1/3/44: Weigh anchor

3 JAN 44

“At 1000, pursuant to authority contained in BuPers and BuSandA* Joint Letter, File P13-8, of 18 June, 1943, a total of 67 enlisted men, not having returned to the ship prior to departure from the United States, were officially transferred in an absentee status to the Receiving Station, U.S. Navy Yard, Puget Sound, Bremerton, WA.”

Even The Greatest Generation™ had its share of the absent-minded, drunkards, ne’er do wells, malcontents and, in some cases, cowards. (I have come across all of the above, sadly to include the latter, during my time in both the USN and the USAF. Human nature is unchanged over the millennia)

At 1003, USS Princeton hoisted anchor and was underway for Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii. Most people do not realize this but more often than one might think, large naval vessels are not always controlled by the Commanding Officer. This is particularly the case when arriving or departing harbors and ports that demand local knowledge and experience. Such was the case the morning of 3 January as a Navy Yard Pilot conned Princeton through Rich Passage and its anti-torpedo net, adhering to Admiralty Inlet's channel and transiting Admiralty Bay†, her 13,000 ton displacement eventually turning westward into the expanse of Puget Sound itself.

Most of us are fortunately unfamiliar with living in a nation that is utterly and completely mobilized for war. The anti-torpedo net installed in waters that were plied in years prior largely by ferries and fishing boats gives us a glimpse of what life was like in the years after Pearl Harbor. As does this passage from the ship’s log:

“Steaming singly on various courses and at various speeds to conform to the channel standing at Puget Sound, Admiralty Inlet, and through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. At 1340 passed the U.S.S. MORRISON†† abeam to port off New Dungeness engaged in firing anti-aircraft practice. … At 1714 with Cape Flattery Light bearing 177˚ and Owen Point bearing 085˚, changed course to 260˚ and took departure for Pearl Harbor, T.H. At 1812 sighted a CVE (CVE = Escort Aircraft Carrier, displacement 8,200 tons. Princeton was a “Light” Carrier, designated CVL) bearing 270˚ distant 10 miles. … At 1910 changed course left** to 230˚ and commenced zigzagging in accordance with Plan 6.” (Zigzagging was a timed maneuver designed to deny enemy submarines the ability to successfully launch a torpedo attack)

* Bureau of Supplies and Accounts and Bureau of Personnel respectively

† In my time at NAS Whidbey Island we had a portion of Admiralty Bay designated as a range for training to deliver anti-ship mines. I have dropped many, many dozens of practice mines — we called them “beer cans” — in the waters of Admiralty Bay.

††More about DD-560, USS Morrison in the months to come.

** I must admit, a little disappointed at the use of “left” instead of “port.” As we proceed with this adventure, we will see if our bridge watchstanders and Officer’s of the Deck get with the Naval program!