Attack of the Greyhounds

by H. Nelson Freeman

  “I find she is responsive to even small changes to the course or speed. Her low freeboard can be hazardous in heavy weather and hard turns. I haven’t had the opportunity to get a feel of heavy rolls yet.”

  “You will, and we have the clinometer marked, I’m sure you will get your opportunity before long.” The Captain said, “It looks like the Pearl Harbor Naval shipyard did a four-oh repair job on both ships. Both ships look new and ready to fight, and they even gave us a new coat of warpaint.”

  “They do look as if they’re ready for a fight, don’t they?”

  “We’ll be going to General Quarters at zero-nine-hundred, it will give us a chance to see if our training so far has been effective. Have the department heads and division officers take notes on the performance of the new men and the supervisory actions of the petty officers. We don’t want to go back to the South Pacific unprepared.”

  “I agree, sir; I’ll get right on it. I’ll have the officers and Chiefs meet with me in the wardroom.”

  “Very well, XO, it’s a good way to get started.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  The XO, a sharp-looking Naval Officer, stood a hair over six feet tall, with short-cut light-brown hair, showing a few greying hairs at his temples. His sea-gray eyes missed nothing.

  The morning, followed by a short lunch, and back to GQ in the afternoon, devoured the day. Drill after drill began to mold the crew into a fighting force. That night the two ships put three miles between them to allow the engineers to begin running casualty control drills on the boilers, engines, and associated machinery.

  During the yard period, several men transferred to other assignments; several engineers transferred to new construction of the Fletcher class destroyers. Then four firemen had applied for Machinist’s Mate School and were accepted. There were some promotions of others, creating additional vacancies that required filling. The same scenario repeated itself in all divisions of the ship as men were transferred to accommodate the growing navy. The exchange of personnel required training them a program to bring together into a coordinated team capable of fighting the enemy.

  Following three days of drills and training down to the individual level, the ship moved into the live-fire area of the ocean. During that evolution, the two destroyers fired all their weapons, first for familiarization, then planes flew past the ship towing target sleeves. Ocean-going tugs towed rafts with vertical structures covered with target painted canvas for surface practice.

  The two ships returned to their buoy while the results of the live fire and training were evaluated. Over the next month, this process repeated itself until the ship’s crews molded into a competent fighting unit.

  ****

  The married men who had their families in Hawaii made the best of their time at home and spending as much time with the children. The single men utilized their off-time like most sailors in Hawaii. Everyone knew that time was getting short for family time, as the ships readied for their transfer to the Guadalcanal campaign. The fighting there had become the bloodiest in naval history.

  “This is our last night together,” Maggie said, holding back a soft sob. “I was strongly getting attached to having my husband sleeping with me.”

  “I know the feeling, Mag, but consider this, we get to have as much fun all over again, it’ll be like a third wedding night.”

  “I can do that; a matter of fact, I’ll have time to come up with some interesting times.”

  Maggie turned on the night light, “One of those times floated through my mind, come over here, Boot Lieutenant; I’m in the ravishing mood.”

  ****

  The evening before setting sail, a Lieutenant Junior Grade Officer reported on board. The XO assigned him to the spare bunk with the engineers. Patrick John Reagan introduced himself to his new stateroom mates. His field of expertise was in engineering.

  The messenger of the watch from each of the main engineering spaces held reveille on the lighting off watches — the men dressed in half a daze at zero-three-thirty in the morning, then headed for the head and the holes, as the men called their spaces.

  “Main Control, after engine room, manned and ready to begin lighting off.”

  “Main Control aye.”

  The choreographed movements of the engine and boiler room crews began. Williams said to Fireman fourth grade Harry Webb, “Check the oil levels in the pumps and the main sump.” Other men lined up feed water, condensate, fuel oil, and steam lines for the great boilers to supply steam to the complex machinery.

  By zero-seven-thirty hours, the plant was ready to answer all bells. “Now set the Special Sea and Anchor Detail,” sounded throughout the ship. The call sent men hurrying to stations to release the ship from its berth. At Zero-eight-hundred, every ship in the harbor and the naval base render honors to the raising of the forty-eight stars and stripes.

  Five minutes later, the Captain said, “Single up all lines.” Once the Captain and lookouts looked to ensure the waters were clear, the Captain ordered the last lines hauled in, and the ship backed away from the pier. The Bo’sun piped across the 1MC, “Shift colors.” The powerful blast of the ship's horn told everyone they were officially underway for the South Pacific.

  The ship backed into the main channel, then swung toward the sea under the guidance of the harbor pilot on the bridge. The ship sailed past the carnage that was called Battleship Row. At the mouth of the harbor, a tug pulled back the anti-submarine net, allowing the ship to negotiate the minefield. Once past the mine hazard, the pilot left the ship aboard a fast motorboat.

  CHAPTER TEN

  With the ship underway, the Captain made time to interview the unexpected addition of Mr. Reagan. “It’s always a pleasant surprise to gain an experienced officer, particularly in engineering.”

  “I understand, sir.”

  “How is it you were assigned to our ship.”

  “I had just arrived from San Diego was instructed to report to the Division Commander at Pearl. When I arrived, he assigned me to your ship. He mentioned something about the normal reassignments that are occurring these days with all the new ships coming off the ways.

  “I understand your training and expertise are all in engineering.”

  “Yes sir, I was the Assistant Engineering Officer on my last ship, a cruiser on the east coast.”

  “Very well, I’m going to have you take over the Engineering Officer’s billet here, see the XO; he will get you all set up.”

  “Aye, sir.”

  “Get with Mr. Lanner; he is our current Engineering Officer; he will work with you for the transition.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Messenger, take Mr. Reagan to the Engineering Office.” The two left the bridge, and the Captain return to supervising the operation of the ship.

  The Navy provided security for the large supply convoy heading for the Guadalcanal via Bora Bora. Normally ships held sufficient quantities of fuel for a non-stop journey. However, conventional wisdom was to enter Espiritu Santo with plenty of fuel to continue northwest to the embattled Solomon Island of Guadalcanal.

  Chief Engineer Chris Lanner and the newly commissioned Ensign Douglas Banner were regarding a large number of cargo ships, tankers, and two converted passenger liners crammed with combat soldiers.

  The former Chief pointed at two light cruisers, “Don’t they have six-inch main guns?”

  “Yes, the heavy still carries eight-inch main armament and five-inch secondary mounts. They’re coming out with an antiaircraft cruiser, over five hundred feet in length and armed with sixteen-five-inch-thirty-eights. It has as many twenty-millimeter cannons and a bunch of forty-millimeter Pom-Poms. I’ve also heard there may be a new destroyer leader too.”

  “Have you heard what they have for a plant?”

  “It’s my understanding they have four boilers, six-hundred-pound class like ours, and their twin screws turn up seventy-five-thousand horsepower, but they aren’t as fast as we or the Fletchers.

&nb
sp; “Yeah, and they’re a bigger target too.”

  The Ensign had the upcoming watch, and he headed for the forward engine room. Lieutenant Lanner went to the Engineering Office to catch up on the paperwork.

  As the convoy approached the equator, the escorts made extra efforts to ensure there were no submarines within twenty miles. The ships held their first, second, or even third Shellback ceremony, initiating the pollywogs. Three hours later, the convoy resumed their journey to Bora-Bora. Following the refueling process, it got underway for the staging area of Vanuatu.

  Chris continued standing the Engineering Officer of the Watch, commonly called the EOW, to maintain a good working knowledge of the engineering department’s responsibilities. He and Petty Officer First Class Ned Sizeman were sitting on the large toolbox next to the phone station getting acquainted. Sizeman replaced MM1 Mike Gray, who had been promoted to Chief Petty Officer and transferred to new constructions.

  The Lieutenant learned Sizeman came from the small town of Niles, Michigan, located in Southwestern, Michigan. He joined the Navy right out of high school and never looked back. He served on three ships before being transferred to the HALLIS.

  Fireman Second Class Phillip McDonald yelled out, “Attention on deck.”

  As everyone jumped to their feet, Captain Tyson said, “At ease.” Still, everyone remained standing. It was rare that the commanding officer dropped into the engine rooms while underway.

  Lieutenant Lanner stepped up and asked, “May I help you, Captain?”

  “I was on a little look-about and thought I’d drop in for a minute. How’s the engineering plant running?”

  “Very well, sir.”

  “I would hope so, just getting out of the yards. There is something I would like to talk to you about.”

  “Let’s step over to the ladder; it’s a bit more comfortable there.”

  At the base of the ladder, the Captain asked, “I was wondering, Mr. Lanner, have you considered a full Navy career? This war won’t last forever.”

  “I hope not, sir, but to answer your question, I had my designator switched from USNR to USN. I do plan on a full career.”

  “Good, you have the makings of a good commanding officer, how about a change from Engineering to unrestricted line officer?”

  “Thank you for your confidence in me, sir; it was unexpected.”

  “We have a new officer aboard, Patrick Reagan, he will be assuming the Engineering Officer’s billet, you will join me on the bridge after you turn everything over to him. He is in the engineering office now.”

  “Aye, sir,” the surprised Lieutenant said.

  “I guess congratulations are in order, sir,” Sizeman said.

  “Thanks, I think.”

  “Are we going to lose you, sir? We just got you as our Department head?”

  “It appears so, but I’m sure this new Chief Engineer will need your expertise in taking over.”

  “If there is anything we can do, sir, let us know.”

  “Right now, the best thing you can do for me is keeping your space as it is, 4.0.”

  “Yes sir, we’ll keep on it.”

  “Thanks.”

  Mr. Lanner headed for the Engineering Office to meet the new officer and wrap up a little paperwork. Everything was transferred by seventeen-hundred hours, and the two officers made it to the wardroom for the first setting.

  The Captain introduced the new Chief Engineer to the Officers. To keep the question of what was to become of Lieutenant Lanner, he said, “Mr. Lanner will be assigned to Administration for the time being”

  Chris addressed the XO, “Has the Captain mentioned his visit to Main Control to you?”

  “Matter of fact he did, after supper stop by my stateroom, I have some books and guide you will find helpful.”

  “Thanks, I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

  “How long have you been aboard?”

  “Since seventeen April of forty-two, I was waiting for her when she arrived from San Diego.

  “She your first ship?”

  “No, I was on a carrier, we were off Midway when we took a torpedo. I was injured and needed surgery for a head injury that cost me my flight status.

  “I was wondering about the wings. I’m sorry about your loss of flight status; I know how important that is to men who fly. By the way, what did you fly?”

  “F4F Wildcats.”

  “A fighter pilot, that means you’re good. That will give you a strong foundation for learning the program we’ve put together for you. Are you up to it?”

  “Yes, I am XO.

  “Good, let’s get to work.”

  That was the beginning of long hours of study and on-the-job instruction from the Captain and XO. Lieutenant Lanner’s life was his studying and sleep. The Captain ordered him off the watch list. His only reprieve was a few hours of sleep when he could.

  The route and speed dictated by the convoy commander gave the convoy nine days to reach Vanuatu, giving Chris the time, he needed to qualify for the junior OOD. The day before reaching the large bay of Vanuatu, he was certified as qualified for OOD and put on the watch list.

  “Mr. Lanner, you’ve done an outstanding job in your efforts these past nine days. Am I wrong in assuming you have a photographic memory?”

  “I’ve never officially been told that sir, but several people have accused me of having one.”

  “Whichever, it serves you well, now with your certification as an OOD, you should have more time to prepare for the XO’s training course to be held at Pearl Harbor.”

  “Yes, sir. Are there any study guides, books, or lists of suggested reading available?”

  “No actual study guides, however, check with the XO, he probably has some material you could use. There is one thing you can brush up on, and that’s the Articles for the Government of the United States Navy.

  “I’ll get a copy and memorize them as soon as possible.”

  The Captain looked pensively out the starboard hatch for a moment, his mind broiling with half a dozen issues. ‘This officer may be the easiest prospect I’ve seen for XO.’ He pulled out his wheel book and wrote himself a note, ‘Have the XO assign those duties he feels Mr. Lanner is ready for.’

  “Mr. Lanner, I’m going to have the XO utilize you in his duties as you progress. I have a feeling you will make great strides in your efforts.”

  “Thank you again for your confidence; I’ll make every attempt to justify your decision.”

  Smiling, the Captain said, “Don’t be too quick to thank me yet, Mr. Lanner. You have a heavy schedule ahead of you, and you may want to curse the day I took you from your comfort zone in the engine room. And I’ll throw this in for no charge, be diligent about everything going on about you and around your ship and even to the edges of a convoy. Failure could be more than costly.”

  “Aye, sir, I’ve already paid the penalty for that short-sightedness.”

  “That’s right; I almost forgot how you came to be here. By the way, how’s the eye doing?”

  “Very well, sir, still a bit out of focus at horizon distance.”

  “That won’t disqualify you here; better get on with your training; your services will be needed somewhere soon.”

  Chris gave the Captain a strange look, then headed out the door to search for the XO.

  His new assignment had Chris studying when not on watch or catching a few winks. All the while, the Captain’s words kept coming back to him. ‘What did he mean my services would be needed soon?’

  The convoy finally pulled into Vanuatu and anchored until they could be assigned a delivery date according to the need of their cargo.

  The Squadron Commander arrived by boat to the ship and was piped aboard by rank and position. Behind the Squadron Commander, the Captain and XO of the AGAR arrived for a pre-arranged conference, their arrival was announced, and the Bo’ sun rang four bells for the Skipper.

  They met in the wardroom, with a ‘Do Not Enter’ sign on the doo
r. “Gentlemen,” the Squadron head began. “You will not escort the convoy to Guadalcanal. There is a multi-nation force to be assembled, and you will be in their escort service. You will be operating in the Java and the South China Sea and around Borneo for enemy ships. Your job will be to interdict those attempts to land or supply troops already ashore.

  The force commander will be a four-stripe captain from the Royal Australian Navy. He wants to meet with the ship’s commanders and XO’s before you set sail, to ensure everyone is working together. He may even want to run some actual tactics. If he doesn’t bring this up at the meeting, you bring it up as a suggestion to keep from attacking one another at night.”

  “I understand, Captain.”

  Following arrangements for topping off fuel and supplies and other administrative information, the Squadron Commander said, “If there are no further questions, this meeting is adjourned. Norwood stay a moment. I want a word with you.”

  “Certainly, sir.”

  The last officer to leave closed the door behind him, leaving the ‘Do Not Enter’ sign still attached to the door.

  “Tell me about this training plan you have for Mr. Lanner; it’s a bit off track, isn’t it?”

  “First of all, I have had reoccurring intuitions; we are more than going in harm's way. Mr. Lanner is an exceptionally gifted officer with retention capabilities like I have never encountered. He is young, quick-minded, and has a unique ability to assess every situation he faces correctly. He has the making of an outstanding CO when he gets to that point in his career. I would be remiss if I didn't utilize this officer’s abilities for the good of the ship and the Navy.”

  “How is he taking the change in pace, you just promoted him ahead of his peers, and now you’re loading him up with the heavy-duty stuff.”

  “True, I am. He’s taking to it as a duck takes to water, it’s natural for him. Remember, he was a pretty promising fighter pilot before his carrier was torpedoed.”

  “Now I remember him, he married his nurse, we attended the wedding.”