Saufley (DD 465) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 20 text:

l752 the AULICK commenced firing with her machine guns. Immediately thereafter, a VAL was seen making a run on the SAUELEY. The ship turned hard left and went to flanking speed. This deception plus the fact the plane was hit with ship's gunfire resulted in the plane with bomb load intact crashing close aboard to starboard, causing an explosion which inflicted con- siderable damage to starboard side forward. All en- gines were stopped to prevent further damage to hull in case of flooding. The ship again went to flank speed as a Zero commenced run from port quarter. The port machine gun battery put the Zero in flames, the ship was turned hard right, and the plane crashed along the port side. About three minutes later another Val ap- proaching from astern was taken under fire as ship turn- ed left. Plane released its bomb which flew between the stacks exploding close aboard to starboard, causing injury to personnel in that area. This Val was believed to be hit as it flew over the ship, caught fire and crash- ed 50 yards off the starboard bow. All three planes came down in about 60 degree dives through the very low ceiling so that extreme visual range was less than 2,000 yards in each case. They all strafed, but without suc- CCSS. Une man, Evan ALLEN, StM2c, USNR, was lost over the side and twenty-sx men received minor injuries, none, however, being hospitalized. The injured were: ALLEN, Raymond W., Lt. Qjgl BOYES, ,lon L., Lt. Qjgl SMITH, Douglas R., Mach. ALARID, Alfonso HB , Slc BAILEY, Lewis E., Elc CYR, Arthur ful, GlVI3c DACE, George W., Cox. 16 Q v X 5 ., 5 1.1.-J 1 1

Page 19 text:

at maximum effective range The plane began to smoke at 6 000 yaids and crashed into the water at 4 000 yards Many hits were observed On the ni ht of the 21th accompanied by Destroy Ormoc Bay and participated in the fu st destroyer sweep of Ormoc Bay for the puipose of destroying enemy shipping which might be attempting to land reinforce ments on the West Coast of Leyte Our predetermined speed was 30 knots. Visibility was extremely poor. Slowing speed to 20 knots SAUFLEY fired 120 rounds of 5 f38 AA Common on predetermined target with un- observed results. Upon completion of bombardment, the division made a sweep westward into the Camotes Sea. At 2313 a PBY on patrol reported an enemy sub- marine approaching Ormo-c Bay. Soon thereafter the RENSHAW picked up a surface target which was im- mediately confirmed by the SAUFLEYQ range was 6 miles. The RENSHAW opened fire followed by the SAUFLEY at a range of 3 miles. Submarine was taken by surprise and commenced radical maneuvers. Star- shell illumination afforded optical gun control. Soon after all ships commenced firing LLOMM, the submarine returned fire with machine guns. Fire was ceased as it became apparent the VVALLER was going to ram the submarine. The WALLER circled the submarine and the Division Commander reported that the sub- marine sank stern first. All ships were given credit for definitely sinking the submarine. .g ,. 9 . J - l er Division FORTY THREE, this ship proceeded to Un 29 November the SAUFLEY was patrolling be- tween Homonho-n and Dinagat Islands at the entrance to Leyte Gulf. The U.S.S. AULICK was in the same sta- tion about 4 miles away. The condition was uflash white and the ceiling was less than 1,000 feet. At 15

Page 21 text:

DALOIA Frank T SC20 DEVINE Francisl Y3c DIBENEDETTO James A S10 DONATO Maury C Slc DOUGHER Albert .l F10 DUPREY James Q D GM3c EABON Anthonyl S10 HORN Edward N Cox JONES Robert E L lV1M1c LEE Ernest F S10 LYON Lloyd L S10 MCCULLOUGH C H S20 PARKER, Andy L , S20 PHIPPS, Lloyd C , S10 PIZZO, Anthony B , S20 SWAN, Robeit H , lV1Mlc WATTS, Carl '6G'7, S20 WILSON, James H , S10 9 n 9 ENGLERARDT, Joseph, MM3C As a result of the attack, the SAUFLEY suffered considerable hull damage on the starboard side of the bow just below the waterline and minor damage on the port side of main deck and superstructure deck below- the bridge. The watertight integrity of the shell was not impaired. The AULICK was under attack by three suicide planes at the same time, and suffered consid- erable damage and loss of life. According to all available information, this was the first concerted suicide attack on a picket ship. Persis- tent firing by the alert, well-disciplined machine-gun crews combined with well-timed hard turns and changes of speed were an unbeatable combination. The Com- manding Oflicer, Commander Dale E. COCHRAN at the conn should be credited with saving the ship by 17