7, 1945. the PICKING was relieved of fire support duties since, due to so much firing, her 5-Inch guns were so eroded that effective pin point fire was no longer possible. On the following day the destroyer took a station off southeast Kume Shima as radar picket. The following few days were uneventful since no enemy raids of more than one plane were made in the sector and on the 12th of June all the ships were called in because of an approaching typhoon. The PICKING remained anchored at Magushi until the 16th, when she proceeded to another radar picket station northeast of le Shima. After four quiet days with little or no enemy activity, the ship proceeded back to the Hagushi Anchorage. She remained in this vicinity until the 23rd of June when she departed for Saipan as convoy escort. . . On June 25, 1945, the DD-685 received orders to proceed to the United States for overhaul, the cessation of World War ll hostilities occuring while she was in United States. waters. . i . u Late in 1945, the PICKING was placed in mothballs to remain there over five years. Recommissionmg was begun early in 1951 and the PICKING left San Diego in April, 1951 to report to the Commander Destroyers Atlantic Fleet for duty as Flagship of the newly reorganized Destroyer Sauadron.Twenty-Four. DD-685 was recommissioned by Commander A. C. Edwards, Commanding Officer. Captain H. Lyman lll was on board as ComDesRon 24. After an overhaul in Boston Naval Shipyard and refresher training at Guan- tanimo Bay, Cuba, the PICKING reported, with DesDiv 241 to Commander Sixth Fleet for a Mediterranean tour of duty from January, 1952 to 20 May 1952 when they arrived back in Newport, Rhode Island, the home port. Participating in Hunter Killer Exercises during the .summer of 1952. Commander G. R. Warren, Jr. releived as Commanding Officer and Captain C. W. Moses had relieved as ComDesRon 24. October saw the PICKING off Labrador for cold-weather exercises. . . , Involved in a collision with the USS STEPHEN POTTER while operating' as a screen for fast carrier opera- tions during November, 1952, the PICKING limped into Brooklyn Naval Shipyard for repairs. . While in the Caribbean for winter training, the PICKING received word to make preparations for Far Eastern duty leaving the states about 1 April.