Action Report of LCI(M) 755 on the Nasugbu Landing, Jan 1945

Transcription of an action report filed by the LCI(M)¹ on the Nasugbu Landing of 31 January 1945. This is a declassified document² taken from the United States National Archives. Originally an 8-page document, this transcription only includes the cover page and the last, with details of action in the Batangas-Balayan area.

[p. 1]

Historic documents relevant to the Province of Batangas.

LCI(M) 755/A16-3
Serial 71

U.S.S. LCI(M) 755
c/o FLEET POST OFFICE
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.

CONFIDENTIAL

5 February 1945

From:	The Commanding Officer.
To:	The Commander in Chief, United States Fleet.
Via:	(1) The Commander Task Unit 78.2.6. (2) The Commander Task Group 78.2(ComPhibGrpEight). (3) The Commander Task Force 78(ComSeventhPhibFor). (4) The Commander Task Force 77(Com7thFlt).
Subject:	Action – Report of.
Reference:	(a) Pacific Fleet Confidential Ltr. 2CL-44, of 1 January 1944.

1. In accordance with reference (a) the following report is forwarded herewith:

PART I

1. At 1730 on 27 January 1945, this vessel sortied from Tarragona, Leyte as a unit of T.G. 78.2. The destination of T.G. 78.2 was Nasugbu, Batangas Province, Luzon. Movement to objective area was through point DAB in Leyte Gulf via route Moose to JAM and from point JAM to the assault area. At 0620 on 31 January, the signal to deploy was executed. This vessel proceeded to gunfire support area Baker.

2. The mission of this vessel was to provide fire support with 4.2 mortars in the beach area south of Red Beach.

PART II

1. 31 January 1945 was set as X-Day with 0815 as H-Hour. Zone (-9) time was used throughout the operation. At 0620, the command to deploy was executed. At 0715, this vessel was on station in fire support area Baker. The LCI(M) 431 was also assigned to this area. The firing plan was set up so that each vessel would alternately fire for ten minutes at a time. At 0725, we fired two ranging shots. At 0745, we began firing mortars at the rate of one round per barrel per minute upon area 3798 which was slightly north and east of San Diego Point. At 1000, we briefly strafed San Diego Point with 20 MM fire. The command to cease fire was given at 1026. We withdrew from the firing

[p. 2]

U.S.S. LCI(M) 755

CONFIDENTIAL

Subject: Action – report of.

line and lay to in area Baker awaiting call fire missions. We were assigned no call fire missions and anchored in this area for the remainder of the day in a position to form a part of a defensive screen against enemy Q-Boats³.

2. On X plus 1, 1 February 1945, we remained at anchor in area Baker for call fire missions.

3. On X plus 2, at 0200, we took departure.

PART III

1. The results and effectiveness of our fire could not be ascertained. However, several buildings along the beach were hit and a large fire started. A total of 247 rounds of H.E. mortar ammunition was expended.

2. No results could be ascertained from the 20 MM fire. 164 rounds were expended.

PART IV

1. No damage.

PART V

1. This command considered the rate of fire insufficient to thoroughly cover an area as large as that assigned to us. On X- plus 1, the Army found it was necessary to reshell the area with 81 MM mortar and 5" fire from a destroyer. Had the assigned rate of fire been 3 rounds per barrel per ship, it is believed that this secondary shelling would have been unnecessary. On X plus 1, mortar fire was falling in the water westward of San Diego Point. We surmised that this was our own. It would have been appreciated by all ships anchored close to the point of they had been warned that the Army was going to shell the point. No message concerning this shelling came over the gunfire circuit which this vessel was guarding.

W. E. BOWSER

To view or download the original document, please refer to Item ² below under Notes and References.

Notes and references: