Shannon (DM 25) - Naval Cruise Book

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When asked for a summary of the results of our fire the SFCP replied, Oh, you knocked out quite a few things, 'Iiherg were block houses, pillboxes, small gun eniplacenients a bivouac area, that truck, entrenchments, and many many small buildings. And then last night you silenced that battery That was good work. ' ' Our fire had been a distinct aid to the advance of the ground troops, which had to be made against fanatical resistance from rockets, bazooka-type guns, pillboxes and interlocking underground strongholds. On one flank alone, 100 caves 30 to 40.feet deep, had to be knocked out, one by one. i By noon we had only 80 rounds of AA Common ammu- nition left on board. Consequently we had to be relievgd for replenishment in the outer transport area. SAIPAN AGAIN At 1815, having received orders during the afternoon, we took departure for Saipan, in company with eight transports and three other escorts. As we left we learned that the conquest of Iwo Jima was virtually assured. Marine observation and spotting planes were operating from Motoyama Airfield No. lg hills in the north had been captured, further reducing the enemy's fire power and allowing freer flow of supplies to the beaches, and from the beaches to the front lines, over half of the island had been captured, including Motoyama Airfield No. 2, and the troops were closing in on the main village of Motoyama. The Japanese despite heavy losses, continued to offer maxi- mum resistance, but the Marines were established on high ground and moving ahead' steadily. The Finnegan, one of the escorting DE's, reported a surface radar contact early the next morning and was ordered to in- vestigate, That contact was lost but a sound contact gained. Several depth charge attacks were made before she was re- lieved by a hunter-killer group. Reports indicate that the Finnegan had probably sunk an enemy submarine. The balance of the trip was uneventful. Upon arrival at Saipan, the Task Unit was dissolved. The Shannon and Van Valkenburgh CDD 6561 accomplished logis- tics and then departed at noon, March 1, to return to Iwo Jima. On board was a precious load of mail for the Marines. We were sure to be the most welcome ship in the area. BACK IN THE FIGHT After delivering the mail, we patrolled in the inner screen until noon on the Sth when we reported to Commander Am hibious Support Force and relieved the Bache CDD 470J. P During our absence, fierce ground fighting had continued. By March Znd the whole of the Motoyama tableland and all of the southern part of the island was in our hands-more than two-thirds of the island. Progress on the right flank was made difficult by the enemy's skillfully prepared defense positions in steep and rough terrain. This left the enemy in possession of a diminishing horse-shoe shaped area fringing the north- eastern end of the island. Motoyama Airfield No, 1 had been used for several days by artillery spotting planes, but on March 3 it came into its own when a B-29, returning from a strike against the Japanese mainland, made a successful forced landing at Iwo Jima. The importance of the Iwo Jima airfields for emergency landings became increasingly greater as the tempo of air strikes against Japan was stepped up. On March 6 the first land based fighter planes came in and relieved carrier planes in patrol flights and close support of troops. Our assignment for the afternoon was to bornbard enemy areas using direct fire. Such targets of opportunity as caves, trenches, buildings, concrete blockhouses, and a five-inch gun emplacement were taken under fire and destroyed or damaged. Another night of harassing and illuminating fire lasted until we were relieved at 0847 by the Stanley CDD 4785 to again take an inner screen station. The next morning, March 6, we were again back in the fire sup- port sector to relieve the Putnam CDD757J. This day and the next were to be our best on the firing line, proving to be the most interest, and achieving the best results, The spotting planes and Shore Fire Control Parties assigned to us were all excel- ent and efficient, and especially pleasant to work with. The strain of our intense firing schedule was eased by the humor which the spotters interspersed throughout their remarks and directions. To ut us on tar et the spotter gave its grid coordinates. p . g . g . g . The position was then picked out on the special chart in CIC. Our position and the front lines were continually plotted on l llgwv , xx'-txbt I 1 'f A' 5 Xgtkx ---a xr ff? - xt ta af ,ia Ffh 1-5 4-we if is 2 fa XS1 ' tl11S.Cl13I't, to facilitate determining the elevation, range, and bearing of the target, and to check the safety bearing. This information was passed to Plot and Control, where they set up the problem and laid the guns, After the first salvo the plane made whatever correcting spot was necessary to put us directly on the target, and then called for the num- ber of salvos, type of fire, and kind of ammunition he wanted. Additional spots were given between salvos whenever neces- sary to correct the fall of shells, or to shift us to another nearby target. The first target assigned by the plane was a large concrete pillbox in an area near the front lines. Thirteen two-gun salvos were fired before fire was checked at the plane's Beau- tiful, Two direct hits. I'll go down and take a look. Fire was then resumed and spotted by the plane. After twelve more salvos the pilot took another look and remarked, Very good. At least one direct hit. All within twenty-five yards. Again we fired, nine more salvos this time. The plane observed, VVe put shells right in the eastern side. At least a one-and-a- half foot hole in the side. I'm sure if any men were in there they're no longer serviceable. As far as I can make out the target is definitely out of commission. And so it went until dark with spotter relieving spotter and all leading us on to enemy targets. Tanks and pillboxes, block- houses, emplacements, snipers' shacks, and fortified buildings all became targets for our guns. Few escaped damage 'and most of them were destroyed, according to the spotters' en- thusiastic reports. From time to time firing became very ticklish due to the proximity of our troops, for the Marines were taking full advantage of our fire to inch their lines for- ward before nightfall. As on previous nights we fired a schedule of harassing and illuminating fire into enemy territory, At 0636 we were ordered to cease fire and shift to another sector to conduct preparation and call fire throughout the morning. 'WE'RE KNOCKING HELL OUT OF THEM' The preparation fire began at King I-Iour C0800J and con- tinued until King-plus-thirty. Our spotting plane reported that during that time we had destroyed three caves on a cliff and covered the area very well. From then on the plane called the targets for us and spotted us to them. The pilot picked out two blockhouses that were pinning down our troops and called for our fire. There's enemy fire up there now. Up 100, left 100, he directed. l'Think we have him now. No change, left 100 . . . Right in there . . . Give me three more salvos right away . . . Three more! . . . Rapid fire! Rapid fire! Keep them coming . . . Really got them spotted down there. Can see the Jap's artillery Give me three more. Rapid Fire! We're knocking hell out of them down there. Three more quick! Down 50, left 20. Rapid fire, five salvos . . . Right on. That's getting them . . . Here comes an air strike in there now, but don't stop. Keep firing at that piece if it takes you all day. That's the one that's been giving us all the trouble. . We replied, This is Shannon. Wilco, with pleasure. Out. The plane then told the spotter on the ground, The Shannon has hit it. Those 8z 'l 'CJ'W Ccensoredj Nips haven't been firing lately and probably won't again. Am getting other emplacements now. Hundreds of them down there. As soon as we get this air strike out of here we will be able to take care of them. This strike is giving them all a chance to get away. Tflgeyy are getting away! VVould like to call this damn air strike o 39

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From our new vantage point we could see the Marines niovuls warily along the debris-strewn beach. Tanks crawled slowly through the heavy volcanic ash and sand, moving up a hill towards the first main objective-Motoyama Airfield No. ul. Several tanks became balls of fire as they took direct hits from Jap artillery and mortars. lVe learned that the ,laps were offering stiff resistance, much stiffer than had been expected, but that the beachhead had been well established. The enemy had for some time been laying down a devastat- ing curtain of artillery, mortar, and rocket fire on the beaches. Our troops were encountering an intricate system of defense, as well as some of the most modern weapons that the enemy had employed any time during the war. The defending garri- son, numbering about 20,000 was emplaced in an interlocking svstem of caves, pillboxes, and block-houses, with ,guns mounted in well hidden and protected positions both on Mount Suribachi and the high areas at the north, commanding the Marines' positions, the beaches, and the sea approaches. Casualties on both sides were extremely high as the Marines literally inched ahead against determined resistance from heavily fortified positions. By Sundown we heard the heartening news that part of the airstrip had been securedg that our lines had been advanced across the island at its narrow southwestern tip, isolating the Japs on Suribachi from the main forces in the north. As We waited impatiently, night came and with it our first Jap air attack. The raid was light and short. What little damage was caused was paid for dearly by the Japs in the loss of planes. During the attack, one of our pilots who inter- cepted the Jap raid described our flak over the island as, So thick you could walk on it. Communication difficulties and lack of information as to the location of our own troops had kept us from firing, but then contact was established with the shore fire control party and our schedule of fire ordered. From 2140 until 0315 we conducted illuminating and harass- ing nre into areas of enemy troop concentration. Combat 1n- formation Center picked out the targets in our area and supplied Control and Plot with ranges, bearings, and the time to tire. At 0323 our rate of fire was increased to Soften up the enemy a little more in preparation for the Marines' morning attack. No one on board got much sleep that night, but neither did the Japs! In the early morning hours of the 20th a determined enemy counter-attack was broken upg by the end of the day Moto- yama Airfield No. 1 had been captured. At 0800 we began firing on call of the shore fire control party and an hour later took under direct tire and destroyed an en m b tt l' l ' e y a ery W.11Cl had been spotted through its cam- ouflage by the Captain. Throughout the day we fired sporadi- cally on call of the SFCP usually from ten to fifteen sal . xi VOS at each target, with occasional spots to correct our aim or to shift us from one target to another. We were given a few specific targets to take care of, but most of the fire was at random, intended to rake areas of heavy enemy concentration. Late in the afternoon we were assigned a target of enemy artillery. The first salvo brought a spot of, No chan 'e N' . o change, indicating that we were right on Five more git-gun salvos effectively disposed of guns and personnel. At 1616 we were relieved as a-fire support unit by the Howorth CDD 5923 and took a screening station off the northwest coast. During the night and morning of February 19 20 we rec i 1 , , - e ver a small amount of spasmodic and inaccurate return fire from enemy batteries. Several projectiles landed within 800 yards and one within 100 yards, causing no damage Since th Fnemy did not push the attack, their batteries could not if ocated and consequently, not destroyed. Desperate Hghting continued ashore during the third dav' many Japanese dead had .been counted, but only one man had been captured. The Third Marine Division landed ag r andlmoved into the battle line between the Fourth andSFiifiili Divisions. Flash Red was ordered at 1715 on the Zlst. Jap plqnee were in the area, making their second attack. None approacheil the Shannon Until 1929 when we commenced Bring on a cnl'i we had tracked by radar for several minute.. Tli- I Clic . s ic plane wtg low and closing rapidly. Curt orders from the Captain maneii vered the ship at 25 knots to keep our batteries iiniiiaslf il 2 i bearing. At 4,000 yards the target slowed rapidly thieii dill- appeared. ' ' A large cloud of smoke was observed in the vicinitv of lip. last air bursts, There was no other evidence of thc' fum of this plane. Enemy air strength was surprisingly liig-pt Air attacks such as the one we had just undergone were gcnerallv infrequent and short-lived, but during this attack they hail succeeded in sinking the escort carrier Bismark Sea. i SURIBACHI WORKED OVER :Xfter fueling the next day, we relieved the Stanley fDD 478, in the sector providing tire support for operations on Mt Suribachi. This area had caused the greatest trouble the firsf few days of fighting. The .laps from concentrated mortar and small arms emplace- ments raked the bearln-s with tire, seriously impeding the landing of troops, heavy t-rluipintfnt, and supplies. Rain and fog further hampered operations, Heavy seas made close Naval support difficult, but not impossible. For thirty-Six hours destroyers and a few battleships had been hammering away at Jap caves, particularly on Suribachi. Withering fire mauled the mountain, literally changing its face. Mount Suribachi was Hot Rocks in reality. The Shannon's batteries were ready to add their bit, but the Shore Fire Control l-'arty ordered no hre. Friendly troops had just surrounded the entire base of the mountain and were worming their way laboriously up its almost perpendicular slopes. The reduced visibility would have made ships' gunfire dangerous to our forces. Jap resistance, even the trick of rolling grenades down the rocks, failed to stop our advance. Marines, with flame-throwcrs and in hand to hand com- bat, fought their way upwards, mopping up the remnants of Jap troops, Thus, at 1035 February 23, as a result of the sheer courage and tenacity of the 28th Marine Regiment, the Stars and Stripes were hoisted over the extinct volcano- Suribachi. The thrill of this was electrifying. Heart and strength were renewed in all who watched. The material effect was of equal importance. Capture of these heights eliminated some of the enemy mortar and ar- tillery hre which had been directed against our troops on the previous days, while mortar hre from Kangoku Rock, north- west of the island, was eliminated by a destroyer. VVhile we stood by awaiting orders, a bogey was reported sixteen miles away. Four minutes later the terrifying roar ofa plane diving and pulling out was heard. Eyes and ears stramed to find him. Radar had no contact. Suddenly an explosion shook the ship. Two bombs of undetermined size had landed only 500 yards on the port beam. No damage was caused but everyone was shaken up-and 8 bit frightened! At 1900 the ship was ordered to the northern. end of the island to work with a Mortar Support Unit providingillumi- nating and harassing fire throughout the night. In add1ti0n,a few targets of opportunity, mostly enemy batteries, were taken under fire by the five-inch and forty millimeter guns, with unobserved results. Upon completion of our schedule of fire the next morning. we were relieved by the Ralph Tal.bot QDD 3905 and agam took an inner screen station. U The Jap air raid came right on schedule that evening- Flash Red called us to general quarters, and for two and 21 half hours we tracked targets on the radar. The only Plane to come within range was quickly turned away by our HFC- SHANNON SILENCES ENEMY GUNS On orders of Commander Amphibious Force, we felllaced the Colhoun CDD 8013 as a fire support unit the afternoon Of the 24th. For four hours we covered prominent terrain feag tufes with fakillg fire to soften up areas ahead of UGYTCUC drives. From time to time targets of opportunity were takell under fire and destroyed. Special concentrated tire was called fOl' by the SFCP to destroy an cnemv pillbox and several HflillC1'y C1UDl21Ceineiits. At l7l8 we observed an enemy inachlfle 81111 nest being strafed by friendly lighters. Wfhen the planCS were clear it was our turn-we silenced thc guns. Agillll llll'0UtIl1011t the night we fired a schedule of haraSSll1g and illuminating tire into enemy territorv. The Shannon WHS highly commended by the SFCI' when,'at 2139, we silenced an enemy battery that had been tiring into our liIlC5- Tll1'Ul1l4'l1o1it the morning of the 25th we fired on the call of the Sl C.lf' and a Spottinti plane. During this time the f0ll0W' 'Us' were among comments received from our spotters: EX' cellent, Now l'll walk you right up the hill: there are Sevefal more small emplaccnieuts there . . . Right ou! Those l35t f '5 WCW' very Hood. l have a truck here-on the read at the intersection, time mi- up tgp' pq, 25' pi,-,C one , , , Good: Good! fnvc ine three salvos, rapid tire . . . Verv good. Tha lakes care ol him. Xhfait one' l'll lind some more targets. S i t l 1 l t l I , t J l i i l l 1 i I i t l l i J l l t l i l l l i I l x il yi 4 if . Q . fl' 38 . .Si2?r f' 1 1 1:11 545 '- 1' LL? 1 Ii.- Q . , 4. 5 . FIFA , .'

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4 We then requested that the air strike be called off. A couple of minutes later our spotter remarked, The fZoomie' boys are going home now. Let's go! Resume fire on the same set- up. ' After several more salvos and spots, the spotter ordered, Check fire. I'll go down and take a look. This fog and rain is getting so bad I can't see too much . . . H I I-Iave investigated the area. Personnel killed all over the place down there. No one there now. The artillery piece is abandoned. What about the gun? we asked. It might still be operational. I'll take another look. Don't take any chancesg we need you around! The spotter thought the gun might still be good, so we resumed fire. The plane again spotted. .'fFour fox-holes- four of them newly dug-any shell in this area is doing a hell of a good job . . . just saw one of the boys come out of a cave. We're on him . . . Hit about three caves on that last one . . . Swell job-the gun has completely vanished now. The spotter called for several more salvos and then some anti-personnel air bursts. Right on. Check fire. Very nice, coming over at about 100 feet. Area is completely neutralized. Am looking for that gun. '- The shore spotter cut in, VVant to make sure of that gun. He has been all our trouble. Take all the time you want. Target area thoroughly neutralized, came from the plane. Cannot see gun there. The area is so stirred up I can't find anything left. At this time the relief spotting plane arrived. The first spotter told him, Come over here in 187 at 'angels' point- seven and I'll show you a good ship to work with and plenty of targets ,worthy of her salvos. Watch out for the flak though! After turning over his duties, he told us, Your firing has been very good. Have enjoyed working with you. Before we could hand back orchids for his excellent spot- ting, the new spotter came in, very excitedly, with Good Lord! There are a bunch of Iaps down there shooting into our lines , . . Hell, they're firing at me! Give me some more right away-Hurry! After one salvo came, No change, no change. Rapid fire for one minutef' The spotter then picked out some more targets for us. In the next hour and a half we fired 130 two-gun salvos-salvos that earned such welcome remarks as, Direct hit-right on . . . That takes care of that target . . . I have a major emplace- ment up hereg up 200, right 50, . . Good! Excellent! Especiallv in this terrain. It's rugged. Four more salvos, maximum ratie . . . Right on about ten emplacements down there. There are emplacements all over this gulley. Keep them coming . . , Oh, Boy! Those were the best of all. Hit a stone bloekhouse that time . . . Hitting right on now . . . Very, very good, We are doing a fine job . . . There were many pogifions in that area-not so many now. Looked like mortar emplage- ments. You knocked out about eight. Only a couple left. Despite the hills you dropped those last few right into eight dug-ins and more mortars. Will be a great help to our infantry going up there. Damn good work! You just got five gun emplacements, too! VVhen we ceased fire in that area to make an ammo report, the spotter said, Area well beat upg only two slit trenches left. Gun emplacements vacated. No activity. By this time we had become inured to the day and night, seemingly endless jar and concussion of our roaring five-inch batteries. Concussions that exploded light bulbs all over the ship, ripped.tOpside doors from their hinges, and twisted solid steel ladders into snake-like patterns no longer bothered us. VVe had learned what the Marines were paying to take that tiny island. Wie had buddies, brothers, and neighbors over there, and our part seemed small. Every shell in every salvo carried our prayers-earnest prayers that they would destroy to make a path for the Marines through the fanatical resistance. Our prayers seemed answered in the pilot's remarks, as we poured fifty-seven more salvos into a new area: Perfect, All four salvos right on . . . Check fire . . . Every projectile a hit . . . Area well covered and concentration of 12 or 14 mortar emplacements knocked out. Excellent work! The' SFCP told the relieving plane, These last two 'Wfake Island planes have been having a field day with the Shannonf And the field day continued. f ,VVe began firing at an enemy troop concentration, being chreeted, at times, to lay salvos as closes as 200 yards to our own slowly advancing lines. This was ticklish business, .but verb' effective. When it became too risky, we switched to another area and worked over a blockhouse. DiSHDpointment was the principal feeling throughout the 511119 when we had to be relieved because practically all of our thousands of rounds of ammunition had been expended. T!11S was reflected in the last message from the Shore Fire ContrOl Party as we reluctantly pulled away. 'As far as we are concerned, Shannon, you are the best 511111 we have ever worked with. The plane spotters and WC are very much pleased, and are happy to have worked with yOU- You did an excellent jobf' Such D1'21iSC from those veterans of other invasions was HS . -, , 1 QOOC! HS 3 Hlghts sleep to us. It was by far the best time we had ever had. We left for a rendezvous with the Idaho 11213421 to load ammunition, and then took station in the outer screen. The flex! Clay, Hflef fueling, we returned to the ammunition replen- ishment area to discharge some of the ammunition we had Worked so hard to get the day before to the two destroyers that .had less than we and were not returning to a rear area within the next few days. Lvwe departed f'Bloody Iwo at 1616 March 7, with a group-Qf 2-Ss .and LST s, enroute to Saipan. Thus ended our particle PHUO11 in the capture of Iwo lima I ki 1 ,ss . I . 40 I ,, N 21' . f L..-iff ' ff it ' 'W an . 9 Q.,