Haida (1943) — Discussion: Questions, Comments and Coordination

[Randi]

Two different, nonstandard formats due to war-time security measures
(Major change in July, minor change in December)

NARA URL	JPG Link
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/23716727	January
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/23716766	February
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/23716806	March
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/23716876	April
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/23716957	May
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/23717040	June
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/23717119	July
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/23717236	August
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/23717334 Mostly on station Able (vicinity of 47N, 147W)	September
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/23717427 Mostly on station Able (vicinity of 47N, 147W)	October
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/23717526 Seattle, ends on station Able (vicinity of 47N, 147W)	November
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/23717620 Mostly on station Able (vicinity of 47N, 147W)	December

(Logs listed in fine print are for reference only)

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[Randi]

x

[Michael]

A change from transporting reindeer from Siberia to Alaska...

25 February

Noon to 4:00 P.M.
49 35N 126 45W.
Underway with convoy on course 272 p.g.c.& T at 70 R.P.M. Entire A. A. Battery manned.
...
1:15 General Quarters. Obtained doubtful contact with Q. C. Made attack and fired one MK6 depth. Contact was lost and after searching area was not regained. Tested gas alarm bell and cease firing buzzer.
2:00 Secured from General Quarters and made standard speed.90 R.P.M. coming back to convoy.

8:00 PM to midnight
8:05 Established underwater sound contact, sounded general alarm, increased speed to 110 rpm. Maneuvering about convoy.
8:18 Secured from General Quarters. Entire anti-aircraft battery manned.

[Michael]

This is interesting. They have only a noon position, given to the nearest degree, on the Weather page. On the Event page, they have the position to the nearest minute at the end of every watch.

[Randi]

Maybe wartime security - though the application seems to have been pretty uneven
War Diary

[Michael]

March 8, Dutch Harbor

For some reason, this entry made me smile:

Weather conditions remained ideal except for the usual rain and mist to be expected in the Aleutian Islands at this time of year.

[Randi]

[Michael]

March 10
Dutch Harbor

I think we have all options covered:

Received the following stores from Supply Officer, NOB Dutch Harbor: fifteen (15) pairs Arctic overshoes, fifteen (15) jungle cloth helmets, fifteen (15) jungle cloth jackets.

[Randi]

[Michael]

20 April 1943
Kuluk Bay

File this under OOOOPS!!!

14³⁰ Ens. J. W. Moreau placed under arrest for one week for allowing 3" gun in his charge to use and fire live ammunition at drills.

[Michael]

19 April
Kuluk Bay

File this under OUCH!!!!

11⁰⁰ Healey, Charles A. (217-431) C.G.M. (A) taken off duty. Diagnosis: amputation end right little finger.*

* Origin: While working on a five inch gun the loading carriage fell to the deck and caught the little finger of the right hand beneath it. Not due to own misconduct.

[Michael]

May 5^th

It took them almost a year and a half, but...

1900 Sent ship's logs for year 1940 to Headquarters on bill of lading No. MCG 485633

[Randi]

[Michael]

How to release a weather balloon from aboard a ship:

Sept. 9, Weather Station Able, 48^o 45'N, 144^o 44'W

Underway as before on course 270 at 2/3 speed. 1720 maneuvering to starboard to have wind on port beam. 1723 stopped engines. 1725 steady on course 335. 1727 Released weather balloon. 1728 Engines going ahead 2/3 speed. 1730 cc to 270.

In my career I got to release a couple of weather balloons, but from land. My weather career started with me on a course to become a weather observer. As soon as I finished that three month course, I was put on a five month course to be an upper air observer. Four months into that, and the day before we were to do our first launch of a weather balloon, I was put onto the nine month course to be a weather forecaster. I was devastated not to be allowed to stay one more day on the upper air course, even though the forecaster's course wasn't due to start FOR ANOTHER SIX WEEKS!

Anyway, during year four of the three years of massive cuts to the weather service, they fired (my word - retired or downsized being their word for it) our upper air techs. Our weather briefers/observers did the afternoon balloon launch. However, the forecaster was the only person on duty for the early morning launch at 0400, so we got to do it. I worked the forecaster shift only if someone was sick or away on leave. And so, 27 years after being on the upper air course, I finally got to do the upper air launch and send out the upper air sounding data! Also, because of safety concerns associated with being north of 60N, and being on duty outside in the winter for the launch, they had to issue me with a brand new $700 parka.

A few months later, the Yukon Weather Centre was closed for good.

[Michael]

October 7
Position at 2000: 48^o 31'N 128^o 29'W
Event Log 8 PM to Midnight

Watch uneventful

War Diary 8 PM to Midnight

Underway as before in North Pacific Ocean on course 268^o p.g.c. 270^o T at 86 r.p.m.
1045 Changed course to 120^o pgc, 122^oT to investigate sound contact.
1050 Changed course to 340^o p.g.c. 342^o T.
1051 P.M. Fireroom closed to stand by for depth charge attack.
1054 Fired projectors #1, 2,3 4 and marked area by releasing light from buoy.
1055 Maneuvering on various courses carrying out depth charge attack. General Quarters sounded.
1058 All stations manned and ready.
1104 P.M. Fired projectors # 1,2,3,4 and starboard track released one 600 lb. D.C.
1130 P.M. Port track released on 600 lb D.C. Fired projectors 1,2, Starboard release, fired projectors #3,4, Port release.

October 8
Position at 0800: 48^o 31'N 130^o 27'W

Event Log Mid to 400 A.M.

Watch uneventful

War Diary Mid to 400 A.M.

Underway in North Pacific Ocean maneuvering on various courses and speeds carryhing on attack plan.
1212 Secure from General Quarters, Gun #2 and projector party at stations.
1231 Fired projectors #1, #2.
1259 Fired projector #1.
0120 Engine room secured and resumed regular status, open fireroom.
0132 Fireroom closed, stand by for depth charge attack.
0123 Fired projector #1
0240 Gun watch resumed regular status of one half A.A. battery manned.
0308 Secured projector party.
0310 Opened fireroom, resumed regular status at s/s 85 r.p.m. c/c to 268 ^o p.g.c. 270^oTrue.
Total ammunition expended 15 Mark VI depth charges, 4 Mark VII depth charges.

What I wonder is this, "What constitutes an Eventful watch???"

[Randi]

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I was curious about all the mentions of projectors.

According to Wiki, a projector is a type of mortar.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortar_(weapon)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livens_Projector
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PIAT

[Michael]

October 23
49^o 15'N 145^o 54'W

File this under: Ooops!

From the War Diary:

8⁰⁰ AM to Noon

Underway as before on course 315^o p.g.c. and t. at 2/3 speed 45 R.P.M.
08⁴⁴ Closed fireroom, increased speed to 100 R.P.M. and maneuvering on various courses to investigate possible sub contact.
8⁵⁰ Contact was established to be a whale and slowed to 2/3 speed.
9⁰⁵ No. 1 depth charge projector was accidentally fired.

From the Event Page:

8⁰⁰ AM to Noon

9³⁰ Trygstad, A. W. (230-340) B.M. 3c was placed on report for careless performance of duty for accidentally firing depth charge projector and disobedience of orders.

Noon to 4⁰⁰ P.M.

At the Commanding Officer's mast held today Arthur W. Trygstad (230-340) G.M. 3c was sentenced to three days confinement in the ship's brig.

[Michael]

On Weather Station Able/Papa duty. Five tours in the neighbourhood of 49N 148W. Their first tour started on their way southeast from Dutch Harbor, the others began out of Seattle.

File this under: Oh what a tangled web we weave!

[Michael]

Tangled web II

Patrolling the entrance to Kuluk Bay, May-June.

[Randi]