Saufley (DD 465) - Naval Cruise Book

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cide dive from the port beam Many hits by the ma chine guns were observed and the plane clashed in the water close aboard to starboard On January 12 the SAUFLEY fired at two planes without results that afternoon this ship departed from Llngayen and proceeded to Leyte Gulf as screening sh1p for returning transpolts The next day enroute the SAUFLEY rescued one man who had been thrown overboard by a suicide crash in the U S S ZEILIN After escorting a convoy to MOIOt31 and then back to Leyte the SAUFLEY escorted the CCC INGHAM January The same day this ship proceeded to the Nasugbu landing to seive as screening vessel On the morning of 1 February the SAUFLEY sank an attacking boat Later the same morning this sh1p neutralized a Japanese pocket of resistance with the main battery The Commanding Officer was Officer in Tactical Command of a resupply echelon to Nasugbu on the 7th and 8th, The SAUFLEY evacuated 8 wounded to Min doro. to the Silbic Bay beachhead, and arrived there on 31 HQ,, 0 . . 2 . . . . ln Subic Bay, on 12 February Lieutenant Comman- der Francis W. SILK, U. S. Navy, relieved Commander Dale E. COCHRAN, U. S. Navy, as Commanding Offi- cer, U. S. S. SAUFLEY. The SAUFLEY participated in the initial landings and the occupation of Mariveles, Bataan and Corregi- dor Island. After the landing at Mariveles on the 15th this ship delivered counter battery fire on Caballo While covering minesweepers. That night, this ship supplied interdiction fire on the roads leading to Mari- 19

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maneuvering while Lieutenant Q Daniel B. MICHIE, .I r., USNB of Wasliingtoli Lane and Panther Road, By- dal, Penna., Machine Gun Control Ofiicer and Gunner B. H. BISHOP, U.S.N., 501 HA Street, Bentonville, Arkansas, Assistant Machine Gun Control Officer un- doubtedly sparked their gun crews to do the most dam- age. Individual acts of heroism were commonplace. On 2 December, the SAUFLEY departed for Manus Island, Admiralty Islands to effect repairs of battle damage. . This ship proceeded independently from lVIanus on 1 January 1945 to pick up intelligence photographs at Hollandia, New Guinea and rendezvous with the Lin- gayen Attack Force enroute to the objective area. During evening twilight on the 8th, the formation was attacked by about 8 planes, 4 of which were soon to be shot down by friendly fighters. One Val on our port quarter was taken under fire by all batteries. He circled astern in a steep dive so that the main battery had to check fire because the bearing was not clear. The machine guns followed him down to a position angleof 15 degree when check fire was given. At about the same time, the transports commenced firing. He crashed about 100 yards astern of the nearest transport. The evaluation was at least a sure assist because of our heavier and more accurate fire. The SAUFLEY screened the initial landing at Lin- gayen in Lingayen Gulf, Luzon on 8 January. Shortly after sunset, this ship simultaneously to-ok two planes under fire without results. The next morning, a Val came in from the port quarter, circled the ship, and then made a shallow sui- 18

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veles. The 11ext day, the SAUFLEY covered the land- ings on Corregidor. Between the 18th and 26th of February, expend- ing 2700 rounds of 5 f38, 70 starshells, and about 2500 rounds of 40MM ammunition, the SAUFLEY engaged in 10 shore bombardments and 3 starshell harrassing missions on Corregidor. An active Japanese 75MM, numerous caves and pill boxes, a Q boat, and two barges were destroyed, and many enemy troop concentrations were neutralized. On one day alone, the spotter on the beach reported that this ship's fire had sealed up 20 caves and killed 159 .laps who had already come out of the caves. The SAUFLEY steamed through mined waters sev- eral times and on one day anchored about 500 yards off Monkey Point to deliver the fire the Army needed. The Commanding Oflicer, Lt. Comdr. F. W. SILK, USN, was commended by Commander Destroyer Division 46 for the excellent performance of his ship during this operation. On 1 March, the SAUFLEY conducted a pre-H hour shore bombardment of Tilic Town, Lubang lsland, Philippine Islands. This ship was flagship for the Lu- bang operation. I After a four-day availability alongside the U. S. S. DOBBIN in Subic Bay, the SAUFLEY went to- Mindoro to join the Zamboanga attack force as a screening ship. During the' Zamboanga operation, the SAUFLEY on 16 March, screened the Basilan Attack Unit and bom- barded Lamitan Town before the landing. On 24 March, the SAUFLEY became flagship of the Commander Sulu Attack Group and the Senior 20