Ships Log 7

SHIP'S LOG
28 May 1945 thru 13 July 1945

ACTION REPORT
28 May to 10 June 1945

PART I Summary
A. During this period May 28 1945 to June 10, 1945, U.S.S. INDIANA (BB-58) operated as part of the Support Unit of Task Group 38.1. On June 10,1945, U.S.S. INDIANA as part of Task Group 30.2 bombarded the Japanese held Island of Minami Daito Jima. This bombardment is covered by a separate action report.

PART II Preliminaries
A. U.S.S. INDIANA operated with the Support Unit of Task Group 38.1 which was compose as follows:

Task Group 38.1

Task Unit 38.1.1
Carrier Division
U.S.S. HORNET (CV-12) (FF)
U.S.S. BENNINGTON (CV-20) (F)
U.S.S. SAN JACINTO (CVL-30)
U.S.S. BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24)

Task Unit 38.1.2
Battleship Division 8
U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS (BB-59) (F)
U.S.S. INDIANA (BB-58)

Cruiser Division 10
U.S.S. BALTIMORE (CA-68) (F)
U.S.S. PITTSBURGH (CA-72)
U.S.S. CHICAGO (CA-136)

Cruiser Division 18
U.S.S. SAN JUAN (CL-54)
U.S.S. ATLANTA (CL-104)

B. Task Group 38.1 to which U.S.S. INDIANA was assigned on May 28, 1945, was operating in support of the Okinawa operation. Carrier based aircraft operations were conducted by Task Group 38.1 against Newsboy Air Base. On June 9,1945, U.S.S. INDIANA formed with Task Group 30.2 for the bombardment of Nimami Daito Shima.
During the period May 28 to June 10, 1945, the following exercises were held. Anti- aircraft practices were fired at sleeves and towed drones on May 31 and June 9, 1945. Fueled from tankers on May 31, June 04, 06, and 09, 1945. Remained at sea on 31 May 1945. Replenished provisions at sea on June 4, 1945. Fueled destroyers at sea May 28, 29 and June 01, 02, 03, 04, 07 and 08, 1945.
This Task Group encountered and passed through the center of a typhoon on June 05,1945.

C. Commander Third Fleet, Operations Plan 03-45 "That the capture of Okinawa is assured or has been substantially." Conclusion: This force will attack Japanese Naval and Air Forces, shipping, ship yards and coastal objectives, cover and support Ryukyu's forces, and protect sea and air communication routes in Central Pacific axis in order to lower Japanese will to availability and will to resist.

D. .......................

E. No enemy forces encountered.

PART III Chronological Account Of Action.
A.
28 May 1945
Operating in support of Okinawa operation. Fueled destroyers. Flight operations canceled because of bad weather. Operated in support of Okinawa operations. Fueled destroyers. U.S.S. Alabama (BB-60), reported to Task Group 38.1 for duty.

30 May 1945
Operated in support of Okinawa operations. Fueled destroyers.

31 May 1965
Fueled destroyers at sea. Held AA practice firing at towed sleeves.

01 June 1945
Operated in support of Okinawa operations. Fueled destroyers.

02 June 1945
Operated in support of Okinawa operations. Fueled destroyers.

03 June 1945
Operated in support of Okinawa operations. Fueled destroyers.

04 June 1945
Fueled from tanker, Task Group 30.8. Replenished provisions. 0950 All replenishment operations were canceled. Task Group 38.1 was reformed on an easterly course to attempt to avoid approaching typhoon.

05 June 1945
On easterly course attempting to avoid approaching typhoon. 0134 Changed course to 300, speed 16 knots. 0321 Changed course to 000. 0507 Changed course to 300. One CVL reported course not suitable because of heavy seas. 0516 Changed course to 270. CVL reported this course better, but one destroyer reported rolling badly (30*). 0537 Changed speed to 12 knots. 0531 Changed course to 230*. 0537 Changed course to 200*. Very heavy weather, anemometer reading at maximum at 80 knots. 0556 Changed course to 160*. 0538 OTC ordered all ships to heave to, and use engines only to remain headed into the sea or to avoid collision. 0704 Typhoon center passed over formation. Barometer reading 28.29 inches. 0711 Lost steering control. Power to steering motors lost because of sea water coming down ventilation and intake air ducks to engine room. 0746 regained steering control. 1523 Reformed with Task Group 38.1 in cruising disposition Or, axis 270 course 020*, speed 10 knots. U.S.S. PITTSBURGH (CA-12) lost it's bow, DULUTH (CL-81) sprung a bow leak, and BLUE (DD-744) with no steering control did not rejoin the formation, but formed together and headed direct for Guam. Stern damage to this ship was superficial except for one OS2U torn off the catapult by quartering the seas.

06 June 1945
Fueled from tanker during the forenoon. A.A. firing at surprise bursts in afternoon. BONHOMME RICHARD (CV-30), OKLAHOMA CITY (CL-91), RINGOLD (DD-500) joined Task Group 38.1.

07 June 1945
Operating in support of Okinawa operations. fueled Destroyers.

08 June 1945
Operating in support of Okinawa operations. Carrier based air craft operations against Kanoy Air Base, Kyushu.

09 June 1945
Fueled from tanker in forenoon. A.A. practice using drones. Task Group 38.4 held bombardment and air operations against Okino Daito Shima during the afternoon. 1142 U.S.S. INDIANA as part of Task Group 38.1 for bombardment of Miami Daito Jima.

B-1. Typhoon Report
04 June 1945
0300 The barometric pressure, which at that time was 1000 millibar commenced dropping and continued to do so until 0730, 05 June 1945 at which time it had dropped at 0500 05 June 1945 to a reading of 986.0.

End of ACTION REPORT
28 May to 10 June 1945

ACTION REPORT
Bombardment of Minami Daito Jima, 10 June 1945
PART I Brief Summary
A. U.S.S. INDIANA, in company with Task Group 30.2 bombarded the Japanese island of Minami Daito Jima, using the main and secondary batteries. The bombardment lasted from 0600 to 0800, June 10 1945; and was followed by aerial bombardment by planes of Task Group 38.1.
This ship operated with Task Group 30.2 in accordance with Commander, Third Fleet secret dispatch 0935 of June 1945.

PART II Preliminaries
A. Task Group 30.2 consisted of the following ships:

Battleship Division 8
U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS (BB-59) (F)
U.S.S. INDIANA (BB-58)
U.S.S. ALABAMA (BB-60)

Destroyer Division 121
U.S.S. DE HAVEN (DD-727)
U.S.S. MANSFIELD (DD-728)
U.S.S. LYMAN K. SWENSON (DD-729)
U.S.S. COLLETT (DD-730)
U.S.S. MADDOX (DD-731)

B. Upon completion of fueling on June 9, 1945, Task Group 30.2 was detached from Task Group 38.1 and proceeded independently to the Southern coast of Minami Daito Jima. Enemy installations in Minami Daito Jima are considered detrimental to our operations against Japan. The mission of this Task Group was to destroy enemy installations on the island, consisting of Radio and Weather stations, reverted buildings, barracks, boat landings, and military emplacements. Our forces consisting of three battleships and five destroyers, approached the island from the southeast. The destroyers proceeded to the west coast of the island for bombardment. The battleships remained off the southern coast, bombarding first with the main battery from approximately 12,000 yards then closing the range for bombardment with the secondary battery. No enemy forces were encountered. PART III Chronological Account of Action
A. During the night approached Minami Daito Jima from the southwest. 0500 General Quarters. 0531 U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS launched one OS2U for spotting duty. 0537 Changed course left to 270* for approach. 0617 Changed speed to 15 knots. 0620 Commenced firing with main battery, with spotting by carrier based planes from Task Group 38.1. 0633 Changed course to 290*. 0646 Changed course to 090*. 0712 Ceased firing main battery, 90 rounds expended. 0723 Changed course to 000*, to close range to target. 0727 Changed course to 270* for secondary battery firing. 0730 Changed speed to 20 knots. 0734 Commenced firing secondary battery at island of Minami Daito Jima. 0743 Changed speed to 14 knots. 0745 Changed course to 090*. 0800 Ceased firing secondary battery, shore bombardment completed. 0815 Air-strike by planes from Task Group 38.1 on Minami Daito Jima. Enemy A.A. meager and inaccurate. 0825 U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS recovered one OS2U. 0832 Commenced retiring to the southward.
B.1. Weather
0600 Wind force 8 knots, direction from 020*. 0700 Wind force 8 knots from 050*.

End of ACTION REPORT
Bombardment of Minami Daito Jima, 10 June 1945

SHIPS LOG
11 June to 01 July 1945
11 & 12 June 1945
En route to San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, Philippines.

13 June 1945
Anchored San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, Philippines, after being at sea 92 continuous days, since departure from Ulithi, 14 March 1945.

13 June to 01 July 1945
Anchored in San Pedro Bay, Leyte Gulf, Philippines. Rest, relaxation, replenishment, rearmed, reprovisoned, refueled.

ACTION REPORT
01 July to 15 August 1945
(Includes Bombardment of Kamaishi, 14 July 1945)
PART I Brief Summary.
A. U.S.S. INDIANA was assigned to the support unit of Task Group 38.1 during the period between July 1 1945 and August 15 1945, except for the first bombardment of Kamaishi (14 July 1945), the bombardment of Hamamatsu (29 July 1945), and the second bombardment of Kamaishi (09 August 1945) when U.S.S. INDIANA joined Task Unit 34.8.1. U.S.S. INDIANA had no action against the enemy, either surface or air, while in Task Group 38.1. Numerous enemy planes, mostly single or small groups attempted to reach the Task Force, but were shot down by the Combat Air Patrol within ten to sixty miles of the formation.
The ship's seaplanes were maintained in readiness for air/sea rescue duties but were not required. One plane was lost on a training flight on August 1, 1945 resulting in the deaths of Lt(jg) Everett R. Backman (A1), U.S.N.R. and Watson, R.B. ARM 3c. U.S.N.R.

PART II Preliminaries:
A. Task Group 38.1 was composed as follows:

Task Group 38.1
Rear Admiral T.L. Sprague

Task Unit 38.1.1 Carriers, Rear Admiral T.L. Sprague
Carrier Division
U.S.S. BENNINGTON (CV-20) (F)
U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-16)
U.S.S. HANCOCK (CV-19)
U.S.S. BELLEAU WOOD (CVL-24)
U.S.S. SAN JACINTO (CVL-30)

Task Unit 38.1.2 Support Unit Rear Admiral J. F. Shafroth

Task Unit 38.1.3 Battleship Support Unit, Rear Admiral J.F. Shafroth
BatDiv 8 (plus U.S.S. SOUTH DAKOTA, less U.S.S. ALABAMA)
U.S.S. SOUTH DAKOTA (BB-57) (F)
U.S.S. INDIANA (BB-58)
U.S.S. MASSACHUSETTS (BB-59)

B. U.S.S. INDIANA departed San Pedro Bay, Philippines on July 01 1945 with Task Unit 38.1.2 for a training period prior to the operation. On July 3, 1945, Task Unit 38.1.2 joined Task Group 38.1 for a Task Group training period on July 8, 1945. Training exercises were completed and Task Force proceeded en route Tokyo area for air strikes. Task Force 38 remained in the vicinity of Honshu, Japan, until the cessation of all offensive operations against the enemy on 15 August 1945.
Training exercises during this period included the following: On July 01, 1945 night surface gunnery exercises were fired using high speed target raft for both the main battery and secondary batteries. Anti-aircraft training exercises were conducted on the following days, using towed sleeves or drones, July 01,02,03,04,05,06,07,08,11,12,16,20,21, and August 02,03,04,05,07, and 14. Tactical exercises were held by Task Unit 38.1.2 on July 02 and 03.
C. The Mission of the U.S.S. INDIANA in Task Group 38.1.2 was to provide surface and anti aircraft protection to Task Group 38.1.
D. U.S.S. INDIANA, in Task Group 38.1, operated with Task Group 38.1, which operated with Task Force 38 during the period covered by this report.
E. No enemy forces were encountered by U.S.S. INDIANA while in Task Group 38.1. during the period covered by this report.

PART III Chronological Account Of Action
A.
01 July 1945
At 0553 departed San Pedro Bay, Philippine Islands, in Task Unit 38.1.2. At 1230 fired AA at towed sleeves, and drones. From 1941 to 2030 fired main battery and secondary battery night surface practice using high speed sled.

02 July through 5 July 1945
Held tactical drills this period. AA firing at towed sleeves and TDD drones. High speed towed sleds.

06 July 1445
Fueled destroyers. A.A. practice, towed sleeve

07 July 1945
More drills

08 July 1945
More drills. Fueled from tanker.

09 July 1945
En route, Tokyo area launching point.

10 July 1945
Tokyo air strikes. 1326 CAP shot down one enemy plane, 16 miles from formation

11 July 1945
Retiring from Tokyo area, for fueling and AA practice.

12 July 1945
Refueling and rearming.

13 July 1945
En route launching point for air strikes on Honshu and Hokkaido, Japan

14 July 1945
Departed Task Group 38.1 and joined Task Group 34.8.1 for bombardment of Kamaishi, Honshu, Japan.

CONTINUE on next page

Last Updated 31 July 2000

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