Collision With The USS Washington (continued

COLLISION WITH THE USS WASHINGTON (continued)

FROM THE DECK LOG 01 February 1944
0000-0300
Steaming in company with Task Group 58.1. Rear Admiral Reeves, OTC. in U.S.S. ENTERPRISE. Steaming on fueling course 090*(T), group speed 9 knots, standard speed 19 knots in cruising disposition 5-R, base course 090*(T), group axis 060*(T), conducting night fueling operations with destroyers fueling from battleships. U.S.S. WASHINGTON as guide for fueling operations. U.S.S. COGSWELL alongside to starboard receiving fuel. Stations of major units are: U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (fleet guide) 0000, YORKTOWN 2240, BELLEAU WOOD 2120, INDIANA 3300, MASSACHUSETTS 3180, WASHINGTON 3060, OAKLAND 6000. 6 DD's on circle 6, 3 DD's fueling, Ship is darkened and in material condition Yoke. Full war watch is set: all radars are energized maintaining all around search. At 0055 U.S.S. COGSWELL completed fueling and cast off. Delivered 80,000 gallons fuel at 60*F. At 0220 completed night fueling DD's resumed station in screen. U.S.S. ENTERPRISE took group guide, changed group speed to 19 knots, changed base course to 000*(T), At 0230 changed base course to 292*(T), signed by W.C. Croft, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy

0300-0730
At 0307 Commenced zigzagging in accordance with plan #6 on base course 292*(T). At 0355 changed group course right to 042*(T) upon receipt of emergency turn 9 signal from OTC. At 0415 changed group course left to 340*(T) on signal from OTC. At 0420 commenced maneuvering independently to leave formation for purpose of refueling destroyers; Captain took the conn. Changed course left to come to 280*(T) and changed speed to 15 knots (089 RPM), After swinging approximately five degrees, when ship's head was about 335* (T). shifted the rudder and steadied up an 340*(T). At this time ship was in position. At 0424 changed course right to 090*(T), At about 042 ½ changed course right to 180*(T), but during the swing, at 0427, ordered the helmsman to steady an 150*(T) . At about 0427 when on approximately 150*(T) sighted U.S.S. WASHINGTON about 25* on the starboard bow. Target angle about 350*, distance approximately 1500 yards. Brought the ship left with full rudder to course 100*(T), and at 0428 with the U.S.S. WASHINGTON distance about 500 yards ordered full rudder to swing stern away from U.S.S. WASHINGTON, which was heading for the starboard quarter at an angle of about 45* with this ship; ordered emergency full speed ahead. At 0428 +/- collided with U.S.S. WASHINGTON. At 0429 set material condition Zebra. At 0430 stopped all engines. At 0432 changed course to 090*(T). At 0436 all engines ahead 5 knots (029 RPM). At 0440 went to collision quarters. At 0441 U.S.S. COTTEN, GATLING, CAPERTON, and HEALY ordered to remain with U.S.S. WASHINGTON and U.S.S. INDIANA. At 0450 changed course to 270*(T). At 0450 held sight muster of all hands; one man missing: Neville, L.H., S2c, V6-SV, USNR. At 0602 changed course to 180*(T) . At 0612 went to air defense for morning alert. At 0622 changed course to 000*(T). At 0623 changed standard speed to 15 knots. at 0635 changed course to 279*(T). At 0657 changed speed to 10 knots (059 RPM). Commenced maneuvering on various courses to take position 2000 yards ahead of U.S.S. WASHINGTON. At 0710 lighted ship, set regular war watch on the anti- aircraft battery. At 0712 sunrise, injury report of personnel due to the collision. The below named men are casualties; Kelly, V.M., Flc, laceration forehead, fuel oil; Pattenude, M.L., S2c, fuel oil; Stafford, M.L., F2c, laceration, forehead, left arm, fuel oil; Martinez, B.E., S2c, head injury, possible fracture; Thompson, O.V., Pvt., USMC, fracture, right leg and left arm; Eucke, R. F., S2c, laceration left foot, and fuel oil; McClanahan, P.R., Cox, injuries, multiple and extreme (deceased); Gerou, J.F., S2c, injuries, multiple extreme (deceased); Napier, A.N., S2c, laceration left leg. Preliminary report of damage: below water damage between frames 103-150. Ten wing damage control voids 103-136 and outboard fuel tanks flooded. Fuel lost approximately 75,0006 gallons; ship took four(4) degree list to starboard which was corrected by counter-flooding out board frames 36-73 port. Second deck damage, plating holed B-213 just below main deck level., C-204 L holed at second deck level, frames 129-136. Main deck scraped from frames 115 aft. Heavy mounts 9 and 11 damaged beyond repair. Five 20mm guns damaged or lost over the side. Turret III rangefinder and sight-hood scraped off, with damage to rangefinder and sights. Main deck holed in several places. Starboard catapult and plane lost over the side.

signed by D.P. Phillips, Lieutenant, US Navy

0730-1230
At 0757 changed course to 180*(T). Took up position 2000 yards ahead of the U.S.S. WASHINGTON, unit speed 6.5 knots. At 1015 made daily inspection of all magazines and smokeless powder samples; conditions normal. At 1120 secured boilers # 1, 4, 5 and 8.

signed by R.F. O'Neill, Lieutenant, USNR

1230-1730
At 1240 U.S.S. WASHINGTON commenced fueling U.S.S. CAPERTON. At 1316 took station 2012 on U.S.S. WASHINGTON, Unit Axis 180*(T). At 1345 lowered the colors to half mast and held services for Mc Calanahan, P.R., Cox, USN and Gerou, J.F., S2c, USN, at 1400. At 1415 two blocked the colors. At 1417 U.S.S. COTTEN commenced fueling from U.S.S. WASHINGTON. At 1555 U.S.S. HEALY commenced fueling from U.S.S. WASHINGTON. At 1700 lowered the colors to half mast during burial services on the U.S.S. WASHINGTON. At 1710 all fueling operations completed. At 1702 cut in #8 boiler on the main steam line. At 1713 secured #7 boiler. At 1720 changed unit speed to 10 knots. At l730 two blocked the colors.

signed by G.E. Peddicord, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy

1730-2230
At 1842 noticed severe vibration while indicating (083 RPM); reduced speed to 12.3 knots (073 RPM), making 10.7 knots through the water. At 1830 received injury reports as follows; Kasbe, F.A., Pfc, USMC, reported to sick bay at 1630 with a laceration of the left elbow. He states that he struck his elbow on a glass coffee pot when he turned around suddenly. The wound was cleansed with mild soap and water, one suture taken, dusted with sulfadiazine powder, the man returned to duty; Chipman, R.D., SC2c, USNR, reported to sick bay with a laceration of the tips of the first, second and third fingers of the left hand. He states that while he was breaking out meat, the wire on the meat broke and cut his fingers. The wound was washed with mild soap and water, three sutures were applied, dusted with sulfadiazine powder, a sterile dry dressing applied, and the man returned to duty; Lown, G.N., SF3c, USN, reported to sick bay at 1745 with flash burns of both eyes suffered while using an acetylene burner. He states that he did not have his head set on at the time. Cold compresses applied followed by application of butyl sulphate ointment to both eyes, and man admitted to binnacle for observation. Addenda to collision casualty list: Beversdorf, R.W., S2c, USNR, wound. lacerated nose; Gieber, C.A., F2c, USNR, fracture toe, right; Wlaskalich, M., S1c, USNR, abrasion, top right hand. At 1859 sunset darkened ship. Set full war watch. At 1915 changed unit course and axis left slowly to 140*(T). At l943 changed unit course and axis left slowly to 080*(T). At 2222 changed course right to 090*(T). Commenced taking station 10* on starboard quarter of U.S.S. WASHINGTON. Distance 1500 yards.

signed by J.R. Treanor, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy

2230-2400
At 2230 changed speed to 7 knots (041 RPM). Came to course 080*(T). At 2249 changed speed to 12 knots (072 RPM). Took station 10* on the starboard quarter of U.S.S. WASHINGTON distance 1500 yards.

signed by E.A. Malcolm, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy

02 February 1944
En route Majuro, Marshall Islands. 1700 marine died of injuries in collision.

03 February 1944
Anchored in Marshall Islands. Funeral services for Marine. Buried him ashore.

04-06 February 1944
Anchored in Marshall Islands

07 February 1944
Underway for Pearl Harbor.

13 February to 13 April 1944
In Pearl Harbor for repairs from collision.

COLLISION DAMAGE
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	USS Indiana BB-58, making slow turn to starboard, followed by USS Washington BB-56.		01 February 1944, main deck, looking forward from alongside turret #3, note 40mm mount was displaced off of base, notice gouges and debris on main deck. (1)

	01 February 1944, main deck, looking forward fron aft of turret #3.		01 February 1944, main deck, looking forward from starboard 40mm gun tub on fantail, notice catapult base and all the debris on deck. (2)

	01 February 1944, main deck, looking aft at starboard 40mm gun tub on fantail.		01 February 1944, main deck, starboard 40mm gun tub on fantail. (3)

	01 February 1944, main deck, displaced 40mm gun forward of turret #3.		01 February 1944, main deck, notice displaced 20mm guns moved aft to forward of turret #3, preceeding photo was taken to the right of this one. (4)

	01 February 1944, main deck, base of starboard catapault.		01 February 1944, mess deck level, exterior, looking forward. (5)

	01 February 1944, mess deck level, exterior, looking forward, notice protruding bulkhead frame that did not collapse or buckle.		01 February 1944, mess deck level, exterior, looking aft below 40 mm tub on starboard side of fantail. (6)

	01 February 1944, mess deck level, interior.		01 February 1944, mess deck level, interior. (7)

	01 February 1944, mess deck level, interior, bent horizontal and vertical cross frames in mess area.		01 February 1944, mess deck level, interior, temporary shoring to strengthen critical bulkhesd, notice utilization of mess tables to distribute load. (8)

	01 February 1944, mess deck level, interior, another view of preceeding photo.		01 February 1944, water level view of starboard side, note personnel standing on exposed mess deck. (9)

	01 February 1944, water level view of starboard side looking aft		03 February 1944, Arriving at Majuro atoll, starboard view showing damage after collision. (10)

	03 February 1944, tied up at Majuro atoll, water level view of starboard side after minor repairs and cleanup done enroute.		05 February 1944, Anchored at Majuro atoll after the collision. Washington is in the background, tied up to the Repair Ship USS Vestal (AR-04) to utilize the Vestal's anchors as the Washington's anchors were inoperable (11)

	05 February 1944, anchored at Majuro Atoll after collision. Destroyer USS Caperton (DD-650 in foreground. Taken from the Escort Carrier Natoma Bay (CVE-62)