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Was your Ship There? Many Were
SIR: On the morning of 29 Jan 1945 an amphibious landing off the coast of Zambales in the Philippine Islands proved to be one of the more pleasant surprises of the liberation of Luzon.
At that time, Task Group 78.3 was to land 30,000 troops to protect the flank of the Sixth Army on its march from Lingayen Gulf to Manila.
While reconnoitering the beach near the little towns of San Antonio and San Narciso, the advance force was met by local guerrilla forces in banca boats. The guerrillas were shouting "liberty," proclaiming that the enemy forces had been cleaned out and the coast was in friendly bands. The landing was then accomplished rapidly without a shot being fired, hastening the liberation.
My question is, do you know which ships took part in that amphibious operation? The most informed source I have found is Morison's History of U.S. Naval Operations in World War 11, but even this source provides only an incomplete listing of TG 78.3 and its supporting units.
The occasion which prompts this inquiry is the presentation of a plaque to the towns of San Antonio and San Narciso, to commemorate the long history of Filipino-American cooperation. The U.S. Naval Communication Station at San Miguel, which lies between these towns, still enjoys the friendliness and cooperation demonstrated that morning in 1945.-F. M. R., CAPT, USN.
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We consulted the Naval History Division on your question, Captain, and they provided us with an extract from the CTG 78.3 "Report of Amphibious Landings in Zambales Province, Luzon, P.I." dated 4 Mar 1945.
The narrative describes the mission of the landings as follows:
To land the assault forces of the XI Corps Headquarters, composed of the 38th Infantry Division and the 34th RCT of the 24th Infantry Division, together with their supplies and equipment, in the Zambales area and support the landing by close gunfire and air support, in order to block hostile retirement into Bataan Peninsula."
An additional mission was to open and occupy Subic Bay.
Other readers might be interested in the names of the participating ships. Recognize any of them? Here goes:
The combat vessels included:
USS Charles J. Badger (DD 657), Isherwood (DD 520), Luce (DD 522), Picking (DD 685), Sproston (DD, 577), Wickes (DD 578) and Young (DD 580).
The amphibious warfare ships included USS Mt McKinley (AGC 7); Alcyone (AKA 7, Algol (AKA 54), Alshain (AKA 55), Aquarius (AKA 16) , Arneb (AKA 56), Auriga (AKA 98) , Capricornus (AKA 57), Chara (AKA 58), Mercury (AK 20); Alpine (APA 92), Appling (APA 58, Baxter (APA 94) , Cavalier (APA 37), Custer (APA 40), Du Page (APA 41), Elmore (APA 42), Harris (APA 2), Haskell (APA 117), Lamar (APA 47), Pierce (APA 50) , Sarasota (APA 204), Sheridan (APA 51); Cofer (APD 62), Kephart (APD 61), Lloyd (APD 63), Newman (APD 59), Rathburne (APD 25). A number of landing craft were included in the contingent. Among them were: LCIs 225, 226, 337, 338, 340, 341, 688, 985. 986, 987; LCSs 7, 8, 26, 27, 48, 49; LSMs 63, 64, 66, 67, 68, 268, 269; LSTs 453, 463, 552, 553, 555, 558, 565, 569, 573, 583, 592, 606, 609, 612, 623, 631, 636, 658, 662, 669, 679, 680, 693, 703, 707, 714, 734, 735, 736, 737, 740, 745, 746, 775, 908, 910, 922, 924, 990, 999, 1006, 1014, 1024, 1025 and the vehicle cargo ship, then referred to as landing ship, vehicle Monitor (LSV 5).
Among the mine warfare ships were: USS Pursuit (AM 108), Requisite (AM 109), Sage (AM 111), Salute (AM 294), Saunter (AM 295), Scout (AM 296), Scrimmage (AM 297), Scuffle (AM 298), Sentry (AM 299), triumph (AM 323); the minelayer Monadnock (CM 9); and the motor minesweepers YMS 6, 8, 9, 50, 53, 68, 158, 219, 243, 286, 314, 334, 336, 342, 353, 360, 363, 398, and 408.
The patrol ships included the escort ships USS Day (DE 225), Eugene E. Elmore (DE 689), George A. Johnson (DE 583), Leslie L. B. Knox (DE 580), McNulty (DE 581), Metivier (DE 582), and Riley (DE 579); the submarine chasers SC 521, 667, 995, 1327; PC 1119, 1122 and 1133, and the frigate Warrego.
Auxiliary ships included the transports USS Golden City (AP 169), La Salle (AP 102), President Polk (AP 103) and Winged Arrow (AP 170); the salvage ship Grasp (ARS 24) and the ocean tugs Hidatsa (ATF 102) and Rail (ATO 139).
In addition, two XAKs (Liberty ships) participated, but their names were not given in the report.
It is interesting to note that many of the ships mentioned are still in active service. Others have gone the way of all metal.-ED.
ON STATION - USS Ranger (CVA 61) is replenished by Seat Knight copters.
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