Salt Lake City (CA 25) - Naval Cruise Book

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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

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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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Her service to her country did not end there, however. She is to be used for specictl explosive tests to further scientific knowledge of the effects of vdrious types of wedpons. So where enemy shells, bombs, ctnd torpedoes hdd mdny times tried ond foiled, perhdps some ddy our own will succeed. And when the U.S.S. Sdlt Ldke City dt lost goes to d wdtery grove in the ocectn which she fought so hdrd to defend, those of us who served othoord her will know thot there wots indeed d ship who well ond foithfully served her country, Cf ship of whom we con dll be truly proud. 1-gf. 3 l