Voices from the Korean War - Douglas Rice [86]
The wind and waves were so powerful that one of the parapets surrounding one of the 40mm mounts broke loose and washed overboard. The parapets were made of half-inch steel plate.
Having stopped in San Diego, and Pearl Harbor, for supplies we where again under way for Korea. However, we ran into a typhoon so we did not arrive in time to offer support for the Inchon Invasion. After nineteen days we finally reached our first bombardment mission—Samchok, North Korea. I was not the only one aboard who shook with fear during our first taste of combat.
When “General Quarters” was sounded, all hands were to man their battle stations. My berthing compartment was the first compartment aft of the Anchor Windless Room—up in the bow. However, my GQ station was on the 40mm mount located at the stern (fantail) of the ship, port side. To reach my station I had to run almost the full length of the ship.
During one incident I arrived at my station and noticed I had forgotten to put on my trousers. The Director Operator wrapped the Gun Director cover around me. The cover was made of canvas, and was quite stiff from the cold.
When firing her 16 inch rifles, the concussion would ripple furiously across the water. Since the concussion was so strong, the fantail had to be cleared of all personnel when turret #3 was fired. On one occasion there was a need to fire turret #3 and as the gun crews of the 20mm and 40mm guns raced to the superstructure, three of us didn’t make it. The hatch was open and the man closest to it was thrown down across the opening, breaking several ribs. Being the next closest, I was thrown to the deck—with enormous force—sustaining minor injuries to my spine. However, I was still able to help my shipmate through the open hatch. The sailor who was the farthest away was blown off his feet and into the cable railings mounted at the sides of the ship. Luckily he didn’t end up in the water, but he sustained serious injuries. We were fortunate to get him inside before turret #3 fired again.
During a firing mission to stop enemy mortar fire on our troops, the ship was ordered to use the 5” and 40mm guns to pepper the entire mountainside that was facing us. Pappy Miller, our Gun Director, got permission from the Gun Boss to ricochet 40mm rounds up the side of the mountain off the thick ice that had formed close to shore. We fired until the ice had been destroyed and no longer usable for ricocheting; Pappy’s idea worked.
As I recall, a round weighed about four pounds and the projectile about two pounds. A magazine clip, which was passed from below the mount through an opening in the deck, held four-or-six rounds. The loader had to lift the clip to about his eye level in order to insert it into the weapon.
When the 16 inch rifles fired, you could actually watch the projectile as it flew through the air. As the round left the muzzle we used to say “there goes another Cadillac.” Including round and powder bags, it cost about the same as a Cadillac.
I will always remember Christmas Eve of 1950, as we were involved in the evacuation at Hungnam. We were anchored close to shore and surrounded by LSMR (small rocket firing boats). As the crew was celebrating Christmas below deck, we were celebrating the Fourth of July above deck.
When we were in need of food and ammo, we went to Sasebo, Japan. Loading the ship was an “all hands evolution.” The working party for unloading the barges that tied along side the ship was made up of several men from each division. Needless to say, unloading was hard work and by the end of the day, we looked like coal miners. If we were in port for only two days, half of the ship would take liberty while the other half had to remain aboard; this was called Port and Starboard Liberty. However, if we were in port for three days, the ship would have 3-section liberty; one section each day.
During one of our replenishing missions, the rifled lining of the 16 inch guns, which had been forced out of the barrel by extensive use, had to be shaved off flush