Action Report for 17-28 Dec 1951
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------------~--------------~--~~~ ~ ,• ' . u.s.s~ llAIJOENG ST!u\rT (CVE-116) C1lE116/GRP/jhc ' c/o Fleet Post Offtee Al2/l0 1-'1 •o San Francisco, California Ser: 005 - ~) 1-- _"' ~-- ~~lqJ ,_ rm rD1 nrn: IT\\n (;'\ n LW uu ul.VJ uu\Jt ulb From: Commanding Officer and Commander Task Element 95.11 To: Chief of Naval Operations Via: (l) Commander Task Group 95.1 (2) Commander Task Force NINETY-FIVE (3) Commander SEVENTH Fleet (4) Commander Nuvul Forces, Far East DECLASSifiED (5) Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet Subj: Action Report 17 December 1951 through 28 December 1951 Ref: (a) Article 0705 Navy Regulations (b) OPNAV INST 3480.4 (c) CINCPACFLT INST 3480.1 (d) CTG 95.1 OpOrder 2-51 (Revised) (o) CTE 95.11 GpOrdor 2-51 Enol: (1) Sample Air Schedule (2) Chart showing area of operations (3) USS BADOZNG STRAIT ltr serial 1341 of 20 November 1951 1. In accordance with references (a), (b), (c), and (d), tho action report of Task Element 95.11 for the period 17 December 1951 through 26 December _ 1951 is submitted herewith. The Commanding Officer, USS Bt~.DOENG STR.;.IT (CVE-116) was CTE 95.11 during this period. 2. The report is divided into 6 parts, as listed belou: Part I General Narrative. Part II Chronological order of events. Part III Remarks on performance of ordnance material and equip ment, including ammunition expenditure. Part IV Summary of own and enemy battle damage. Part V Personnel performance and casualties. Part VI Comments and recommendations. Part r • GENERAL NARRATIVE (1\) During the period 17 December 1951 through 28 December 1951, the USS BADOENG STRAIT (CVE-116) under the command o~ Captain Roy L. JOHNSON, 626o6/ 1310, USN, and with Marine Aircraft Squadron VMF-212 embarked, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph A. GRAY, 06207/7302, USMC, Commanding Officer, operated as a ,. G~ll6/Gl!P/jhc • Al2/10 D£CLASSI FlED Ser: 005 <tJiff'lli _of the U.s. Seventh Fleet in Task Force 95, under the operationcl control .~·COrnmnn~r Tusk Group 95.1. r (1) The Commanding Officer, USS BaDOENG STRAIT, was Commander Task Element 95.ll from 2100 17 December to 2130 2S December 1951, at which time the Command of the Element una shifted to the Commanding Officer, HM.i.S SIDNEY (CVE-17). ~ing the reporting period, TE 95.11 consisted of one escort carrier nnd a maximum of three destroyers acting as screening vessels. Tho screen was reduced to leas than thrso shiPII Vlhen required by operationel demands. Tbo mission of this Task Element was to conduct air operntions in support of the United Nations Blockade, Wost Coast of Korea, the United States Eighth Army in Korea (EUSAK), nnd to render search and rescue assistance as required. -- (2) The enemy forces wore the North Korean Peoples Arrrry and 11 Voluntoor" Chinese Comnrunist Foroos in onemy•held North Korea. No onemy surface or air forces were cnoounterod by this Task Element and, the+cforc, no surfrrco or air action is related. However, enemy small cra.ft operating in tho rivers, estu aries, and along tho Fest Coast of Korea nere attacked and Q.estroyed by aircraft of this Tnsk Element, uhen directod, or ns targets of opportunity. (3) During this operating period VMF-212 aircraft flow nrmod recon naissance, Target Combat Air Pntrol, Combnt Air Patrol, pro-briefed Strikos, Airspot for Naval gunfire, and Photo Reconnaissance missions as illustrated by schedule in enclosure (1). or the 11 d~s in the oporating area only one entire day was lost to inclement wonthor, thus giving a total of 10 days of air oper ations. During this period VMF-212 flm7 274 sorties of which 2 nborted. 'Bh•re WOB a total of 598.2 combat hours flown, for an ovcrnll average of 59.82 hours per day and 27.2 missions per day. The squadron aircraft allowance wns 24, the total average aircraft flyable on board 23 .1, and the total aver:1ge nircrnft availability 21.1, (4) During this operating period ships of Tnsk Element 95.ll operated in Korean Coastal areas, Nan and Mike, in the vicinity of Latitude P8-00N nnd Longitude 124...00E o.s a point OBOE. The screen consisted of the HMCS ATHABf.SKAN (D-29), HIVE CHARITY (DDE-29) ond the USS PORTERFIELD (DD-682). On 27 December 1951, the USS HANSON (DD-832j relieved the USS PORTEP$IELD. Pnrt !I - CHRONOLOGICAL ORDE.'! OJ! EVENTS 170656/Dec - The 131Jl0ENG STRAIT got underway for the Yellmv Son area, with VMF-212 embarked, in company with HMGS !SHABASKJ,N in accordance uith CTG 95.1 directive, from Snsebo, Japan. 171100/ Conducted AA gunnery firing drills (towed sleeve) enroutc to the operating nron. 172022 USS PORTERFIELD joined the screen, as previously directed. This ship had been oper:cting r.rith HMAS SIDNEY; "turn ovcr'l notes were passed by high-line. 172100 Relieved the IJM.".S SIDNEY (CVE-17) and assumed CTE 95.11. 2 ,. CVEU6/GRP/jhc ' Al2/l0 OECLASSif-1 ED Ser: 005 Part, II • CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF EVENTS (gont 1d) 18 December - Refueled USS PORTERFIELD. llMl C!L'.RITY joined the soreon, as previously directed. A total of 41 flights (14 of which were defensivo) wore flown this date. The weather was generally good. Major R. F. STUBBING, 020335/7302, USMCR, encountered ground fire while on an armed reeonnaissnnca mission and his aircraft received a direct hit by a 20MM shell which exploded in the engine a.ccessory section, ea.using a. fire to brenk out. Tho pUot wns nblo to got two miles out over T~\EDONG INLET before bailout. He received minor cuts and burns and w~s rescued by n helicopter from tho USS MANCHE:STER (CL-82) patrolling thnt area.. VMF-212 aircraft nceompliahad the follouing: ORDNANCE EXPENDED MISSIONS 20 500 lb GP bombs l4 CI.P 160 5 n HVli.R rockets 4 Armed Reconnaissance 26 3.5" rockets 4 Airspot 8 Napalm bombs 4 Strike 28,200 Rounds .50 cal. ammo 15 TarCnp 19 December - HMCS ATHABASKAN and HMS CHARITY refueled from tho R\DOENG STRAIT. 191725/ HMS CHARITY detached to carry out night patrol assignment in the PAEGNYONG-00 area. Tho remainder of the forca retiring southward for the night. A total of 42 fiights (10 of which were defensive) ware f"lotm this date. Weather was generally good. VMF-212 aircraft accomplished the following: ORDN.\NCE EXPENDED MISSIONS 25 500 lb. GP bombs 10 CI.P 224 5 n HVAR rockets 11 Armed Reconnaissance 6 Napnlm bombs 1 Photo 30,000 Rounds .• .50 cal. l'lJl'lr.J.O 20 TarCop 3 " CVE116/GRP/jhc OECLI'\SSIFIEQ 1.12/10 Ser: 005 , . 191'152/ Peather reconnnissnnce plano from VP-3IX, based in Japan, reported sighting 30 un ... identified tra'lrlers at Latitude 36-ZON, Longitude 123-DOE, Commander Task Force 95 directed CTE 95.11 to investigate. 192017/ HMCS ATHI.BASKAN and USS PORTERFIEW detached from the screen to conduct search for reported tr~wlers. 20 December - HMCS ATHABASKAN and USS PORTERFIEW rejoined formation at first light. Results of search negative~ CTE 95.11 wns directed to fUrnish CAP for coastal convoy cnroutc to INCHON. Refueled USS PORTERFIELD and HMCS ATHABASKAN. 201648/ USS PORTERFIELD detached to carry out night p~trol assigned in tho P1l:EGNYONG-OO area. The remainder of tho force retiring soutro•ard for the night, A total of 39 flights (18 of ITbieh ~ore defensive) wore flown this date. Wee thor in gonoral was good. VMF-212 aircraft acconplished the following: 8RD;;ANCE EXPENDED MISSIONS 11 500 lb. GP bombs 18 CAP 145 5" W!AR rockets 21 TarCap 10 Napalm bombs 17,700 Rounds .50 cnl, ammo 21 December ... USS MA.NCHESTER, with USS EVERSOLE as escort, joined v~ith TE 95.11 at kotitudc }8~25N nnd Longitude 124-lOE, GTE 95.11 conferred with Roar Admiral DYER, CTF-95, aboard tho 1JSS MANCHFSTER. Major R. F. STUEBING, USMCR was returned from the USS MANCHESTER via helicopter. 211653/ USS MANCHESTER and USS EVERSOLE do patted, 2ll658/ HMCS ATHABli.SKAN wa.s detached to night patrol ossignmont in the PAEGNYONG-Do area, Only 2 flights (these being CAP) ware flown this date, Weather remained foggy ell day, 4 ' CVEll6/GRP/jhc DECLASSl FlED Al2/10 Ser• 005 ·22 ))ecembor - Refueled HMCS f.TIIA!li.SKAN, and CHS CHARITY, A total of 12 flights (2 of which were defensive) were flown this date. Weather remained foggy untll early aftP-rnoon. VMF·212 aircraft accomplished the following: ORDNI\NCE EXPENDED MISSIONS 8 500 lb. GP bombs 2 CAP 92 5" HVAR rockets 4 Armed Reconnaissance 4 Napalm bombs 2 Airspot 6,700 Rounds oi' .50 eel. !llnlllO 4 Te.rCap 23 December • Rofuolod USS PORTERFIELD A total of 35 flights (10 of which uere defensive} rrorc nown this date. Weather was exoollcnt. 231701/ Detached USS PORTERFIELD to carry out night pntrol assignment in tho p:,EGNYONG-00 area. VMF-212 aircr~ accomplished the following; ORDNANCE EXPE!!j)ED MISSIONS 24 500 lb. G? bot:lbs 10 C.\P 11 191 5 HVAR rockots 6 Armed Roconn~issance 24,000 Rounds of .50 cal. ammo 19 TarCap 24 Docombsr - Refueled HMCS ATH/1.&\SKI.N. A total of 42 flights (10 of which wore defensive) were tlown this date. freather was excellent. 241710/ HMCS ATH.'i.Bt..SKl+N detached to carry out night patrol n.ssignment in the PI.EGNYONG-00 area. VMF-212 aircraft accomplished the following: ORDNANCE EXPENDED MISSIONS 8 1000 lb. GP bombs 10 C.\P 20 500 lb.