30 April 1942
At 1100 hours at pier #1 in the Newport News Ship Building and Dry Dock Company, the U.S.S. INDIANA, BB-58) was accepted from the builders by Admiral Manley H. Simons, U.S. Navy. Commandant Fifth Naval District. The ship was immediately placed in commission, the colors were the ensign flown on the old U.S.S. INDIANA (BB-01) at the battle of Santiago.
These colors were contributed by Commander W.B. Decker, Jr., U.S. Navy. The Commissioning Pennant used was the one hauled down when the First U.S.S. INDIANA (BB-01) was decommissioned.
The Commandant Fifth Naval District then delivered the ship to the first commanding Officer. Captain Aaron Stanton Merrill, U.S. Navy, who read his orders.
The Flag of the Commandant, Fifth Naval District was broken, honors (except gun salutes) were rendered, the watch was set.
The First entry in the Ship's Log of the new U.S.S. INDIANA was made by the Officer who signed the last entry in the log of the former U.S.S. INDIANA, Ex- Lieutenant (jg) Leo J. Murry, U.S. Navy.

01-20 May 1942
This ship was moored starboard side to pier #1, Newport News, Virginia. During which time the crew became familiar with the ship, and getting provisions aboard, ammunition of all sorts came aboard..

21 May 1942
1102 got underway, en route operating area "C", Chesapeake Bay. 1647 Anchored off Wolf Trap Shoals, Degausing Range area "D"

31 May 1942
1455 Underway for anchorage in Hampton Roads, Virginia.

01 June 1942
0530 Underway for speed trials maximum speed reached 27.5 knots. 2020 Returned to berth 23 Hampton Roads, Virginia.

02 June 1942
1233 Underway for Newport News Ship Building and Dry Dock Co., where we remained until 15 August 1942. During which time we spent getting ready for more service.

15 August 1942
0900 Underway for Norfolk Yard. 1213 Dry Dock #4 Navy Yard. Remained there until 30 August 1942.

30 August 1942
0900 Underway for departing slip Lamberts Point, Virginia. 1100 Moored Lamberts Point. Remained there until 04 September 1942.

04 September 1942
0658 Underway for 5" and A.A. practice for 40 mm and 20 mm 1756 returned to Wolf Trap Shoals and anchored.

2-28 September 1942
0910 Underway for Casco Bay, Portland, Maine, escorted by three destroyers

29 October 1942
Operated out of Casco Bay, Portland, Maine, (training and testing)

09 November 1942
The War Diary of the U.S.S. INDIANA (BB-58) comes into being this date. Received orders from the Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet for duty. A Task Group consisting of the U.S.S. INDIANA (BB-58), COLUMBIA (CL-56), De HAVEN (DD-469). and SHAUFLEY (DD-465), augmented by the CHAMPLIN (DD-601), departed Hampton Roads Virginia at 1330 Eastern War time this date, under the Command of Captain A.S. Merrill, USN, (Commanding Officer U.S.S. INDIANA (BB-58).
In accordance with operating orders number 3-42 issued by Task Group Commander.

13 November 1942
0800 arrived at Cristobal, Panama Canal Zone. 0913 Proceeded to Gatum Locks and commenced through the Panama Canal. 1810 Left Miraflores Locks to pier at Balboa, Pacific Ocean side.

14 November 1942
1600 Departed Balboa Headed for Tongatabu, Tonga Islands.

15-16 November 1942
1300 His Honor Davy Jones and Court came aboard. Dressed in his official uniform. He was welcomed aboard by Captain A.S. Merrill. Davy Jones announced he would hold court. and would meter out appropriate justice to all who received subpoenas. Subpoenas were issued to landlubbers, beach combers, plow deserters, draft dodgers, park bench warmers, polar dunnigans, sea lawyers, lounge lawyers, lounge lizards, hay tossers, chit signers, sand crabs, four flushers, squaw men, and liberty hounds all falsely masquerading as seaman.

17 November 1942
0900 King Neptune assumed command! Initiation of all Polliwogs started. Commanders Beacham, Fisher and Bailey, and Lieutenant Commander Steiner, were the first to be taken care of by the Royal Family and his Court. By 1130 all Ships Company had been served.

28 November 1942
1430 Anchored in Nukualofa Harbor,Tongatabu, Tonga Islands. Saw U.S.S. SOUTH DAKOTA. She was en route to New York for repair work inflicted by the Japanese off the Solomon Islands.

30 November 1942
0600 Underway en route Noumea, New Caledonia, 888 Miles away, to join South Pacific Fleet.

2 December 1942
1610 Moored in Dunbea Bay, Noumea, New Caledonia.

08 December 1942
0540 General Quarters. 0703 Opened fire with 16" battery. 0718 Opened fire with 5" battery on Nauru. 0733 Ceased fire.

19 December 1229
Sighted our first enemy planes and went to General Quarters. We are finally in the war. The enemy knows we are here.

23 December 1942
Anchored in Great Harbor, Noumea, New Caledonia.

24-31 December 1942
Anchored in New Caledonia.

Last Updated 22 October 1999

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