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USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG July
22,1944
Zone description plus ten:
Moored to NOB Pier, Sand Bay, Great Sitkin Island. 0833 Underway independently in accordance with CDS 49
despatch 220513 of July, steaming various courses and speeds proceeding to Sweepers Cove, Adak. 1027 Moored starboard side to U.S.S. KIMBERLY in
nest with U.S. S. WICKES and U.S.S. ISHERWOOD at buoy #1 Sweepers
Cove. Ships present: various units of U.
S. Fleet. S.O.P.A. is ComNorPac. July 23, 1944 Zone
description plus ten: Moored
in nest at buoy #1 Sweepers Cove, Adak. July 24, 1944 Zone description plus ten: Moored in nest at
buoy #1 Sweepers Cove, Adak. 0615- U.S.S.
WICKES, U.S.S. ISHERWOOD, U.S.S. KIMBERLY underway from 0635 nest. 0702 Underway in accordance with CTF 94 despatch 222140
of July, steaming various courses and speeds while standing out of Sweepers
Cove and patrolling
during sortie of cruisers, Task Force 94. 0840 Took station #5 in task force cruising disposition 6 Roger, U.S.S. CONCORD guide, fleet axis 270°T, base course 352° T&G, 336° psc., Fleet speed of advance 16 knots. 1140 Changed base course to 277° T & G, 272° psc. 1200 Position Latitude 52° 51’ N. Longitude 176° 41.8’ W. 1550 Underwater sound contact bearing 210° T, distance
2500 yards. Commenced steaming various courses and speeds to
investigate contact. 1621 Contact proved false rejoined formation. 1700 Changed fleet speed to 17 knots. 2000 Position Latitude 53° 06’ N.
Longitude 179° 54.2’ E. July 25, 1944 Zone description plus ten: Steaming as before. 0620 Changed base course to 267° T & G, 266° psc. 0800 Position Latitude 53° 24.5’ N. Longitude 174° 25.5’
E. Changed fleet axis to 200° T; PICKING took station #9, CONCORD guide. 0906 Changed base course to 200° T & G, 206° psc. 1002 Changed fleet speed to 15 knots. 1019 Changed base course to 205° T & G 208° psc. 1042 Changed course to 195° T & G, 199° psc.,
commenced proceeding independently through east channel entrance into Massacre
Bay, Attu. 1118 Commenced steaming various courses and speeds
proceeding to anchorage in Massacre Bay. 1208 Anchored in berth D-ll Massacre Bay, Attu. Ships
present: various units of U. S. Fleet. S.O.P.A. is CTF 94 in CHESTER. July 26, 1944 Zone description plus ten: Anchored
in berth D-ll, Massacre Bay, Attu. 0835 Underway in accordance with CDS 49 despatch 260732
of July 1944, proceeding alongside U.S.S. BRAZOS. 0855 Moored starboard side to BRAZOS and fueled to
capacity. 0956 Underway, having completed fueling. Proceeding to anchorage. 1008 Anchored in berth D-11, Massacre Bay. July 27, 1944 Zone description plus ten: Anchored
in berth D-ll Massacre Bay, Attu. 0900 Underway in company with Task Group 94.2, (Desron 49 less WICKES, PORTER and LUCE) in accordance with CDS 49 Operation Order 1-44. Steaming various courses and speeds while standing out of Massacre Bay. 0940 Formed cruising disposition 9-R, PICKING guide.
Fleet axis 277° T&G, base course 230° T &
G, 234° psc., fleet speed 12 knots. O.T.C. is CDS 49 in PICKING.
Proceeding toward Kurile Islands, Japan for anti-shipping
sweep. 1012 Changed fleet speed to 15 knots. 1019 Changed base course to 269° T & G, 26° psc. 1146 Changed base course to 277° T & G, 277° psc. 1200 Position Latitude 52° 40.8’ N. Longitude 172° 17.3’ E. 0900 Tested automatic weapons, expending 92
rounds 20mm and 60 rounds 40mm ammunition. 2000 Position Latitude 53° 00.5’ N. Longitude 168° 51’ E. 2103 Changed base course to 270° T & G, 2700 psc. July 28, 1944 Zone description plus ten: Steaming
as before 0800 Position
Latitude 53° 01’ N. Longitude 163° 31’ E. 1200 Position
Latitude 53° 00.5’ N. Longitude 161° 51’ E. 1247 Surface radar contact bearing 330° T, distant 22,000 yards. Contact
determined to be second echo of land - 1414 Surface radar contact bearing 296° T, distant 11 miles. Commenced
steaming various courses and speeds to evade contact. 1500 Radar
contact on Cape Shipunski, Kamchatka, bearing 280° T, distant 28 miles. 1544 Lost
surface contact on bearing 020° T., distant 25,000 yards. Changed
base course and fleet axis to 217° T & G, 230° psc. 1600 Changed
fleet speed to 25 knots. 1928 Changed
fleet speed to 18 knots. 1959 Changed base course to 037° T & G, 032°
psc. Entered area of unlimited visibility. 2000 Position Latitude 51° 4.9.8’ N. Longitude
158° 15.3 E. 2002 Changed fleet speed to 27 knots. 2014 Changed
base course to 077° T & G, 080° psc. Commenced reentering
zone of reduced visibility which extended to northward and eastward. 2023 Changed base course to 037° T & G,
032° psc. 2047 Changed
fleet speed to 18 knots. 2100 Changed
base course to 090° T & G, 085° psc. 2125 ~ Visibility increased to unlimited. 2131 Changed
base course to 060° T & G, 059° psc. 2136 Entered
fog bank. 2146 Visibility
increased to unlimited. 2200 Unidentified
aircraft radar contact bearing 280° T., distant 11 miles. Took station #6 in
cruising disposition 9-V. ISHERWOOD guide,
fleet axis 217° T, base course 040° T & G, 038° psc., fleet speed 30 knots.
Prepared to repel air attack. 2202 Visibility decreased to 500-1000 yards. 2218 Changed
base course to 070° T & G, 074° psc. Contact faded. 2220 Took
station as guide in cruising disposition 9 Roger, fleet axis 217° T, base
course 070° T & G, 074° psc., fleet speed 18 knots. 2331 Changed
base course and fleet axis to 088° T & G, 095° psc. proceeding
enroute Attu, sweep having been abandoned due to
unfavorable weather and visibility conditions. 2337 Changed fleet speed to 25 knots. |