Salt Lake City (CA 25) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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island ol lrlonsliu, she lorined a part ol the Northern Occupation Force. She assisted at the surrender ot Oininato and covered the landings at Aoinori, and at lrlakodate and Ctaru on the island ol Hokkaido. Finally, on li! Cctober, alter being delayed two days by typlioons, and alter an absence ol rnore than lilteen months, she headed once niore tor the United States. Alter eleven days ot rough seas, she arrived at Portland, Cregon. Passengers were discharged there and then she joined in the Navy Day celebration at Astoria, Cregon. 1? NAVY DAY CEREMONY ASTORIF., OREGON-1945 l During the last two months ot 1945 the Salt Lake City served as part ot the Navy's Magic Carpet , making trips to Eniwetok and to Guam and returning to San Francisco with a group ot battle-Worn veterans ot the war in the Pacific. The beginning ot 1946 was the end ot the long and varied career of the Swayback Maru. Nearly seventeen years old, and no longer a modern ship, it was decided that she had outlived her usefulness as a tighting ship. Some ot her equipment was removed at San Pedro, California, and her flag was hauled down in Pearl Harbor. 30