Salt Lake City (CA 25) - Naval Cruise Book

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E715 Um' of Zriumplz May 14, 1943 to August 15, 1945 When the Salt Lake City emerged from the Mare Island Navy Yard on May 14, l943, after repair of the damage suffered in the Battle of the Komandorskies, the American offensive, begun on a small scale at Guadalcanal and on New Guinea, was about to expand into an irresistible march across the Pacific. Henceforth, the SWayback's primary targets were to be, not surface ships, but land bases. She was attached to the bom- bardment groups, the almost unsung ships which steamed up to enemy bases and stayed, paralyzing his resistance to con- quest by the thunder of their heavy guns. The cruiser's first assignment took her back to the Aleutians, Where Attu and Kiska remained as unfinished American busi- ness. For l23 days, she was at sea practically all the time, returning only at infrequent intervals to her base, bleak Kuluk Bay at Adak for logistics not available at sea. She convoyed, patrolled, bombarded Kiska and covered the Attu lnvasion. On September 23, she moved south with the War. She based at Pearl Harbor and made a flying trip to San Francisco from Cctober lst to l4th to carry back as passengers seventy- five officers and one thousand enlisted men for participation in the forthcoming invasion of the Gilbert Islands. ln November the Salt Lake City was in the midst of that operation, helping the marines in their now famous conquest of Tarawa. During the assault, Iap shore batteries fired at the cruiser for one hour and fifty-four minutes, but obtained no hits. The luck of the Salt Lake City was becoming a byword. After Tarawa, the Swayback covered the occupation of nearby Abemama. ln two days there, she knocked down four lap planes and helped destroy another. The operation con- cluded, she based at Funafuti. ln Ianuary, the Americans moved north into the Marshalls. As part of the neutralizing force, the Salt Lake City conducted 21 g

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lt hod token three hours ond forty-two minutes, the longest sed engagement in the entire history of the modern Novy. The Sdlt Loilce City Counted her losses, two men killed ond thirteen Wounded. Then proudly, with on eight degree list to port, the result ot bottle doinioge, the cruiser steoined loock toward on Arnericon bose. ,t w -. . 1 W, ,Q wi, . . BURIAL OF TWO MEN KILLED IN ACTION IN THE BATTLE OF KOMANDORSKIE ISLANDS, DUTCH HARBOR t up-EX' iq. 1-Q0 20

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l ill eight bombardinents of Wotje atoll and two of Maloelap, seeking out coast defenses, annnunition and supply depots. Cn March 30 and April l, she covered a force supporting American air raids on Palau, Yap, Ulithi and Woleai. Then she left for San Francisco for a long needed overhaul. After the Yard work, the Swayback returned to the Aleutians, her old stamping grounds. On August 3, she joined a task force which left Attu for a raid on Paramushiro but shortly be- fore arrival at their destination the operation was cancelled when the fog which was expected to cover the thrust lifted suddenly and the force was spotted by lapanese observation planes. The Swaybaclc Went south to Pearl I-larbor and then headed West. On September 23, in Company with her cruiser division, some destroyers and the carrierllvlonterey, she bombarded Wake Island, damaging installations and knocking out one lap battery Whose shells were becoming too familiar. Then on to Eniwetok and later Saipan. On Gctober 9, she . . ..., l . Egglil Q.. 9 ,-g... g: , f 1 fit, .5 1 . l .5 .V ,If-A 'ii' ' S7 '-- ,d, ,ML 'f f' J' , ' 'W' ' l lr K tx- m I 117' - 1 z, N . W 1 ' l J' Q , A' T m 1 A fr ., I y tv .4 ,,r, ft Q N X 'sv W ,.,, , X X ,fi ll gfhfuff 1 ' M ' 1 ' f f Q tf,l1fr7f1,l Z , .. 64 4 ' ' fffin--ffI'i'FL .!!. ...if - xml' , , W it 1 . YN V J fm T!! .... - Q.-mr:-:r'1,3-:T-if bs 'I A f j Qxb. 1 3' 6,44 Y - ' iw I, I . 1 l 'QTTYIW A 5' 7 'serif-A x . .'If:Z ' '1T:fb 'f ' ' X 2' J tfgfflfffffszff X X- ,I f ,,,?'f2'V','5,E55:f,L,f f f ' ' , 1 I, I t Y ,7 ff 'Y X A V :,Q i i 1-.1 --- 'A i Ti' cfcc F --g?'i-L -fi 'y ' i- -- , .:L.mnm N ' S--e Q r..,, T ' T i 'W , ,. Q fn ' ,i.i .g -N, , 'fm T if-Q cg, i - A Q' If 'ara'--e. '-47' ' .R 'Q T l.i..,---V , 1 - ---1?-TT.-53...,,, - L, , , Awvifjl -i ,N WX - H- L - 11-Lys 22