Cruise Book of the USS TAYLOR (DD-468) Corregidor Operation
Sept 19, 2017 14:16:38 GMT 8
Karl Welteke and beirutvet like this
Post by Registrar on Sept 19, 2017 14:16:38 GMT 8
In preparing the print version of BLESS 'EM ALL, Vol. II , I was reminded of a question that had long intrigued me. Some suggest that the retaking of Corregidor was unnecessary, as the mine systems under Japanese control were no longer operational. Others differ. Most of us have seen the map of the Corregidor minefields, and many would also have even visited the mine control station in James Ravine. But what of the Mariveles minefields?
The Cruise book of the USS TAYLOR (DD468) is too interesting not to be educated from it. But whatever you do, don't quote it as an authority.
On February 13th, the Seventh Fleet steamed into the entrance of Manila Bay for the initial bombardment of the island fortress of Corregidor. The Cruiser BOISE fired the first shot in the campaign to recapture the famous island surrendered to the Japanese by General Wainwright in the beginning of the Pacific conflict. Shortly afterward all ships were firing coordinated salvos at the island's large gun emplacements.
The bombardment was interrupted at designated intervals to permit large waves of B-24 Liberators and A-20 Havocs to make bombing runs on the island's summit. The hard-hitting bombers created so much dust and smoke that the island was completely hidden and the surface ships were forced to cease fire until the targets again became visible.
One of the A-20 Havocs, on a photographic mission, made a forced landing in the bay several hundred yards off our starboard bow. The motor whaleboat was dispatched with the ship's doctor and a pharmacist mate to rescue the survivors. The pilot and his photographer were brought aboard uninjured.
The USS HOPEWELL, while picking up survivors from a sinking minesweeper (USS YMS-48), was taken under fire by a combined batter of guns from the northern cliffs of Corregidor and the USS FLETCHER wile aiding the HOPEWELL in her duel with the shore batteries, was hit and her number one five-inch turret mount was destroyed. When the survivors of the minesweeper were picked up the two ships moved out to care for the casualties and the TAYLOR steamed in and finished off the remaining batteries, Most of Corregidor's guns were buried in the rocky cliffs and were entirely invisible. The destroyers were ordered in to purposely draw the enemy's fire so that the batteries could be located and destroyed.
The USS LA VALLETTE, while covering close inshore minesweeping in Mariveles Harbour, was put out of action by a mine. The USS RADFORD went to the aid of the LA VALLETTE, but before she could pull alongside, she was hit by an electrical controlled mine in an area already swept by the minesweepers. The TAYLOR started in to aid the two stricken members of Squadron 21 but was ordered to keep clear. The damaged destroyers were later towed back to base by salvage tugs.
On the fourth day of the operation, the amphibious rocket boats made their attack on Bataan. The rockets left the boats with a slight whizzing sound, flew through the air like a flock of birds and hit the beach, creating destruction surpassed only by the new atomic bomb. The infantry ladened landing craft followed with MacArthur's forces, determined to avenge their predecessors who held the peninsula until they were ordered to retreat to Corregidor. Some of the landing craft never reached the beach. They were hit by shore batteries and more of the deadly electrically controlled mines.
The fifth day of the campaign brought the historic landing of the veteran 503rd Paratroop Battalion. Jumping from C-47 Skytrains, the troopers landed amidst concentrated machine gun fire that caught them in mid-air. A small percentage of the troops missed the island altogether and landed in the bay, but all were rescued by a fast PT boat squadron. The airborne landing was coordinated by a sea-borne landing of American Rangers on Corregidor's inboard shoreline. While the Paratroopers were battling the fanatical Japs on the summit, the Rangers were swarming up the cliffs, dodging machine gun fire from hidden nests in the rocks. The nips set off charges in caves that had been sealed, in an attempt to cover the advancing Rangers with tons of dirt and rock, but the largest percentage backfired in the caves and an estimated thousand or more of the sons of heaven perished by their own hands.
Upon completion of the joint landing, the Navy was ordered to abandon the Corregidor operation and concentrate its large guns on the Cavite shoreline.
. . .
On March 15, the TAYLOR was called back to Corregidor for a bombardment under the direction of the American troops on the island. Our objective was a series of caves and concrete blockhouses in which the Japs had set up a heavy machine gun cross-fire that was impenetrable to General Chase's forces on the island. The TAYLOR moved into 20 millimeter range and picked out the targets. The combined fire from the TAYLOR's main batter and heavy machine gun battery sealed all caves and destroyed all the blockhouses in a few hours. After the completion of the operation, General Chase came aboard to visit. He congratulated the TAYLOR on a swift and efficient bombardment. This was the last action taken against the famous "Rock" and the remaining Japs, if any, were completely sealed in and left to commit hari-kiri or starve.