Shannon (DM 25) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 38 text:

LAUNCHING , s, - : 5 1391: A - X 1f:.r1:.. 1645, JUNE 24,1944 , se DOWN TO THE SEA! Official US. Navy Plmfografvlz The keel of a then unnamed Sumner class destroyer was laid in January, 1944, at the Bath lron Wforks, Bath, Maine. For six long months, work progressed at top speed, day and night, through all kinds of weather until, on june 24, 19-l-1, a ship stood poised and ready for her baptismal plunge into the waters of the Kennebec River. On that sunny afternoon, as the men and women who built this trim hull number 238 looked on, the sponsor christened the ship in honor of her husband, the late Col, Harold Douglas Shannon, USMC. After the USS Shannon CDD 7371 had been launched, she was moored alongside the dock, Where her superstructure and armament were to be added and her fittings installed, The Shannon's destiny, however, was soon changed when her designation became light-minelaycr-DM 25. That meant a change in armament and complement, and most important of all, a change in prospective duty. SPONSOR, MRS. HAROLD D. SHANNON Uff1't'1't1l t'..S'. .X'trr'y l'lmlnff1'11l1l1 9. ,gf-. In Juibrtlie -first of the nucleus crew arrived. Each 1112111 b1'0USl1f Wlth lmn doubts and questions, for all had heard that their-ship was now a minelayer, not the destroyer theylhad anticipated. lint soon they agreed that their ship was still H tm -can-a destroyer that had .been chosen for a special m1ss1O11 which should in time attord much excitement. ,Of 3111109 Cflual importance, were their doubts about Buathi F1-11959, ll0WCver, were soon dispelled lor the men were FCCGNU WIU1 019011 211'1ns and lound a town ready to show them 501119 of the best liberty available anywhere. U ,A day 3ftCl' the crew's arrival, their critical eyes scoured the Shannon as she lay alongside the doch- at the time only a hull. 11121111 deck, and partial superstructure. Yard workers. both Wen and Wfmllcnz scrambled about the Silil3 '-i7lll'llillg'- Xwiiiillg- flvetmg' C0VQ '9' Hwilltl the Shannon the graceful lines and potency.0f hcl' Class- TINY flfldvd guns that she might sting, welded filme tI'Z1CiiS that she might carry out her deadly and highly specialized 32 ti

Page 37 text:

3 , X X X P- yy! .X X ,-, 1 --477 ,Y-lwkvl Av AA L M3791 1-an 1-40 M M 330 1 an K V 1 M VIQIUP H X W llli' 100' 90' BU 70 1?ni11 Lu:Qh1u ' X ' mai. . .ua . --si-Hflirnkiiliii iemuaa.. .....::5::':mm1...1. E!E..a.HH....3!....ia ' I X I X a X I X I ' X X 'X A L A S X A X X :X 1 ' X lgfvw-.C - X , X 0, . X X X X F 3' 'G X Y X X X, ' gn X 5' 5 X K v' J, x X X ' J f . Cr X sTw' X X . R - - - X ' ' --- -Ti--+1 1 1 W .le-'---f--4 60' ..,, X . 1- Q -1 P LS Q-J 4 4 X . F' ,if ,Q gk .L , , L X - ZX e X 1 I Aghmvw 'fa it I' Gmlp 0rAI..4SLL1 Vrnullmil--nl l'n-sun llu- luhrsl infm-xnuljou lu 11138 X - X fjvax hs' X I f, X X 1...X,XX...1.1..X.y.Xf,X1,,z.,.. ...X ..X,1f.....-M.. ...Hurd from X X .X 45? -14, X N. 7 M ffm-1 f1Xf,XffX 4.-WX. X.-. .-MX.. or wwf ...Xu l 'v . X z'e'i.:h X I X . ,.m,,,,, X 4vw.,XScaX-31 21 9X1 9542 .11La1U' X I zfmm r:X.mm.- .1 L X , J X Xl mais. X 6 ' X:-...1.m.1g X X F , X -...msg X:u,.m.m: X, X N1'f -lo X 7 Rourf: ovmr .SIWIINN X 1 X- , J.....r. 'D' X 1 X 22.0-,.:'l...f1.,zy 5' X O ' - - -- 1 1 -- i X 1 .s.......f 9 X s X ' QQMXX.-M. sf, X fa, fu., , :....,,sfr . 1- 50' Swh' X Cnmcwnfr in...-.... - ' YpVi1IllL'Vl'Il! l 'ZR '. vumuuvm ', sn MJWX 4' Fun 'lg I umm..-,X X L sqm. X 1 uxy-up... X T -Lv..-Hmmmnm coammnn. X 3 : l urLlnnnl X X lurvmqwaqn 'wma' 1-fmnwm X lllh ' YN-uma - Q MX... H - c.u1w.e.. hm I naw: cod L mm...,X. X X 'X 5 X X Nfwyork X ' X f M.-X.X.1...4.... X X was EX . X X -J mxumxpm. . -- .40 ,V ...X -- X 4--l-1? N X ........m. U N I T E D S T A T E 5 ..m....,.. WASHTGTON N I ..,..... X. 5... fn......... N 5......:y.. mmm :Fans S X .- X rv...-D. X X X ,X . Pm-gwxu c....C.Pu.... , canpxm x X X IA-,mgfxn Wulf'-S'-1' U-,R :X XX X ,f 9 Rm, ,, 1 X ,' ,NNI N M1250 1-...,X..X... C :X nnnmmnxx X S-v',.-53,4 -- T 'Q V s..-..-uma., . Z t,?,..Ev, ' mu-q..4Ql:. X as 'ty : X f ,,..X X Mag.. ,X X X gf M., ,X . Z ' -r..w- 5 -5 X TW., 0 , , .v.d-nan :X X X ah.. X1 ca , f... qxwofmfmf. I ' 3f.,...5...m.. . , - X fwxg' Q, V X X J X : 1 X,X....1.1..,f1 ., V4 T ' , '1., 4' Cunt'-I 3 I . A Wu, N ,A Q, ef' ' I f 1 Puglia' . f ,, -Q J '-' X'..XpX....n.,...1. X I. I - I NY . 73 42 'H'- M M -'ff I gk f,...,.Q0X 0 . 3 X 1 X59 4 ,ka X X u...n,X.,..1.X GULF UF MEXICO V y 1 ,X :X ., Z 1 ,5..1l'X', QL T' n..,..f..:..X,X,.. M ' X ' - fi z, Z X Alu... mm K' , , 1 1,,.,.1-,,,,,,!,,,, 4, , ' dx Y. I 1 h Z X w X -'I' ' ' XX.X.n.. 'mum , , , X V WA:---A ,fn W - ,lisa s.:vm.-Hi' - so 3 ' I I BI IL X I l, 0 'uX,-s..lmv,3' - - x - 'I ' X J, Z X '. ,,,4,,,,,u, . 1nXlX....n , - - X X .smm c-y . X n. Z X .X X - K ' X r.1m,,X-l..- , n g ,f Eff , I' I X ,nn ....A.. ,I H ml W ' 1, k - C U -X , A .pupgmm : 5, l , X . I ' X . .X 4.,M...... Lum. I , I, X-,N 6. . uf if X X X X M...-XX. FXR-an , -V Q 1.-'X-1. ,I .O J -, ,-m-1-h EX X- . f' X X x X 'X 3 .W . Q X A '- f-M' el ,199 4 XXXXXWX'1X vfX' WIXXXXXXIM XAHWA V YVVV Y V X HY -V -X -'...g.1X,X..X.-, ,A ,.j.,,Q.,,,.,,,- hw gi- '--.TA-Hp., 53 - : 20' A sum Q. - X X L X f ff X, 4 ' 11.-xixlu X.. .-.l.. IN ,X,-, ,,,,.... ,,, 'I ' ,,,,,,Xf,,,,,,,,,- flymlhlfffg- X M IXX 4, NX X uw 0 fo I X X -. X X , X ,...-...X ' Q.-P L mwv-NIIYM - H- Hama N ,J 2, X yf., X .....X.....h X. , ...ms 3 . . Q XX... . A 5' ' - N o - 411 X X.,..... . X .1--N ' C' -'MMC-AQ 'fr X X 9 1- f Q 9 30 ff X XX uf' X., '14 . ' Q., K - ' SXQ W0, X ' ' ' ...AJ 'F 2,5 4 X fl' 55 --1' -'A ' um..-ec-y-1' .' 'n ' .XX SX, .9 fo ,Z X X -. - .. X.,...X. .X Xu- A' ,M : 25 ,P In 04-. 'Q 45,16 SKB JZ X X ,- V, ...X X.,.,., ,,xXX.- is X. by gi X in Nmi :I N X f A . X - , X, X. , Q . A : S ' 0 X .6 . X 5 f' . fGX-J. 4' Sf.. :X Sf .Q X x . 4 XX' X. . .......w in 5 ' .....X-- X,...,,......., 'Zac QA. 4 :X 2 2 X A if .f .f . 'Q -X......,...X.X..w.- 1 4.,, at 53 . Sl 92 2 i -A --wx .X 5 s . -xv.. HQ., .mm nv. sk? : S N fe X 0- '--.f -A! :F X Jeff, f J' X f ' xx? Il 3 Q B 1 '--fs 53,5 fy, J- I. Q ' is C? X G.. gf! 5 ' MM 1 ' 5' E 'Q X. 5 g f Com, f my '- -S' 4 5. 1 10- 2 E E E X 11 -- Q Q :N mum inf QM 4 xkg EXX if - i X J ' '- i AyH ,. X R,,,,.,, VENEZUELA ?x'i g X Q L T L -S,-54. Jn J 'Q . X . Tiff- .Xe EI X: M X N X .f .4 ...M XX 4 X . X . . . - - 2 X2 - -' P ' :' is 1 s ol COLOMBIA :I I 7 0 X X H-'P'-' am... :X V X , :, 774, .415 4 X f.l,g..... I . 0, , X V X I 3 n fl A .LG X , n.u...g. if -1' I ffo 2. sb - wmv--n Nlmvre . ' l X ' 4 0 X X .w,,.1-,gms ls X Hur- C su' 'C il . -,Co W X ' ,,,-, , - Lou..-.... ,,-,.. ..,Q,iq,, : 0 JLL71- 'C' 'K' W XXX V v T- I -W F f,........X....2TQ...,..f... XX...... .I 1 vb.. li ' X X' W' X X X I 1,---bf-1.. J-:,....u.n.a.1 r.s..l..-.m- E C UAD 0 R QXX X X .Xx-fx 'ne--g I n E' X X ' L.4.o.,b...,..n :XX ' X X r1..1'.r.n.. '- X anna-...U 2 HLA5-XX. AX SK,-W , X has-a.uX.-NM sm EXX xx.xl:g.rr:s.xv. ne X hi 'i nw.. . g .nllmuv-X.,NX w 1 X e .la hun. X X X 5 ' Ji X s X X ..X , 10 , , X f,X...,.X. X X 5, , -- 'M' h . .....,, D-1--X :I nm mm' Q X X lhfunixnn nl:-Alhrr-:X 0 .Liml 0 : , X X X .yr . ' fl Au:,T, X . hm. X ' 1 X' ' X ' X PI, XM' XX....,.,.........XXX. X hmmq-m'm1---s-- ,a,k,m Q, ' 19 M X' X-..1.,..1.. X ' EX, y..X..X.. 'n- X... , v V! -'vv' X.-Q- ' -I V X . : V ' 'fx' X -H i, AQ if ' ,r...1..X.X.... If X X g :-XL..:4..., I .I 'sau vm-ti! . -k M K X f. X X I--w-A-1 :X -,....... .- -.-, v vm. , , no . a 4 ' 'fx' X ,h v....X..- r..1,.gX4.X ! X ' lu ,W + .J Y, Q1 ' ,,,' off ,...-...,,,. MW, 'L I X X ad.. gl ,f -SP' J' vf' ' ,X X ' 4. X :X 4- 1-' J 1 - Q .. ' X - ...., ff' X,W,, ' ' ' 1 ,-- -, 4, , -,,, ,W - --- V- ' I.,--up 20 yr.. M. nH.wf-nw.--V . ,L XX W. X, .. -WMM , , ,X ,I ' nm- n,.....uu.........X.4 qv x.........,. nu... M-HM. :X X .XXn.,,.1. 4'un,X,X,,, 'r..........Xo X - F Xmrgwh 5 X T-'1 '- 5 Q I X..,....., ww W, . ...,....... 'Timm' EX . ' .ni-my MA MX.-..--k I-gaswtu zum... v..1.g.n :XX n.u-vu U' 1 ---X --X I X .,....... .. XX....,.... ,I X md. . ru- um. num.: XI DX A,-,Wm 'mm EX . X S-X-MX an , 'mum 2 XX X Xu, vX..XXX I. X HMI-in ' I ,Qi 'mf' .iunmvuul X ,SMX Y, f T355 wuz it. 1 , X 2' X Y55 gm ,va K

Page 39 text:

xx ii, so I jk ,K ,K if ,K 7' it llllllkllllllllmmmiv C Af t . Y Y , l, f 5,1 I X . K ff ,.,wwwlllllwwwwlillii ,ffl , , V s T e Q K iluitmuilimullwlllmuuillnmmulumumu1llllilllilllillxiltwillilulinfillilwtltili--1ur fi I ll-Q i i x 1 ff- -. f t mission against' the enemy, equipped her that life might be as g'f.,,,-f 4 7 comfortable as is possible aboard a can, and filled her tanks with SX X f f fuel that life blood might flow through her veins. During the next two months, each man had a part in preparing the ship for her coming tasks. To celebrate the ship's completion and the crew's departure, a real Maine clambake was held. Beer, lobsters, beer, clams, beer, roast corn, and beer headed the beer of fare . An orchestra hired at the last minute, when the party was forced indoors by rain, and uninterrupted singing around the piano provided the entertainment. ' The next day the Shannon, with a rousing send-off of band music and the well-wishing cheers of townspeople and workers, left on her maiden voyage-a four-hour trip to Boston. -i-l-- W'hile the nucleus crew worked with the ship and en- joyed Maine's hospitality, the balance crew assembled in Norfolk. There through unforgettable weeks in the quonset huts, men, most of whom were new to Navy life, were ex- posed to a training program, their shipmates and officers. Under the able tutelage of the Executive Officer, the crew was formed and organized and each man was readied to do his part aboard the Shannon. Each day the crew was broken into groups for assigned studies at machinist mates, signal, sonar attack teacher and other schools. Other training took them to the boat shed for seamanship, one of the swimming pools for tests and water safety classes, the mock five-inch battery for gun drills or the athletic Held for calisthenics. Captain's inspection was held on the parade grounds every Saturday, Special groups, such as radarmen, attended training classes at other schools along the Liberty was granted frequently, but Norfolk lived up to its reputation of inadequate facilities, probably due to the burden imposed by the great number of service personnel in the area. Many sought refuge in Virginia Beach, but found the situation little better. VVith a sigh of relief, the crew bid Norfolk goodbye and en- trained for Boston, August 29, There they were quartered in the Fargo Building while waiting for the ship to arrive from Bath. The final move took them aboard their wartime home the morning of the commissioning, September Sth. There were, it seemed, a million things to do and practically no time in which to do them. Time was precious-every warship had a fighting job to do. For the most part the men did not mind the work, since much of it was new and interesting. Wlien it was done for the day, good liberty was available. Most of the crew liked Boston and found entertainment plentiful. A ship's party was held September 23rd at Convention Hall, Plenty of refreshments- both solid and liquid-plenty of girls and plenty of dancing were enough to make any sailor happy. Perhaps this party was not as boisterous as the Bath clam bake, but everyone enjoyed himself. ---i--- The next three weeks were spent in fitting out the ship, training, and indulging in those last few days of liberty before going to war. Ammunition, stores, and odds and ends of equipment were loaded aboard. New equipment was added and many alterations made. Tests had to be run and adjustments East Coast. effected. 4 e fe- ig Q 1 1 ,ii ' 4.7-12-T K ii 7773 . T ' ' sET fl for for' : I X 1 , U 'YALE A fx ff .VI n df'if': n ii Q L it ' Q- f If ' i - - ' e ' I .. I T ' ' ' ' C ff l Q-' 1 lag li' wif .'?'i ,Nag 1 : if F r U V K , f f f Or 'D 2 A i isvhf, ', .,..a..h, , .Alai I Y r U r i I' t f 3:41, ,Dx A X I -O. 24 - s 4-A-sf- . r r -. , if ,-, - .ff'-mesa 'fs-M , . - f r-. - ,.f :5l, we ff 'f's1'-f:fm:fv.:.'f-'. '- Fifa ?f'vr'f4 3':'i4 , 41127 -.pjffwfiikf g,,f-,s,e,j ..2 'q.'. Q Q ----'rf D P'-5,Q.......,, ' ,,,.. - I ' 'Him it - --iQ ' ' ii, w aa - 6 1 'Y 7 - 's K ,-k,.- fx fic '- -i-tvs.. ... . -5 - '49-Ss.Ll'eY --5N s --df? is 5 'wg' u -a- , .. X ka - 5' f!z J -0-,QA A f - On September 28, the Shannon began its first period of sea duty as she got underway for Bermuda and the drudgery of shakedown. The trip was uneventful and we arrived in good time, September 30. Upon entering Bermuda Harbor we re- ported to the Shakedown Group Commander and new duties began. Three weeks were spent in and around Bermuda operating on a schedule crowded with exercises and drills that included anti-submarine exercises with tame su.bs, anti-aircraft track- ing drills and firing runs with friendly planes as targets, tactical maneuvers in company with other ships on shakedown, mock shore bombardment runs with all the accompanying problems, signal drills, fighter direction exercises, battle and damage control problems, Fire and rescue drills, plane rescue drills, radar exercises, radio drills, and main battery bring exercises. There were drills for every department, every gang, and every man. During one of the exercises, an enemy submarine was re- ported some fifty miles south of Bermuda. All the destroyers and destroyer-type ships in the immediate area were sent to aid in the hunt for that sub, but through a lack of early co- ordination of the attack, he got away. Only a day after this first alarm, an enemy sub was sighted by a plane about one hundred miles northwest ofthe islands. The Shannon was immediately sent, in company with several other ships, to assist in the attack. But contact was never made. On several of our short stays in the harbor the crew was given liberty ashore. Most of the men headed for Hamilton, the largest city in the islands. Entertainment facilities were limited, but there was plenty of sightseeing and shopping to be done. Bermuda is unusually picturesque with its rolling hills, narrow, winding roads, beautiful beaches, colorful homes, horses, buggies, bicycles, and interesting people. The other highlight of liberty was the shops and their goods for sale. lmported English woolens were the largest item of purchase nith Planters Punch a close second! 33