5 HISTORY 1944 - 1949 - USS Henry W. Tuckerhwtucker2000.com/History/history_1944_1949.pdf · 1944 ~ 1949 Commissioning ... class destroyer continuing to be overloaded with anti-aircraft

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History of the USS Henry W. Tucker - DD 875

Section One 1944 ~ 1949

Commissioning Occupation of Japan Operation Sandstone

Evacuation of Shanghai

HISTORY OF THE USS HENRY W. TUCKER - 1944-1949

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1944

Consolidated Steel Corporation in Orange, Texas laid the keel of the Henry W. Tucker (DD 875) on 29 May 1944. TUCKER was launched on 8 November 1944.

In 1940, Consolidated Steel had a small fabrication yard in Orange Texas when the Navy contracted with them to expand it into a yard capable of building surface combatants. At its peak, the Consolidated Steel Orange yard employed 20,000 people. Between the years 1942 and 1945, among many other ships, the yard fabricated 100 Edsall class Destroyer Escorts, 12 Fletcher class Destroyers and 27 Gearing class destroyers.

Consolidated tried to launch a ship every Saturday! The ship launched would be not much more than the major components and a Tug would immediately tow the ship to a pier to be outfitted. Upon completion of the outfitting, the ship would then be ready for commissioning and her shakedown cruise. The photo is of the USS Duncan (DD 874). She was launched on October 27. TUCKER was next to be launched on November 8, 1944.

At this time, LCDR Orville O. “Ollie” Liebschner was assigned as the first TUCKER Executive Officer.

Almost the entire town would turn out to watch the "splashing" of a new ship. Some of the workers would “ride” the ship to the water, while others would watch from the viewing area. Just prior to each launch, women with a bucket full of pig fat would smear it on each of the skids to help the ship slide into the Sabine River. Now you know the meaning of the phrase "grease the skids."

After the war the yard reverted to being a fabricator and was for many years a division of U.S. Steel. It is now a shipyard again, as a division of Signal International.

Shown is a recent map of the Orange Texas shipyard.

Note the street marked “E. Destroyer Pier Rd”. The old launching piers are now either gone or in disrepair, but one of these were the original birthplace of USS Henry W. Tucker (DD 875).

The commissioning ceremony was held at the city docks about a mile downstream, after the ship was outfitted, NOT at the launching pier.

12 March 1944, while the TUCKER was being constructed, CDR B. H. MEYER, USN, was assigned to become TUCKER’s first commanding officer.


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1945

Henry W. Tucker (DD 875) was commissioned, sponsored by Mrs. Henry Walton Tucker, mother of the late Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class Henry Warren Tucker. The commissioning ceremony was held at the city docks in Orange Texas on 12 March 1945 at 1500 hours. Shown is both the forward and aft view of the ceremony.

Note: Virtus “Skip” Welch, ET2 and his brother Jerome “Jerry” Welch, SO2 were the first of 42 sets of brothers to serve together aboard TUCKER during her 28 years of US Naval service.

The image on the next page was scanned from the USS Henry W, Tucker (DD 875) commissioning ceremony program. The list was originally printed from a typewritten list and is not precisely in alphabetical order, but it represents the actual crew that participated in the ceremony on March 12, 1945, at the city docks in Orange Texas.

There are other sailors that can claim to be plank owners, but the following list is from the “official” program given out to the sailors and guests that day.


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The following diagram is TUCKER original armament identified --

With the DD 692 SUMNER class destroyer continuing to be overloaded with anti-aircraft capabilities to protect the carrier forces, the resulting effect was a lack of speed and required range. In 1943, Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King accepted the BuShips recommendation “that the SUMNER hull be lengthened by 14 feet” so that an additional 160 tons of fuel could be carried. This would result in an increase of range more than the basic SUMNER by 30 percent. The first ship to receive this new hull was USS Gearing (DD 710) and it became the lead ship of the 2200-ton Gearing class destroyers. Of the 98 commissioned Gearing class destroyers, 47 retained their DD classification prior to FRAM with 3 DDs being disqualified due to having been modified for improved steam machinery testing, advances in missile technologies and testing of an advanced propulsion system. Of the remaining 44, All GEARINGS received the FRAM MK I reconstruction.

With the 14 foot extension provided in the middle of the ship, the added space proved vital in relocating some machinery for better balance whereas the SUMNER class destroyers were noted for being "Bow heavy". Other than this 14-foot extension, the SUMNER and GEARING class destroyers were visually identical.


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NOTE: Caliber is defined as the ratio of the gun barrel length to its diameter. Thus the caliber times the diameter gives the length of the gun barrel.

For example, the barrel of a 5 inch 38 caliber gun (sometimes written 5”/38) is 5 x 38 = 190 inches (15’ 7”) long. Because caliber is a ratio, the barrel length will always have the same units (inches or mm) as the diameter. After a brief fitting out period, USS Henry W. Tucker (DD 875) was moved from Orange TX to Galveston on March 15 1945. There, TUCKER performed underway shakedown testing and inspections for 2 weeks. On 29 March, TUCKER headed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. While at Guantanamo Bay, TUCKER loaded weapons, ammunition and supplies.

For the next 19 days, TUCKER underwent sea training and participated in Gunfire shore bombardment exercises, which were performed at Gonaives Island, on the south west coast of Haiti. The other ships participating were USS Duncan (DD 874), USS Perkins (DD 877) and USS Rogers (DD 876). One of TUCKER’s shells completely missed the island and resulted in a failing grade. A good reason for this was the necessity to “tune” the fire control system during actual firing practice. The servos and hydraulics driving the guns needed to be adjusted to prevent a

TUCKER SPECIFICATIONS Displacement 3460 Tons (Full load),

Dimensions 390' 6" x 40' 10" x 14' 4" (Max)

Mean Draft 14 ft. 4 in.

Fuel Capacity 196,000 gallons (4,640 barrels)

Range 5,800 miles at 15 knots

Propulsion Four Babcock and Wilcox 615 PSI 850 DEGF superheated express type boilers supplying two sets of General Electric high pressure, low pressure and cruising turbines generating a total of 60,000 SHP supplied to two shafts each with a 12.5 foot four bladed propeller.

Shaft rpm 350 (max)

Speed 36.5 knots

Complement (typical) 274 (14 Officers, 260 Enlisted)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weapons Pre-FRAM (As built, 1945) –

MAIN: 5” x 127mm L/38, inch twin mounts: two forward, super firing, one aft 2 X triple tube, 12.75 in. Mk 32 torpedoes AA: 12 x 40mm L/56 in two quadruple and two twin mounts, 11 x 20mm L/70 10 533mm torpedo tubes in two quintuple centerline mounts 6 x K-Gun, 30 depth charges, 2 x depth charge track, 26 depth charges

Weapons Post FRAM (Rebuild, 1963) – 2 X 5”/38 caliber twin gun mounts guided by an Mk37 director with Mk25 fire control radar linked by an Mk1a electromechanical analog computer stabilized by a Mk6 8,500 rpm gyro. Antisubmarine rocket launcher (ASROC) with four double celled boxes housing 8 missiles, with a range up to 30 miles from ship, nuclear depth charge capability. Two drone antisubmarine helicopters (DASH) able to deliver two torpedoes up to 30 miles from the ship.


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condition called hunting and to be provided with an accurate firing solution from the Mark-1 analog computer. As with any new ship and crew, this is a learning experience that requires trial and error.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT DIES IN OFFICE Franklin Delano Roosevelt died at his resort in Warm Springs Georgia on 12 April 1945. Vice President Harry S. Truman was sworn in as the 33rd President.

Among the other weapons tested were the depth charges. A depth charge would be released from one of the racks on the fantail and TUCKER would monitor the shock wave within the ship for potential damage. Unfortunately, one such detonation was close enough and violent enough to cause minor damage to a hull seam. The pending trip to Norfolk included these hull repairs.

Upon completion of this short training period, TUCKER was underway from Guantanamo on 20 April 1945. TUCKER headed north and arrived in Norfolk VA (Portsmouth Naval Shipyard) on 23 April 1945 for conversion to a radar picket ship.

It would not be until March 1949, that TUCKER would be officially re-designated as DDR 875.

This image is not too clear but --

At the top of the mast is the bedspring appearing SC-2 air-search unit with the smaller SG surface-search unit just ahead and below it. The smaller panel atop the SC-2 is a dual system IFF unit (Identification Friend or Foe) and IFF transponder antennas are seen at each end of the yardarm. They are ski pole like in appearance. The TBS antenna (Talk Between Ships) sits next to the port side IFF transponder antenna. Below in the image is the MK-12 antenna portion of the MK-37 that provided target location information to the gunners. The Mk 12 wasn't good at detecting low-altitude targets due to skip echoes from the water, so the Mk 22 ("banana peel antenna") was placed on the side and used solely to detect low flying aircraft just above the horizon.

This DDR conversion required removing the torpedo tubes. Most visible was the replacement of the small tripod after-mast with a larger one to support the antenna for the altitude-measuring radar (SP-8). Another change was to the fire control computer. The original Mark 1 analog computer was replaced by the more capable Mark 1A analog computer. This allowed the computer to solve for the 40mm anti-aircraft guns as well as the 5”/38 guns.

THE WAR IN EUROPE ENDS The war in Europe ended on 22 April 1945. In anticipation of the invasion of Japan, 24 Gearing class destroyers began conversion as radar picket ships that could provide early warning of massed attack without overwhelming their Combat Information Centers. Twelve of the first thirteen ships to be completed (DDs 742, 743, 805, 806, 807, 808, 829, 873, 874, 875, 876 and 877) were selected in January. Twelve more (DDs 830-835 and 878-883) were selected in May. Conversions were carried out at Boston Navy Yard and Norfolk. This involved replacing the forward torpedo tube mount with a tripod mast for height finding radar and other systems. These destroyers were not officially designated as DDR until 1949.

This conversion work was completed on 13 June 1945 and TUCKER left Norfolk to head back toward Guantanamo Bay. After getting underway, a meeting was held in which radio technician Paul Esmay, ET1 gave a presentation to some of the ET’s, Radiomen and Electricians that a wire connection opportunity was missed aboard the TUCKER. The precision range and bearing from the new air search radar along with ship’s motion information from the stable element gyro is needed for the fire control analog computer. ENS R. F. Herre of R division took this presentation to


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CDR B. H. Meyer and explained this modification could be done and no existing capability of the ship would be lost. The captain agreed and the wiring changes were made. To test the modification, garbage was dumped overboard. It would show up on the radar and TUCKER would steam off a distance. TUCKER gunners would then take a shot at the garbage and after a little more “tuning”, the crew got pretty good at making the target disappear.

Before arriving at Guantanamo, TUCKER made an intermediate stop at Culebra Island (half way between Puerto Rico and St. Thomas). Since 1939, the U.S. Navy had used the Culebra Archipelago as a gunnery and bombing practice site. More gunnery practice resulted in even more consistent accuracy.

TUCKER was assigned her first homeport, Casco Bay (Portland Maine) and was assigned as a member of DESRON 10.

At this time TUCKER gunners practiced with a new type of 5” Anti-aircraft shells. The theory of the new shells was simplicity itself. The fuse contained a miniature radio transmitter-receiver, which would send out a signal. When the signal reflected back from the target reached a certain frequency, caused by the proximity of the target, a circuit in the fuse closed, firing a small charge in the base of the fuse that detonated the projectile. This new shell detonation circuit was called a VT fuse, for “Virtual Target”.

Traveling north, along the east coast of the US, a hurricane was found to be in the path of the ship near Cape Hatteras NC. This storm, which had intensified over the Gulf, crossed the Florida mainland and was heading north in the Gulf Stream.

TUCKER again arrived in Norfolk on 26 June, to repair minor damage sustained, mostly main deck and the forward gun mount due to the storm. Leaving Norfolk on 28 June, TUCKER entered Casco Bay and reported to her new homeport, Portland Maine.

Operating out of Casco Bay from 10 July until 20 September, TUCKER participated in anti-submarine duties in connection with radar and anti-aircraft experimental exercises. TUCKER operated with Task force 69 under the command of Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee, along with other units of the force consisting of USS Dennis J. Buckley (DD 808), USS Edward H. Allen (DE 531), USS Tweedy (DE 532), LCS(L) (1), LCS(L) (5), LCS(L) (6), LSM (455), USS Wyoming (AG 17) and USS Bremerton (CA 130). BREMERTON was the flagship for Admiral Jonas Ingram, Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet.

On 25 July, TUCKER anchored for two days in the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick. The fog was so thick, that the shoreline could not be seen from the ship. The fog cleared two days later and TUCKER once more got underway to continue exercises.

TUCKER participated in anti-aircraft exercises in which target sleeves were being towed by a small plane. This exercise would place participating destroyers steaming in a single line about 1000 yards apart. The target sleeve would be towed past this line of destroyers. Each would, in turn, take their best shot, until one of them would hit the sleeve. TUCKER was usually at the end of the line. On at least one of those exercises, TUCKER was at the back end of the line and having first try; TUCKER hit all the sleeves, thereby ending the exercise.

It was also at this time that TUCKER gun crews set an all-time record in gunnery by shooting an 80 foot pattern with her combined guns at a distance of 5 miles.


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THE WAR IN THE PACIFIC ENDS An atom bomb (Little Boy) was dropped over Hiroshima on 6 August 1945, then on 9 August 1945, an atom bomb (Fat Man) was dropped over Nagasaki. The Surrender of Japan took place on August 15, 1945, thus ending the Second World War in the Pacific.

Operations also consisted of conducting various training and experimental exercises in the Casco Bay area. One of those exercises, in early September, near Casco Bay, was to be a target for planes practicing strafing runs. One plane didn't quite pull up fast enough and hit TUCKER’s bedspring radar antenna, damaging it. TUCKER entered the Boston Naval shipyard on 9 September 1945 for repairs.

After completion of repairs, TUCKER left the shipyard on 20 September. After VJ day, 20 September 1945, TUCKER was detached from duty with Task force 69. On 20 October TUCKER left Casco Bay, bound for a new assignment in the Pacific. She arrived in St. Petersburg FL and spent Navy Day there on 27 October. St. Petersburg happened also to be the hometown of Commanding Officer CDR B. H. Meyer.

TUCKER traversed the Panama Canal on the way to San Diego in November 1945. She is waiting to be lowered to Miraflores Lake at the middle lock on the Pacific side.

TUCKER got underway on 31 October, to Pensacola Florida. After replenishing, refueling and 5 days of liberty she headed for the Panama Canal. On 9 November 1945, TUCKER departed to the Pacific area by way of the Panama Canal. The squadron arrived at Coca Sola, Canal Zone, on 11 November. Coca Sola was the Navy’s old air base at that time. Outside the gate is the city of Colon Panama. The next day TUCKER transited the canal, en route to San Diego. She arrived in San Diego on November 20 and three days later, departed with USS Dennis J. Buckley (DD 808) as flagship of DESDIV 16, USS Bordelon (DD 881), USS Leary (DD 879), USS Dyess (DD 880), USS Hanson (DD 832), USS Turner (DD 834) and USS Floyd B. Parks (DD 884). They were underway for Pearl Harbor and arrived there on 28 November.

After several days in Pearl Harbor, the eight destroyers left Pearl on 9 December and continued toward Japan. On the way, a storm with very brisk winds was encountered and the SP radar antenna of BORDELON had to be secured, as the rotation motors were unable to control the heavy antenna. At one point BORDELON rolled 54 degrees. Surviving the storm at sea, they reached the waters of Tokyo Bay on 22 December 1945. The storm was finally abating, when TUCKER lookouts spotted two mines that had been drifting loose in the heavy

weather. A couple of well-placed 20mm shots took care of the mines. TUCKER arrived in Yokosuka with less than a day's supply of fuel.

After 5 days in Yokosuka, TUCKER got underway for Sasebo, arriving there on 29 December 1945.


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1946 During January, February and March 1946, TUCKER was on occupational duty among the Japanese home islands and in the Ryukyu Islands. This was the start of 4 months of “occupational duty” of the home islands of Japan. This duty also included retrieving and delivering mail to Army and Marine units occupying the Japanese islands.

There were stops at Sasebo on 29 December, Nagoya, Japan on 6 January, Buckner Bay Okinawa 17 January, Amami and Naze in the Ryuku Islands on 29 January, Buckner Bay again on 2 February, Miyako on 12 February, Buckner Bay again on 13 March and finally back to Yokosuka on 18 March.

Crew liberty at these ports of call mostly consisted of softball on the beach, a little Japanese beer (If it could be found) and maybe you could borrow a horse (cheap) for riding.

The crew was placed into four rotating sections.

Section 1- Shipboard duties

Section 2- Recreation on the beach

Section 3- Liberty in town

Section 4- Patrol

The patrol group would wear a 45 pistol and each day a part of the island was inspected for anything the Japanese may have stashed away. Some gun emplacements were found; some corsairs (aircraft) that may have been shot down and other contraband were also found.

In late January, TUCKER steamed to pick up mail from a group of cruisers for eventual delivery to land forces. The occupation duty cruisers at that time were USS Oklahoma City (CL 91), USS Columbus (CL 63) and USS Topeka (CL 67). The Cruisers were operating together nearby a small island. Located in a cove on the far side of that island was a small-unmanned boat. The cruisers were, in turn, firing at the boat for target practice, but without success.

CDR Meyer requested an opportunity for TUCKER to have a shot at the target. After some discussion about destroyers not being capable of shore bombardment, the request was granted. TUCKER steamed broadside to the distant target, fired one salvo and the small vessel disappeared.

TUCKER left Yokosuka, homeward bound by way of Honolulu on 25 March. Leaving Pearl on 22 April, TUCKER anchored in San Diego Bay on 28 April 1946. There she remained for personnel demobilization. TUCKER operated out of San Diego until October when she was ordered to Richmond CA in San Francisco Bay, for Navy Day on 21 October. More than 10,000 people visited TUCKER during her stay in Richmond.

After leaving Richmond CA, TUCKER conducted training exercises in the West Coast operating areas until she entered the Naval Shipyard, Mare Island, north of San Francisco in late October 1946, for an overhaul period.

After completion of the overhaul in late November 1946, TUCKER returned to San Diego, California.

21 November 1946, while in the shipyard, CDR J. D. FERGUSON, USN, relieved CDR B. H. MEYER, USN, and became TUCKER’s second commanding officer.


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SINO AMERICAN RELATIONS

Late 1946 was a time of change in the history of Chinese-American relations. For four years since the outbreak of the Pacific War, thousands of American servicemen had been in China rubbing shoulders with the Chinese. When victory finally came, more United States troops (mainly the Marines of the Third Amphibious Corps) poured in and the Chinese hailed them as heroes.

In less than a year, however, as hostilities between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) escalated, the Americans were caught in the crossfire. Along the communication lines in North China, armed clashes between US and CCP forces escalated; in the cities, anti-American rallies became daily occurrences. The Chinese now became hostile to its former allies; wherever US servicemen went, they received boos from the locals. The rupture seemed to be irreversible.

US forces started to evacuate. George Marshall, the presidential envoy to China, also ended his yearlong mediation, thus bringing the extraordinary intercourse between the two nations to an anticlimactic conclusion.

For the next 2 years, the forces of Mao Tse-tung pushed slowly across China. It was not until 1949 that all of China was under the Communist influence and control.

THE NEW POST WAR NAVY Now, almost two years into the post-WWII era, the new task for the Navy was to:

Make do with fairly new WWII ships and equipment. This of course included the relatively new USS Henry W. Tucker (DDR 875).

Drastically reduce the size of the naval forces to less than 500,000 from a war size of 4,000,000.

Reduce the number of Navy ships from 1200 to 250.

Depend on the deterrence of a strong nuclear capability and an emerging capable Air Force.

The role of “occupation duties” was coming to a close, even though Japanese occupation did not formally end until 1952. Plans to equip and train South Korean and Japanese defense forces were seen to be one way to further reduce naval presence in the Far East.

But, sometimes the best-laid plans go awry. This smaller Navy possibly contributed to the instability in the Far East. The Russians and the emerging Communist Chinese saw the United States to be weary of and to be soon unable to maintain a strong presence in the Western Pacific.

The new power struggles in Asia were just beginning ---


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1947

In January, TUCKER went into dry dock at Mare Island for repairs. At this time, the crew attended atomic warfare school.

This photo of the TUCKER was taken at the south end of Mare Island Shipyard, 29 January 1947.

Leaving Mare Island 3 February 1947, TUCKER participated in fleet exercises from 27 February until late March, returning to San Diego on 29 March 1947.

For the next six weeks, final training and preparations were made for another tour of the Far East. On 12 May 1947, TUCKER again departed for the Far East for duty off the coasts of China and Japan.

LCDR Ben H. Stough Jr. the Executive Officer had his tour in TUCKER extended because his replacement, LCDR Fred Bertsch Jr. was not yet released from his prior duty.

Arriving Shanghai, China, on 8 June 1947, her duties were to consist of deterring smuggling along the coast, being a visible presence of force and delivering mail to occupation forces on the various islands. On 15 July, TUCKER headed for Okinawa for refueling and to receive her new Executive Officer, LCDR Fred Bertsch Jr.

Two days later, after the new XO was installed, TUCKER was ordered to depart Okinawa for Tsingtao China. The Communist Chinese had essentially surrounded Tsingtao and it was expected that it was only a matter of time that the entire Shantung peninsula would fall in the hands of the Communists.

In June 1947, the mission of protecting American lives and property in China fell to the First Marine Forces Westpac at Tsingtao. On orders from the Commander, Naval Forces Western Pacific, FMFWesPac was to have an infantry battalion ready at all times to air-transport American nationals to safe locations. Surprise alerts local surveillance and practice air lifts were a constant feature of the Marine training program thereafter.


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On 19 July, three U.S. Marine pilots stationed in Tsingtao, participating in surveillance of Communist activities, were shot down by small arms fire a bit north of Tsingtao.

Among other aircraft, the Tsingtao Marine contingent flew these F4U Corsairs. It was a very versatile and capable plane.

Heavy weather dogging those exercises was partly responsible for the loss of the three Corsairs. The pilots of two were recovered quickly, one from the sea and another from a friendly sector of the Tsingtao countryside; the third plane had its fuel tank punctured by small arms fire. The pilot was taken by the Communists when he landed out of fuel on the south shore mud flats of the Shantung Peninsula. A few weeks later his plane was sighted on 28 August and TUCKER was requested to get underway.

TUCKER was anchored at Tsingtao at the time. She was ordered to investigate and attempt to recover the pilot if possible and destroy any classified documents or material remaining in the plane.

TUCKER approached the shoreline near the location given for the downed aircraft. The sea was calm, but as she was still more than a half-mile from shore, the sonar depth finder read zero. At this time the leadsman became the eyes of the ship.

The lead (Rhymes with dead.) is one of the oldest and simplest, but most useful instruments on board ship. It is usually seven to fourteen pounds in weight and attached to a marked line. It is thrown forward by hand and as the slowly moving ship nears where the lead sank, the depth is noted and called out.

As TUCKER inched forward onto the mud bank, the leadsman called out “Soft bottom, hard to get an accurate reading.” When he called out the depth as about the draft of the ship, at last, TUCKER dropped anchor. The anchor was set at “Short Stay”, meaning, only one anchor was dropped and it was raised just enough to not set hard into the mud. The engines were ready for a quick escape if necessary, as it was of concern that the auxiliary seawater pump for the main steam condenser, which returns boiler feed water, could possibly foul with mud.

A ten-man landing party was assembled consisting of one officer and 9 enlisted men. They were all armed with rifles and they also had a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) and a portable radio. Now they were ready to board the motor whaleboat for the trip ashore.

Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) The BAR was most often used without the support pod, but it was hard to control in the automatic mode due to its light weight and the powerful shells.

The landing party’s instructions were to find the crash site, rescue the pilot if possible and to destroy any classified documents that may be there. As the motor whaleboat approached the shore, the landing party realized that the whaleboat was not really suited for a beach landing. Feeling

exposed to whatever was there, made them uneasy, they nevertheless debarked and started inland. The motor whaleboat retired offshore about 50 yards to wait.

The landing party moved inland, facing no opposition and found the plane, but no pilot. The Communists had already taken him into custody. The landing party removed all documents and material remaining in the plane and began their way back to the waiting whaleboat. Suddenly there was harassing fire from some Communist irregulars and the fire was returned. There were no casualties and the men made a safe return to the whaleboat, then back to TUCKER. Upon getting underway, engineering reported the condensers were clear of mud after the normal flow of seawater had washed through.


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Fifteen days later the pilot was returned unharmed, but only after lengthy negotiations, the submission of a letter explaining the incident from Admiral Cooke (Commander 7th Fleet) and the payment of $1,000 plus medical supplies as compensation for damages supposedly sustained by the Communists.

TUCKER returned this time to Shanghai, to resume her regular duties as US Naval presence along the coastline. Taking the direct route instead of the more seaward route from the Shantung Peninsula to the mouth of the Yangtze River, TUCKER passed along mud banks that in some places stretched miles to sea. In some instances the mud banks have caused the sea to be as shallow as 20 feet deep outward of 10 miles from the shore. This made the trip a little more perilous. Upon arrival off the sea buoy at the river mouth, TUCKER was met by the pilot boat. The pilot, a Russian who spoke perfect English, gave a continuous “guided tour” narration all the way to the Woosung anchorage area at Shanghai.

Boat people were everywhere and it was a constant effort to keep the merchants who were trying to sell their wares from climbing aboard, but climb aboard, they did. The fantail area looked like a shopping bazaar. It would be several more years before the US Navy finally stopped the practice of allowing merchants to board ship to set up their shops.

For the next couple of months, TUCKER would make her presence known along the coast and she made a visit to both the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong and Manila, Philippines. During one stay in Tsingtao, TUCKER went alongside USS Dixie (AD 14) for boiler repair.

It was seen as only a matter of time the US Navy would need an additional full service replenish and repair facility in the western Pacific. They were about to lose two of their far-east ports used for minor repairs and replenishments. Those ports were Tsingtao and Shanghai. It was deemed a good investment to create another Far East ship repair facility and Subic Bay was selected as that investment for the future. During this interim time, the port was mostly used for anchor and tie up to a repair tender and could do some replenishments as necessary.

Back on 17 March, 1946 an agreement with the Philippine Government over the use and modernization of Subic Bay originally used by the Spanish, then occupied by the Japanese was reached. Cubi Point Naval air station began construction. The very hilly little island in the bay needed to be leveled and prepared for a landing strip. The Naval facilities at Subic Bay also needed a major overhaul and reconstruction along with relocating the city of Olongapo. Therefore it was not until 1951 that this distant US Naval outpost was completely ready for its new role for the Navy in WESTPAC.

Shown is an aerial view of the Subic Naval facilities as they appeared about 30 years ago. Cubi Point Naval air station is on the left and the Subic Bay US Naval facility is on the right.

Back in Shanghai again, TUCKER was released from China Station duties in Mid-November and made a routine independent cruise home to San Diego. Fuel was topped off and once eastward past the Ryukyu Archipelago, a great circle route (The shortest distance) was plotted. This route took her into the North Pacific Ocean, about midway between Hawaii and the Aleutians. The entire trip home was in calm seas and there was no fuel stop either at Midway Island or Pearl Harbor.


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1948 In early January, TUCKER got underway from Long Beach to begin a new training cycle. Arriving in San Diego on 8 January, she moored alongside the destroyers of DESDIV 11, which included USS Orleck (DD 886), USS Brinkley Bass (DD 887), USS Floyd B. Parks (DD 884) and USS John R. Craig (DD 885).

The Destroyers of DESDIV 51 were scattered on various duties. They were not able to train together as a division in January. TUCKER as part of DESDIV 52, got underway on 27 January from San Diego, beginning new training exercises with the destroyers of DESDIV 11. That day they rendezvoused with USS Boxer (CV 21) to practice flight operations. The next day, while still steaming in formation with BOXER, TUCKER, USS Orleck (DD 886), USS Brinkley Bass (DD 887), USS Floyd B. Parks (DD 884) and USS John R. Craig (DD 885) she participated in gunnery drills by firing at an aircraft towed sleeve. After four more days of plane guard practice, TUCKER returned to San Diego.

In Mid-February, DESDIV 11 left the west coast and steamed to Pearl Harbor. From there, they formed an advance group to head for the Marshall Islands (Enewetok Atoll) to sweep the area and protect the preparations for Operation Sandstone. TUCKER remained in San Diego and in February, steamed back to Long Beach and entered dry dock. During this time, TUCKER and the other members of DESDIV 52 were ordered to prepare to get underway for participation in Operation Sandstone.

USS Duncan (DD 874) was operating in the Long Beach area at the time. She left Long Beach with COMDESDIV 52 aboard, at 1500 on a Sunday afternoon for training operations. Escorting the seaplane Tender USS Albemarle (AV 5) and the carrier USS Princeton (CVL 23), the next morning DUNCAN had a dawn General Quarters drill. Five minutes after going back to Condition Three, there was an explosion aft, shaking the entire ship. An acetylene explosion had occurred from a bottle used in a shop in the rear starboard quarter. On returning to normal condition, the gas was noticed by odor and the ship fitter who was opening up the compartment cautioned everyone in the after living compartment not to smoke. He then went in the shop, closed the bottle and turned on a fan. That did it. A spark from the fan ignited the explosive atmosphere. He was killed, 6 others had flash burns bad enough to be hospitalized and 8 others were burned and injured. Holes were blown in the hull below the water line, the top of the after voids were punctured, the steering gear wrecked, depth charges were blown over the side and the main deck seams split and raised a foot. The starboard shaft was out of line by six inches but ran well enough. DUNCAN limped back to Long Beach. A month later she was still in the yard. This put DUNCAN temporarily out of commission and therefore she could not participate in Operation Sandstone.

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COMDESDIV 52 transferred his flag from DUNCAN to TUCKER and in early March 1948, TUCKER steamed independently to Pearl Harbor. There she met up with the other two remaining members of DESDIV 52. Besides


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TUCKER, DESDIV 52 consisted only of USS Rogers (DD 876) and USS Perkins (DD 877). The three ships departed for duty with Joint Task Force 7, "Operation Sandstone", at Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands. DESDIV 52 was assigned to the surveillance group for this second series of atomic tests. TUCKER, ROGERS and PERKINS arrived at Enewetok at the time the advance group (DESDIV 11) was relieved. All preparations were nearing completion and this was the actual beginning of Operation Sandstone.

Enewetok atoll is a grouping of about 40 to 80 small islands, depending on what you count as an island, forming a circle about 20 miles in diameter around a lagoon of about 150 feet deep. This atoll is part of the Marshall Islands and is about 200 miles to the east of Bikini Atoll, also in the Marshall Islands, where Operation Crossroads took place two years before.

Operation Sandstone was the second test series to be held in the Marshall Islands, but it differed from the first series (Crossroads, 1946) in that it was primarily an Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) scientific test series with the armed forces serving in a supporting role. Its purpose was to "proof-test improved design" atomic weapons, whereas the purpose of Crossroads was an underwater blast to test nuclear weapons effects on ships.

The weapons were tested at Eniwetok by a joint military and civilian organization designated Joint Task Force 7 (JTF 7). This was a military organization in form, but contained military, civil service and contractor personnel from the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). The commander of this force was the appointed representative for the AEC and reported to both the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Commander in Chief, Pacific. Captain Thomas Burrowes was aboard USS Mount McKinley (AGC 7) and was given command of the naval task unit at Eniwetok during the atomic tests in 1948. His services there won Captain Burrowes a letter of commendation from the Secretary of the Navy, John L. Sullivan.

USS Gardiners Bay (AVP 39), a seaplane tender and eight destroyers provided continuous surveillance in the ocean areas around Enewetok Atoll. The Destroyers that participated in Operation Sandstone with USS Henry W. Tucker (DD 875) were USS Rogers (DD 876), USS Currier (DE 700), USS George (DE 697), USS Marsh (DE 699), USS Perkins (DD 877), USS Raby (DE 698) and USS Spangler (DE 696).

For the next 6 weeks, each of the ships would be given patrol duty alternating with some time off for R&R. The resting periods would be perhaps a day on the beach, or possibly swim call while in the lagoon. When it was time for one of the detonations, TUCKER’s assignment would be sector ABLE in the northeast direction, only about 10 miles from ground zero. USS Mount McKinley (AGC 7) was the command ship. TUCKER was the closest of any ship to “ground zero”. A few official observers were aboard, each with specific monitoring tasks. Some, but not all personnel on deck were provided with simple dark glasses and strips of film that would be used to measure the amount of radiation exposure each person would receive. When the blast was to occur, all were asked to turn away and close eyes tightly so as to not look directly at the blast.

As soon as the blast would occur, the observers would turn around to see a belt of light flash from the center of the explosion. The smoke and flame would boil up in the center forming a huge mushroom cloud that looked pink in the early morning light. A B29 aircraft would then fly through the cloud gathering air samples. Soon after the blast, observers aboard TUCKER could see palm fronds and other debris floating nearby. The radiation dosage received by those aboard TUCKER was within acceptable levels, but was above the amount received by the other destroyers and destroyer escorts due to TUCKER’s closer proximity to the blasts and to TUCKER’s “down wind” location.


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Three atomic weapons were detonated in the early morning during Operation Sandstone:

Shot “X-Ray” 15 April from a 200 ft. tower Enjebi Island 37kt. (Blast occurred at 0617) Shot “Yoke” 1 May from a 200 ft. tower Aomon Island 49kt (Blast occurred at 0609) Shot “Zebra” 15 May from a 200 ft. tower Runit Island 18kt. (Blast occurred at 0604)

SHOT XRAY SHOT YOKE SHOT ZEBRA Each shot differed in size and makeup to determine the efficiency and residual radioactivity of each type.

Before each shot, a weather watch was maintained to ensure the days selected for the tests would have favorable weather. Wind direction and velocity at all relevant altitudes were critical to minimize the possibility of fallout from the radioactive cloud on task force ships and any inhabited islands. Light variable winds, which made forecasting more difficult and winds with a northerly component presented unfavorable conditions for firing. Clouds that would interfere with the visual direction of drone aircraft also made firing conditions unfavorable. Additionally, heavy cloud cover would interfere with aerial photography, but since this was not essential to scientific recording, this condition could be tolerated if other criteria were favorable. Rain showers that could be predicted as “few” and “scattered” were acceptable.

Summary of TUCKER schedule of support for Operation Sandstone– (Source Deck logs)

April 15 On station in sector ABLE during shot XRAY April 16 to 20 No official duties, R&R, refuel with USS Mispillion (AO 105), replenish with USS Arequipa (AF 31) April 21 ASW sweeping duty outside Wide Passage April 22 to 25 ASW sweeping duty outside Deep Entrance April 26 No official duties, R&R, refuel with USS Mispillion (AO 105) April 27 to 30 ASW and AAW patrol in Sector DOG May 1 On station in sector ABLE during shot YOKE May 2, 3, 4 ASW and AAW patrol in Sector ABLE May 5 to 8 No official duties, R&R, refuel with USS Mispillion (AO 105) May 9 to 12 ASW and AAW patrol in Sector BAKER May 13, 14 ASW and AAW patrol in Sector DOG May 15 On station in sector ABLE during shot ZEBRA May 16 to 20 No official duties, prepare for convoy back to Pearl Harbor

May 21 Depart for Pearl Harbor


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Shown is a copy of the Certificate given to all the participating ship’s crews and others of Joint Task Force 7 for their contributions to Operation Sandstone.

Issued by – “Grand Council Exclusive Order of the Enewetok Guinea Pigs”

The certificate wording is as follows –

To all loyal Brother Pigs, Greetings, Know Ye, that (recipient’s name) having through an exaggerated sense of patriotism subjected his body to the rigors attendant to atomic weapons, gamma rays, rain storms, mermaids, small boats, canned beer, jeeps, rationed water, telephones, small planes, palm trees, helicopters, sea shells, sand fleas, coconuts, mal-de-mer and the like is by this document accorded full status as a Brother Pig and all brothers are hereby commanded to give him due recognition as same under penalty of being driven from the common trough. Given under my hand this spring day of 1948.

The certificate was signed by –

“Grand Dispenser of the Slop”

James G. Russell, CAPT USN

“Royal Director of the Trough”

Darel Froman, Ph.D. Los Alamos

And finally –

“All Highest Ruler of Guinea Pig Heaven”

John E. Hull, Lt GEN, USA

TUCKER in company with USS Perkins (DD 877), USS Raby (DE 698), USS George (DE 697) and USS Spangler (DE 696) departed Enewetok atoll on 21 May 1948 and provided screen for USS Albemarle (AV 5) and USS Bairoko (CVE 115), while en route to Pearl Harbor.

Arriving in Pearl Harbor, TUCKER was not allowed to tie to a pier because of local fears of residual radiation. TUCKER anchored just outside the entrance to Pearl Harbor where she took on fuel for the return trip to CONUS. She was directed to Hunter’s Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco. In 1948 Hunters Point was a site for radioactive materials storage and testing.

Hunters Point Shipyard as it appeared in July 1948. Note four Aircraft Carriers are in port. Today it is a development consisting of housing, shops and parks. It was located near where Candlestick Park is today.


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TUCKER was moved into dry-dock and “sandblasted” with corncobs to rid the superstructure of any residual radiation. The Navy began using larger (non-wartime) size hull numbers for their ships in late 1946, so TUCKER received her large hull numbers at this time.

Shown is the original small (war time) hull number and the new larger hull number.

TUCKER arrived back to the Long Beach Naval Shipyard on 28 June 1948. TUCKER

was ready for a regularly scheduled overhaul.

KOREA IS SPLIT UP BY COLD WAR POLITICS After the allied victory in World War II ended Japan’s 35-year colonial rule of Korea, the United States and the USSR agreed to temporarily occupy the country as a trusteeship, with the zone of control at the 38th parallel. In August of 1948, South Korea elected their separate government headed by Syngman Rhee, thereby providing a counterpoint to the North Korean government controlled by Kim Il-sung. In September the Soviet Union removed all their troops from North Korea. All efforts on the part of the Koreans and the United Nations failed to reunite the two Koreas, as marked differences in their ideology prevented the possibility of a single Korea.

TUCKER departed the Naval Shipyard in Long Beach, on 8 September 1948. For most of the next 3 months, she underwent a period of training in the West Coast operating areas.

19 August 1948 --CDR Rex B. LITTLE, USN, relieved CDR James D. FERGUSON, USN, and became TUCKER’s third commanding officer


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1949

On 3 January 1949, TUCKER was a member of DESDIV 52. Besides TUCKER, DESDIV 52 consisted of USS Duncan (DDR 874), USS Rogers (DDR 876) and USS Perkins (DDR 877). They departed San Diego for Long Beach in preparation for their journey to the Western Pacific, her third extended tour in that area. After final provisioning and other business, DESDIV 52 along with the assault minesweeper USS Thompson (DMS 38) got underway for Pearl Harbor, Various training exercises were conducted by the task group while on course to Pearl Harbor before arriving there on 10 January. More ASW and gunnery training exercises were conducted in the Hawaiian operating waters over the next 15 days.

PRESIDENT TRUMAN IS INAUGURATED The 33rd President of the United States Harry S. Truman, having defeated Thomas E. Dewey, gave his first inaugural address to the Nation on 20 January 1949.

TUCKER got underway again on 26 January, to her assigned China station at Tsingtao (Now known as Qingdao) accompanied by DUNCAN, ROGERS and PERKINS. Five days later, THOMPSON rejoined the formation, after returning to Pearl Harbor with a medical emergency. TUCKER crossed the International Date Line on Friday 28 January and changed her date to Sunday, 30 January. Late in the evening of 4 February, TUCKER and the remainder of DESDIV 52 arrived in Yokosuka Harbor. The next morning after refueling, she continued her journey to Tsingtao.

THE RISE OF COMMUNIST CHINA On 21 January 1949, China’s Chiang Kai-shek resigned his presidency, as his Nationalist armies suffered reverses at the hands of the communists. The defeat of the Nationalist armies forced an American withdrawal. In May, US Marines provided a security force that ensured the escape of hundreds of foreign nationals in Shanghai who might otherwise have ended up in Communist prisons. Finally, on October 1, 1949, Mao Tse-tung appeared outside the gates of the Forbidden City (Beijing) and declared victory for “The People's Republic of China”. From this day forward, the Communists ruled in China.

Arriving in Tsingtao on 7 February, TUCKER anchored in the outer harbor of Tsingtao and began normal operations in support of US Forces stationed in strategic locations along the coast of China, principally Tsingtao and Shanghai. Tsingtao is located approximately 175 nautical miles North-Northwest of Shanghai. On 11 February, about 20 US Navy personnel and 10 civilians of various nationalities were taken aboard for transfer to Shanghai. TUCKER anchored at the Woosung anchorage in Shanghai the following day. Four days later, she returned to Tsingtao.

The Wangpoo River flows from downtown Shanghai, north into the Yangtze River. The intersection of these rivers is called the Woosung anchorage. From there it is more than 20 miles to the mouth of the Yangtze River. The Yangtze River here is mostly muddy and is about 5 miles wide. Another anchorage at the Saddle Islands, 60 miles distant, was called the Alacrity anchorage. US Navy ships frequently used this anchorage.


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For the next 7 weeks, TUCKER would alternately leave Tsingtao for scheduled fleet ASW and gunnery exercises, before returning again to Tsingtao for a couple of resting and replenishing days in port.

TUCKER along with USS Duncan (DD 874) USS Rogers (DD 874) and USS Perkins (DD 877) participated in ASW exercises with the submarine USS Pomfret (SS 391) on 18 February. Serving aboard POMFRET at that time was a young Ensign, James Earl “Jimmy” Carter. Carter was at that time POMFRET’s gunnery officer.

Jimmy Carter and his gunnery crew on deck of the USS Pomfret (SS 391).

During this time, the task force encountered a quickly rising vicious storm. Waves crashed over TUCKER’s bow and alternately washed up over the fantail. At one point, those on duty in the pilothouse saw several waterspouts that were spawned from the storm.

Once the storm subsided, the damage to TUCKER was seen to be minimal, except a pulley on one of the davits holding the starboard motor whaleboat had come loose. The boat dangling only by one end had pounded against the side, during the storm and was destroyed.

TUCKER operated for a while without her whaleboat, instead using the Captain’s gig on the port side as necessary until a new whaleboat could be obtained.

TUCKER returned once more to Tsingtao on 4 March and went alongside the Destroyer Tender USS Dixie (AD 14) for two weeks of boiler repair. Upon completion, TUCKER got underway for a week of exercises with the Escort Carrier USS Rendova (CVL 114) in area waters.

Although almost 4 years passed since she was outfitted to be a radar picket destroyer in the Norfolk shipyard, TUCKER was officially classified as DDR 875 on 18 March 1949. This designation would last until 1963, when she would undergo the FRAM conversion in Boston, MA, at which time she would again become DD 875.

TUCKER got underway independently from Tsingtao on 4 April for a visit to Takao, Formosa. (Now called Kaohsiung, Taiwan) Arriving the next day, TUCKER stayed just more than a day and then headed for Hong Kong for a little R&R.

Leaving Hong Kong after 8 days, TUCKER stopped at Buckner Bay for refueling and to participate in exercises with the other ships of DESDIV 52. A photography crew came aboard to record the various exercises. One of those exercises was towing practice whereby TUCKER took USS Perkins (DD 877) under tow. Gunnery practice followed and even a depth charge was exploded. At one point, TUCKER broke off to recover the towed sleeve that was knocked off the drone. The photography crew was then dropped off in Buckner Bay.

Underway again, TUCKER anchored at the saddle Islands anchorage outside of Shanghai on 26 April, where a lot had begun happening. The communist Chinese were steadily advancing toward Shanghai, fighting the Nationalists headed by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. No one knew at the time what kind of relationship the U.S. or the British would have with this new regime. The next day in a dense fog, TUCKER took on a river pilot and moved to the Woosung anchorage up the Yangtze River to Shanghai. The ships present there were USS (LST 846), USS (LST


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855), USS LCS(L) (989), USS Diachenko (APD 123), USS Chilton (APA 38), the French Frigate CDT De Pimodan, the British Frigate HMS Black Swan (F 57) and the British Destroyer HMS Constance (D 71).

DIASHENKO left Shanghai with US Citizen evacuees on 26 April. DIACHENKO was one of three WWII Destroyer Escorts converted to a high-speed transport ship and the hospital ship USS Repose (AH 16) left with more evacuees the next day. REPOSE returned and anchored with TUCKER.

While in Shanghai, the crew acquired and kept three pets aboard, a little black dog, (not named), a cute little terrier dog named “Four-Bits” and a rabbit named “Two-Bits”. Their names derived from how much they cost. The black dog strayed or got lost while the ship was in Okinawa and unfortunately Four Bits was crushed beneath one of the 40mm mounts during a firing exercise. The fate of the rabbit is unknown.

The Yangtze River current usually is about 8 miles per hour downstream, especially in the spring, except at high tide, when the current could reverse to as much as 7 miles per hour upstream. This made the TUCKER whaleboat nearly unusable. Transport between ships and shore was usually done by USS LCS(L) (989), a troop transport which was much better at navigating the constantly changing currents.

The LCS had clamshell doors for the bow. The Skipper and crew a coxswain and a man running the engines could live aboard. The LCS could carry many people, or tons of freight and foodstuffs. The LCS had 8 General Motors diesel engines, 4 per screw shaft.

The US Consulate was in the process of abandoning 18 of 20 warehouses and some of the TUCKER crewmembers were asked and volunteered to help move 30 US vehicles. The streets were wide, but packed with vehicles of all descriptions, so the convoy had to go really slow. The vehicle drivers were given access to any items in the warehouses that would have been left behind. Among the items TUCKER volunteers picked up were office paper, typewriters, paint and even emergency pumps.

The convoy is negotiating through the crowded streets of Shanghai during the evacuation.

On the morning of 30 April, the watch detail found the anchor dragging in the fast moving river current. TUCKER had to get underway to reposition and reset the anchor. During the period mid-April to Mid-May, TUCKER shared the Woosung Anchorage with ships of the British, French and Nationalist Chinese Navies.

FOUR BITS


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THE YANGTZE INCIDENT The Communists led by Mao Tse-Tung had been steadily advancing in China, taking over the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek since late 1946, sometimes fighting for territory and sometimes taking over without a shot.

The British had signed a treaty with the Chinese way back in 1858, which included the peaceful and friendly presence of British ships in Chinese waters at all times. The British had a Consulate on the Yangtze at Nanking 100 miles upriver and kept rotating ships at that location. The British destroyer HMS Consort (D 76) was there in April and the Communists had announced they were going to cross the Yangtze from the North on April 21.

The British, not knowing what their relationship would be with the Communists, had a frigate, HMS Amethyst (F 115), with 183 men aboard headed upstream to Nanking with supplies for their Consulate. At 0830 on 20 April Communists opened fire with 7” and 9” guns from the North shore, but stopped after about 12 rounds with no hits.

Photo is of HMS Amethyst (F 115)

As AMETHYST continued upstream at 0920, another group of guns opened fire on the ship. This time, AMETHYST was hit 53 times, killing at least 23 of the 183 on board and wounding at least 31 more. One of those first shots hit the helmsman and jammed the engine order telegraph and took out the gyrocompass. When the helmsman fell to the deck, he changed the course of the ship and it ran aground in the mud at the edge of the river. The ship could not bring its 4” guns to bear on the enemy due to the way it was headed when it ran aground.

The quick plan was to get the wounded to the south shore where friendly people could help and leave a crew capable of getting the ship underway with or without a tow. Much of the ship was in shambles, the radio room got off a message before it lost power, the skipper, a Lt. Commander, had been wounded and then died the next day. A cable was rigged from the stern in hope HMS Consort would arrive and tow her off the mud. Later, CONSORT did arrive, but was kept under fire, so she turned back down river. She was also hit in the wheelhouse and suffered 4 dead and 3 wounded.

The cruiser HMS London (C 69) and the frigate HMS Black Swan (F 57) got underway and headed up river from the vicinity of Shanghai to attempt a rescue, but before she got to AMETHYST, she came under heavy fire from 9” guns on the north bank of the river. Both ships returned to the Woosung anchorage near Shanghai and anchored about 1000 yards from TUCKER. TUCKER’s crew could see many large holes in the hull of LONDON. The wounded were moved to the hospital ship USS Repose (AH 16) also at the anchorage.

The communists were reported to be within 17 miles of Shanghai on 11 May. On 12 May, 5 bodies floated past TUCKER at anchor. On 14 May, USS LCS(L) (989) did not go into Shanghai because of gunfire along the banks of the Wangpoo River. TUCKER remained at Condition Three.

Condition Three - A material condition of readiness commonly associated with wartime steaming where some, usually half, of the ship's weapons, are kept in a manned and ready status at all times.

During this period, TUCKER would change anchorage positions as conditions made it necessary. When out in the Yangtze River, 24 hour watch was necessary so to be ready at a moment’s notice if the current would cause the anchor to be dragging.

Radio reports (Aired by the Socony Vacuum Oil News) since 24 April, had been broadcasting that any US citizens wanting to leave Shanghai should register at the consulate and proceed to the Navy Annex for embarkation. This path was open until 17 May. English language radio broadcasts were all censored on 16 May. On 18 May, Northwest and Pan Am discontinued flights in and out of Shanghai. Also, on 18 May, TUCKER was the “last” ship with “official” U.S. Citizen Evacuees to leave. She had taken aboard about two dozen passengers. Among the passengers was a missionary for 47 years by the name of William Wallace Simpson from an area near Tibet and a 14-year-old boy and his mother. Captain Rex B. Little and the Executive Officer gave up their cabins for two ladies. It was now


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after dark and TUCKER proceeded to Alacrity anchorage. Captain Little and the crew navigated very carefully down the Yangtze River without the usual river pilot aboard. The evacuees were disembarked by boat to the hospital ship USS Repose (AH 16). REPOSE then sailed for Tsingtao where more refugees were picked up. All were taken to Yokosuka.

THE YANGTZE INCIDENT “CONCLUDED” The new captain of AMETHYST (Still pinned down 100 miles upriver) found it necessary to go to half rations and to limit the use of fuel oil (to make drinking water and electricity). Taking into account the tide, the level of water in the river, the moon, a typhoon effect, the amount of oil needed to get to the mouth of the Yangtze and the lack of progress in negotiations with the Communists, the Commanding Officer decided they would “Make a run for it on the 100th night of captivity, at the end of July.”

The crew casually blackened reflective surfaces and sewed some canvas to change the ships appearance. They saw a Chinese merchant ship headed down the river about 10 PM that night and fell in behind it, taking advantage of knowing where to steer in the wide river. Ordinarily any non-native ship would have a pilot on board who knew the channel. The merchant ship ran into some trouble and AMETHYST was then on her own. She had yet to get past a cable stretched across the river, without knowing where the cable and its gate were. Finally one light was spotted, where there should be 2, one on each end of the cable opening. The skipper increased speed and guessed he would take the light close aboard to starboard and he had guessed correctly. With much luck and without being fired upon, the Amethyst exited the mouth of the Yangtze 31 July 1949 and sent the message, “AMETHYST rejoins the British fleet.”

On 21 May, TUCKER headed north and arrived in Tsingtao Bay. The Officer’s Club in Tsingtao was open on a day-to-day basis and wasn’t expected last another week. The next day, TUCKER was ordered out of Tsingtao and got underway to rendezvous with a newly formed task group 71.6 for ASW training. After arriving at Buckner Bay, TUCKER began exercises lasting for a month with the ships of DESDIV 52 and DESDIV 32. Operating as both the “hunter” and the “hunted”, the submarine USS Queenfish (SS 393) was an integral part of this training. After two or three days of exercises, TUCKER would return to Buckner bay for replenishments and refueling. Buckner Bay, located on the Island of Okinawa, is about 450 nautical miles Southeast of Shanghai. TUCKER and USS Arnold J. Isbell (DD 869) departed Buckner Bay on 19 June and steamed southwest. Two days later, ISBELL broke off and proceeded to Hong Kong. TUCKER entered Bias Bay, about 50 miles north of Hong Kong to tie up alongside USS Eldorado (AGC 11) for refueling and transfer of personnel. Steaming independently, TUCKER headed northeast along the Chinese coastline and entered the harbor at Amoy Island. Amoy Island (Now called Xiamen) lies directly west of Formosa and is located about halfway between Shanghai and Hong Kong. At that time, the Nationalist Chinese Naval Academy was located on this Island. TUCKER anchored in the outer harbor of Amoy in about 7 fathoms of water. There were no other ships present. She received aboard, the Mayor of Amoy, Captain Hong of the Nationalist Chinese Navy for an official call.

Fearing that Amoy would fall to the Communists, the Nationalist Chinese Admiral there asked Captain Little of TUCKER to take and deliver a large mounted and stuffed tiger as a gift to Admiral J. B. Oldendorf. Admiral Oldendorf, during World War II, was Commander Task Group 77.2. This task group consisted of the old battleships California, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia. It was at the battle for retaking the Philippines in October 1944, that the Chinese and American Admirals had first struck up a friendship. This mounted tiger was large and had killed several people on the island of Amoy before it was shot. This stuffed tiger was placed in the TUCKER motor whaleboat. It was so big that it almost filled the whaleboat. When the tiger was taken aboard, it was placed on the officer’s wardroom table. Later the tiger was stowed away, but not until a few officers entering the wardroom were shocked to see how big it was. Admiral Oldendorf had retired from the US Navy in 1948 and moved to Spain. Therefore it would be remarkable if the Tiger ever made it that far. Speculation is that the Tiger was off-loaded in Manila to elements of the US Army for disposition.

TUCKER departed the waters of Amoy on 27 June and steamed to Manila, Philippines. Present were various ships of the US Navy. SOPA (Senior Officer Present Afloat) was ComNavWesPac in USS Saint Paul (CA 73). At that time, Manila Harbor was still a mess with many sunken Japanese ships from World War II. The pier TUCKER tied up to had been a warehouse, but all that was left of it was the concrete columns. The fourth of July was celebrated while in Manila. The next day, TUCKER and ISBELL departed Manila and entered Subic Bay for 13 days of boiler maintenance alongside USS Dixie (AD 14). TUCKER took on observers on 18 July and began 3 days of ASW training operations along with USS Queenfish (SS 393), USS Leonard F. Mason (DD 852), USS Rupertus (DD 851), USS Perkins (DDR 877) and USS Bluebird (ARS 19). There was also scheduled AA gunnery practice, involving towed target sleeves. While exercises were taking place, TUCKER encountered a Philippine fishing vessel that had lost power. TUCKER returned to Subic on 24 July, towing the fishing boat to safety. She immediately got


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underway to continue exercises. After returning once more to Subic Bay on 30 July TUCKER, in company with PERKINS, left Subic to steam toward Yokosuka.

TUCKER entered the waters of Yokosuka on 4 August for a week in preparation for returning to CONUS. TUCKER in company with USS Perkins (DDR 877) and USS Duncan (DD 874) departed Yokosuka on 11 August. Various maneuvers and drills were conducted by the three ships en route directly to Pearl Harbor. Crossing the International dateline on 16 August, TUCKER gained a second Tuesday to make up for the lost Saturday back in January. TUCKER arrived at Pearl Harbor on 19 August. The next day, the Executive Officer, LCDR Alan Smith was transferred off the ship. After 5 days in Pearl, DESDIV 52 was mustered together again for the journey home. The four destroyers TUCKER, DUNCAN, ROGERS and PERKINS arrived in San Diego on 30 August 1949. During the journey from Pearl to San Diego, orders came through for LT Encil Rains to become the new Exec Officer and he was promoted to LCDR.

For the next 6 weeks, TUCKER remained in San Diego for Personnel leaves, transfers and to take on new crew. On 7 October, TUCKER got underway with the other members of DESDIV 52 for 2 days of carrier operations with the USS Boxer (CV 21) and USS Valley Forge (CV 45). After returning to San Diego, TUCKER and the other destroyers of DESDIV 52 got underway with BOXER on 14 October 1949 from San Diego. More exercises, including gunnery practice and plane guard occurred, after which TUCKER anchored in pyramid cove at San Clemente Island. After this one overnight stay, the task group was ordered to participate in OPERATION MIKI in the Pacific, a war game which simulated the recapture of an enemy-occupied Oahu. This was the largest West Coast joint operation since the conclusion of World War II during October and November 1949. Task group 136.1 was joined by the cruisers USS Helena (CA 75) and USS Toledo (CA 133) on the way to Pearl Harbor. On 21 October, TUCKER attempted to refuel from USS Navasota (AO 105). The refueling attempt was aborted due to fouled lines on NAVISOTA. The following day, TUCKER completed the refueling. The next day, while on plane guard duty with BOXER, a pilot went down returning to BOXER, about 20 miles away. TUCKER remained in a 2-ship screen while DUNCAN and ROGERS steamed away to attempt a recovery of the pilot.

TUCKER and the rest of DESDIV 52 took a break from the operational exercises by mooring in Pearl Harbor for 10 days. TUCKER again got underway on 7 November to continue participation in OPERATION MIKI while steaming back to San Diego. Although TUCKER took on fuel and supplies in Pearl, most replenishments were UNREPS at sea, including one night refueling operation with the oiler USS Kaskaskia (AO 27) during the month of operations. A great many Navy vessels of all types, Air Force squadrons, Marines and Army units were involved in OPERATION MIKI throughout the 30-day operation. There were too many locations, participants and ships of all types to list here. TUCKER returned to San Diego on 14 November 1949, where she remained in port until January.

THE EXERCISES TUCKER UNDERTOOK DURING OPERATION MIKI WERE: Ø Carrier plane guard duty; all positions of the carrier screen and search for downed pilots. Ø Gunnery exercises; Anti-aircraft and surface gunnery. Ø ASW exercises; Torpedo launch, depth charge, both as hunter and hunted and sonar search. Ø Radar Picket exercises; TUCKER would go to a nearby but remote location and report all radar,

radio, sonar and other contacts. Ø Man overboard, General Quarters drills, various UNREPS and Highline transfer exercises.

END OF SECTION 1

Documents

5 HISTORY 1944 - 1949 - USS Henry W. Tuckerhwtucker2000.com/History/history_1944_1949.pdf · 1944 ~ 1949 Commissioning ... class destroyer continuing to be overloaded with anti-aircraft