13. MISSION NUMBER VII
Inclusive Dates:
14 February 1942 to 10 March 1942
Scene of Operation:
From Pearl to Wake to Marcus to Pearl
Task Force:
Task Force 16 - USS ENTERPRISE (Admiral Halsey), USS NORTHAMPTON (Admiral Spruance), USS SALT
LAKE CITY, BALCH, DUNLAP, MAURY, CRAVEN, RALPH TALBOT, MCCALL, BLUE and SABINE.
Objective
(a) To raid Wake
(b) Bomb Marcus
(c) To divert Japanese movements in South Pacific
Results
Mission successfully completed - NORTHAMPTON, SALT LAKE CITY, BALCH and MAURY bombarded Peale
Island of Wake Atoll.
The Marcus raid was carried out entirely by carrier born aircraft, launched 125 miles from
the island.
Exact damage to shore installations in either case unknown, but damage considered to be
extensive. Enemy fleet planes bombed the force before bombardment of Peale but make no hits.
Carrier planes arrived behind schedule at Wake Island, too late to afford protection.
Bombardment carried out on schedule in range of shore batteries.
Comments
SALT LAKE CITY fired over 300 rounds of 5" with fuses set to burst above personnel manning
shore batteries. As far as is known, this was the first time fused ammunition was so
employed in the Pacific area.
This raid was also carried out in enemy waters.
Carrier planes left Wake before all enemy planes were destroyed.
ENTERPRISE retired independently leaving NORTHAMPTON, SALT LAKE CITY, and DD's to retire
alone, vulnerable to shadowing and bombing planes.
The cruiser group had no radar operative and was shadowed by a Japanese patrol plane, in
visual distance the entire day.
Just before sunset two, high altitude bombers made a run with SALT LAKE CITY as target, but
bombs missed, falling in the water about 100 yards on the starboard quarter. Captain
Zacharias had taken avoiding motion. Bombs fell where ship should have been.
Retirement was made without incident from Marcus.
14. From 10 March 1942 until 8 April 1942 was a period of upkeep and Gunnery Exercises held
with the task group - USS ENTERPRISE, CTG Flagship.
15. MISSION NUMBER VIII
Inclusive Dates:
8 April 1942 to 25 April 1942
Scene of Operation:
From Pearl to within 500 miles of Tokyo, Japan, and back to Pearl.
Task Force:
Task Force 16 - USS ENTERPRISE (Admiral Halsey), USS NORTHAMPTON, USS SALT LAKE CITY, BALCH,
BENHAM, FANNING, ELLET and SABINE. On April 13, was joined by Task Force 18 consisting of
USS HORNET, USS VINCENNES , USS NASHVILLE, GWIN, MEREDITH, GRAYSON, MONSSEN and CIMARRON.
Objective
Air raid on principal cities of Japan proper.
Results
Mission successfully completed - Raid carried out -- carriers and escorting ships retired
without loss.
Comments:
This raid was historical significance in that it is the first attack to be made on the
Japanese mainland.
A Japanese patrol vessel was sighted by SALT LAKE CITY battle lookouts shortly after dawn on
the schedule date for launching. Report was made to flagship. NASHVILLE was ordered to sink
enemy and did so. Prompt discovery by SALT LAKE CITY lookouts, at great distance, prevented
patrol vessel from reporting composition of force to Tokyo. Intercepted message showed he
only reported an enemy force in vicinity, without giving an estimate of our mission.
Aside from material damage done, this raid came at a time when leaders were assuring people
of Japan that they would never be bombed. it was the first indication to the population that
their strategists could be wrong. Also, the Japanese Naval Command must have been concerned
regarding home waters and diverted sizable fleet units.
16. MISSION NUMBER IX
Inclusive Dates
30 April 1942 to 19 May, 1942
Scene of Operation:
From Pearl to Noumes, New Caledonia, operating in the Coral Sea area.
Task Force
Task Force 16 - USS ENTERPRISE (Admiral Halsey), USS HORNET, USS NORTHAMPTON, USS SALT LAKE
CITY, USS VINCENNES, BALCH, GWIN, MEREDITH, BENHAM, ELLET, MONSSEN, MAURY, CIMARRON and
SABINE. 13 May 1942 joined by USS PENSACOLA and CONYNGHAM. 16 May 1942 joined by USS
MINNEAPOLIS, USS NEW ORLEANS, PHELPS, DEWEY and NORDEN.
Objective:
To stop enemy advances in South Pacific
Results:
ENTERPRISE group arrived to late for the Coral Sea Battle
ENTERPRISE group deliberately cruised in Japanese controlled waters toward Bouganville until
sighted visually by enemy patrol planes, thus indicating to Japanese the US Naval Forces were
in South Pacific in strength rather than being ready to defend Central Pacific area. After
sight contact this Task Force withdrew and operated north and east of Kfati?.
Comments:
This successful run was contributory to success of Midway in that Japanese were led to
believe our Naval Forces were operating in South Pacific.
SALT LAKE CITY was detached from ENTERPRISE group 18 May, 1942, and joined FLUSSER for escort
into Noumea, New Caledonia on 19 May, fueled and departed for Brisbane, Australia.
17. MISSION NUMBER X
Inclusive Dates
Arrived Brisbane, Australia on 22 May 1942; operated there until departure 14 July 1942.
Scene of Operation
Northeast coast of Australia, Coral Sea and Noumea
Task Force
Task Group 44 - (Rear Admiral Croce, R. N., relieved by Rear Admiral Crutchley, R.N.) H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA, USS SALT LAKE CITY, USS CHICAGO, H.M.A.S. CANBERRA, H.M.A.S. HOBART, USS HELM, BAGLEY, HENLEY, JARVIS, PATTERSON, MUGFORD, and PERKINS.
Objective
(a) Strengthen Australian forces. Provide added power against further Japanese advances in South Pacific.
(b) Scout enemy strength in Coral Sea and in islands bordering same.
Results
Mission successfully completed - Sweeps of Coral Sea provided positive information that no enemy surface craft or troop movements were in progress beyond or below Solomon Islands.
Cruising well within enemy patrol plane radius in vicinity of Guadalcanal indicated their patrols were not adequate, as our force was not sighted.
Opportunity for surprise amphibious attack became more nearly a certainty.
Comments
Ships were on four hour notice whenever in Brisbane.
Operations in enemy controlled waters were carried out with no air coverage from own forces.
18. MISSION NUMBER XI
Inclusive Dates:
14 July 1942 to 26 July 1942
Task Force
Task Force 44 - Later designated Task Group 62.2 (Escort Group) H.M.A.S. AUSTRALIA, (Rear Admiral Crutchley), H.M.A.S. CANBERRA, H.M.A.S. HOBART, USS SALT LAKE CITY, USS CHICAGO, PATTERSON, BLUE, JARVIS, RALPH TALBOT, SELFRIDGE, HENLEY, HELM, AND MUGFORD
Task Group 62.1 (Transport Group) NEVILLE, HAYWOOD, LIBRA, HUNTER-LIGGETT, ALGERIA, FOMALHAUT, MCCAWLEY, BARNETT, GEO. F. ELLIOTT, FULLER, AMERICAN LEGION and BELLATRIX.
Objective
Pick up train at Wellington, New Zealand and escort same to rendezvous.
Results:
Mission successfully completed.
Comments:
Encountered heavy storms out of Wellington.
Ship long deprived of upkeep facilities.
Weather damage taxed ship's ingenuity to utmost in effecting repairs, including jobs normally accomplished by tenders and Navy Yards.
19. MISSION NUMBER XII
Inclusive Dates
26 July 1942 to 23 September 1942
Scene of Operations:
From rendezvous to Guadalcanal and adjacent waters.
Task Force:
Various, see log below.
Objective:
Capture and occupy Guadalcanal and Tulagi
Results
Mission successfully completed
(a) Capture of Guadalcanal
(b) Occupation of Guadalcanal
Comments
26 July 1942 reported to ComTaskForce 11, (SARATOGA). - Ships of Task Force 11 - USS SARATOGA, MINNEAPOLIS, ASTORIA, NEW ORLEANS, SALT LAKE CITY, PHELPS, FARRAGUT, DEWEY, MCDONOUGH and BACH.
27 July 1942 detached from Task Force 11; reported to Task Force 18 (WASP). - Ships of Task Force 18 - USS WASP, VINCENNES, QUINCY, SALT LAKE CITY, SAN JUAN, STACK, LONG, STERRETT, WILSON, AARON WARD, BUCHANAN LAFFEY and FARENHOLT.
21 August 1942 SALT LAKE CITY reported to ComCruTaskFor 11 for duty, (SAN FRANCISCO). Ships present - SAN FRANCISCO, MINNEAPOLIS, NEW ORLEANS and SALT LAKE CITY.
22 August 1942 SALT LAKE CITY reported back to Task Force 18 which had been reinforced by PORTLAND and SELFRIDGE.
30 August 1942 SALT LAKE CITY reported back to ConTaskForce 17; same day reported back to ConTaskForce 18.
3 September 1942 SALT LAKE CITY anchored in Noumea, New Caledonia.
Upon arrival in Noumea SALT LAKE CITY had only two day rations left on board. Officers and crew had been on two thirds reduced rations for two weeks.
Underway
8 September 1942 in company with Task Force 18
In Charge
WASP, SOPA
Ships in Company
WASP, SAN FRANCISCO, SALT LAKE CITY, GUADALUPE, MCCAWLEY, H.M.N.Z.S. LEANDER, LONG, FARENHOLT, BUCHANAN, AARON WARD, STERRETT and STACK.
10 September 1942, JUNEAU, DUNCAN, LANSDOWNE, LAFFEY and LARDNER joined Task Force 18.
11 September 1942, HELENA joined Task Force 18
15 September 1942, USS WASP torpedoed by enemy submarine and sunk. SALT LAKE CITY steamed to Espirite Santos with Task Force 18 less WASP.
16 September 1942, Task Force 18 arrived in Espirite Santos. This ship and HELENA too WASP survivors from LAFFEY, LANSDOWNE, and LARDNER.
17 September 1942, underway for Noumea in company with HELENA.
18 September 1942 arrived Noumea and discharged WASP survivors.
Underway
21 September 1942
In Charge
USS HELENA, SOPA
Task Group
66.4 - Ships in company - USS SALT LAKE CITY, USS HELENA, USS ATLANTA, LANSDOWNE, BENHAM, and WALKE
23 September 1942, Task Group 66.4 dissolved. Joined Task Force 17, HORNET, SOPA.
23 September 1942 detached from Task Force 17 and attached to Task Force 64. USS SAN FRANCISCO, SOPA (Admiral Scott).
24 September 1942 anchored at Espirite Santos. Operating out of Espirito Santos from 25 September 1942 to 6 october 1942 with USS BOISE, USS SAN FRANCISCO, USS HELENA, USS SALT LAKE CITY, FARENHOLT, BUCHANAN, LAFFEY and MCCALLA.
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