World War II Navy Documents
Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner
Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
July 29, 1943 July 29, 1943
Type of Vessel.......Liberty Ship Sawyer, Charles L. LT(j.g.)
Type of Cargo.U.S.Army & Explosives Archung, Phillip J. Coxswain
Owner of Vessel: Bowerman, Thomas R. GM3c
U.S.War Shipping Administration Hazuka, George E. Jr. GM3c
Chartered to: Arthur, William L. S1c
Coastwise Transportation Company Byrne, Edward R. S1c
Boston, Mass. Campbell, Frank J. S1c
Port of Departure...New York, N.Y. Clark, Victor D. S1c
Average Speed.......9.5 Knots Fenton, Robert H. S1c
Foster, Horace C. S1c
Miller, Raphael M. S1c
Morgan, Alvin E. S1c
Newton, Harold P. S1c
Oliver, Donald S1c
Pribble, Clarence N. S1c
Rinehart, Charles L. S1c
Rouster, Irvin M. S1c
Seth, Ralph S1c
Shuey, John W. Jr. S1c
Smith, John R. S1c
Stockwell, Kenneth S1c
Stroud, Thomas G. S1c
Taflinger, Francis L. S1c
Chittum, Casper Aley S1c
Meyers, Jacob Edward S1c
Dodrill, Arthur E. Jr. SM3c
Mulqueen, Thomas H. SM3c
Stumpf, Louis L. RM3c
Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner
Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
July 30, 1943 July 31, 1943
0700 - Condition three watches set. 0515 - General Quarters.
Section four on duty. 0600 - General Quarters secured.
0715 - Reveille Number 5 and 6 guns cocked and
0720 - Breakfast loaded.
0730 - Underway 0700 - Reveille.
0900 - Muster. All present or 0720 - Breakfast.
accounted for. Various orders for 1120 - Dinner.
trip published. Articles 14 through 1300 - Muster. All present or
36 of "The Articles for the Govern- accounted for. Articles 37 through
ment of the United States Navy" 70 of "The Articles for the Govern-
read at muster. ment of the United States Navy" read
1000 - Inspected entire ship and at muster.
magazines. 1545 - Convoy exercised in turns.
1130 - Dinner 1700 - Daily inspections of
1700 - Supper magazines. Temperatures, small arms
2000 - General Quarters drill with 80-85; 4 inch 82-86; 3 inch 76-80.
gunners buzzer. Crews of 3 and 4 Powder samples in good order. Supper
inch gun drill. Number 7 and 8 guns 1940 - Drill in manning gun stations
cocked and loaded. 1945 - General Quarters. Firing
2015 - General Quarters, inspected circuits and lights reported in good
all stations. order. Guns trained and elevated
2100 - All stations secured. through full arc. Working properly.
Sight set at 800 yards scale at
midpoint.
2045 - Secured from General Quarters
Condition three maintained
throughout 24 hours.
Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner
Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
August 1, 1943 August 1, 1943 (Continued)
0415 - General Quarters. Firing exercised in turns. Several ships
circuits checked and working test fired. Misfire on #7 20MM
properly. during test firing. No casualties.
0520 - Secured from General
Quarters.
0700 - Reveille.
0720 - Breakfast.
0830 - Muster. All present or
accounted for.
0830-0930 - Section one class in
blinker. T. Mulqueen, SM3/C in
charge.
0900 - Recoil fluid checked in 4
inch gun.
0900-1000 - Section four class in
knots. P. Archung, Cox, in charge.
1000-1100 - Section one class in
knots. G. Stroud, S1/c in charge.
1120 - Dinner.
1320 - Received permission to test
fire guns.
1330 - Recoil liquid checked in 3
inch gun.
1340 - Test fired 4 inch gun. One
round at zero degrees elevation.
Three rounds at seventy degrees
elevation.
1400 - Guns, mounts, bolts and ship
supporting structure examined and
found in good condition.
1430-1530 - Section three class in
blinker. A. Dodrill,SM3/c in charge
1700 - Supper.
1700 -Daily inspection of magazines
Temperatures: Small arms - 78-80.
4 inch gun 80-82. 3 inch 76-78.
1940 - Drilled in manning gun
stations.
1945 - General Quarters. 3 and 4
inch guns firing circuits & lights
checked. Guns elevated and trained
through their full arcs. Night
range of 800 yards and midpoint
deflection set. Position of spare
life jackets checked - satisfaction
2050 - Secured General Quarters.
Condition three watch maintained
throughout the 24 hours. Convoy
Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner
Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
August 2, 1943 August 3, 1943
0345 - General Quarters. Firing 0415 - General Quarters. 3 and 4
circuits tested on 3 and 4 inch inch guns firing circuits and light-
guns. Guns and sights trained and ing circuits checked, guns and
elevated through their full arcs. sights moved through their full arcs
Found in working order. Working properly. Sights set at 2000
0700 - Reveille. yards.
0720 - Breakfast. 0515 - Secured from General Quarters
0830 - Muster. All present or 0700 - Reveille.
accounted for. 0720 - Breakfast.
0835-0930 - Section two class in 0830 - Muster. All hands instructed
blinker. A. Dodrill, SM3/c in launching of rafts. Sea routine
instructor. for the day.
0900 - Daily inspection of maga- 1100 - Drill on the 4 inch gun. The
zines. Temperatures, Small Arms complete crew drilled at all
76-80, 4 inch 76-82, 3 inch 74-78. stations.
0930-1030 - Section four knots and 1120 - Dinner.
splices. P. Archung, Cox instructor 1135 - Secured from 4 inch gun drill
1000-1100 - Section one knots and 1230 - Daily inspection of magazines
splices. G. Stroud, S1/c instructor Temperatures, small arms 76-78, 4
1100-1130 - Gun drill on 4 inch gun inch 76-80, 3 inch 74-76.
Entire crew. 1300 - Drill with 3 inch gun crew
1120 - Dinner. surforce. Instructed crew in anti-
1300 - Fire and emergency sounded aircraft fire control.
on General Alarm. All stations 1400 - Secured from 3 inch gun drill
manned. Abandon ship drill by 1630 - Supper.
Merchant Marine crew. Battle 1945 - General Quarters. 3 and 4
stations all hands. Merchant crew inch guns firing and lighting
drilled and instructed in their circuits checked, guns and sights
battle station duties. moved through full arc. All working
1400 - Battle drill secured. Gas properly. Fathometer operated during
mask issued to all Merchant Marine General Quarters. Oscillation very
not on watch. distinct in sound powered head sets.
1430-1530 - Class in blinker Capt. Anderson advised. Sights set
section three. T. Mulqueen, SM3/c at night range of 800 yards.
conductor. 2045 - General Quarters secured.
1640 - Supper. Blackout reported complete.
1925 - General Quarters. 3 and 4 2400 - Clocks advanced 1 hour.
inch guns lighting and firing Condition three watch maintained
circuits checked, guns trained and throughout the 24 hours. Several
elevated through their full arcs. ships exercised their guns during
Sights moved through full arcs. All the day.
working properly. Sights set at
range of 800 yards deflection at
midpoint.
2030 - Secured from General Qtrs.
2400 - Clocks set ahead one hour.
Condition Three watch maintained
throughout the 24 hours.
Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Charles Sumner
Charles L. Sawyer - Commanding Charles Sumner - Liberty - 7176 Tons
August 4, 1943 August 5, 1943
0515 - General Quarters. 3 and 4 0700 - Reveille.
inch guns firing circuits tested, 0720 - Breakfast.
guns and sights moved through their 1120 - Dinner.
full arc. Working properly. Day 1200 - Daily inspection of magazines
range of 2000 yards set. Small arms 66-72, 4 inch 68-72,
0700 - reveille. 3 inch 64-68.
0720 - Breakfast. 1700 - Supper
0800 - Fog. 1915 - General Quarters. 3 & 4 inch
0830 - Muster. Instruction and guns and sights moved through their
practice in securing rafts. full arc. Working properly. Blackout
1120 - Dinner. reported complete.
1630 - Supper. 2115 - Secured from General Quarters
Very low visability. Whistles Condition Three maintained through-
sounded frequently for aid in out the 24 hours. Visability till
station keeping. Running lights and noon bad. Whistles used.
cargo cluster lights burning at
night. Masthead on and off when
sighting light ahead.
1730 - Daily inspection of
magazines. Temperatures, small arms
68-78, 4 inch 70-78, 3 inch 64-68.
Condition three watch maintained
throughout the 24 hours.
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