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USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG September 1. 1945 Zone description (+) 7 PICKING
undergoing routine overhaul at MARE ISLAND NAVY YARD, MARE ISLAND, CALIFORNIA. At present, moored to the
Dolphins at the Radar Calibration Range, M.I., for radar calibration
check. Returned into the yard in the afternoon, moored alongside the dock,
and continued with overhaul. September 2 - 3, 1945 Zone description (+) 7 Continued
overhaul. September 4, 1945 Zone description (+j~ Underway at
0600 to conduct full power trails at sea. These were delayed until 1130 due to
a heavy fog outside the Farallon Islands. Speed was slowly built up to 34 knots, and maintained for
four hours. All circuits and equipment were tested during the day and a
deficiency list made up. The machine gun batteries were test fired on clear
bearings when the fog lifted. An increase in fog density later in the
afternoon prevented safe firing of the 5” battery. The depth charge battery was
test fired. The full power trails were successful; the only big disappointment
was the inability to complete the structural firing test due to the low
visibility. Returned to the navy yard in a heavy fog and moored at 2300. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 37°-49’ N; Longitude -
122°-26’ E. 1200 -
Latitude - 37°-4l’ N; Longitude - l24°-27’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 37°-46’ N; Longitude -
l22°-39’ E. September 5 - 6, 1945 Zone description (+) 7 Completed
overhaul, correcting deficiencies found during the post repair trails on the
4th. September 7, 1945 Zone description (+) 7 Underway at
1000 in accordance with CWSF movement order no. 374-45-11, enroute
to SAN DIEGO, for refresher training. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 37°-55’ N; Longitude - 122°-26’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 37°-26’ N;
Longitude - l22°-20’ E. 2000 -
Latitude - 35°-45’ N; Longitude - l2l°-59’ E. September 8, 1945 Zone description (+) 7 Enroute to SAN DIEGO, at S.O.A. 16
knots, passing south of the CHANNEL ISLANDS. Entered SAN DIEGO, at 1600 and
moored alongside the U.S.S. WICKES
in North San
Diego Bay. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 32°-48’ N; Longitude - 118°-SO’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 32°-36’ N;
Longitude - 118°-l5’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 32°-45’ N;
Longitude - 117°-13’ E. September 9, 1945 Zone description (+) 7 In the
morning, an inspection party from the Underway Training Unit came aboard for an
arrival personnel and material inspection. September 10, 1945 Zone description (+) 7 Underway
at 0620, for A/S training area 80 miles southwest of SAN DIEGO. Rendezvoused there with the
minesweeper GAVIA, and the submarine SPOT. The sub submerged and coordinated depth charge
attacks were made on her by the GAVIA and PICKING. The GAVIA
returned to port at 1600; the SPOT and PICKING remained in the area over night. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 32°-39’ N;
Longitude - 117°-14’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 32°-2l’ N;
Longitude - 117°-26’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 31°-29’ N;
Longitude - 118°-06’ E. September 11, 1945 Zone description (+) 7 Resumed A/S
drills with SPOT in the morning. All ship’s officers were given
experience at conning during these runs. The GAVIA came out and relieved
the PICKING at 1330. Returned to port and moored in South San Diego Bay
at 1600. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 37°-35’ N; Longitude -
118°-17’ E. 1200 - Latitude -
3l°-35’ N; Longitude - 118°-08’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 32°-41’ N; Longitude -
117°-09’ E. September 12, 1945 Zone description (+) 7 Made practice
torpedo runs with the ZELLARS in a training area 25 miles west of SAN
DIEGO. A blimp was on hand to photograph the runs and assist in retrieving torpedoes.
Each ship made three runs. Exercises were completed at 1430. Returned to port
and moored in South San Diego Bay. Positions: 0800 -
Latitude - 32°-38’ N; Longitude - 117°-l2’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 32°-32’ N; Longitude -
117°-33’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 32°-41’ N; Longitude -
117°-09’ E. September 13, 1945 Zone description (+) 7 At sea for
gunnery exercises, operating with a YMS with target in
tow. Fired radar calibration firing during the morning at 0600 and 10,000 and 15,000 yards. Ran a train check during the afternoon and night spotting and
illumination exercises from 2015 till 2105. Remained in the operating area during the night. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 32°-11’ N;
Longitude - ll7°-30’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 32°-25’ N;
Longitude - 117°-56’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 32°-30’ N;
Longitude - ll7°-53’ E. September 14, 1945 Zone description (+) 7 During morning
fired long range battle practice and radar spotting practice. A plane was on
station at 1300 for AA firing on a sleeve. Completed
gunnery exercises at 1520 and proceeded to SAN CLEMENTE
ISLAND for night shore bombardment practice. This latter exercise was cancelled
and a course was set for SAN DIEGO, to arrive there the following morning. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 32°-27’ N;
Longitude - 1l7°-47’ E. 1200 - Latitude - 32°-35’ N;
Longitude - 117°-52’ E. 2000 - Latitude - 32~~48’ N;
Longitude - 1l8°-19’ E. September 15, 1945 Zone description (+) 7 Entered port
at 0600 and moored in a destroyer nest, San Diego Bay. Positions: 0800 - Latitude - 32°-42’ N;
Longitude - 117°-10’ E. September 16 - 19, 1945 Zone description (+) 7 Remained
in harbor at SAN DIEGO. The PICKING is to be reduced to an inactive status;
whether or not she is to be de-commissioned is not known. September
20, 1945 Zone description (+) 7 Unloaded
all ammunition. September 21, 1945 Zone
description
(+) 7 Berthed at the
SOUTH QUAY WALL, NAVAL REPAIR BASE, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, along with other
destroyers scheduled for inactive duty. September 22 - 30, 1945 Zone description (+)7 Going
ahead with inventories and repairs to have the ship ready for de-commissioning. The PICKING is to be
a ship of the Pacific Reserve Fleet now forming. Under present
plans, one destroyer of a group will remain in commission and be responsible
for the other ships in the group. Since flagships are to remain in commission,
it is believed that the PICKING will be decommissioned. |