Action Report of LCI(G) 34 on the Nasugbu Landing, Jan 1945
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| Historic documents relevant to the Province of Batangas. |
FLEET POST OFFICE
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
| CONFIDENTIAL | 2 February 1945 |
| From: | Commanding Officer, U.S.S. LCI(G) 34. |
| To: | Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet. |
| Via: |
(a) Commander Task Unit 78.2.6 (Cmdr. Support Unit) (b) Commander Task Group 78.2 (Cmdr. Attrack Group) (c) Commander SEVENTH Fleet |
| Subject: | Action Report, Nasugbu Bay, Southern Luzon, P.I. operation. |
| References: |
(a) Article 874(6), U.S. Navy Regulations, 1920. (b) Com7thPhibFor Confidential Ltr. 25/A16-3(3) Serial 8212 of February 1944. |
1. In accordance with commander task group 78.2 operation plan 1-45, this vessel in company of a task group composed of 1 CGC3, 4 APD4, 43 LCI(L)5, 8 LSM6, 6 LST7, 10 LCI(G), 6 LCI(M)8, 3 LCI(R)9, 2 PC10, 3 SC11, 5 DD12, 3 DE13, 6 YMS14, formed and proceeded to Nasugbu Bay, Southern Luzon, P.I.
2. The task assigned this vessel was to place a barrage of 250 rockets at H hour minus 60 on a target South of the landing beach. Target was a 500 yards area 150 yards North of San Diego Point. Intelligence reported one 75mm, one 37mm, and MG’s15 in that area. Rockets were to be dropped to a depth of 600 yards.
This ship was then to proceed to line of departure reloading rockets and take station, at H minus 30, 100 yards to the right of center of approach lane. Upon arrival of first boat wave, at H minus 15, LCI(R)’s were to guide boats to beach at a speed of 7 knots. Commence rocket fire at 1200 yards and continue salvoes until 700 yards from beach. At completion of rocket fire, proceed to right flank and supply automatic weapon fire at targets of opportunity. Then to proceed to seaward in company with LCI(R) 74 to transport area and make special fire fighting equipment ready. Upon arrival at transport area, report to CTG 78.2 for fire fighting duty.
One LCI(G) with Radar was to accompany this ship as pre-assault wave bombardment but was assigned a target of her own on tip of San Diego Point. This presented slight problem of calculation of distance in dim light before sunrise.
3. The initial supporting action took place on morning of 30 January 1945. All hands went to condition I at 0600. At 0620, upon receipt of signal “Deploy” this ship went to full speed and veered out to right of convoy. Set course 065°T. At 0710 ship was in position for rocket run as target area had been calculated. Started run on target at 0712. It fell short. Range finder of little use in dim pre-sunrise light.
| CONFIDENTIAL | 2 February 1945 |
(3 con’t) Second range shot short. Port rocket racks would not operate, quick attempt to clear trouble not effective. First salvo hit in water at surf area. 144 rockets were then salvoed in to a depth of 450 yards giving best possible coverage due to port racks not operating. At 0718 all rockets fired, large fire seen to be started by our barrage. At 0720 proceeded to line of departure, loading rockets and checking port racks for trouble. Short in wiring discovered and remedied. 0745 in position for assault wave. Rockets all reloaded. DD’s began fire at 0726 covering and points on either side. 0801 left line of departure and proceeded to beach. 0810 began rocket salvos. All racks operating now. Faulty rockets or racks on LCI(R) 73 and this ship are causing rockets to drop short. No casualties observed. Light enemy mortar fire noticed but no hits scored. 0813 all rockets fired. Small boats passed ship and hit beach 0816. Came hard right. No targets of opportunity appeared and general strafing would endanger small boats. 0825 proceeding to transport area for firefighting duty. 0837 reported to CTG 78.2 for duty. 0840 lying to keeping sharp lookouts for enemy P.T.16 or suicide boats and all firefighting equipment rigged and ready.
4. Following is a chronological list of events taken from ship’s war diary.
| 0600 0620 0628 0645 0700 0710 0714 0715 0718 0719 0722 0726 0745 0801 0812 0813 0816 0820 0822 0825 0837 |
Set condition I. “Deploy” received. Clear of convoy proceeding on court 069°T. P-61 fighters overhead. Target discerned and in position for run. First salvo fired. Port rocket racks not operating. All salvos finished good results fairly well covered target area. Fire started on target area by rockets. Proceeding to line of departure reloading rockets and electrician working on port rack wiring. DD’s began bombarding. In position at line of departure all rocket racks loaded Port racks wire short cleared. Left line of departure on course 080°T for beach, speed 7 knots. Firing rocket salvos every 10 seconds. Mortar fire observed. Also faulty rockets dropping quite close. All rockets fired. First assault wave hit beach. Second wave hit beach. Proceeding to transport area. A-20’s and P-38’s strafing area within landing beach. Reported to CTG 78.2 for firefighting duty. |
| CONFIDENTIAL | 2 February 1945 |
|
0839 0840 0900 1322 1345 1652 1700 1815 2310 2400 |
CTU 78.2.6 ships firing on machine gun nest in building near Wawa River. Standing by in transport area for firefighting duty. All hands keeping sharp lookout for enemy P.T. boats or suicide boats. PBM17 landing near CTG 78.2 A-20’s strafing interior. Received orders to proceed to vicinity of CTU 78.2.6 and received return convoy duties. Received orders from CTU 78.2.6 to anchor in North-South line with other support craft to form inner night screen. Took position, anchored in 8 fathom of water, veered to 35 fathom of wire [water?]. Machine gun fire from Nasugbu Point taken under fire by LCI(G) in that area. Condition II gets special alert set for enemy suicide or P.T. boats. Called Central Quarters as outer screen were lighting up area with star shells and frequent bursts of 40mm fire from our vessels. Secured Condition I, Set Condition II. |
|
0100 0600 0700 0800 1300 1800 2230 |
Sporadic 44mm bursts well over horizon. LST’s still experiencing difficulty unloading. Anchored as before. Many bombing missions being carried out in area and toward Manila. CTU 78.2.6 on LCI(G) 73 and two LCI(G) on a mission to Southward exploring all coves and bays, shooting up all small boats. In accordance with C.T.U. 78.2.6 orders anchored in North-South bearing with support craft to from tight inner screen. Reported by outer screen that suicide boats coming North. Star shell fire commenced in action ensuing, much firing took place, many fires were seen. Attack was broken up and destroyed by outer screen. |
| CONFIDENTIAL | 2 February 1945 |
|
0121 0230 0238 |
All LST’s off beach, picked up anchor to short stay. Forming up returning convoy. On course 240°T. Speed 8 knots. Destination Mindoro Island, P.I. |
Commanding Officer
Comm. LCI Flotilla Seven
Comm. LCI Group Twenty
2 “LCI(G)-34 - Report of operations in the amphibious assault landing at Nasugbu, Luzon Island, Philippines, 1/31/45 2/2/45” online at the United States National Archives.
3 CGC stands for Coast Guard Cutter. “Glossary of U.S. Naval Abbreviations – C,” online at Ibiblio.org.
4 APD stands for High Speed Transport Destroyer. “Glossary of U.S. Naval Abbreviations – A,” online at Ibiblio.org.
5 LCI(L) stands for “Landing Craft Infantry” (Large), Wikipedia.
6 LSM stands for Landing Ship Medium. “Glossary of U.S. Naval Abbreviations – L,” online at Ibiblio.org.
7 LST stands for “Landing Ship, Tank,” Wikipedia.
8 LCI, Wikipedia op. cit.
9 LCI(R) stands for Landing Craft Infantry (Rocket). LCI, Wikipedia, ibid.
10 PC stands for Patrol Vessel or Craft. “Glossary of U.S. Naval Abbreviations – P,” online at Ibiblio.org.
11 SC possibly stands for Submarine Chaser. “Glossary of U.S. Naval Abbreviations – S,” online at Ibiblio.org.
12 DD stands for Destroyer. “Glossary of U.S. Naval Abbreviations – D,” online at Ibiblio.org.
13 DE stands for Destroyer Escort. Glossary, D, ibid.
14 YSM stands for District Motor Mine Sweeper. “Glossary of U.S. Naval Abbreviations – Y,” online at Ibiblio.org.
15 MG stands for Machine Gun. “Glossary of U.S. Naval Abbreviations – M,” online at Ibiblio.org.
16 P.T. stands for Patrol Vessel, Motor Torpedo Boat. Glossary P, op. cit.
17 PBM possibly means “patrol bomber.” Glossary P. ibid.