USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG

 

December 1, 1943                     Zone description plus four:

00-24        Moored port side to U.S.S. HUNT at berth 36, pier 3, NOB, Norfolk Va. SOPA is Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; in U.S.S. VIXEN

 

December 2, 1943                     Zone description plus four

Moored as before.

1145      Underway in accordance with CinCLANT despatch 271342 of November, formed task group 29.17 with ROCKY MOUNT, FAYETTE and HUNT. OTC is CTG 9.17 in ROCKY MOUNT. Steaming various courses and speeds conforming to channel.

1817      Took departure from Buoy XS, took screening station 3310 on ROCKY MOUNT, set base course 122° T&G (131° psc) at standard speed 14 knots.

2000      Position Latitude 36°46’N Longitude 74°13’W. Changed base course to 185°T&G (214°psc).

 

December 3, 1943     Zone description plus four

Steaming as before.

0800      Position Latitude 34°20’N Longitude 73°35’W.

1200      Position Latitude 33°l9’N Longitude 73°35’W.

1354      Changed base course to 215° T&G (240°psc).

1418      Commenced firing burst practice.

1422      Ceased firing having expended 1 round 5/38, 134 rounds 40MM and 480 rounds 20MM ammunition.

2000         Position Latitude 31°35’N Longitude 73°55’W. Changed base course to 185° T&G (199°psc).

 

December 4, 1943     Zone description plus four

          Steaming as before.

0800      Position Latitude 28°45’N Longitude 74°l5’W.

0810      Changed base course to l77°T&G (206°psc).

1200      Position Latitude 27°59’N Longitude 74°06’W.

2000      Position Latitude 26°08’N Longitude 73°53’W.

 

December 5, 1943     Zone description plus four

Steaming as before.

0041      Changed base course to l85°T&G (199°psc).

0636      Changed base course to 199°T&G (215°psc).

0800      Position Latitude 23°50’N Longitude 74°09.5’W.

1200      Position Latitude 23°14’N Longitude 74°26’W.

1341      Sighted Bird Rock Light bearing 250°T distance 27000 yards.

1412      Commenced firing burst practice.

1414         Ceased firing, having expended 15 rounds 5”/38, 196 rounds 40MM, and 104 rounds 20MM ammunition.

1425      Changed base course to 197°T&G (213°psc).

1722      Changed base course to 155°T&G (163 °psc).

2000      Position Latitude 21°33’N Longitude 74°39’W.

2030      Changed base course to 154°T&G (162 °psc).

 

December 6, 1943                     Zone description plus four:

Steaming as before.

0113      Sighted Cape Maysi light bearing 180°T distant 23 miles.

0223      Changed base course to 212°T&G (215°psc).

0718      Sighted Island of Haiti bearing l55°T distant 40 miles.

0800      Position Latitude l9°ll’N Longitude 74°47’W.

0912      Sighted Vanassa Island Light bearing 178°T distant 20 miles.

1052      Changed base course to 192°T&G (l94°psc).

1200      Position Latitude l8°lO’N Longitude 75°l8.5’W.

1615      Changed base course to 2l4°T&G (2l6°psc).

2000      Position Latitude 16°36’N Longitude 76°04’W.

 

December 7, 1943                     Zone description plus four:

Steaming as before.

0702      Changed base course to 260°T&G (272°psc).

0710         Sighted convoy bearing 250°T distant 10 miles, on course clear to port.

0800      Position Latitude 14°47’08”N Longitude 77°27’00”W.

0625      Changed base course to 2l5°T&G (2l4°psc).

1200      Position Latitude 14°04’N Longitude 77°54’W.

1333      Changed base course to 205°T&G(205°psc).

2000      Position Latitude l2°50’N Longitude 78°5l’W.

2000      Changed base course l95°T&G (l95°psc).

 

December 8, 1943                     Zone description plus four:

Steaming as before.

0800      Position Latitude 15° N. Longitude 78°W. (DATA IS INCORRECT)

1100          Sighted examination vessel, entrance to Canal Zone bearing 182° T distant 3 miles. Commenced steaming various courses and speeds conforming to channel entering Colon, C. Z.

1341      Anchored in berth M52 Limon Bay, Colon, C. Z.

1539      Underway for transit of Panama Canal, steaming various courses and speeds conforming to the channel; pilot at the conn.

2248      Completed transit of canal, entered Balboa Reach.

2329      Moored starboard side to HUNT at dock 7, Balboa, Panama. SOPA is CDD 104 in HUNT.

 

December 9, 1943                     Zone description plus four:

Moored as before.

0105     Set clocks back one hour to zone time plus 5.

 

December 10, 1943                    Zone description plus five:

Moored as before.

1227     Underway in company with U.S.S. HUNT in accordance with Compacseafron despatch 091440 of December. Steaming various Courses.

1312     Took departure from Buoy 2, set base course l800 T&G, 178° psc. At standard speed 15 knots.

1841     Changed base course to 225° T&G, 212° psc.

2000     Position Latitude 7°l2’ N. Longitude OO°03’ W. (HAS TO BE 80°03')

2045     Changed base course to 2700 T&G, 255° psc.

2100      Sighted Morro Paercos Light bearing 320° T, distance 21 miles.