USS Franklin Deck Log 22 March 1945-Making Franklin As Shipshape As Possible
This is the ninth in a series of posts focusing on the USS Franklin’s deck logs from 14 March, when she left Ulithi, to 24 March 1945, when she returned. The deck logs can be rather sparse; their purpose was not to provide a status report on ship’s repairs. But a close reading does show progress being made.
Reading Between The Lines
Let’s pause momentarily and reflect on the ship’s state as it traveled from the coast of Japan to Ulithi.
The smell. I have an oral history from a junior officer at Pearl Harbor who mentioned that when the ship arrived, it smelled strongly of dead bodies, aviation fuel, and burned materials.
Recovering the dead was an ongoing process. Many of the dead died of smoke inhalation, and their bodies were not recovered for days. When the compartments were finally opened, the smell was horrendous, especially to the young sailors who had never experienced death before 19 March. But perhaps those were easier to handle than the ones immolated on the hangar and flight decks.
Or blown apart by explosions. In some cases, all that was left was a pile of ashes. Those were just shoveled over the side. No wonder many of the crew suffered from PTSD for the rest of their lives.
Food supplies were restricted. You can tell that when they mention that one of the destroyers delivered coffee.
Captain Gehres is on record saying he worked the crew as hard as possible so they would be too tired to think. The deck log below shows that more gun mounts are being repaired, the ship eliminated its list, and the radio communications and SN radar are back online.
Many of the crew’s berths and belongings were either inaccessible or destroyed. I think many of them would have slept on the undamaged part of the flight deck or perhaps in or near the chain lockers.
The deck log mentions the ship’s list was corrected. This was due to compartments being opened and drained.
0000-0400
Steaming enroute Empire Area to Ulithi, Caroline islands, on course 230 ( t and g ) to rendezvous with Task Force 58, with boilers Nos. 5, 6, 7, and 8 on the line, speed 20 knots. FRANKLIN is part of task unit 58.2. 9 in company with USS GUAM (C. T. U. And O. T. C.) In station 3270, FRANKLIN (guide 1.580 ), PITTSBURG* at 0000, SANTA FE AT-4000, ALASKA at 3090 with eleven destroyers on screening stations on circle five. Ship is darkened with the following guns manned: 5” mounts 1, 2, and 4; 40mm mounts 2, 3, and 16; 20mm groups 1, 2, and 3. Material condition YOKE is set as far as battle damage permits. Sugar Nan radar is up and in use. TBY transmitter and TBS receiver in use. 0335 small fire broke out on fantail and was put under control by firefighting party.
-Lieutenant C. G. Durr
0400-0800
Steaming as before. 0427 changed course to 250 ( t and g ). 0505 changed speed to 15 knots. 0510 changed speed to 10 knots. 0526 changed speed to 8 knots. 0554 joined by USS KIDD, CHAUNCEY, and BLACK as screen and commenced steaming independently. Changed speed to 12 knots. 0630 held quarters for muster. Absentees none. 0642 changed course to 230. (T and g ). 0700 list increased to 6°, port. 0714 floating mine sighted by destroyers off starboard bow. 0721 mine off starboard bow exploded by gunfire. 0722 change course to 000 ( t and g ).
Lieutenant E. L. Fox
0800-1200
Steaming as before. 0808 changed course to 040 ( t and g ). 0845 ships list, 8° port. 0858 changed course to 070 ( t and g ). 0914 changed course to 090 ( t and g ). 0921 commenced zigzagging plan 6, USF 10A. 1100 ships list, 4° port.
Lieutenant M. M. Tappen
1200-1600
Steaming as before. 1215 USS POTTER (DD 538 ) came alongside starboard to transfer coffee and registered mail. 1300 POTTER cleared side. 1243 steaming at various courses and speeds while maneuvering to position ship astern of task group 58.2. 1345 changed course to 18 0 ( t and g ), 191 (psc) changed speed to 15 knots while proceeding to take ship astern of T. G. 58.2. 1430 ship now on even keel. 1432 changed course to 090 (t and g ), 098 (psc). 1438 changed course to 180 ( t and g), 191 (psc). 1530 FRANKLIN now part of T. G. 58.2 consisting of USS WASP (O. T. C. And T. G. C.), ENTERPRISE, SANTA FE, plus five escorts of DesRon 52. FRANKLIN and 3 escorts are a detached unit steaming independently. 1530 change speed to 20 knots.
Lieutenant J. B. Barr
1600-1800
Steaming as before. 1741 changed course to 130 ( t and g ), 129 (psc).
Lieutenant C. G. Barr
1800-2000
Steaming as before. 1819 darkened ship. 1820 change course to 150 (t and g). 1950 changed speed to 17 knots.
Lieutenant E. L. Fox
2000-2400
Steaming as before. 2010 changed speed to15 knots. 2228 changed speed to 20 knots.
Lieutenant M. M. Tappen
*In all of the deck logs, the spelling of the cruiser, USS Pittsburgh (CA-72) is incorrect. (There is an “H” on the end.) Evidently, none of the officers or yeomen involved in typing the logs were from that part of Pennsylvania. I have chosen to leave it as is to minimize distraction.
Did you arrive here via a search engine? I am the author of the forthcoming book Heroes By The Hundreds: The Story of the USS Franklin (CV-13). In addition to writing about the bravery of the crews that saved her, I will discuss the lessons we can learn in leadership and decision-making and the changes the US Navy made because of those lessons.
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