USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG

January 3, 1944                      Zone description plus ten

          Steaming as before

0021      Changed base course to 250° T&G 239° psc.

0800      Position latitude 53° 00’ N. Longitude 174° 40’ W.

0917      Commenced zigzagging according to plan.

0955      Ceased zigzagging.

1000      Steaming various courses and speeds while carrying out main battery radar offset firing practice. Expended 10 rounds 5”/38 cal. AA Common ammunition.

1200      Position Latitude 52° 53’ N. Longitude 175° 50 W.

1400      Steaming various courses and speeds while approaching Kuluk Bay, Alaska.

1659      Set base course 000° T&G 357° psc.

1727      Commenced zigzagging according to plan.

2000      Position Latitude 52° 44’ N. Longitude 176° 50’ W. Changed base course to 315° T&G 316° psc.

 

January 4, 1944                      Zone description plus ten

Steaming as before

0030      Changed base course to 090° T&G 084° psc.

0330      Changed course to 135° T&G 126° psc.

0400      Changed course to l800 T&G 170° psc.

0712      Changed base course to 215° T&G 211° psc.

0851      Changed base course to 000° T&G 357° psc.

0930      Left cruiser screen in company with DesDiv 98. Steaming various courses and speeds while carrying out exercises.

1406      Completed exercises, proceeding to Sweepers Cove, Adak Island, Alaska.

1437      Fired burst practice, expending 3 rounds 5/38 AA Common and 71 rounds 40mm ammunition.

1735      Moored starboard side U.S.S. SPROSTON in nest with U.S.S. WILLIAM D. PORTER and U.S.S. WICKES at Buoy #1, Sweepers Cove, Adak Island, Alaska. Various units of U.S. Fleet present in harbor. SOPA is ComNorPacFor.

 

January 5, 1944                      Zone description plus ten

Moored as before.

 

January 6, 1944                      Zone description plus ten

Moored as before.

1253      Underway from alongside U. S . S . SPROSTON at Buoy # 1 , Sweepers Cove, Adak Island, Alaska in accordance with ComNorPac dispatch 05318 of January, 1944. Steaming various courses and speeds conforming to the channel.

1400      Steaming various courses and speeds in company with U.S.S. CHARLES J. BADGER, U.S.S. ISHERWOOD, and U.S.S. LUCE while carry out exercises.

2125      Fired illumination practice, expending 14 rounds 5/38 Illuminating ammunition.

2150      Set base course 270° T&G 078° psc, standard speed 15 knots. Assumed guide with U.S.S. CHARLES BADGER, U.S.S. ISHERWOOD and U.S.S. LUCE forming standard anti-submarine screen ahead.

 

January 7, 1944                      Zone description plus ten

Steaming as before.

0100      Changed course to 090° T&G 078° psc.

0800      Position Latitude 52° 30’ N Longitude 176° 19’ W.

0915      Steaming various courses and speeds while conducting exercises.

1358      Fired shore bombardment exercises at Great Sitkin Island, expending

30 rounds 5/38 AA Common ammunition.

1920      Set base course 0000 T&G 0050 psc. Formed in anti-submarine screen with U. 5.5. ISHERWOOD and U. S. S. LUCE. U. S. S. CHARLES J. BADGER

guide

2320      Changed course to 090° T&G 078° psc.

 

January 8, 1944                      Zone description plus ten

Steaming as before.

0054      Changed course to 180° T&G 173° psc.

0720      Assumed guide. U.S.S.CHARLES J. BADGER, U.S.S. ISHERWOOD, U.S.S. LUCE forming in standard column astern. Steaming various courses and Speeds while carrying out exercises in Kuluk Bay, Alaska.

0816     Fired night bombardment exercise, expending 31 rounds 5/38 AA Common and 34 rounds 5/38 Illuminating ammunition.

1056     Fired radar calibration practice, expending 50 rounds 5/38 AA Common ammunition.

1700     Entered Sweepers Cove, Adak Island, Alaska.

1741     Moored to Buoy #1, Sweepers Cove, Adak Island, Alaska. Various units of U.S. Fleet present in harbor. SOPA is ComNorPacFor.

 

January 9,  1944_______              Zone description plus ten:

Moored as before.

1615     Underway from Buoy # 1, Sweepers Cove, Adak Island, Alaska, Steaming various courses and speeds while proceeding to Moor alongside U.S.S. MARKAB.

1630     Moored starboard side to U.S.S. MARKAB at Buoy #2, Sweepers Cove, Adak Island, Alaska. Various units of U.S. Fleet present.

SOPA is CornNorPacFor.

 

January 10,  1944_______             Zone description plus ten:

Moored as before.

 

January 11,  1944_______             Zone description plus ten:

Moored as before.

1055     U.S.S. GILMORE (DE 18) moored alongside to port.

1200     Commander Destroyer Squadron 49 shifted his flag to U.S.S. SPROSTON.

 

January 12,  1944_______             Zone description plus ten:

Moored as before.

1304     Underway from alongside U.S.S. MARKAB at Buoy #2, Sweepers Cove, Adak Island, Alaska. In accordance with ComNorPac despatch 120545 of January, 1944. Steaming various courses and speeds while Standing through channel.

1453     Commenced exercising at general drills.

1643      Commenced steaming various courses and speeds in company with U.S.S. CHARLES J. BADGER and U.S.S. LUCE. Formed in column, U.S.S. CHARLES J. BADGER guide, U.S.S. LUCE and U.S.S. PICKING following In that order.

1700     Set base course 000° T&G 352° psc, standard speed 10 knots.

1901     Formed standard anti-submarine screen with U.S.S. LUCE, U.S.S. CHARLES J. BADGER guide, Ship’s position 45° on Starboard bow of U.S.S.CHARLES J. BADGER, distant 3000 yards. Changed base course to 330° T&G 327° psc.

1840      Changed base course to 150° T&G 140° psc. By countermarch Movement.

1920      Changed speed to 15 knots.

2232      Changed base course to 060° T&G 057° psc.

2300      Changed base course to 000° T&G 355° psc.