Shannon (DM 25) - Naval Cruise Book

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-i RUGGED DUTY TORI SHIMA SWEEP Task Unit 52.4.4 madea rendezvous north of Kei-uma Retto at 0700, and then proceeded to Tori Shima, 50 miles west of Okinawa, to conduct a sweep of the surrounding shallow waters, in preparation for a landing the next day, Tori Shima is just a pin-point of rock, but its strategic position made it important as the location of a land-based air Warning station. Every destroyer and destroyer type was happy to see land based stations established, for each one reduced the number of radar picket ships needed. At 0830, we arrived. The AMG commenced their sweep, which lasted until early afternoon, and proved uneventful. Throughout the day, many enemy planes attacked shipping in the Okinawa area, especially around Hagushi, and the northern radar picket stations. Fortunately, no planes ap- proached or attacked us, for with the sweep gear streamed our maneuvers were greatly hampered. During our return trip, a sonar contact was picked up at 2800 yards. It was first believed to be a sub, but after investi- gation it was evaluated as non-sub. The sweeps were left at Kerama Retto while we were ordered to anti-submarine patrol station B-18, with additional duties as radar picket. After their unusually heavy daylight raids, the Japs were not very active, and the night passed without disturbance. The next day, May 12, was spent conducting fueling opera- tions, and the night, which once more found the laps active, on station 155-A. Daylight hours of the following day were spent on anti-sub- marine and radar picket patrol south of Kerama Retto. That night, we returned Okinawa. This .and several successive raids headed directly for the island, passing us up for bigger game. Our feelings were not hurt in the least by thus being slighted. The Japs, however, must have thought we missed their company, for .they soon became interested in our welfare and tried to make it as unhealthy as possible. r The first attackers to approach R.P. 16 were taken under Hre at. 2259. While the other planes circled the ship, a Betty came in low. just after this plane fiew over the ship, a torpedo wake was sighted passing down the port side, close aboard. Ihe Betty had been hit by our fire, and was finally knocked down while going away, crashing off our port quarter, close aboard the Smith. -Six minutes later another Betty attacked from the starboard side and was taken under fire by both ships. In less than a 1I1ll'lL1lC,-'IDIS plane, intent on suiciding, was splashed close to the Smith. The other planes of the raid were turned by our fire and opened towards Okinawa. For about the next hour, the japs gave ug 3 little breathing spell, wlnle they concentrated on other picket stations and on Okinawa. Shortly after midnight, new adversaries began to close us, in raids of from one to ten planes. The first of these was taken under tire at 0026. High speed and violent maneuvers, aug- menting our large volume of fire, proved very effective in countering the Jap attacks. For fifteen minutes, we fired almost without a break. Many of the attackers were Kamikazes, although some attempted bombing and torpedoing tactics. Although only two of the planes in this attack were officially claimed as prob- , 6, ables, several 'others could not be ac- ' , counted for after they had made their to our old favorite-155-A. ffiffiw' runs. Those planes that were not We passed the following five days in A 'Oli K Splaished were tllmed by Ovf me and the AA Sweep around Hagushi and on a ,l,.Q, Ni 14' gx Elhased lhoine with their tails between Shoff aV9fil3-b1litY period at that anchor- 1 - l ' len Wwe S' . . . age and in Kerama Retto. Enemy air R ,Q , 51,-N A few minutes of inactivity and rest activity during this time was heavy, but Qt if ' gf was Interrupted by 9' fevoff of gr0up5 we were usually prevented from tiring jf- '- ! H' Of DIHHCS Closing us. These were sub- by the smoke conditions in the anchor- Q fxq WW' J' . Sefluently DIQICCC1 UD. At 0120, 2111 STIIDS ages. Q 0 . X . -Y H-- gf-1 X on the station .commenced firing and , , . g '15 s tired almost continuously throughout the From May 19 to Zn, we patrolled Sta- k f i ltihll 1 thirteen minute attack . , . . Y N.. . X. . . . tion 135'A' Ja? alf raids were prevalent ,A At one time during the attack, there throughout this period, although few 'N-5 ' were ten planes within ten miles of the planes came close enough to our station ' Ship all closing to allow us to fire. ' ' The few occasions on which planes were sighted and taken under-tire, they were either quickly turned away, or splashed by ships nearby. ROGER PETER 16 During the morning of May 25, came the orders that we had long expected, but had dreaded to hear- Proceed immediately. in company with the Robert H. Smith, to Roger Peter 16 and relieve the Cowell CDD 4575 and Wren CDD 5681 1 With the ominous feeling that gripped his heart showing in his voice, the Combat Officer Rogered for the message and passed the word on to the Captain. At 1023, We left station and proceeded on our assigned duty. The Smith joined us an hour later for the rest of. the trip. When we arrived on station, the Smith assumed the fighter direction duties, and the Shannon joined the Ingersoll CDD 652D and the LCS's 14, 17, 18, and 21, which were already on station, as supporting ships. CominDiv 7 assumed tactical command and issued instructions for the patrol. Soon after our arriva.l the sky became heavily overcast and a steady, heavy downpour began. This blessed weather lasted for two days and nights, keeping the laps at home. But when the skies cleared, on the evening of May 27, we realized that the past two days had been only the calm before the storms of what proved to be the most harrowing night in the Shan- non's existence. And the situation was aggravated by the loss of almost one-third of the station's fire power, when thc Ingersoll was ordered to return to Kerama Retto, during the early morning of May 26th. The usual routine dusk general quarters was SOHHCRNI HT 1845, May 27, but the routine aspect was soon replaced by one of necessity and activity. Shortly after sunset the first of the night's 54 raids was reported by a picket northwest of This attack seemed to be more coordi- nated than any of the previous ones, and entailed a variety of tactics. The first plane started his run from about five miles on the starboard bow. As soon as his intentions were detected, con- trol was put on the target and the main battery opened up. The plane maneuvered to get ahead of us and seemed intent on suiciding. But the Captain's expert ship-handling, enriched by previous experience with Kamikazes, kept the attacker between the beam and the bow, allowing all guns to bear. Suddenly control passed the dreaded word to combat: VVe've lost him! One quick, new bearing from combat was fortunately enough to put them back on. They resumed fire. At about 4000 yards the forties opened up, telling those who couldn't see of our adversary's nearnessg at 2500 the twenties. I-Ie was breathing his fiery breath down our necks, but no one flinched-we were all too busy. Anxious moments later, we could see that he had been hit, but was trying- to maintain the altitude and aim necessary.to carry out his diabolical mission. But the Shannon's Irish Luck was still with her. He fell into the sea a very few hundred yards away. We had chalked up another sure! But our spirits were soon dampened, and thoughts were never allowed to turn to the added meatball that would soon grace our bridge, the attack was being pressed from another quarter. Both ships resumed fire. This plane turned away at 5000 yards, having suiiiciently diverted our attention from one of his cohorts .who was com- ing in on the starboard quarter. Both ships shifted targets. The plane never had a chance, and was splashed before he got in to 3000 yards. 51

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t t , 1 c . . . K x ' i 5 . 4 e ' 1 .- ' ' if ' K H i T .bn , Then, like the answer to a prayer, a triumphant shout came from the other ship: VVe're connected up! A low murmer of excitement ran throughout the ship as we started ahead slowly, paying out the remainder of the wire. Then from the Warcl came the word, You'll have to pull our chain out. Roger, Let it pay out to forty-five fathoms, please. zcOkay.:9 A Now that we were connected up and moving ahead, un- certainty and impatience crept into the voices of the VVard's crew. They were anxious to get going, and although we sym- pathized and agreed with them, it would have been foolhardy to start too fast. As painstaking and nerve-racking as it was opening the distance between the two ships so slowly, it was safest. If we had parted the wire or fouled the screws, then it would have been necessary to start all over again, pro- vided we weren't disabled too, leaving both ships at the mercy of Jap planes. Again and again we heard shouts from the Ward, Please go faster. To relieve the tension and for something to say, we liollered back, Let us know when you have way on. , Roger. Then, after a long few minutes, a barely audible but thankful voice cried, VVe have way onf' This word was passed from our fantail to the Captain. As the number of turns of the engines was increased, the towing wire stretched out cleared the water once, and then settled into the desired catenary. The bow of the VVard slowly came about into our wake-she was in tow! But our task was far from completed, for there were still forty-five miles of dangerous waters between us and the haven of Kerama Retto. It was then just 2300, and the night that lay ahead would be a long, restless one, hard on already frayed nerves. To make matters worse the moon rose at 0300. As we worked up speed, the Ward crabbed badly to star- board, increasing the danger of parting the wire. Using hand steering, she had trouble maintaining a steadv course, Although, over a period of an hour, we had worked up to tugqnsffor eight and a half knots, we made good only five and a a . Before we had gone many miles, tracers and ack ack filled the s-ky over the area we had just left. The ships which had remained to search for survivors were again being attacked by Jap planes. Soon the firing ceased. We prayed that the Japs wouldn't spot us, steaming at our crippled-snail's pace. But the radar soon picked up a plane off our port quarter, closing. The guns trained out and waited, as we all literally held our breath. The Captain ordered control to hold ire. The moon had been up for some time, but at the moment hea.vy clouds shadowed us, and firing would only have given away our position. The ruse worked, for the Jap closed to four miles and then Offiria! U..5'. Navy Photograph veered off without seeing us. The VVard had repaired her steering casualty and took con- trol front the bridge, enabling her to hold a better course. Suddenly, she lunged to port. The wire straightened out with a huin. For an anxious moment, we watched the strain, standing helpless and transfixed. The Captain immediately slowed our engines and, dropping back, allowed the wire to slacken until the VVard could come about, under control. Then, with the tow saved, we laboriously worked back up the former speed. About 0440, just after receiving word of another approach- ing raid, we saw AA fire over Kerama Retto. A plane eXDl0dCd in the air about fifteen miles away. Combat tracked the rest of the raid as it passed to the south of us and headed for Formosa or Sakishima. Again, we breathed more easily. At 0740, we arrived off the southern entrance to Kerama Retto and released our tow to the Tekesta CATF-93J. TCH minutes later, another red alert was sounded. Smoke from the anchorage, augmented by our own smokehcovered all three ships. Although there were many planes in the area, none were sighted and apparently none sighted us. Only then was our mission successfully completed. Although somewhat haggared by the experience, the tension was lifted and we relaxed, feeling no little pride in our accomplishment- The Skipper of the VVard thanked us profusely fOr 3 Jig well done, and asked Captain Foster, How do .we look- He could not make a very heartening reply, but 1n.SQfte Of what the crew of the VVard later referred to as' their fllght deck, the ship was still afloat, and her casualties were not nearly so heavy as they might have been. .We returned to Hagushi and assumed our duties mlthe anti- aircraft screen. In the early evening more ,lap raids were feported closing from the north and west. Before they had Passed the radar picket stations, we were ordered to the assistance of the Gwin QDM 333 which had just been hlf On Roger Peter 10. As we got underway, already feeling fatigue at the thought of facing another ordeal similar to that of the previous Hlghii the Gwin sent word that she was not badly damaged an would remain on station. Consequently, our orders Wefe Changed, Sending us to support the anti-small boat Patrol on station 155 A. A5 USPHI, our sleep that night and the next was iltteffupfefl many times by enemy air raids, but no planes came C1053 enough to bother us. On .the afternoon of the 6th, we took charge of fueling ?PCfTtl0llS northwest -of Hagushi and then returned to 155 A Ol' llYCL unusually quiet dave, ,The Ilwmmg of Mai' 10, we entered Kerama RENO, at VYl'C.l' tlme Captain W. G. Beecher, USN, was relieved as ',m lD1V 7 ln Cfmtaitt H larrou Usn Captain Beee Suisequentlv 1-.sunitd tonnnand of lkslyon S3 ei 1 1 L0 J . , T, 4 ,i S t 4 -1 - ' ' 7 Y 1 ' ' ' , . 5 W K' 50 . L, QE,-ft 1 .25 13 ,I V

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After a momentary t f C breathing spell,two more X ' were upon us in what ap- fa . I 4 A I, . . peared to be l'.llVC-lJO1llJ- ' - ,K ing runs-one direct at ,f X . T j -ig, , I 'Z :W the Shannon the other l 'f .- 'A ' at the Smith. Our vio- ' N px K ' lent maneuvers and with- - fr- . - 1 N ermg volume of fire X seemed to spoil their X K aim for they pulled out N early and their missiles fell harmlessly into the g, 5 'N s ea. Woke: ? As we were catching our breath again, a Betty was picked up, coming in from the port quarter, low on the water. ,lust after we had commenced firing, the radar operator noticed another plane following the first, about one or two thousand yards behind him. The first plane was the most threatening at the moment, so control stayed on him. He maneuvered very little, making it easy to keep him on our beam. IVhen he had gotten in to two miles, he suddenly turned off, flew up on the port side, and then turned out. The moment the first plane broke off his run, the second became the more threatening of the two. Combat immediately and franticly sent this information up to control, and gave them the ranges and bearings necessary to pick up the second plane. The reaction and teamwork was excellent. Control shifted to the second plane, which was maneuvering to get astern of us, and was on him in a very few seconds, missing only one salvo in the process. This plane, however, was so close when we started shooting at him that only a few salvos could be put out before he was on top of us. He was apparently not interested in becoming a suicide hero for the Emperor, but merely flew over the ship, fortunately for us. When he had opened to about 4000 yards, he suddenly disappeared from the radar screen and from sight. We presumed that he crashed, having been hit by our fire. Just before that plane disappeared, the ominous, phosphor- escent wake of a torpedo was sighted, passing about ten yards ahead of the bow. This we assumed to be the Ufishy' dropped by the first plane. Again the Luck of the Irish was with her native daughter, the Shannon. When traveling ati30 knots, ten yards is not very comfortable clearance for a torpedo. During the next few minutes, several planes made rung on us, but most of them were driven off before they closed the ship, None inflicted any damage. At 0141 we ceased firing. All the attackers had been re- pelled. Those that were still airborne had become discouraged and headed for home. Several other raids-enough to keep the condition Flash Red, and keep the ship at general quarters-closed the area, but none approached our station close enough to be taken under fire. During the night's actions, we expended 856 rounds of tive inch ammunition, 385 rounds of 40 mm, and 808 rounds of 20 mm ammunition, accounting for two sures, two assists, and three probables. In addition, several enemy planes could not be accounted for, and, therefore, could not be claimed. The action moved too fast to be accurately recorded. At the time, we were too busy to care. The Van Valkenburgh CDD 6563 arrived on R.P. 16 at 0839, relieving the Shannon so that she could return to Kerama Retto for fuel and ammo. The rest of the 28th and most of the 29th were spent in this occupation. Later on May 29, the ship was ordered to her familiar old station-155-A-in support of the anti-small boat screen. Vile remained there throughout the night, but then the next day returned to Kerama Retto to prepare for a coming sweep operation which we were to support. 52 Admiral Halsey had relieved Adrniral Spruance on May 27 and assumed eoinmand of all former liifth lileet units. At that time, we became a member of the Third Fleet, and Task l:',,,-CQ, Group, and Unit designations were changed aqcgrdingly but the current tactical organization was otherwise unaffected, IHEYA SHIMA SWEEP AND OCCUPATION ln the evening of May 31, the ship moved to the Northwest Anchorage, where we joined Task Unit 32.54, of which Comin- Div 7 fCapt. liarrowj because FOP.-X. CTU 32.5.4 was in the Staunch CAM 3071. lVe got underway at 2139 in company with the Henry A. VViley QDM 292. six AM's, and two Pfiwls At 0300, as we neared the objective, the Task Unit was ordered to turn around and proceed to I-Iagushi Anchorage. The operation had been post- poned because of an expected large scale air attack the next morning. The next night we tried again. At 2116 the Task Unit was formed and enroute to Iheya Retto for the operation which had been postponed. This time it was only an hour before we were ordered to reverse course and return to Kerama Retto, anticipating the same large enemy air attack which had failed to materialize that morning. Again the attack did not come, and again we were ordered to the Northwest Anchorage to prepare for another attempt. The third time proved to be the charm! At 0015, June 3, Task Unit 32.5.4 was underway. Three hours and 30 miles later the Destroyer Support Unit joined our formation. Simul- taneously, the transports, loaded with the attack troops, were picked up by radar. Throughout the approach, enemy planes were in the area, but none closed our group. VVe arrived at the objective area, off the southeastern end of Iheya Shima, just before dawn. VVithin an hour, the sweeps had their gear streamed and were conducting exploratory oper- ations, while the VViley and Shannon supported them. At the same time, the Destroyer Support Unit moved in to conduct preliminary bombardment. As soon as the sweeps had passed the designated beaches, the transports moved in to launch the landings. VVhile we were sweeping the waters at the northern end of the island and then down the west coast, many reports of the Dmgress of the troops were received. All seemed to indicate that the resistance was meager and that the operation was being -successfully carried out. This made us wary, for it seemed too easy. Our fears were confirmed by the sounding of the general alarm. Reports from the nearby pickets, at l300, indicated that unusually large enemy raids were closing from the north. These raids were soon picked up on our gear. Some gafltfed up on the pickets, while the largest groups flew on by 10 attack the ships and installations at Okinawa. After f01'l3' minutes of tracking the main raids southward, We Picked UD Hn unidentified plane fifteen miles to the north, Cl0SlI1g. VVC weren't sure of his complexion until five minuteS later when he was visually identified as a slow but deadly Val- The Captain ordered. Commence firing. as the plane began he dlvc- COUUIIQ' in from the starboard side. the Val closed 'V 4 - fe 0000 Yfl1'ClS lbelore he was turned away by our gunfire. He then opened to sev- eral miles and circled ,-' . X, !-,' 1, around to make an- . , ,ff other approach. N'Ve W , W' if . I ' resumed tire at l350 as the first Val peel- - - '- .. . 9 ed ol'l in a suicide ft np' . dive from the poi-1 K ,df rluarter. 1' ' A' If dfnhycs' I l l - l . l this , 62,5 4 ' ,, .Q,,iLf'2ff . , ' 1 55212 . V J .Pwr W if 9 ' I Lag 1 - ss , g 1 b, . -1' me . 4 .wt ' f'