Salt Lake City (CA 25) - Naval Cruise Book

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3,082 rounds of five inch, the largest expenditure of any ship engaged in the operation. But tougher days lay ahead, at Okinawa. After a ten day respite, four of which were spent in travelling and six in accom- plishing essential repairs at Ulithi, her guns were back in action once more. The task started March 24, with the bombardment of Ie Shima, a small island off the western coast of Okinawa on which war correspondent Ernie Pyle was to meet his death two weeks later. ln a couple of days, fire was shifted to the main island itself. The main landing took place on April lst and the Swayback was one of the many ships lined up off the beach throwing in shells over the heads of the marines and soldiers. Then fol- lowed the historic two month drive to wrest the island from the tenacious laps. lt was unspectacular but grinding work, days and nights of bombardment, long nights of flycatching Cpro- viding harrassing fire and illumination against suicide boat attacksi, interminable hours at general quarters and battle stations while lap planes flew overhead, challenging our ability to move in on their territory. The recently developed and most terrifying of lap weapons, the suicide plane, was used to its utmost by the desperate laps. The Kamikazes attacked in swarms, crashing ships on all sides. 'N ,fgi W i 4 I1 fxxi Q, , J , 'r 1, 7 sv ln ' is j K J 4 L. L kg V. .MR . dfnxris-so Z 2 if Q s vwf, 1' LL-W:1 f HI, X? .mxggtl f it EXCUSE, PLEASE. DID NOT KNOW SALT LAKE CITY PRESENT 27

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not spent in bombarding the enemy in support of the marines' bloody advance through the stubborn maze of pill-boxes, gun emplacements and caves. Time out was called only for refuel- ing and rearming at sea. Nor was there much rest at night. Illumination had to be furnished over the front lines, and harrassing fire to keep the laps awake. But that kept the crew awake, too, until the men learned from sheer necessity to sleep through the roar and vibration of the firing. Two Salt Lake City officers were killed when their observa- tion plane was shot down by lap AA over the island. The ship herself was unscratched although many shells missed her by narrow margins. The Pensacola was badly pummelled by lap fire a few minutes after relieving the Salt Lake City and taking over her firing station. The Chester was damaged in a collision, leaving the Salt Lake the only operative warship in Crudiv F ive. Rear Admiral A. E. Smith, division commander, moved aboard her with his staff. The Swayback was in the first group of ships to arrive at lwo. She was one of the last major warships to leave. Her ammunition expenditure totaled 3,322 rounds of eight inch and THE LCI'S APPROACH THE BEACH AT OKINAWA 26

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The luck ot the Salt Lake City still held, miraculously, consider- ing the length ol time and the hazards involved. Bombarding became almost second nature to the Swayback Maru. Her observation planes sought out and directed tire against lap installations, the troops ashore gave instructions by radio, and occasionally prolitable targets were seen from the ship. Illumination, counter-battery and harrassing tire, as long as the ship had ammunition, she was ready to shoot. When finally Qkinawa disappeared over the horizon, the Salt Lake City had spent sixty-six days there, a period equalled by only one other major War vessel. She had expended 9,070 rounds of eight inch, l4,300 rounds ol tive inch, 5,570 rounds of 40 MM, and l,7ll rounds ot 20 MM. Cn an average she had tired better than one round ot tive or eight inch ammunition every third minute. The Swaybaclds spell of Ql days ot bombardment duty in the l0l days from February l0 to May 28 may be a Wartime record. At the time ot her departure, the formidable defense line l I 1 AMMUNTION WORKING PARTY AT KERAMA RETTO 28