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USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG March 1, 1945. Zone description (-)9 PICKING a unit of the FIFTH FLEET and
flagship of CDS 49, Captain BROWN, USN. Acting under
COMPHIBGROUP 7, Rear Admiral KILAND; flagship, U.S.S. MT.
MCKINLEY. In drydock ARD-19 since 1630
yesterday to have screws replaced by those of the damaged DD, RENSHAW. The
bottom was scraped and painted Positions: 0800
Latitude - 1l°-09.O N; Longitude - l25°-09.2 E. 1200 - Latitude - 1l°-08.2 N; Longitude -
l25°-09.4 E. 2000 - Latitude - ll°-08.2 N; Longitude -
l25°-09.4 E. March 2, 1945. Zone description (-) 9 Shifted to
berth 62, SAN PEDRO BAY; in the morning, continued with minor ship repairs. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - l1°-07.9
N; Longitude - 125°-07.7 E. 1200 - Latitude - ll°-03.4
N; Longitude - l25°-lO.4 E. 2000 - Latitude - ll°-O3.4
N; Longitude - 125°-lO.4 E. March 3, 1945 through March
6, 1945. Zone description (-) 9 Anchored as
before; completed at anchor availability period. March 7, 1945. Zone description (-)9 Just after daylight, on verbal orders of CDS 49, shifted to TARRAGUNA ANCHORAGE, LEYTE GULF. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - l0°-5l.6
N; Longitude - l25°-02.8 E. 1200 - Latitude - l0°-5l.6
N; Longitude - l25°-02.8 E. 2000 - Latitude - lO°-5l.6
N; Longitude - l25°-02.8 E. March 9, 1945. Zone description (-) 9 In accordance
with Commander Amphibious Group 7 Training Order, A70345, PICKING assigned
to TASK GROUP 51.1, with Rear Admiral KILAND, in MT. MC KINLEY, T.G. commander. By the same order, PICKING
further assigned to T.U. 52.1.13 (Western Islands Attack Group Screen),
with Captain BROWN, CDS
49, T.U. commander; flagship, PICKING. In accordance with ComUDTSPhibsPac Op. Order 4-45, effective March 9 only, PICKING
re-assigned to BROWN,
T.U. commander; flagship, PICKING. These two training orders are based
on COMPHIBGROUP 7 attack plan, A70l-45; and movement plan, A702-45. Underway
in morning for rehearsal U.D.T. operations in accordance with ComUDTSPhibsPac Op. Order 4-45, in company with U.S.S. ISHERWOOD
and U.S.S. KIMBERLY;
O.T.C. was C.T.U. 52.11.2, Captain BROWN; flagship, PICKING. Joined
other units of T.G. 52.11 at 0700 northwest of HOMONHON ISLAND, P.I. Made four
rehearsal assaults according to plan during the day. PICKINGs
assignment, to form a line of departure with other DDs for the assault boats Reverted to T.U. 52.1.13. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 10°-49.O
N; Longitude - 125°-39.4 E. 1200 - Latitude - l0°-49.3
N; Longitude - 125°-39.6 E. 2000 - Latitude - lO°-5l.5
N; Longitude - 125°-03.8 E. March 10, 1945. Zone description (-) 9 Underway in
the morning in accordance with COMPHIBGROUP 7 Training Order A703-45, proceeded
to AA firing area north of SULUAN IS., P.I., in company OBERRENDER, DE-344, joined formation. Scheduled AA firing practice
delayed by rain squalls; were carried out during the morning and afternoon. The
5/38, 40mm,
and 20mm batteries were exercised in the morning and afternoon. Evasive
emergency turns were made during several runs. Returned to
TARRAGUNA in the evening. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - lO°-49.O N; Longitude - 125°-39.4 E. 1200 - Latitude - 1O°-49.3
N; Longitude - 125°-39.6 E. 2000 -
Latitude - l0°-5l.5 N; Longitude - l25°-03.8 E. March 13, 1945. Zone description (-) 9 Underway before dawn for sortie patrol station east of transport area. I TARE with TASK GROUP 51.1, PICKING in station #1 of
anti-submarine screen plan 57. Formation proceeded to sea through SURIGAO
STRAIT in accordance 51.1,
Rear Admiral KILAND, in U.S.S. MT MC KINLEY. Screen Commander is C.T.U.
51.1.13, Captain MOOSBRUGGER, flagship, U.S.S. BISCAYNE. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - l0°-47.2 N; Longitude - 125°-ll.3 E. 1200 - Latitude - lO°-37.4
N; Longitude - l25°-38.5 E. 2000 - Latitude - lO°-40.8
N; Longitude - l25°-37.8 E. March 14, 1945. Zone description (-) 9. Returned
into LEYTE GULF through SURIGAO STRAIT. When north of HIBUSON ISLAND, the PICKING,
in company with CHARLES J. BADGER, WILLIAM D. PORTER and KIMBERLEY left
their screening stations; formed a scouting line with PICKING in center
as guide, and conducted an anti-submarine sweep ISLAND where
ships acted independently and proceeded to their
assigned anti-submarine patrol sectors. PICKING first conducted search
around CABUGAN GRANDE
and CABUGAN CHICO ISLAND be fore going to sector A-5. Ships of screen
synchronized so that all units move in same direction around necessary Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 10°-32.3
N; Longitude - 125°-26.9 E. 1200 -
Latitude - lO°-23.5 N; Longitude - l25°-2l.O E. 2000 -
Latitude - l0°-29.O N; Longitude - l25°-14.O E. March 15, 1945. Zone description (-) 9. Continued
anti-submarine patrol during day. On verbal orders from Screen
Commander, anchored for the night. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - lO°-26.5
N; Longitude - l25°-24.2 E. 1200 - Latitude - 10°-27.5
N; Longitude - l25°-24.5 E. 2000 -
Latitude - l0°-35.2 N; Longitude - 125°-l4.3 E. March 16, 1945. Zone
description (-) 9. Departed training area in the afternoon in anti-submarine screen with TRANSDIV 49. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 10°~35.2 N; Longitude - l25°-l4.3 E. 1200 - Latitude - 10°-29.0
N; Longitude - l25°-16.8 E. 2000 - Latitude - 10°-57.6
N; Longitude - 125°-04.0 E. |