USS LANSING (DER-388) ACTIVITY LOG

(Excerpted from actual deck logs obtained from National Archives, Washington DC)

(In the interest of protecting their anonymity, ship’s company have been assigned aliases,

which have no correlation to their actual name)

12-18-56 1200 Moored port side to Pier #6, Berth 62½, Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Long Beach, Calif.,

with 5/8 inch wires from chocks Nos. 1, 5, and 6, and 6 inch line from

chocks Nos. 2, 3, and 4. Receiving all services from the pier. Ships present include

various units of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Pacific Reserve Fleet, and

Harbor and District Craft. SOPA is Commander Mine Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet,

in the U.S. Naval Station, Long Beach, California

1500 The ship was placed in commission by Rear Admiral Robert L. Campbell, USN,

Commander, U.S. Naval Base, Los Angeles, in accordance with

CNO ltr Op-432C/RW Ser P43B of 10 Nov 56.

1508 Lieutenant Commander Claude N. De Buhr, USN, read his orders

and assumed command of the U.S.S. LANSING, (DER-388).

1508 The Captain ordered the watch set. LTJG P.T. TAKEATURN, assumed the watch

as Officer of the Deck.

Set a cold iron watch in all engineering spaces.

Set roving patrol, security and quarterdeck watches

12-19-56 0750 Mustered the crew at quarters: no absentees

0910 YOG-87 came along side to starboard

0935 Commenced taking on fuel from YOG-87, draft forward 13’6”, aft 11’6”, mean 12’6”

1106 Secured taking on fuel, draft aft 12’6”, forward 14’3”, mean 13’4½”

1125 YOG-87 left from along side.

1508 Disbursing Officer returned aboard with $15,000.00 cash.

1845 Held fire drill

1857 Secured from fire drill

12-20-56 0000 Moored port side to Pier #6, Berth 62½, Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Long Beach, Calif.,

with 5/8” wire from chocks Nos. 1, 5, and 6 and with 6” mooring lines from chocks

Nos. 2,3, and 4. Receiving all services from the pier. A cold iron security watch

is set in all engineering spaces.

0800 Mustered the crew at quarters; absentees: NONE

1845 Held fire drill

1900 Secured from fire drill

12-21-56 0800 Mustered crew at quarters; absentees: WATERBREAKER, W.C., DC2, AWOL since 0745 this date

1845 Exercised the crew at fire drill.

1850 Completed fire drill

12-22-56 0801 Mustered the crew at quarters; absentees: WATERBREAKER, W.C., DC2

1600 Commenced fire drill.

1610 Secured from fire drill.

1652 Set modified condition BAKER throughout the ship.

12-23-56 0800 Mustered the crew on station; absentees: WINCH, H.E., SN, AWOL since 0745, 21 Dec 1956

1615 Set modified condition BAKER throughout the ship

12-24-56 0800 Mustered the crew at quarters, absentees: WATERBREAKER, W.C., DC2

unauthorized absence since 0745, 21 December 1956, and WINCH, H.E., SN unauthorized

absence since 0745, 24 December 1956

0842 WINCH, H.E., SN, reported aboard after being AWOL since 0745, 24 December 1956

0900 Exercised the crew at special sea and anchor detail drill

0940 Secured the special sea and anchor detail.

12-25-56 0800 Mustered crew on station, absentees: WATERBREAKER, W.C., DC2, AWOL

since 0745, 21 December 1956

12-26-56 0800 COMINPAC hauled down his flag and departed on seven days leave.

COMCRUDIV 5 in USS ROANOKE (DL-145) assumed duties as SOPA.

Mustered the crew at quarters, absentees: YAW, Z.Z., and WATERBREAKER, W.C. DC2

0900 The Mock In Surv Inspection Board, Captain McCLAIN, USN, Senior Member,

arrived on board and commenced material inspection of the ship.

12-27-56 0000 SOPA is COMCRUDIV 5 in USS ROANOKE (CL-145)

0600 Commenced preparations for getting underway

0655 WATERBREAKER, W.C., DC2, returned on board, having been AWOL

since 0745, 21 December 1956

0700 Set material condition BAKER

0710 Mustered the crew at quarters, absentees: YAW, Z.Z., FN

0745 Stationed the special sea and anchor details The Officer of the Deck shifted his watch to the bridge

0750 Pilot HOME came on board

0800 Completed all preparations for getting underway. Draft: forward 10.0 ft, aft 10.1 ft

0810 YTB 703 (USS CANARSEE) came alongside to starboard.

0820 YTB 703 (USS CANARSEE) cleared the side to starboard

0824 Underway for Op-areas PP16 and PP17 in accordance with previous

instructions to conduct sea trials. Maneuvering to clear the berth and

proceed out of inner harbor. Captain and Navigator on the bridge, Pilot HOME at the conn

0826 Clear of berth; steering various courses and various speeds standing out of the inner harbor

0837 Passed from inner harbor to outer harbor; maneuvering to stand out of Long Beach channel.

Captain at the conn

0850 Passed breakwater light; entered International waters.

0857 Secured special sea and anchor detail, set the regular steaming watch OOD was given the conn

0857 Commenced conducting sea trials.

1049 C/c to 076 to avoid contact

1435 Commenced astern trial, full power.

1443 Completed astern trial.

1455 Commenced steering gear trial using various amounts of rudder at various speeds

1531 Completed ahead steering trials. Commenced astern steering trials.

1538 Completed steering trials

1538 Stopped all engines for repairs to #3 and #4 engines.

1546 Set the anchor detail

1549 Completed repairs to #3 and #4 engines. Casualty was blown gasket on manhole in #3.

Commenced maneuvering trials using various combinations of the engines ahead and astern

1555 Completed maneuvering trials. Set course 030, speed 15 knots, proceeding

toward 60 fathom depth curve for test of anchor windlass.

1602 All engines ahead one third

1603 All engines stopped

1605 All engines back one third

1606 All engines stopped

1607 Maneuvering to let go the starboard anchor in 60 fathoms of water.

1625 Let go the starboard anchor

1629 Heaved in on the starboard anchor

1637 Anchor secured for sea

1654 Sea trials completed; Maneuvering on various courses at various speeds to return to port

1703 Stationed the special sea detail

1712 Passed Long Beach sea buoy abeam to port, distance 500 yards

1715 Passed Long Beach outer breakwater; entered inland waters; entered the channel and outer harbor.

Maneuvering to clear channel, enter inner harbor, and take berth previously assigned

1729 YTB 397 (USS YANEGUE) came alongside to port to transfer pilot. Pilot HOME came aboard,

YTB 397 cleared to port. Pilot HOME at the conn; the Captain and Navigator are on the bridge

1731 Passed through inner breakwater

1740 Alongside Pier #6, U.S. Naval Shipyard, Long Beach, Calif.; heaving line over forward

1742 Moored starboard side to Pier #6, Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Berth 62½ .

1747 Secured the special sea detail, set the regular in port watch

1900 Mustered the duty damage control party

12-28-56 0800 Mustered crew at quarters; absentee: YAW, Z.Z., FN AWOL since 0630, 26 December 1956

1056 The Commanding Officer held mast and awarded the following punishments:

WINCH, H.E.; SN ,Offense: AWOL from 0745, 24 December 1956 to 0842, 24 December 1956,

a period of fifty-seven (57) minutes. Punishment: warning.

WATERBREAKER, W.C., DC2, Offense: AWOL from 0745, 21 December 1956 to 0710, 27

December 1956, a period of five (5) days, twenty-three (23) hours, and twenty-five (25) minutes.

Punishment: SCM

12-29-56 0800 Mustered the crew at quarters. Absentees: YAW, Z.Z., FN

1900 Mustered the duty damage control party, absentees: NONE

12-30-56 0800 Mustered the crew at quarters. Absentees: YAW, Z.Z., FN

1600 Mustered the duty damage control party, absentees: NONE

12-31-56 0800 Mustered the crew at quarters, absentees: WATERLINE, S.S., FN and YAW, Z.Z., FN

1410 The Summary Court Martial opened at 1350 in the case of

WATERBREAKER, W.C., DC2 and adjourned at 1410 to await the

action of the Convening Authority

See 1957 deck logs for continuation.

3-17-2001