World War II Navy Documents
Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Lewis Luckenbach
Mag Temp: Fwd: 51 Aft: 51 Mag Temp: Fwd: 51 Aft: 51
Tuesday, January 18, 1944 Wednesday, January 19, 1944
BST BST - 1200 Butler, Thomas George,
Stevedores worked 22 1/2 hours RM3c, USN, 207 41 97, reported
moving 848 tons. aboard for duty under orders from
the U.S. Naval Port Officer,
Cardiff, in substitution for Smith,
Richard P., RM3c, USNR, 6601445,
who is left in hospital and detached
from ship. Smith's gear put ashore
in custody of U.S. Naval Port Office
BST - 1200 - Lt. Comdr. Bishop,
officer in charge of shore patrol in
Cardiff came aboard and asked that
the liberty party of Thursday,
January 13 be brought to him
individually for questioning with
regard to an alleged assault by two
American sailors on the proprietor
of the Carleton pub in Cardiff on
January 13. The men were summoned
and after questioning all he took
ashore O.C. Kirksey, SM3c, and K.A.
Ward, Sea1c, to his office for
further questioning, saying that he
was convinced that these two men
were those involved and further that
their offense was concealed and not
reported by the shore patrolman from
this ship on duty that night, R.P.
Smith, RM3c, now in hospital in
Cardiff.
BST - 1600 - Ensign McCarthy went to
the Naval Port Office to get full
particulars from Lt. Comdr. Bishop
re circumstances of entry of 1200.
Found that he had left for the day
and that he had questioned Kirksey
and Ward, took a statement from
them, and then sent them back to
the ship. Ensign McCarthy telephoned
Mr. Bishop and asked him for a copy
of the statement he had taken from
the men. This he refused to do say-
ing that he would take care of
everything by forwarding a copy of
the statement to the Brooklyn Armed
Guard Center where the men would be
disciplined. The men are aboard now
and will be kept aboard until after
Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Lewis Luckenbach
Mag Temp: Fwd: 51 Aft: 50
Wednesday, January 19, 1944 (Cont) Thursday, January 20, 1944
officials at Brooklyn Armed Guard BST - 0000 - Ship restricted
Center tell me what action to take preparatory to sailing.
in the light of the information
they presumably will have received Coal slag loaded today: 1500 tons
by time of arrival in New York. in 11 1/2 hours. Grand total
loaded: 2386 tons.
Stevedores worked 14 1/4 hours
moving the remaining 399 tons.
Grand total 6500 tons, in 25 days,
from day of arrival to today.
Coal slag loaded today: 886 tons in
4 hours.
Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Lewis Luckenbach
Mag Temp: Fwd: 50 Aft: 47 Mag Temp: Fwd: 51 Aft: 50
Friday, January 21, 1944 Saturday, January 22, 1944
BST - 0300 - Cast off from Queens BST
Dock, Cardiff, Wales. Conference postponed - sailing put
BST - 0415 - Left Cardiff docks. off 24 hours.
BST - 1200 - Dropped anchor at
Milford Haven, Wales, to form Received word from British Naval
convoy. Control that Zielinski would not be
BST - 1600 - DEMS enlisted man came able to rejoin ship and that his
aboard to explain target firing on gear would be called for tomorrow.
leaving Milford Haven. Packed his gear, tagged it and
BST - 1600 - Zielinski, Robert M., prepared memorandum to U.S. Naval
Sea1c, complained of feeling ill. Port Office, Cardiff, and to
Abdomen tender to touch; nauseated; Brooklyn Armed Guard Center to be
temperature and pulse normal. Sent taken off with his gear.
to bunk. No medicine or food or
drink given. Hot water bottle DEMS came aboard and loosened up
placed on abdomen. plug on 5"51 and repaired sight on
BST - 1930 - Zielinski called #2 20MM. Was informed by them would
again, said he felt worse. Pain be required to fire all guns on
localized to some extent in left departure. This confirms what Comdr.
abdomen, temperature 101 degrees, Pendill, U.S.N. Port Officer,
pulse strong at 100. Has had no Cardiff, said previously. If refuse
food or drink since breakfast. to fire, a reprimand will follow -
Physician signalled for from nearby even though target ammunition
ship. allowance for period expended.
BST - 2230 - British Naval Control
Tug came alongside for Zielinski. 5"51 cleaned today and lubricated.
Had no doctor aboard. Took him
ashore to hospital. Have not been able to get ashore
reports on Zielinski and Smith. Will
Received word today that we are to try again tomorrow.
sail tomorrow. Conference at
Milford Haven at 1100, January 22,
1944.
Convoy No.: ONM 221. This ship will
have position 113. There will be 19
ships from Milford Haven to be
joined at Liverpool by 67 more,
when convoy will have 12 columns.
Convoy speed scheduled to be 9.5
KTS. Two escorts are listed: HMT
Setter from Milford Haven and HMT
Aquamarine from Liverpool.
Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Lewis Luckenbach
Mag Temp: Fwd: 50 Aft: 50 Mag Temp: Fwd: 47 Aft: 49
Sunday, January 23, 1944 Monday, January 24, 1944
BST - 1200 - Zielinski was put back BST - 0800 - Ship weighed anchor and
aboard ship. Says he was treated as proceeded alone out of Milford Haven
a suspected appendicitis case at vo overtake convoy on its way to
the Royal Naval Hospital, Milford Liverpool. Captain received orders
Haven, Wales. Was released as to do this sometime last night. Sea
recovered today at 1100. No other watches put on.
information was obtainable.
BST - 1330 - Captain informed Have not yet been successful in
Ensign McCarthy that he had getting hospitalization notices on
received orders to sail at 1500. Smith and Zielinski ashore. Will try
BST - 1400 - Captain handed Ensign again at Liverpool. If not success-
McCarthy revised orders for the ful there, must take them to New
target firing on departure. Made York.
every effort to get notices of BST - 1815-1910 - General Quarters
hospitalization of Smith and BST - 2110 - Convoy in sight.
Zielinski to U.S. Naval authorities
ashore. Not yet successful. Guns were not fired on departure
BST - 1600 - Heavy wind and rain. today because ship was late and
Captain afraid to weigh anchor lest because sailing was not as
we be thrown on rocks. originally planned.
BST - 1900 - Rest of convoy gone.
Captain has decided to wait until
morning and then ask for permission
to overtake convoy alone.
Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Lewis Luckenbach
Mag Temp: Fwd: 48 Aft: 49 Mag Temp: Fwd: 46 Aft: 47
Tuesday, January 25, 1944 Wednesday, January 26, 1944
BST - 0825-0905 - General Quarters. BST - 0845-0925 - General Quarters.
BST - 1400 - Seas becoming very BST - 1400 - Convoy arranged. This
heavy and wind increasing in force. ship has taken position 113.
Forward lookout moved back to BST - 1845-1925 - General Quarters.
bridge and saloon deck.
BST - 1825-1915 - General Quarters. Opportunity has passed vo get ashore
BST - 2000 - Still accompanying notices referred to in entry of
ships of convoy. Have not yet taken January 24, 1944. Will have to take
position. All ships proceeding in them on to New York and submit them
just two columns. there.
Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Lewis Luckenbach
Mag Temp: Fwd: 44 Aft: 46 Mag Temp: Fwd: 43 Aft: 48
Thursday, January 27, 1944 Friday, January 28, 1944
BST - 0845-0915 - General Quarters. GMT - 0930-1005 - General Quarters.
GMT - 1040 - Commodore signalled
Time retarded one hour as of 2400. that enemy submarines are known to
Commencing at 1800 BST time of duty be in this vicinity. Condition II
watches retarded 20 minutes for put into effect.
each section. GMT - 1400 - Commodore signalled
"Submarine sunk." Condition III
BST -1/3 Hrs - 1845-1920 - General restored.
Quarters. GMT - 1830-1915 - General Quarters.
5"51 cleaned and lubricated.
Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Lewis Luckenbach
Mag Temp: Fwd: 43 Aft: 45 Mag Temp: Fwd: 45 Aft: 47
Saturday, January 29, 1944 Sunday, January 30, 1944
GMT - 0815-0955 - General Quarters. GMT-1 Hr - 1030 - Received permiss-
GMT -1/3 Hrs - 1800 - Message from ion from Commodore to fire 20MM and
Commodore received to effect that 5"51 guns at 1100.
enemy submarines are known to be in GMT-1 Hr - 1100 - Fired 240 rounds
vicinity. All lookouts warned from the four starboard 20 MM guns.
accordingly. GMT-1 Hr - 1115 - Prepared to fire
5"51, and gun misfired. After using
Clocks to be retarded one hour as all the standard methods of firing
of 2400. Put back 20 minutes for without success, it was assumed that
each watch starting at 1800. a hang fire was in progress, and the
gun was secured except for pointer,
GMT -1/3 Hrs - 1815-1855 - General trainer, gun captain, and battery
Quarters. officer, to see that it was kept
trained in a safe direction.
GMT-1 Hr - 1150 - Primer ejected
from firing lock of 5"51 without
opening breech. It was found to have
fired.
GMT-1 Hr - 1155 - 5"51 gun unloaded.
Powder bag was thrown over the side
and it was observed that the
ignition end was partially burned
through. It is assumed that the
powder had become damp and therefore
did not go off. New powder bag was
loaded into gun and a new primer
inserted. This time the gun fired
and was secured. One round expended;
one misfire. Bowerman, GM2c, Harper,
and Young, Sea1c, and Ens. McCarthy
were present during the unloading.
GMT-1 Hr - 1200 - All mounts of guns
fired inspected for damage - none
found to have been adversely
affected by firing.
GMT-1 Hr - 1700 - Clocks to be
retarded one hour as of 2400. Time
for duty of three sections put back
20 minutes as of 1800.
GMT-1 1/3 Hrs - 1810-1845 - General
Quarters.
Noticed that escort was increased by
at least three units - exact number
not known. These include an escort
carrier.
Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Lewis Luckenbach
Mag Temp: Fwd: 47 Aft: 46 Mag Temp: Fwd: 44 Aft: 45
Monday, January 31, 1944 Tuesday, February 1, 1944
GMT-2 Hrs - 0645-0720 - General GMT-2 Hrs - 0630-0715 - General
Quarters. Quarters.
GMT-2 Hrs - 1810-1845 - General GMT-2 Hrs - 1400 - Storm brewing.
Quarters. High winds. Waves coming over bow.
Bow watch moved to bridge.
GMT-2 Hrs - 1600 - Gale very severe.
Losing convoy.
GMT-2 Hrs - 1700 - Ships steering
with difficulty. Convoy out of
sight.
GMT-2 Hrs - 1800-1855 - General
Quarters.
GMT-2 Hrs - 2230 - SOS from ship
45, William H. Prescott to effect
that she was breaking in two.
Diary of the Armed Guard Gunnery Officer on the S.S. Lewis Luckenbach
Mag Temp: Fwd: 43 Aft: 41 Mag Temp: Fwd: 45 Aft: 43
Wednesday, February 2, 1944 Thursday, February 3, 1944
GMT-2 Hrs - 0400 - Gale unabated. GMT-2 Hrs - 0655-0735 - General
GMT-2 Hrs - 0907 - SOS from ship 15 Quarters.
of this convoy - name unknown - to GMT-2 1/3 Hrs - 1825-1900 - General
effect that her starboard side, Quarters.
forward deck, main deck, between
deck, ship side, and fore and aft GMT-2 1/3 Hrs - 2400 - Time retarded
stringer were cracked. She request- one hour. Clocks retarded 20 minutes
ed assistance. Sustained damage at for each section of watch
0440. commencing at 1800.
GMT-2 Hrs - 0951 - SOS from ship 15
to effect that she was breaking
constantly and needed assistance.
GMT-2 Hrs - 1200 - Storm abating.
Some ships of convoy in sight.
GMT-2 Hrs - 1700 - Rejoined
Commodore and main body of convoy.
GMT-2 Hrs - 1800-1840 - General
Quarters.
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