USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG

April 5, 1944                      Zone description_plus ten:

Moored as before.

1539      Underway in accordance with CTF 94 Op. Orders 4-44 of 2 April 1944. Steaming various courses and speeds standing out of Sweepers

Cove and through Kuluk Bay.

1810      Set course 0900 T & G, 068° psc. Commenced standing toward Akuksak Pass.

1830      U.S.S. WILLIAM D. PORTER, WICKES, ISHERWOOD (CDD 98) , KIMBERLY joined company. Formed squadron column, normal order. PICKING guide. O.T.C.

          is CDS 49 in PICKING.

1906      Akuksak Island abeam to port, distant 1000 yards.

1930      Changed base course to 130° T & G, 1200 psc. Set speed 10 knots.

2010      Changed base course to 180° T & G, 1800 psc.

2030      Changed base course to 238° T & G, 242° psc.

2100      Commenced forming scouting line on bearing 283° - 103° T, ships in normal order, distance 20,000 yards. Base course 238° T & G, 242°

          psc. PICKING guide. Commenced searching for enemy submarine on track laid down in CTF 94 Op. Order 4-44.

2335      Changed base course to 225° T & G, 230° psc. Commenced closing scouting distance to 15,000 yards.

2345      Changed speed to 18 knots.

2347      Changed speed to 21 knots. Changed base course to 205° T & G, 210° psc.

2355      Changed base course to 170° T & G, 168° psc.

2359      Changed speed to 15 knots.

 

April 5, 1944                      Zone description plus ten:

         Steaming as before.

0105     Commenced zigzagging according to plan.

0200     U.S.S. WICKES assumed formation guide.

0800     Position Latitude 49° 56’ N. Longitude 176° 51’ W.

0900     Changed speed to 15 knots.

1200     Position Latitude 49° 01’ N. Longitude 177° 03’ W.

2000     Position Latitude 47° 14’ N. Longitude 177° 30’ W.

 

April 6, 1944                       Zone description plus ten:

         Steaming as before.

0000     Changed base course to 202° T & G, 209° psc. Changed speed to 12 knots.

0800     Position Latitude 45° 06’ N. Longitude 178° 10’ W.

0900     Changed base course to 220° T & G, 221° psc.

1145     Ceased zigzagging.

1200     Position Latitude 44° 41’ N. Longitude 178° 50’ W.

1305     Changed speed to 15 knots.

1308     Changed speed to 17 knots.

1700     Changed base course to 094° T & G, 080° psc.

1715     Changed base course to 081° T & G, 066° psc. Changed speed to 20 knots.

1846     Changed base course to 094° T & G, 080° psc. Changed speed to 17 knots.

2000     Position Latitude 43° 46’ N. Longitude 178° 41’ W.

 

April 7, 1944                  Zone description plus ten:

         Steaming as before.

 0800    Position Latitude 43° 55’ N. Longitude 174° 10’ W.

 1200    Position Latitude 44° 38’ N. Longitude 172° 56’ W. Changed speed to 18 knots.

 2000    Position Latitude 46° 12’ N. Longitude 170° 17’ W.

 

April 8, 1944                     Zone description plus ten:

         Steaming as before

0800      Position Latitude 48° 18’ N. Longitude 166° 02’ W.

1007      Commenced exchanging stations with PORTER, ISHERWOOD exchanging stations with WICKES.

1043     ISHERWOOD assumed guide; PICKING in new station.

1115     Changed speed to 23 knots.

1200     Position Latitude 49° 04’ N. Longitude 164° 39’ W.

2000     Position Latitude 50° 56’ N. Longitude 160° 55 W. Changed speed to 18 knots. U.S.S. ISHERWOOD, KIMBERLY, YOUNG left formation.

2300     Changed course to 046° T & G, 020° psc. Changed speed to 19 knots.

 

Apri1 9, 1944                        Zone description plus ten

          Steaming as before.

0145     U.S.S. WILLIAM D. PORTER left scouting line to proceed on duty assigned. U.S.S. SPROSTON assumed PORTER’S station.

0800     Position Latitude 53° 20’ N. Longitude 156° 55’ W. Changed base course to 050° T & G, 024° psc. Changed speed to 18

          knots.

1200     Position Latitude 54° 10’ N. Longitude 155° 09’ W.

1240     Changed speed to 15 knots.

1315     U.S.s. WICKES left scouting line to proceed on duty assigned.

2000     Position Latitude 55° 28 N. Longitude 152° 26’ W.

 

April 10, 1944                       Zone description plus ten

          Steaming as before.

0700     Changed base course to 312° T&G, 300° psc. SPROSTON took station on starboard beam, distance 15,000 yards.

0930     Test fired automatic weapons battery, expending 60 rounds 40MM AA, 240 rounds 20MM AA ammunition.

1118     Changed base course to 274° T&G, 264° psc.

1123     Had radar contact on Marmot Island, bearing 288° T&G, distance 45 miles.

1230     Commenced steaming various courses and speeds while proceeding toward channel leading to Women’s Bay, Kodiak Island, Alaska.

1345     Entered channel.

1557     Moored port side to Permanent Pier, Women’s Bay, Kodiak Island. Ships present various units of U.S. Fleet. SOPA is ComDesRon 49 in PICKING.

1845     Set clocks to zone description plus nine.

 

April 11, 1944                       Zone description plus nine

         Moored as before.

 

April 12, 1944                       Zone description plus nine

         Moored as before.

 

April 13, 1944                       Zone description plus nine

         Moored as before.

 

April 14, 1944                       Zone description plus nine

         Moored as before.

 

April 15, 1944                        Zone description plus nine:

          Moored as before.

1641     Underway in company with U.S.S. SPROSTON enroute Adak, Alaska in accordance with verbal orders of ComDesRon 49 in compliance

         ComDesRon 49 dispatch 160238 of April 1944. Steering various courses and speeds while standing through channel.

1805     Set base course 090° T&G, 084° psc, speed 22 knots.

1810     Set clocks to zone description plus ten.

1839     Changed speed to 25 knots.

1900     Changed base course 180° T&G, 178° psc.

1942     Changed speed to 20 knots while SPROSTON proceeded to take station 10,000 yards on PICKING’s port beam.

2000      Position Latitude 5l°05’ N, Longitude 151°34’ W.

2008      With SPROSTON on station, changed speed to 25 knots.

2130      Changed base course to 240° T&G, 237° psc. Changed speed to 20 knots while SPROSTON readjusted station.