USS SLC OFFICIAL DECK LOGS-SEPTEMBER 1942

Events from the
Official DECK LOG RECORDS of the USS SALT LAKE CITY CA25
September, 1942
Part One...Part Two
List of Information Transcribed from Copies of Originals

Dec. 1941

Jan. 1942

Feb. 1942

Mar. 1942

Apr. 1942

May 1942

Jun. 1942

Jul. 1942

Aug. 1942

Sept. 1942

Oct. 1942

Nov. 1942

Dec. 1942

Jan. 1943

Feb. 1943

Mar. 1943

Apr. 1943

May 1943

Jun. 1943

Jul. 1943

Aug. 1943

Sept. 1943

Oct. 1943

Nov. 1943

Dec. 1943

Jan. 1944

Feb. 1944

Mar. 1944

Apr. 1944

May 1944

Jun. 1944

Jul. 1944

Aug. 1944

Sept. 1944

Oct. 1944

Nov. 1944

Dec. 1944

Jan. 1945

September 12th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Steaming with TASK FORCE 18 in condition of Readiness II.

[4-8 Hours]
Steaming as before. Search radar out of commission. Set Condition of Readiness III.

[8-12 Hours]
Steaming as before.

Mayfield, V. A. HA1c was operated on for acute appendicitis by Lt. J. M. Jacoby, (MC), USN. [See Sept. 25th, 1942

[12-16 Hours]
Steaming as before. Sighted Vataganai Island, New Hebrides, dist. 14 miles. Commenced maneuvering to conform to movements of USS WASP in launching and recovering aircraft.

September 15th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Steaming in condition of readiness II in company with TASK FORCE 18 with USS WASP, Fleet Guide.

[12-16 Hours]
Steaming as before. Sighted smoke, distance 25 miles. Conforming to movements of USS WASP conducting aircraft operations. Unidentified aircraft reported, distance 25 miles. Sighted B-17, distance 5 miles. Passed over large oil slick with wreckage in vicinity.

USS HELENA reported two (2) men in vicinity of oil slick. USS HELENA & USS FARENHOLT left formation to attempt rescue. Ships returned to formation. [No mention of rescue made].

Went to General Quarters upon submarine contacts by screens. Commenced maneuvering to parallel movements of USS SAN FRANCISCO.

1506: Launched the following planes as indicated.
CS-16 to starboard, pilot, Katenkamp
CS-15 to port, pilot, Tate
CS-14 to port, pilot, Cheney

[18-20 Hours]
Steaming as before. Maneuvering to recover aircraft & crew listed above.

September 16th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Steaming in Condition of Readiness II in company with TASK FORCE 18 astern USS SAN FRANCISCO Fleet Guide, dist. 1000 yards.

[4-8 Hours]
Steaming as before. Sighted Espiritu Santo Island, dist. 18 miles.

[12-16 Hours]
Steaming as before. Screening Destroyer sounded alarm of submarine contact. Dropped several depth charges. Submarine contact later reported through to be rock pinnacle.

Commenced maneuvering to conform to the channel, standing into Espiritu Santo Harbor, New Hebrides Captain at the Conn., Exec. Officer, & Navigator on the Bridge. Passed between Tutuba Island & Bogacio Island. Entered Segond Channel. Passed Black Rock Point, dist. 1500 yds. Commenced operating independently, standing in to anchorage. Anchored in Berth B-3, Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides. Secured main & steering engines, leaving them on 2 hour notice. USS LAFFEY came alongside to starboard side to port side for transfer of personnel. Commenced receiving personnel.

[16-18 Hours]
Anchored as before. Received 17 Officers & 486 Men from USS LAFFEY for further transfer. The USS LAFFEY cast off and when getting underway, she rammed her port bow into our starboard anchor. No damage was done to this vessel. A hole about 5 or 6' long & 3' wide was ripped in port bow of destroyer at her port gas board strake?.

Received USS LANSDOWNE alongside to starboard, for fueling and transfer of personnel. Received 170 Officers & 315 Men on board for further transfer.

[18-20 Hours]
Anchored as before. Completed pumping fuel, having delivered 923 barrels. USS LANSDOWNE cast off and USS LARDNER came alongside to starboard. Received personnel for further transfer. Commenced pumping fuel to USS LARDNER. Completed receiving personnel, having received 38 Officers & 277 Men for further transfer.

[20-24 Hours]
Anchored as before. Completed pumping fuel oil to USS LARDNER having delivered 792 barrels.

September 17th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Anchored in Berth B-3, Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands with TASK FORCE 18 plus USS CURTIS, USS HERCULES, USS TRACY and various small craft.

[4-8 Hours]
Anchored as before. Commenced & completed preparations for getting underway in obedience to dispatch. Captain at the Conn., Exec. Officer, & Navigator on the Bridge. Standing out of Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands, maneuvering incident to leaving port in company with USS HELENA, USS LAFFEY & USS LANSDOWNE.

[8-12 Hours]
Steaming as before. Officer of the Deck took Conn. Sighted friendly tanker, dist. 8 miles. Sighted USS GAMBLE, dist. 10 miles, accompanied by a merchantman. Sighted USS SAN FRANCISCO, USS JUNEAU and 3 Destroyers, dist. 8 miles.

[18-20 Hours]
Steaming as before. Because of large number of passengers, crew members of batteries relieved of their battle stations.

September 18th, 1942
Steaming in company with USS HELENA, USS LAFFEY & USS LANSDOWNE in Condition of Readiness I. Destroyers screening ahead, dist. 1000 yards.

[8-12 Hours]
Steaming as before. Sighted two (2) ships, dist. 6 miles, identified as USS BALLARD and a Dutch Merchantmen. Sighted land, dist. 35 miles.

[12-16 Hours]
Steaming as before. Set all clocks back 1 hour to -11 Zone Time. Sighted Merchantman, dist. 8 miles. Sighted 2 Tankers, dist. 10 miles. Sighted Amedee Light House, dist. 13 miles. Commenced maneuvering at various courses and speeds incident to entering Port. Set Condition of Readiness I in AA Battery. Passed Amedee Light House, to port, anchored in Berth A-2, Great Roads, Noumea, New Caledonia.

[16-18 Hours]
Anchored as before. In accordance with COMTASKFOR 18, transferred a total of 72 Officers & 780 Enlisted personnel received on board as passengers on Sept. 16th, 1942, to the MS PRES. POLK and the USS FULLER; conditions of transfer were such that it is impossible to specify the vessel to which each man was transferred.

Received SS COMET alongside to starboard. When coming alongside the port, the wing of their bridge collided with #3 sponsor of this vessel. Damage to SS COMET. Port running light smashed; port wing of bridge slightly damaged. Damage to this vessel: No material damage; paint on #3 sponsor lacerated. Commenced receiving fuel oil from SS COMET. Received 368,928 gals.

[18-20 Hours]
Anchored as before. Received from USS RAINIER the following ammunition as indicated: 141 rounds 5"/25 common service; 1,500 rounds .30 cal a.c. tracer; 1,500 rounds 30 cal. a.c., a.p. service.

September 19th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Anchored in Berth A-2, Great Roads, Noumea, New Caledonia

[8-12 Hours]
Anchored as before. Commenced shallow-water diving operations for cleaning ship's propellers and for indoctrination of divers. Completed diving operations at 1550

September 20th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Anchored in Berth A-2, Great Roads, Noumea, New Caledonia, in condition of readiness III.

[8-12 Hours]
Anchored as before.

0824: Hoisted out the following aircraft as indicated:
CS-14 to port, pilot, Tate
CS-16 to port, pilot, Morse
CS-15 to starboard, pilot, Taylor.

1131: Hoisted in the above listed aircraft and crew

[12-16 Hours]
Anchored as before.

Dolecek, Edward E., Comdr., USN was detached from this vessel and ordered to temporary duty at nearest Naval District.

Transferred

Hicks, Harry Lee, EM2c, USN, with bag, hammock & health records, to USS SOLACE for treatment. Other records to be forwarded by guard mail.

1257: Hoisted out the following aircraft for gunnery flights, as indicated:
CS-16 to port, pilot, Taylor
CS-14 to port, pilot, Cheney
CS-15 to starboard, pilot, Katenkamp

Ship's Recreation Party left the ship.

Ramsey, L. B., Lt.(jg) in charge.

Gould, Arthur J., RM3c, sustained laceration on the head when he dived into shallow water while on authorized swimming party. Negligence not apparent. Two dermal sutures taken, sterile dressing applied, and man returned to duty.

Rholl, Donald A., ARM2c received a sprained left ankle while on an authorized gunnery flight in airplane CS-14, when he caught his left foot in the plane structure as he was attempting to throw a message from the airplane to the deck of this ship. Injury occurred at work. Negligence not apparent. Treated in Sick Bay & admitted to sick list.

1540: Hoisted in the above listed aircraft & crew.

September 21st, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Anchored in Berth A-2, Great Roads Harbor, Noumea, New Caledonia

[8-12 Hours]
Anchored as before

0830: Hoisted out the following aircraft as indicated:
CS-15 to port, pilot, Katenkamp
CS-14 to port, pilot, Taylor
CS-16 to starboard, pilot, Morse

1130: Hoisted in the above listed aircraft & crew.

[12-16 Hours]
Anchored as before.

Commenced & completed making preparations for getting underway in accordance with COMTASKGROUP 66.4 operation. Leaving port. Captain at the Conn., Exec. Officer, & Navigator on the Bridge.

[16-18 Hours]
Standing out of port, 1000 yards astern of USS ATLANTA & USS HELENA, conforming to channel and following movements of USS ATLANTA. Set Condition II in Automatic Weapons & Condition I in Anti-aircraft batteries.

Tested automatic weapons; condition satisfactory, no casualties, 32 rounds of 1.1./75 & 18 rounds of 20mm ammunition expended. Passed Beacon Light House, distance 1200 yards. Secured the special sea detail. Both anchors secured for sea. USS HELENA assumed Fleet Guide.

[18-20 Hours]
Steaming as before. Set all clocks ahead 1 hour to -12 zone time.

September 22nd, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Steaming in condition of Readiness II in company with TASK GROUP 66.4, in column order USS HELENA, USS ATLANTA & USS SALT LAKE CITY, 3 destroyers ahead of formation as anti-submarine screen.

[8-12 Hours]
Steaming as before. USS LANSDOWNE took station for scheduled exercises. Set condition I in Main & Anti-aircraft batteries preparatory to firing.

0845: Launched plane CS-16 to starboard, pilot, Katenkamp, CS-15 to port, pilot, Tate; CS-14 to port, pilot, Cheney. Commenced scheduled firing exercises. Commenced maneuvering incident to recovering aircraft.

[12-16 Hours]
Steaming as before. Launched the same aircraft & recovered.

September 23rd, 1942
[18-20 Hours]
Steaming as before. This ship detached from TASK FORCE 17 and reported for duty to COMTASKFOR 64 in USS SAN FRANCISCO. Formed in column astern USS SAN FRANCISCO, distance 600 yards. Set Condition of Readiness II.

September 24th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Steaming in Condition of Readiness II in company with COMTASKFOR 64.

[16-18 Hours]
Steaming as before. Sighted destroyer, dist. 6 miles. Set all clocks back one half hour, using -11 zone time. Passed between Tutuba Island & Bogacio Island, dist. 800 yards from each island. Commenced maneuvering incident to entering port, standing into Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands. Captain at the Conn., Exec. Officer, & Navigator on the Bridge. Passed Black Rock Point abeam to port, dist. 1500 yards. Anchored in Berth C-2.

September 25th, 1942
[20-24 Hours]
Anchored in Berth C-2 to fuel ship, then preparing to get underway to move to Berth A-8.

Transferred Mayfield, V. A., HA2c to CUB Hospital #1 US Navy, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, with bag, hammock, records & accounts, for treatment. Diag: Abscess Abdominal.

Anchored in Berth A-8, Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands.

September 28th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Anchored in Berth A-8, Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands.

[8-12 Hours]
Anchored as before. 0935 to 1024: The Commanding Officer of the USS BOISE called officially on the Captain.

1100 to 1130: Held Swimming Call.

[12-16 Hours]
Anchored as before.

Transferred Underwood, Everett A., S1c to USS CURTISS with bag, hammock, records & accounts for temporary duty for photographic instruction.

September 29th, 1942
[0-4 Hours]
Anchored in Berth A-8, Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands.

[8-12 Hours]
Anchored as before.

0837: Hoisted out the following airplanes
CS-16 to port, pilot, Taylor; CS-14 to port, pilot, Tate; CS-15 to starboard, pilot, Cheney

Osborne, W. R., S1c received small laceration of the lip while handling drill shells. Negligence not apparent. Treated in Sick Bay & returned to duty.

1100: Hoisted in the above listed aircraft & crew.

[16-18 Hours]
Anchored as before. 1600: Making preparations for getting underway. 1701: Underway, formed column with USS SAN FRANCISCO, USS HELENA & USS BOISE. Proceeding from Espiritu Santo to N.H. to conduct night exercises. Captain at the Conn., Exec. Officer, & Navigator on the Bridge.

[18-20 Hours]
Steaming as before. Set condition of Readiness I. Commenced illumination practice with Search lights.

[20-24 Hours]
Steaming as before. 2341: Sighted land on Port & Starboard, dist. 1.5 miles. 2351: Passed through Selwyn Straits, New Hebrides

September 30th, 1942
[4-8 Hours]
Steaming as before

0500: Hoisted out the following airplanes
CS-16 to port, pilot, Morse; CS-15 to starboard, pilot, Tate

Commenced making preparations for entering port.

[8-12 Hours]
Anchored in Berth A-8, Segond Channel, Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides Islands.

0844: Hoisted in the above listed aircraft & crew

1100-1130: Held swimming call for ship's company on starboard quarter.

[12-16 Hours]
Anchored as before.

1540: Hoisted out the following planes to remain in port while this ship is underway:
CS-15 to port, pilot, Taylor, passenger, Tate; CS-14 to port, pilot, Cheney; CS-16 to starboard, pilot, Katenkamp, passenger, Morse.

[16-20 Hours]
Anchored as before. Making preparations for getting underway.

The following named men left the ship for temporary duty ashore in charge of ship's boats:

Kouns, O. B., CSF(AA),

in charge
Moss, A. L., MM1c
Koch, D. F., Cox
Sperry, F., S1c

Tomaski, E., S1c
Fabisack, C. L., S1c

Daniels, B. W., S1c

1725: Received signal from COMTASKFOR 64 not to get underway. Secured special sea detail. 1955: Ship's boats, with men in charge, returned to ship.

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