Salt Lake City (CA 25) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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at Shuri had been broken, and the conquest ot Okinawa was only a matter ot days. The crew did not know it then, but the Salt Lake City had fired her last gun in action. Until Iuly 6 she was anchored in Leyte Gulf obtaining much needed rest and recreation tor the battle Weary crew and an overhaul tor her equipment. Then she returned to Okinawa and uneventful duty in the China Sea, covering mine sweepers and joining in a shipping hunt that took her near Shanghai. Early in August, she was sent again to the Aleutians for participation in a still-undisclosed operation that was cancelled by the lapanese surrender. l-lostilities ended August l5th, while she was en route to Adak. CONCLUSION 15 August, 1945 to Decommissioning The Salt Lake City lay at Adak and Attu until 29 August when she sailed to lapan to take part in the occupation. Based in Mutsu Kaiwan, a bay at the northern end of the principal Hiiliin ' , ,,,., 4 , V X. N, ,., . -. - I. 4 y .59 sz, :ti-55: ,gg . t- 'f ' .y.1ii1,5,' .. sp Ewzi' t, ,,,, y . A 11-'f-:-w ir. . . f , K f 3 K ,,., r .y me . x1,,y,t gf 'QS lrtrtvl R A ,s - . , .S K I ,,.t. y 5 .. Lv V, X . .Q . tt ,W . . NORTHERN OCCUPATION FORCE. OMINATO. IAPAN--SEPTEMBER. 1945 29