Santa Fe (CL 60) - Naval Cruise Book

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' ...fi z:ez'f'lf.4:fs4sa1n.r-'sn' Return fre from coast defense guns on Wake Island is irregular, but airbf accurate. Avoiding maneuvers have to be made twice during intensive bombardment. Spotting plane's wing shows up in right hand corner. Constant spots sent to guns insure greatest accuracy. Pall of smoke rises over Wakefrom burning oil dum s and buildin s . . P Z - .fit 0410 the order is received cease fre and commence retirement . Built up from the centuries' accumulated remnants of marine slzell lie, an atoll consists cj a belt of coral req surrounding central lagoon. Anti-submarine screen formed by destroyers in the van, heavy ships prepare to go 30 alongside navy tanker fcenterj for all-important fuel oil.

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5-inch firing Ad practice to starboard, while C 553 R and Engineering critics contemplate results. More service rounds were fred hy ships in simulated practices than in actual hattle. Blurred right gun of 40 MM mount shows fring and recoil action is almost too fast for camera to catch. Men in foreground operate director sight which actually brings guns to hear. 'I High capacity shells from homharding ships strike enemy defense installations on Wake Island. One salvo falls -short and hits water near protecting coral reef. 7apanese freighter-transport is resting on bottom of the shallow lagoon inside atoll. 29

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Symbolic fy' compfele prostrzztion qt Poffywogs, group of Slzellbark candidates rereive Ja!! water hoying down btfore inz'!iatz'o71. T wAs INDEED an ill wind that on 18 September 19-13 edged a carrier task force across the Equator while s launching air strikes against Tarawa in the Gilberts. With the Captain's announcement Stand by for a bump when the Equator is reached , shellbacks produced clubs, bats and paddles of all descriptions to begin humbling Pollywogs. This was the day that the Old Timers had been waiting for. Proper lookouts equipped with binocu- NEQPHYTE SALTS INITIATED INTO THE MYSTERIES OF c , KING NEPTUNE'S DOMAIN lars made of head paper were posted lest the Royal Party pass undetected. Shellbacks broke out razors and scissors, and immediately set to work carving out the undeniable badge of the Pollywog-the partly shaved scalp. Baldy-cuts of marked individuality appeared and by nightfall beaten spirits-and bodies-were common- place. The next morning OHicers and P0's messcooked for the Shellbackls breakfast. I-Iazing went on throughout Pledges wear Il variety fy' mstzmzes. Padre and clzicken'l get much lzrzzfng. Nept1mn5LRex poses with R0y1zfParly. 31