Action Report for 6-16 Oct 1952

ORIGINAL U.S.S. SICILY (CVE•ll8) CVE118/Al6-l3 % FLEET POST OFFICE L!::R/20/mls SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA Ser.. 0212 2 0 CT 19r,L

DOWNGRADED AT 3 YEAR INTERVAUb DECLASSIFIED AFTER 1Z ~ DOD DIR 5200.10

From; Commanding Officer, u.s.s. SICILY (CVE-118) To: Chief of Nuva~.:owrtrt.Ums Via: (1) Commander Task Force 76 (2) Col!lll1llnder SEVENTH FLEET (3) Coinffi[.lndcr N9 val Forces, F.t.R EAST (4) Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet

Subj: -ction Report 6 October through 16 October 1952

Ref: {a) OPNil.V Instruction 3480.4 (b) CINCPkCFLT Instruction 3480.L. (c) COMPHIIJFORFE Operation Plan No. lOL.-52

1. In accordance with references (a}, (b), and (c) the Action Report

for the period 6 October through 16 October 1952 is hereby submitted.

2. This report is divided into six (6) parts, as listed below:

Part I .. General Nt.rrotivo Part II - Chronological Order of Events

Port III- Performance of Ordnance ~bteriol and Equip- ment including Ammunition Expenditure

P!;.rt r.J - Own and Enemy Battle Damngo Part V - Personnel Performance and Casualties

Pnrt VI - Comments nnd Recommendations

ORIGINAL P!'~T r' 1 • GENERJ.L !ILRRi.TIVE -

1,.., During tho period of this report the tr.s.s. SICILY (CVE-118), under

tho coon(.md .of Ccptain lJ.oon E. LOor~as, 62535/1310, USN, Tiith Hnrino

J~ttc:ck Squadron Thra.:o Hundred T':mlvc (Vl\'IA-312), under tho con;1cmd of

Lieutcno.nt Colonel R. E. C..'J.IERON, 00?02?, USUC, eobc:rkcd, opcrctcd cs

n part af Task Force 76 in the U.S. SEVENTH FLEET.

R. Tho Cormnnding Officqr, H.s.s. SICILY (CVE-118), ossuood the title

of C1t< 76,2 at 052300Z, ;;t 090300Z the SICILY reported to Tosk Group

?6.5 and assuned CTE 76.52. l~t 111908Z, upon being detached froo Task

Group 76,5, tlic SICILY cssUl!lcd CTG 76,2, /,t 130945Z tho SICILY rcjoinoi

Task Grcup 76.5 cnrouto to operating crcn and nssUr.lod CTE 76.52-. Upon entering the vicinity of tho o'bjoctivo c.rco the SICILY ·.7GS dctcchod fror.

Group 76.5 c.nd o:gnin ::~ssumcd CTG 76,2 c.t 141908Z and retained this do- signction until JOINT lJ'.iPHIBIOUS TJBK FOHCE 76 TICS dissolved ct 161000Z,

Tho Group consisted of one (1) escort carrier end t;,ro (2) destroyer~

~cting as screen.,

C • Tho Tcsk Group opcrotod ns pert of To.sk Force 76 in the Sao of Jape! end :::gainst onooy forces in tho 1Jfon8an Boy - Kojo Peninsula crcc. _

D. T::ro ancoy forces wore tho North Korocn Peoples i.:roy end "Volunteer"

Chinese Cor:munist Forces in oner:1,1,r hold North Korea.

E. The nission of the Tcsk Group wcs to provide L.ir Support in accord- c:nco •i·dth l...nncx H, ConmGnder ;..r.::phibious Force, Far East Oporction Plan \ No, 101/.-52,

F. During tho l:'lovonent phases of the Task Force this TUk Group ongc.gu in trc.ining end exorcises in propc.rc:tion for tho coning opcrc:tions. ,-: n '" , .i f1 r PJ.RT I (Cont'd)

procedures vrorc conducted for all VM.f.L-312 pilots. Tho movooont phases

c:llonod c.mplo tina for thoroagJ;t Intolligoncc end opcrc.tional briefings

prior to the nrrivcl of tho Tusk Group in the objective croc.

Continuous roconncissoncc of the lines of comnunicc.tions in and

looding to the objective ~rca rcvcolod c. cooplato lack of r.mjor onony movcoont throughout D-Day end D+l Duy.

l.Lll flights, upon retlll1}ing froo. the objective area, reported Lnti-

..'.ircrcft fire of the "I.Lutonctic Tioaponsn type in tho vicinity of tho

bench end along all mc.in supply routes in tho area, Tho cbove reports

~-mre consistently ovo.lu.:tted cs moderc.to and accurate anti-oircrcft fire.

Only one F4U from the ~ICILY suffered serious d[!o.c.go fl-on cnti-nircraft

fire end the pilot of thct r:ircr2rt ·.7ns able to r:cconplish c successful t.;r:lorgoncy lc.nding nt Kl8,

i.t 160215Z two (2) F4IJis, rohilc in the vicinity of UTM G:<;id OU 4035,

sighted six (6) lUG-15 typo cnoDy fighters, The F4U's 't"!Cro ct an alti tude of 7000 foot r:nd flying on a course of 210° True. Tho lf4U pilot-a- hoard o transiJ.ission on VHF stc.ting thc.t IUGis r10ro in tho area and, upon hc:Jring this report, one cf the pilots sighted the MIG's at six

(6) o'clock. The F4U's initic.tcd c. defensive r.rocvo,

~·.rtor follo·::ing the F4U 1 s for cpproxinctoly 5 m.inutos, the MIG$.1 dcp~rtod '.~i thout taking oily hostile cction. Tho IUGS roZJ.c.inod ct an cltitudo of opproxiw:::toly 15,000 fuot throughouttthc oncoWltor.

CIC eboord tho SICILY ~r:s assigned control of tho Cl..P in tho object- iva crca end it is felt thct voluable tlXporionce ~·-·as gcincd by all air controllers end ere personnel in this opcrction.

- 3- bECL~SSIF\ED

PLRT I (Cent 'd)

Tho total nunbor of sorties for tho period ~as 127 uith c total of 374.5-hours flo~. The following is a breakdown of tho total sortios flowns 41 Cl.P; 36 Naval Gunfire Spot; 28 Tactical l..ir Observer; and

22 roc~nnaissancc.

- 4 - . O£CLf..SSIFIEO

PJ.I\T li c!ll!OI!Ql«lm OF!IlER gr mm 060827Z The Tj.S.s, SICILY under the eo!lllllllnd of Captain J.lmon E. LOOMIS

departed. Sesebo, Japan tor otaru1 Holdcaido, Japan. Vl&..•3l2,

colllia!lnded by Litautenont Colonel R. E. ~~€RON, USAIJ, was

embarkodo The sereen eonsisted of too u.s.s. BLTIE (PD-7~) and the lloSISI !!UBEIJID (llil-748).

· 0705423 Coinl!llnaed refueling the u.s.s. BLUE iDD-7~).

0707L42 Coi:llleneed refueling the u.s.s. IIUB&RD (DD-748). 082217Z Mi-ivad otan., Japan.

090300Z Co-nding Offieor u.s.s. SlCILY assumed GTE 76.5:! and reported to Task Group ?6.5.

0905/"'~Z Unde:z:owa:r,.·f'rom otaru and joi.bed Task Group 76.5. Enroute to the o"Jjeoti·ve area.

l::>o.;m'~ Z4::ercised at tactical drille.

lOOS;·L..Z '!'£xerci8ed the crow at generAl quarters.

lll900.& Detael':-11d tram TG 76.5 and nasumed CTG 76.2.

lll9~03 The TI,S.S. KNOll: (DD-742) and the U.S.s. HOLLISTER (DD-788)

joined and foroed sel'een.

ll2102a Commeaeed flight operations for Rehearsal of Joint J.mphibious

120?20~ Secu::ed from flight aperatie~ns. Jiuring: this day with twent.Y'""four

(24; tirorsft on board, on ~varage of seventeen (17) aircraft

wero available. J.. tcteJ. or twenty-.ix (26) sorties were flown.

s ~· m sa a iji? M&S!&UU _,- '• • 7 DECLASSIFIED PJ+RT II (Cgntld)

Fi.fteen (15) of these were CAP flights, three (3) were for tactical air observation and eight (S) wore silllul.atad naval

gunfire spot and close oir support. A totlll of Sl.S hours were flown during the day,

l22100Z co-need flight opeJ~>ttona;

122l39Z Co-need refueling the U,S,S, HOLLISTER (DD-788), 122300Z Co,..,nced refueling the u.s.s. KNOX (DD-742).

l308SOZ Secured !light operations. Du1'111g tbda day there were twenty

foili' (24) h~ar.tt on board and nrl average availability of

sixteen (16), Fifteen (15) CAP fli(!hts were flown for a total of fif,y-six (S6) flying hours, l3094SZ Rejoined TG 76 ,5, l32057Z Commenced flight operations,

l406l9Z Secured from flight operations, During this day twenty-four

(24) aircraft were aboard and on.11verage of nineteen (19) air•

craft were available, Eight (S) CAP flights were flown for a total of twenty-five (25) flying hours,

l4l908Z Detached from TG 76,5 to operate as TG 76,2 with the U,S.S, ROGERS (DD-876) and tho U,S,S, I!UBili.IID (DD-748) as screen, l4l955Z Commenced flight QForaticns,

l50803Z Soaured from flight c~oraticmo,

Dur1nc thio dey thoro troro t110ntyofour (24~ aircrott on bo

during the day, The SICILY )O"oVideJ ~Taotiool Air Observers

.f'-Jr the lnndi ne f'oroe• f'lnd air spotting for the bombardment -'- P:.RT II (Cant 'd) DECLASSif lED

ships. Twonty-nine (29) sorties v;ere flmm for a total of

oirhty (SO) flying hours. Twelve (12) sorties "'oro suppliod for naval gunfire spot, eir,ht (8) for reconnaisscnco oissions

nnd nino (9) to net c.s tcctical oir observers. Only tho rc

connaisscnc:o fliehts were loo.dod ·with r:n oxtornnl boob loc.d.

Therefore vary fen tcrgcts ~era struck by circrcft fro!!l this

ship. Tho follo~nncr is c list of the daCUJ.go inflicted by SICIIX circraft.

Ti:J\GET RESULI Building Destroyed

15 Buildings Dnnaccd or Destroyed

Supplies Damaeod

Rocd Bridge Darnopod

151134Z Joined Task Elo~ent 76.00,

151956Z Detached to oporcta os TG 76,2 ·.·ith tho U.S.S, ROOERS (DD-876)

and tho U.s.s. HUBBfJU) (DD-748) as c. screen.

152lOOZ Conoonccd flicht opor~tions.

160215Z T:1o (2) F4Us sichtcd six (6) l.llG•l5s. Tho l.!IGS follo,•ed tho

F4Us for about fivo (5) r.tinutos and than deported d.thout

tc.kinr. hostile action.

160811Z SecuroC froo flieht oper~tions. During this day there ~oro

tTiont~ono circrc.ft on bonrd and on cvorcgo of oightoon (18)

aircrc.ft Yroro available. Forty-sovan (47) sorties, consistillf,

of sUctccm (16) tactioc.l air obsorvors, end ono (l) Cl.P flicht

~·,oro flo:·:n ·.71th c. total of

IIIF§F?JZF 1 E - 7- UC\JLf\vviiiL.Iol PART II (Cont'd)

one hundred thirty-two (132) flying hours for the day, The tollowirtg damages ware inflicted on the enamf during the day:

·TARGET RESULT llu:l.ldings 3 destroyed, 2 damaged

4 :ta.ilroad cars 2 heavily dru.•ged

Tra!'lches Troops strafed. No damage

assessed.

161000Z Joint Am~~bious Task Force 76 was dissolved.

- 8- DE CLASS! F! ED

J ~ ..... VhH..I'iC'' \,)]' Ul-lllN.~~iL:S J· --~·:~!tiel, id)U ' ' \.iiJ-'._~, l'iT !i,'CI.l L· l~iG l.L; Lrl:?J.J~! ; ,_:t·:-·,~ ··;, l'rli:-~! _,

1.. i'. tot!:._l of 14~ roch,,h~ t:erc lot::.c..cC. durin~; the or.urc.tion. <:;~even

.:;;.'};il: I:o,

rr~··.t-.li. 4 l'igtc.il ir:.}.roi'urly en~<.:q::;eC in igniter reccptc-.clo.

HV.nli. 1 Due rocket.

HV~:..a 1

flli •• J., 1 l:igt.<.i.: .. r"L 1rolct:n duf: to e;jcct(!C l:i_J1- s L~:C:. bl'~Ss fr·~n. guns,

)u itockets (HV .hR) 152

20 I1'L Rm~nci.s 7,035

5·::1 Ci:.l. Rot:.nci.s 20,875

-'-)- .. DECLASSIFIED. .

Pl.RT IV

SUMIMRY OF CJ/IN MID ENEMY B[,TTLE DfJ.!l.GE

A. Oim Battle Dar.10ge,

1. No dqnoge wns inflicted on ships in this Task Group.

2, For damage sustained by VMf~-.312 aircreft see Naval t.ir

~crfarc Reports suboitted for this opercting period,

3, For oper!ltioncl damage suffered by VNIJ.-312 circroft see Oporctional Damage Report for l October to 18 October, 1952,

B. Bcttle Damage Inflicted on tho Eneoys

1, No battle d omega vras inflic\toC. on the eneoy by the u.s.s. srcm.

2. The follauing is battle danaeo inflicted on the cneqy

by VJ:!.t.. -312 circraft:

Tl.nGET HESUIT

Building 4 Destroyed 15 buildings Danaged or destroyed

Supplies Danq~ed

Reed Bridge Dcoaged

Buildings 2 donngod

4 railroad cars 2 heavily dcoaged

Trenches Troops strnfod_. No daoaged assossed.

- 10- "btCL~SSIHED

PJIRT V

PERSO~'EL PERFOm!A~X:E MID CfBUALTIES

A. The following dispatch was received from CTF 76:

"PERFORP!ANCE OF AIRCflAFT, CIC AliD AIR CONTROL PEHSONNEL

SICIJX DURING JOINT fJciPHIBIOUS EXERCISE CONSIDERED OUTSTJINDINC."

B. Castlalties:

Uo casualties we-re inflicted on personnel of this Task Group. c. The present ship 1s COI1Bl~T INFORI·l!-~TION CENTER with the comple ment of forty-five (45) enlisted men and six (6) officer air controllers proved adequate for this operation. Hm"ever, extend ed operations of this type "rollld require additional enlisted per sonnel.

- 11- f!m' VJ

CQMMENTS. A!!D JiCDM!ll!i!illiSJOl§.

A. Naval Operations.

Due to the low top speed of the CVE class carrier the usual dif'ficul ty of regaining station attar flight operations by tha "BBker• method was experienced~

In a cruising formotion such as 92R when air operations are to bs oonductad by tha independent method, it is reoo-nded that car riers bo assigned any one of the following four stations: Van, rear, and flanke, Attor flight operations tho oarrior could tbsn ret\ll'll to the most advan~Jeous of tho four atotione and a great dool of unneces sary steaming and timo out of formution could be avoided.

-12- DECLASSIFIED

PART VI (Continll!!d)

2e A-.1c•

(a) Air operations were carried on with no unusunl ·~nci• dents. All flights scheduled werq flown. The e:ircraf't maintenance crews performed o commondoble job in keeping the aircraft flying,

•13- 2o liLJil.?np'cj) b. Two (2) borrior croshes oc01.1IT

Wel"G modo tail wheel first, but in a slight wing•down attitude. The londings did not seem hard nor the skid severe enough to causa mater... possibls ial failu:re. A/contributing foetor, which oointenance personnel aboard tho ship were umbli to check for, woe the possible presence ot imparoeptibls fractures in the motel. If Dye Fenetraat kits were ovo.ilable to the ship, these fractures could be detected. These D,ve Penetrant kits are ovailnble on the open lilEirket ond should be mode

avoilabla to fleet oointennnoe personnel. The kits are smoll,

inexpensive, and siople to use. •,

Pal!T VJ (Cg:Jt. t q,l

z. !jJ,r (Co,gt' d)

o. The two dey· ·turn around in port provided insuf'i'io ient time £or preventive checks and necessary engine change.s(l /,.._ minLnmt of five don- should be llllowed. .·. •

I k DECLASSIFIED

3 ,, Air Defense ' :

b. Identification and evaluation of eir contacts by the use of the UTM grid proved cunbersome and inaccurate in the limiiod objective eraa of this operntion. It is felt that a system of ro I • porting air contacts from a prominent radar reference point in the objec·tive nrea would permit more e:q:editious handling of bogies. I

-16- DECli\SSifiEO

PhRT VI (Contld)

41. The SF radcr, due to the nonevailability of spnre parts proved to

be totally inadequate, This radar is becoming obsolate due to the

devel·>~m

finding radar is necessary in the effective handling of airaroft

and shoUld be installed abocrd this type carrier as soon e.s avail..

ableo

-1?'- ·. " •

OECLf\SS\ f\ EO

D. Jn:t~pnce; \ 3, A detailed Flak analysis would be very beneficial to a carrier

entor~:..:~ t-his type of operation in an unfamiliar area. I£ th~.s in-

formation were included in the Inteilligenoe Jt.nnex, it is felt that bettor results would be obtained from tho aircraft and poesibly a soving in :rmterial and o:vail.ability of aircraft woUld ·result •

... 18 ... DECLASSIFIED

E. .JGgistioqz

2r.o Lo~5.atic Support was furnished by Col!l!!lOndar Fleet Air Japan and Nm ".:'okcsu.lro. The action taken to expedite delivery of P''U"'ts required for J;.QG planos was very good considering tho short time allowed. However, it is believed that even better results might have been obtained had it been possible to keep Commander Fleet Air Japan informed of tho SICILY's schedule.

- 19- ...

DECLASS/ FJ ED

J • Material

1. Blll"eau of .Aeronautics

a, Overage cement in Kits, Repair (Stknr R37-K-500) for IlK III Anti-exposure Suitt• - .It is recommended that all subject Kits in 1tock in NSD Yokosuka an

ths is the storoeo limit), It is further recommended that the follo?~Uf cation be tokon1

(1) Discontinue procuromont of the Kits (R37-K-500), (2) ~on stocks of Kits ere axhcuatad, issue cement (Stknr R52-c•l557), byrd cloth and neoprono impregnated tepa,

(3) Ac:ld e<>mont (Stknr R52-c-1557), byrd cloth end neoprene

1mproS'nctcd tapa to tho Section 11 A11 JUlowcnco ~ist for a

- 20- , '.·, . . I <-J. • • DECLASSIFlfO PART VI (Cont 1d)

1. Bgreau of Aotongqt1os (Cont•dl

b, Tubo Assembly, Drop Tank (Stknr R82-cV-VS·48817) • Tho

rcplaeomont rate of tho tube (co::nnonly referred to as c. "goosenock")

1s high (about 8 tubes per 10 tonka dropped) • It is roo0r.1r.1ondod that

tho source coda bo changed f'ror:t. Mo-l to P or P-1. It is further ro•

COr.ll'.londod that it bo added to tho Soction 11BII ollouanco list for

F4u.4/4B aircraft. Tho nucoricol allowance Should bo 90S of tho ollor:cnco of UK 12 extarncl auxiliary fuel tanks. ~z-~ l.l.mon E. LOO!!IS Copy tos

CNO (2) !Jdvonco CIII:PilCFLT (2) Mvanco CII!CP.hCFLT EVALUI•TION GROUP (l) CC\I!NAVFE (l) Mvonco . COMNLVFE E'lf.LU!.TION GROUP (l) co:,lSEVENTHFLT (l) !Jdvonco CTF 76 (2) /.dvonco CQ;UJRPAC (S) COHSERVP./£ (l) CO!IF:.:O!J/J'f.N (l) Nl.'l!J.. lUll. COLLEGE (l) CO!.IJ/J(])IV 17 (l) COHC/UUJIV 15 (l) CO, F.\IRBETUP.hC (2) COl.fi!.1RCCRPS (l) CG FMFP./£ (1) CG J.IRFLIFP/£ (l) CG 1st !.1!,'1 (l) CG, !I/.G•12 (1) CO, VN/.•312 (1) U,S,S, Bi.TAAN (CVL-29) (l) U,S,S, RENDOV!. (CVE•114) (l) U,S,S, B/JOlOKO (CVE-115) (l) U,S,S, BIJJOE!G ST!lJ.IT (CVE-116) (1) U,S,S, POINT CRUZ (CVE-119) (1)

•21- , '.·, . . I <-J. • • DECLASSIFlfO PART VI (Cont 1d)