Saufley (DD 465) - Naval Cruise Book

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tug towing LCT's on several occasions. The next ten days were spent on anti-submarine patrol off Guadal- canal. On 15 March the SAUFLEY joined the SS PETER SYLVESTER en route to Noumea. The next day two bombs were dropped near the SYLVESTER by an enemy plane. The last eight Q85 days of March were spent along- side the USS RIG-EL in Havannah Harbor, Efate, New Hebrides. April, May, and J une were divided between exercising with the fleet out of Havannah Harbor and escort duty in the New Hebrides except for one week7s availability alongside the USS DOBBIN in Sydney, Aus- tralia in early May. The next quarter was spent in support of the op- erations in the middle .Solomons. On 3 J une, the SAU- FLEY participated in the first bombardment of the Shortland lslands. ' While searching for barge trafiic off Kolombangara a week later the SAUFLEY was ordered to investigate a sho-rt range surface contact, shortly thereafter identi- fied as a submarine. This ship fired two torpedoes and all batteries before the sub submerged. A sonar con- tact was made and two depth-charge attacks followed. The submarine was believed sunk. On 12 July, the SAUFLEY, operating with a cruiser task force, bombarded Munda Point, silencing several shore batteries. Flare dropping planes were taken un- der fire and the SAUFLEY got its first plane. Six nights later, the SAUFLEY and four destroyers were attacked by six enemy planes. Seven sticks of bombs were dropped close aboard this ship. Three planes were shot down of which this ship was credited 6

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SHIPS HISTURY---U. S. S. SAUFLEY 10114655 The USS SAUFLEY, built by the Federal Ship- building Company, Kearny, New Jersey, was commis- sioned in the United States Navy on 29 August 1942 . ni by Bear Admiral E. J. Marquart in a ceremony co ducted atthe Brooklyn Navy Yard. Lieutenant Com- mander Bert F. Brown, U. S. Navy, assumed command. After commissioning, the SAUFLEY spent the th of Se tember fitting out at the Brooklyn Navy mon p g Yard and the month of October on shake down training ' l ' f several out of Casco Bay, Maine. Upon comp et1on o ' N f lk East-coast m1lk runs, she got underway from or o , Virginia, on 9 November 1942, for the South Pacific. Arriving at Noumea, New Caledonia on 2 Decem- b r 1942 the SAUFLEY reported to Commander South C v Pacific Area for duty. Six days later, this ship arrived off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal, with troop transports. Y t d During the rest of the month, the SAUFLE opera e with a Cruiser Task Group, and as screening ship for another transport unit to Lunga. Gn 2 and 3 January, h SAUF1 EY bombarded enemy positions near Kokum- f 6. J , . y , bona, Guadalcanal, and then continued screening trans- po-rts for another week. After completion of Gunnery Exercises from 18 January to 11 February off New Caledonia, the SAU- F b and FLEY went to Guadalcanal. Between 20 e ruary 4 March this vessel' made nine trips to the Bussell 1s- 1 nas including the original echelon. The SAUFLEY a was not only transport and covering vessel, but also a :- D

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with one. Full radar control of the 5 f38 battery was used. The occupation of Vella La Vella began on 15 August 1943. The SAUFLEY screened the first echelon of LC1's and assisted in repelling four to six enemy planes. Six underwater explosions rocked the ship. The next night, the SAUFLEY was ordered to assist in the uAction off Vella La Vellaw, but was recalled when the beachhead was brought under heavy air at- tack. During the attack this ship closed the flaming LST 396 to within 700 yards, and lay to in order to pick up survivors. All rescue nets were lo-wered and the whaleboat was put in the water. The Torpedo Ofli- cer, Lieutenant James Marion Coulling, USNR, of 48 S. Long Beach Ave., Freeport, Long lsland, New York, was in charge of the boat. ln the face of both a heavy air attack and flying debris from the LST, he courage- ously carried out his task. The SAUFLEY rescued 93 men including 10 officers and the SC 1266 picked up the rest of the crew. The only fatality was a pharmacist's mate who died shortly after he was picked up by the SAUFLEY. The next morning the SAUFLEY was attacked by 8 to 10 dive-bombers coming down sun. The machine guns fired at two planes which dropped two bombs close aboard, while the main battery was iiring at two lanes attacking the beachhead The gunnery officers p . slewed on the attacking planes after he saw the bombs, but by then they were almost out of range. He then shifted to a single bomber which was also going out on the starboard side. After a right spot was applied, a 5 burst hit the plane which circled and crashed close to the beach. 7