Sanborn (APA 193) - Naval Cruise Book

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r I P P ! ,J L. 5.4

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Pacific Fleet, under Commander Amphi- bious Forces, Vice Admiral R. K. Turner. This force was in turn part of the 5th Fleet under the command of Admiral R. A. Spruance. Still further in the or- ganization she was in Task Group 53.2, and as a part of that unit she spent the month of January at training exercises in the vicinity of Maui, T. l-l. By then she was slowly but surely becoming ship- shope. After reporting back to l-lonolulu the Task Force headed for Eniwetok on the 28th, bound for the first time toward the real battle area. During the month of January the ship found many new problems aside from the tactical and material aspects of vvar- fare. With 2,000 men aboard every avail- able foot of space was taken up by the troops and supplies, yet a semblance of homelife vvas required for those aboard. So time schedules were adjusted and the ship's routine altered to fit the needs of the passengers and crew. The prepara- tion of meals and the cleaning routine were changed to take care of many more men than usual. Troops had not only to eat and sleep as comfortably as possible but they had to shower and shave, they had to have clean clothing, and they had to have hair cuts. Proper medical atten- tion under these crowded conditions was essential. Beyond these necessities there were provided those things which Ameri- cans live by-opportunities for religious worship, physical activity, and not least H-Hour Aboard the Sanborn of all, books to read, cigarettes to smoke and a place to relax, even if it was under a boat at a game of cards or atop a ven- So,ftenmg Up by Support Vessels

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'Nav- 3 V J V I 19 7151 19 W gi ff I ' X 4 f M71 ,,,w,,55 ,..N?5s4ni. 1411- 'WW mf - f Wx- X I . ,iii 0, X, , ,,,L,,, ww wx f f sf, ,,::,G' f ,Q if .Qt mil i:s. Cargo Net X . 1 g If z' 61 , i' - H cmd Z ers tilator for a sunbath. Cigarette lighters, candy and gum, razor blades and sta- tionery and innumerable cups of coffee -all are materials ot vvar, and as such they were provided. This same month troops and crew consumed more than 9 tons of beet, l6 tons ot potatoes, l4 tons ot tresh oranges, besides propor- tionately large quantities ot eggs, butter, milk, beans, canned and fresh vegetables. Provisions ot all kinds consumed in a day averaged approximately 4 tons. Re- ports trom troops testify to the quality ot the food and its preparation. The ship's store, a seven- by ten-toot cubicle, operated tor the convenience ot the crew and passengers, one day sold more than twenty-one hundred dollars worth ot merchandise. At Eniwetok the Sanborn took on tuel and more provisions and went to Saipan. Except for the occasional periods when the ship shuddered to the thunder and clatter of gun-fire during drills the trip was uneventful, Daily exercises for meet- ing emergencies and maintenance ot an eternal vigilance kept all hands from AA I?11l'fm'y Alvrf f ,.,f 35 gm it , , fi V e ff ffg 2 , - as , f