USS PICKING WORLD WAR II LOG

December 21, 1943                    Zone description plus eight

Moored as before.

1506      Underway in company with U.S.S. WILLIAM D. PORTER in accordance with ComNorPac secret dispatch 180123 of December steaming of various courses and speeds conforming to the channel.

1712      Passed Buoy Able abeam to starboard, entered International waters. Set base course 257°T&G (246° psc). Standard speed 15 knots.

1830      Set clocks to Zone Description Plus Eight.

2000      Position Latitude 32° 21’N Longitude 118° 21W.

2331      Changed base course to 294° T&G (286° psc).

 

December 22, 1943                    Zone description plus eight

          Steaming as before.

0800     Position Latitude 33° 02’N Longitude 121° 31W.

1200     Position Latitude 33° 2l’N Longitude 122° 35W.

1730     Set clocks to Zone Description Plus Eight and One Half.

2000     Position Latitude 34° 08’N Longitude 125° 07W.

2341     Changed base course to 306° T&G (299° psc).

 

December 23, 1943                    Zone description plus eight and one-half

          Steaming as before.

0600      Steaming various courses and speeds while conducting exercises.

0800      Position Latitude 35° 45’N Longitude 128° lOW.

1029      Sighted escort carrier bearing 027° T, distant 7 miles, identified as U.S.S. RANDOLPH.

1200      Position Latitude 36° 21’N Longitude 129° 11W.

1415      Fired burst practice, expending 14 rounds 5/38 AA-Common, 315 rounds 40MM, 424 rounds 20MM ammunition.

1735      Set clocks to Zone Description Plus Nine.

2000      Position Latitude 37° 32’N Longitude 130° 32W.

 

December 24, 1943                    Zone description plus nine

          Steaming as before

0800     Position Latitude 39° 12’ N. Longitude 134° 05’ W.

1200     Position Latitude 39° 46’ N. Longitude 135° 05’ W.

1730     Set clocks to zone description plus nine and one half.

2000     Position Latitude 41° 02’ N. Longitude 137° 13’ W.

 

December 25, 1943                    Zone description plus nine and one-half

          Steaming as before

0800     Position Latitude 42° 43’ N. Longitude l40° 24’ W.

1200      Position Latitude 43° 17’ N. Longitude l4l° 29’ W.

1730      Set clocks to zone description plus ten.

2000      Position Latitude 44° 27’ N. Longitude 143° 43’ W.

 

December 26, 1943                    Zone description plus ten

Steaming as before

0800      Position Latitude 46° 06’ N. Longitude 146° 30’ W.

0824      Changed base course to 302° T&G, 290° psc.

1000     Changed standard speed to 14 knots.

1200      Position Latitude 46° 34’ N. Longitude 147° 36’ W.

2000     Position Latitude 47° 30 N. Longitude 149° 45’ W.

 

December 27, 1943                    Zone descr4p~jon plus ten

Steaming as before

0800      Position Latitude 48° 51’ N. Longitude 153° 05’ W.

0830      Changed base course to 306° T&G, 295° psc.

1200     Position Latitude 49° 29’ N. Longitude 154° 07’ W.

1600     Changed standard speed to 12 knots.

2000     Position Latitude 50° 30’ N. Longitude 155° 40’ W.

 

December 28, 1943                    Zone description plus ten

0800      Position Latitude 51º 51’ N. Longitude 158° 18’ W.

0900      Changed course to 297° T&G, 281° psc.

1200      Position Latitude 52° 03.5’ N Longitude 158° 56’ W.

1323      Sighted ship bearing 324° T., range 7 miles. Steamed various courses to keep clear.

1405      Ship identified as U.S.S.R.S. SOVEETSKAYA NEFF.

2000      Position Latitude 52° 57’ N. Longitude 161° 47’ W.

2231      Picked up Mt. Shishaldin on radar, bearing 330° T., distance 110 miles.

 

December 29, 1943                    Zone description plus ten

0400      Steaming various courses and speeds while passing through Unimak Pass, and approaching Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

0600      Sighted Scotch Cap Light bearing 325° T., distant 15 miles.

0800      Position Latitude 53° 20’ N. Longitude 164° 48’ W.

0837      Passed Akutan Island abeam to port, distant 12 miles.

0917      Passed Unalga Island abeam to port, distant 16 miles.

1339      Passed through anti-submarine net gate, entered Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

1415      Moored port side to U.S.S. SPROSTON at Dutch Harbor, Pier, Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Various units of U.S. Fleet present in harbor. S.O.P.A. is C.T.F. 94 in U.S.S. RICHMOND.

1447      U.S.S. WILLIAM D. PORTER. Moored alongside to starboard.

 

December 30, 1943                    Zone description plus ten

          Moored as before.

 

December 31, 1943                    Zone description plus ten

          Moored as before.

 

January 1, 1944                      Zone description plus ten

Moored port side to U.S.S. SPROSTON at Dutch Harbor Pier, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, U.S.S. WILLIAM D. PORTER alongside to starboard.

Various units of U.S. Fleet present in harbor. SOPA is ComNorPacFor.

 

January 2, 1944                      Zone description plus ten

          Moored as before

0800      The Commander Destroyer Squadron 49 shifted his flag from U.S.S. SPROSTON to U.S.S. PICKING.

0840      Underway in company with Task Force 94 in accordance with ComNorPac secret dispatch 312125 of December, 1943. Steaming

          various courses and speeds conforming with channel while   standing out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska.

1016      Took position with DesRon 49 in standard anti-submarine screen ahead of cruiser formation: U.S.S. RICHMOND, U.S.S. DETROIT and

U.S.S.  RALEIGH. U.S.S. PICKING’s position ahead of guide ship, distant 4000 yds. Steaming various courses and speeds while

carrying

1120      Set base course 259° T&G 252° psc, standard speed 15 knots.

1206      Commenced zigzagging according to plan.

1326      Ceased zigzagging. Left cruiser screen. Steaming various courses while carrying out tactical exercises.

1540      Rejoined cruiser screen. Commenced zigzagging according to plan.

2000      Position Latitude 53° 55’ N Longitude 169° 50’ W.

2019-     Steaming various courses and speeds while carrying out tactical

2045      exercises. Ceases zigzagging.