Ship's Log: 20-22 November 1943
1Saturday, Nov. 20 (first day)
0415: Reveille
0515: General Quaters (all hands man battle stations) Japs fire at us, shots fall short.
0520: Begin first run on Island. Firing main, 16" and secondary, 5" batteries, range, 8000 yds.
0540: Range 4500 yds.
0620: Range 3000 yds. All batteries now firing, including 20mm and 40 mm anti aircraft batteriesDuring morning bombarding we expended 215 rounds of 16", 620 rounds of 5" 51, 450 rounds of 5' 25, and many thousand rounds of 40mm and 20 mm. A total of 245 tons of high explosives.
Sunday Nov. 21 (2nd day)
0440: Reveille
0630: Jap shore batteries open up on ships, Colorado chosen to knock them out. 16" open up at 8000 yds. Eight tons at every shot. 5" guns open up at 6000 yds. Ammo expended today: 145 rounds of 16", 180 rounds 5" 51, 100 rounds od 5" 25.Monday Nov. 22 (third day)
Jap planes bombing air field, which we occupy.
Colorado did not fire a single shot today.
Submitted by Robert Schmelzlen, a crewman on the Colorado.
Bob writes,
"I was in the supply Dept., a storekeeper. My battle station was in ammunition supply, for the 5"/51 broadside battery, on the third deck down, which was below the water line. We supplied 5" projectiles to the guns via an electric hoist. It was a very hot and exausting job. During G.Q. all ventilation is cut of and all water tight hatches closed."
1. Excerpted from, Teakwood Decks, by Chris A. Barker, a Marine who served aboard the Colorado.
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copyright 2003 T.O.T.W
Created 13 September 2001 - Updated 30 December 2003
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