CA-38 U.S.S. SAN FRANCISCO
War Diary and Action Reports November 1942,

                               War Diary
                         U.S.S. SAN FRANCISCO

                            For the Period
                   November 1, to November 30, 1942

    General:

              This diary contains only such information as is 
considered to be of interest in regard to the part the San 
Francisco is playing in the actual conduct of the war.  
Administrative functions and routine affairs are not included 
unless of some special interest.

              All changes of course, speed, etc., are not 
included. Course and speed made good from 1200 of the previous 
day to 1200 are given daily with positions at 0800, 1200, and 
2000, local zone time.

              Zigzags when with convoy are from mersigs unless 
otherwise specified. Zigzags when not with convoy are from 
general tactical instructions or other navy standard publication 
unless otherwise specified.

              Normally, ship goes to general quarters one hour 
prior to sunrise and re-sets condition three at sunrise. From 
sunset to morning general quarters, the ship is in condition two. 
When in condition 1 and 2, condition Z is normally maintained, 
and in condition 3, condition Y.




ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 1, 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 65  TASK GROUP 65.4  TASK UNIT

0000      1300      At sea with Task Force 65.  Hunter Ligett, fleet
                    Guide.  Zigzagging on base course 355, speed 14.
0140      1440      Course 315.
0240      1540      Course 283.
0900      2200      Course 308.
0925      2225      Sighted Espiritu Santo, 227° True, 7 Miles.
1300      0200      Course 315.
                    Task Force 65 enroute to reinforce Guadalcanal
                    In accordance with CTF 64 Op Order C-1, of
                    October 29, 1942


                              POSITIONS
0800                LAT 14-30 S   LONG 167-18 E
1200                LAT 14-06 S   LONG 166-32 E
2000                LAT 12-56 S   LONG 165-19 E
1200                COURSE 321 T SPEED 13.2 Knots


ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 2, 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 65  TASK GROUP 65.4  TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Steaming as OTC, Task Force 65 on course 315°,
                    Speed 14.  Hunter Ligett as fleet guide.
0327      1627      Radar contact on 2 planes bearing 260°T, distance
                    14 miles.
0628      1928      Course 350 T.
0824      2124      Sighted B-17, bearing 080° T, distance 5 miles.
0925      2225      Course 030 T.
0953      2253      Course 330° T.
1030      2330      Course 290° T.
1048      2348      Course 300° T.
1217      0117      Course 020° T.
1350      0250      Course 245° T.
1505      0405      Course 205° T.
1530      0430      Sighted Pensacola and 4 destroyers bearing 183°,
                    Distance 15 miles.
1559      0459      Course 295° T.
1640      0540      Course 300° T.
1645      0540      Pensacola and 4 destroyers joined formation (TG
                    65.7).
1810      0710      Course 150° T.
1930      0830      Course 120° T.
2250      1150      Speed 15 Knots.
2358      1258      Course 270° T.


                              POSITIONS
0800                LAT 11-07 S   LONG 163-31.5 E
1200                LAT 10-22 S   LONG 163-02 E
2000                LAT 10-27 S   LONG 162-30 E
1200                COURSE 320° T SPEED 12.3 Knots

ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 3, 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 65  TASK GROUP 65.4  TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Steaming at OTC Task Force course 270°T, speed 15 
                    knots. San Francisco as guide.
0422      1222      McCalla left station to investigate contact 
                    reported by Helena (radar).
0431      1731      McCalla dropped depth charges and reported heavy
                    under water explosions. Believed, to have 
                    destroyed enemy submarines.
0500      1800      Sighted San Cristabol Island bearing 020°T, 
                    distance 22 miles.
0555      1855      Speed 17 knots.
0640      1940      Course 150°T.
1000      2300      Atlanta and destroyers joined formation (TG 65.3)
1141      0041      Course 075°T.
1143      0041      Course 090°T.
1147      0047      Course 075°T.
1230      0130      Course 055°T.
1312      0234      Course 015°T
1434      0334      Sighted Fomalhaut bearing 005°T, 14 miles.
1435      0335      Speed 15 knots.
1441      0341      Course 000°T.
1446      2346      Transports of Task Force joined formation.
1525      0427      Fomalhaut joined formation.
1540      0440      Course 300°T.
1630      0530      Task force 65.4 formed approach disposition as
                    support force steaming ahead of transports under
                    respective group commanders.
1825      0725      Sighted Southard ahead.
1840      0740      Passed between San Cristobal and Ulawa Islands.
1900      0800      Course 280°T, speed 14 knots.
2000      0900      Ship went to general quarters.
2200      1100      Course 315°T.
2250      1150      Radar contact on several surface ships bearing
                    080°T distance 8 miles.  Believed to be friendly.
2330      1230      Speed 16 knots.
2341      1241      Speed 18 knots.


                              POSITIONS
0800                LAT 11-09 S   LONG 161-17 E
1200                LAT 11-13 S   LONG 162-21.5 E
2000                LAT 09-59 S   LONG 161-47 E
1200                COURSE 230° T SPEED 13.3 Knots

ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 4, 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 65  TASK GROUP 65.4  TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Steaming as OTC and guide Task Group 65.4
                    (San Francisco, Helena, Laffey, Sterrett, and
                    Buchanan) on course 315°T, speed 18 knots. Ship is 
                    at general quarters.
0027      1327      Speed 15 knots.
0044      1344      Course 280°T.
0121      1421      Course 320°T.
0126      1426      Course 000°T
0130      1430      Course 060°T.
0146      1446      Speed 13 knots-maneuvering on various courses in 
                    Indispensable Strait. Task Group 65.6 (Eastern 
                    Landing Group) Task Group 65.5 (Eastern Transport 
                    Group)and Task Group 65.7 (Eastern Screening 
                    Group) passed Task Group 65.4 some time during 
                    night to effect landing transports Aola Bay. Task 
                    Group 65.1 (Transport group and Task Group 65.3 
                    (screening group) proceeded through Sealark 
                    Channel during early morning.
0520      1820      Speed 17 knots.
0520      1820      Sighted 3 destroyers 310°T, distance 5 miles. 
                    Identified as friendly.
0537      1837      Course 260°T.
0550      1850      Secured from general quarter.
0555      1855      Observed AA firing on port quarter.
0600      1900      Course 265°T.
0729      2029      Speed 6 knots.
0740      2040      Received surf boat alongside with 2 marine liaison
                    officers.
0739      2039      Destroyers commenced shelling Kokumbona.
0740      2040      Observed AA bursts on beach.
0850      2150      Speed 10 knots.
0758      2058      Sounded general quarters.
0814      2114      Launched one plane to spot for shore bombardment.
0830      2130      Commenced maneuvering on various course and speeds 
                    for shore bombardment.
0837      2137      Commenced firing runs on Kohambona and Koli Point 
                    as requested by Com.Gen. Guadalcanal. Expended 
                    810 rounds 5° ammunition and 229 rounds 8".
1113      0013      Secured from general quarters.
1150      0050      Sounded general quarters.  Air raid warning. 
                    Transports of group 65.1 underway.  Maneuvered at 
                    various courses and speeds as AA screen around 
                    transports.
1305      0205      Transports returned to unload.
1320      0220      Secured from general Quarters.
1357      0257      Marine officers left the ship.
1456      0356      Hoisted in plane to port.
1513      0413      Hoisted in plane to port.
1633      0533      Sounded AA defense.  Guadalcanal reported 
                    Aircraft bearing 300°T, distance 9 miles.
1637      0537      Aircraft reported as friendly.
1640      0540      Secured from a AA defense.
1747      0647      Various courses and speeds passing through Sealash 
                    Channel.
1218      0712      Sounded general quarters. On various courses and
                    speeds during night off Aola Bay. AOLA Bay
                    transports continued unloading. Task Group 65.1
                    and 65.3 entered Indispensable Strait for night
                    to return early morning to continue unloading. 
2313      1213      Sighted friendly ships bearing 312°T, distance
                    5,250 yards.
2330      1230      Task group 65.3 took station astern of Helena.


                              POSITIONS
0800                LAT 09-22 S   LONG 160-01 E
1200                LAT 09-19 S   LONG 160-05 E
2000                LAT 09-15 S   LONG 160-49 E
1200                COURSE 311° T SPEED 10 Knots

ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 5, 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 65  TASK GROUP 65.4  TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Maneuvering as before.
0343      1643      Task Group 65.3 left formation.
0550      1850      Secured from general quarters. Maneuvering at 
                    Various courses and speeds as AA screen for Aola 
                    landing group.
1050      2350      Sounded general quarters. Enemy aircraft reported 
                    approaching Guadalcanal (24 Zeros, 27 twin-engine 
                    bombers). Transports underway joined formation. 
                    Bombers reported to have bombed airfield from high 
                    altitude.
1221      0121      Secured from general quarters.
1220      0120      Transports returned to unload.
1400      0300      Task Group 65.1 and 65.3 completed unloading, 
                    passed Aola Bay heading in a southeasterly 
                    direction. Radar contact (identified as friendly).
1839      0739      Sounded general quarters.
1843      0743      Secured from general quarters.
2253      1153      Sighted searchlight beams over Guadalcanal.


                              POSITIONS
0800                LAT 09-25 S   LONG 160-37 E
1200                LAT 09-29 S   LONG 160-32 E
2000                LAT 09-21 S   LONG 160-41 E
1200                COURSE 117° T SPEED 16 Knots

ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 6, 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 65  TASK GROUP 65.4  TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Steaming as before.
0014      1514      Observed searchlights and flares over Savo Island.
0130      1430      Transport group completed unloading and got 
                    underway.
0212      1512      Sounded general quarters. 2 enemy ships reported 
                    near Savo Island.
0237      1537      Course 090°T,
0240      1540      Pensacola end destroyers joined formation.
0318      1618      Course ll0°T.
0325      1625      Speed 16 knots.
0445      1745      Course 130°T.
0546      1846      Secured from general quarters.
0835      2135      Sighted friendly ships bearing l00°T, distance 16 
                    miles.
1318      0218      Course 100°T.
1441      0341      Course 150°T
1526      0426      Course 170°T.
1731      0631      Course 230°T.
1734      0634      Speed 18 knots.
1824      0724      Course 180°T.
                    Task group 65.4 covering retirement of transports 
                    And screening groups proceeding Espiritu Santo. 
                    Task Group 65.4 as reorganized comprises 
                    San Francisco, Helena, Sterret, Gwin, Buchanan, 
                    Laffey. This group also designated Task Force 65.


                              POSITIONS
0800                LAT 09-51.5 S LONG 161-33 E
1200                LAT 10-09 S   LONG 162-32.5 E
2000                LAT 11-45 S   LONG 162-58.2 E
1200                COURSE 109° T SPEED 5.8 Knots

ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 7, 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 65  TASK GROUP 65.4  TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Steaming as before as OTC Teak Force 65
                    and fleet guide Task Group 65.4. Course
                    180° speed 15 knots.
0540      1840      Course 140°T.
0553      1853      Course 100°T.
0602      1902      Speed 16 knots.
1335      0235      Launched plane for Espiritu Santo.
1933      0833      Speed 15 knots.
2043      0943      Course 110°T.


                              POSITIONS
0800                LAT 14-05 S   LONG 163-25 E
1200                LAT 14-14 S   LONG 164-19 E
2000                LAT 14-22.5 S LONG 166-24 E
1200                COURSE 157° T SPEED 12.5 Knots

ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 8, 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 65  TASK GROUP 65.4  TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Steaming as before with Task Force 65.  San 
                    Francisco fleet guide.  Zigzagging on base course 
                    110° T. Speed 15 knots
0134      1434      Course 155°T.
0147      1447      Course 195°T.
0236      1536      USS Sterret reported radar contact bearing 295°T, 
                    distant 3000 yards.  USS Buchanan ordered to 
                    investigate.  Investigation negative.
0239      1539      Commenced steaming on various courses at various 
                    speeds approaching Espiritu Santo.
0446      1746      Launched one aircraft for anti-submarine patrol.
0619      1919      Moored starboard side to Guadalupe in Second
                    Channel, Espiritu Santo.
0847      2147      Shifted berths, mooring in berth Y-1, Second 
                    Channel.

ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 9, 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE   TASK GROUP   TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Anchored as before in Second Channel, Espiritu 
                    Santo.
1330      0230      Captain Cassin Young, U.S. Navy relieved Captain 
                    C. H. McMorris, U.S. Navy as Commanding officer 
                    this vessel.
1513      0413      Shifted berth to X-6, Second Channel.

ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 10, 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 67  TASK GROUP 67.4  TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Anchored as before in Second Channel, Espiritu
                    Santo.
0603      1903      Underway in accordance with orders of CTF 67, as 
                    Flagship of Task Group 67.4, composed of cruisers 
                    San Francisco, Helena, Pensaco1a, and four
                    screening destroyers.
0648      1648      Clear of Espiritu Santo.  Destroyers formed anti-
                    Submarine screen on cruisers. Cruisers in column 
                    from van to rear, San Francisco, Helena, 
                    Pensacola.  Steaming on various courses at 
                    various speeds approaching and passing through
                    Bougainville Straits.
0755      2055      Commenced zigzagging on case course 270°T, speed 
                    15 knots.
1000      2300      Course 320°T.
1239      0139      Sighted plane bearing 035°T, distant 8 miles. 
                    Identified as friendly.
1340      0240      Launched two aircraft for spotting Offset Battle 
                    Practice.
1400      0300      Ceased zigzagging. Steadied up on 320°T.
1495      0305      Commenced firing Offset Battle Practice to
                    starboard.
1499      0309      Ceased firing. Practice completed.
1412      0312      Resumed zigzagging on base curse 320°T.
1454      0354      Steaming on various courses at various speeds to 
                    Recover two aircraft
1532      0432      Resumed zigzagging on base course 320°T, speed 17 
                    knots.
1734      0634      Course 280°T.
1736      0636      USS Preston, USS Gwin, and USS Pensacola left 
                    Formation to join Task Force 16 for duty.
1930      0850      Course 326°T.

ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 11, 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 67  TASK GROUP 67.4  TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Steaming as before with Task Group 67.4.  San 
                    Francisco, fleet guide.  Zigzagging on base course 
                    326°T, speed 17 knots.
0424      1724      Radar surface contact bearing 274°T, distant 18 
                    miles.  TBS communication identified contact as 
                    USS Portland, USS Juneau, and accompanying 
                    destroyers and transports.
0500      1800      Sighted eight ships bearing 290°T, distant 8 
                    miles.
0541      1841      Identified as friendly.
0635      1935      Commenced steaming on various courses, joining 
                    Task Force 67.  This task group (67.4) joined the 
                    remaining units of Task Force 67.  Comtaskfor 67 
                    in USS McCawley (OTC) USS Helena, USS Portland, 
                    USS Juneau, USS Shaw, USS Monssen, USS Sterrett, 
                    USS Cushing, USS Buchanan, USS Laffey.
0700      2000      Zigzagging on course 330°T, speed 15 knots.
0727      2027      USS Shaw alongside for mail passing.
0753      2053      Course 300°T.
0816      2116      Course 130°T.
0820      2120      Course 150°T.
0855      2155      Course 240°T.
0905      2205      Course 330°T.
0928      2228      USS Sterret alongside for passing mail.
1007      2307      Course 300°T.
1044      2344      Sighted San Cristobal Island bearing 320°T, 
                    distant 45 miles.
1046      2346      Course 260°T.
1128      0028      USS Helena had radar contact on aircraft 
                    bearing180°T distant 20 miles.  Aircraft sighted 
                    at 1135, distant 8 miles.  Identified as enemy 
                    twin float reconnaissance mid or low-wing 
                    monoplane.  Appeared to be using shadowing tactics 
1136      0036      Sounded AA defense.
1201      0101      Secured from AA Defense.
1228      0128      Course 280°T.
1307      0207      Sighted friendly patrol plane (PBY) bearing 345°T, 
                    distant 8 miles.
1322      0222      Course 300°T.
1327      0227      Speed 22 knots.
1347      0247      USS Monssen depth charged sound contact.  Results 
                    unknown.
1500      0400      Course 270°T.
1505      0405      Launched two planes.
1509      0409      Course 300°T.
1604      0504      Course 345°T.
1635      0535      Sighted two planes bearing 125°T.  Planes not 
                    identified 
1707      0607      Course 000°T.
1720      0620      Sighted Guadalcanal Island bearing 340°T.
1835      0735      Cruisers formed in column, van to rear, San 
                    Francisco, Helena, Portland, Juneau.
1840      0740      Ship went to general quarters.
1925      0825      Course 315°T.
2008      0908      Formed battle disposition, cruisers maintaining 
                    column, 4 destroyers forming column dead ahead of 
                    cruisers.
2017      0917      Course 285°T.
2112      1012      Speed 15 knots.
2115      1015      USS Atlanta and 3 destroyers joined formation 
                    astern.  Steaming on various westerly courses 
                    proceeding along north coast of Guadalcana1.  
2250      1150      Observed sporadic artillery fire along coast of 
                    Guadalcanal.

ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 12 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 67  TASK GROUP 67.4  TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Steaming as before on a westerly courses along 
                    north coast of Guadalcanal.  Speed 15 knots.  In 
                    company with Task Group 67.4 plus Atlanta and 3 
                    destroyers.
0005      1305      Changed course to north and commenced patrol in 
                    vicinity of Lunga Point.
0516      1816      Transports group arrived Lunga Point area and 
                    commenced unloading.  Combatant ships acting as 
                    screen.
0547      1847      USS Buchanan made underwater sound contact and 
                    attacked with depth charges.  Results unknown.
0624      1924      Secured from general quarters.
0645      1945      Enemy shore battery opened fire on transport 
                    group.  USS Helena and two destroyers proceeded to 
                    return fire and to silence battery.
1318      0218      Received information of imminent attack by enemy 
                    air group.  All ships underway and at AA defense.
1408      0308      Attacked by 21 enemy torpedo bombers.  Details of 
                    attack contained in Report of Torpedo Attack.  
                    November 12, 1942.
1416      0316      Enemy torpedo bombers crashed dived into after 
                    bulkhead of After Main Battery Control Station.  
                    Burning gasoline caused heavy casualties.  List of 
                    casualties appended this diary.
1430      0330      Action completed.  Transports and screen returned 
                    to unloading operations.
1525      0425      Secured from AA defense.
1835      0735      Transports underway upon completion of unloading, 
                    combatant ships screening their retirement.  
                    Steaming on easterly courses at various speeds.
2211      1111      Screening group left transports and reversed 
                    course to proceed to intercept strong enemy force 
                    sighted by own aircraft approaching Guadalcanal.
2217      1117      Course 270°T, speed 18 knots.
2236      1236      Speed 15 knots.
2356      1256      Course 260°T.

ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 13 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 67  TASK GROUP 67.4  TASK UNIT
0009      1309      Course220°T.  Passing through Lengo Channel.
0011      1311      Course 270°T.
0023      1323      Course 280°T.
0123      1423      Speed 18 knots.
0128      1428      USS Helena radar screen showed object bearing 
                    315°T, distance 31,900 yards. This contact 
                    developed into three groups as the range closed.
0133      1433      Course 315°T .
0140      1440      Course 000°T.
0148      1448      Commenced engagement with enemy surface forces. 
                    Details in Report of Night Action, 12-13 
                    November,1942.  Upon breaking off action, retired 
                    eastward along north coast of Guadalcanal.
0400      1700      (Approximately) Joined USS Helena, who assumed 
                    command and passed eastward through Sealark 
                    Channel. Took station astern of Helena and 
                    followed her movements, since all compasses on 
                    this ship were out of commission due to action
                    damage. Set course for Espiritu Santo.  Joined at 
                    daylight by USS Juneau, USS Fletcher, USS 
                    O'Bannon, USS Sterrett, and USS Buchanan.  
                    Steaming, on easterly course at approximately 16 
                    knots.
1101      0001      USS JUNEAU hit by one, possibly two, torpedoes, 
                    Which passed close aboard this ship. Details in 
                    action report of this attack.
ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 14 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE     TASK GROUP       TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Steaming as before on easterly courses, at speed 
                    20 knots, Enroute Guadalcanal to Espiritu Santo.
1014      2314      USS Sterrett made sound contact.  Formation 
                    maneuvered radically to avoid possible torpedo 
                    attack.  No attack made.  USS Sterrett lost 
                    contact at 1027 and rejoined formation.
1553      0453      Entered port and anchored in berth A-11, Second 
                    Channel, Espiritu Santo.

ZONE DESCR.  -11                              DATE November 15-18 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE     TASK GROUP       TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Anchored as before in berth A-11, Second Channel, 
                    Espiritu Santo.

1300                On November 17, 1942, Captain Albert F. Frence, 
                    U.S.N. assumed command of this vessel

ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 18 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 62  TASK GROUP 62.7  TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Anchored as before in berth A-11, Second Channel, 
                    Espiritu Santo.
1645      0545      Underway and proceeded out of port, enroute 
                    Espiritu Santo to Noumea.  Ships in company, USS 
                    Helena, USS Sterrett, USS Buchanan, and USS Gwin.  
                    USS Helena guide, destroyers formed as anti-
                    submarine screen.  Speed 20 knots.  Task Group 
                    designated 62.7.  Group Commander, C.O. USS 
                    Helena.
2035      0935      USS Gwin depth charged sound contact.  No torpedo 
                    attack observed.  Contact lost, no results of 
                    depth charge attack observed

ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 19 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 62  TASK GROUP 62.7  TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Steaming as before on southerly courses Enroute 
                    Espiritu Santo to Noumea, New Caledonia.


                              POSITIONS
0800                LAT 19-15.5 S LONG 167-55.7 E
1200                LAT 20-19 S   LONG 168-23 E
2000                LAT 22-17 S   LONG 168-22 E
1200                

ZONE DESCR.  -11                                DATE November 20 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 62  TASK GROUP 62.7  TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Steaming as before on various courses, approaching 
                    New Caledonia, Enroute Espiritu Santo to Noumea, 
                    New Caledonia.
0940      2240      Entered port and anchored in Great Roads, Noumea, 
                    New Caledonia.

ZONE DESCR.  -11                              DATE November 20-23 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 66  TASK GROUP 66.7  TASK UNIT
0000      1300      Anchored as before in Great Roads, Noumea, New 
                    Caledonia.
1318      0218      Underway in accordance with orders of Comsopac 
                    Enroute from Noumea, New Caledonia, to Pearl 
                    Harbor, T.H.  Joined off Burlari Passage by 
                    destroyer escorts, USS Sterrett, USS Conyngham, 
                    and USS Mahan.  All ships proceeding navy yard for 
                    repairs.

ZONE DESCR.  -11                              DATE November 23-30 1942

LZT       GCT       TASK FORCE 66  TASK GROUP 66.7  TASK UNIT
                    Steaming as before, Enroute from Noumea, New 
                    Caledonia, to Pearl Harbor, T.H.  Route to south 
                    and east of Samoan Island, Passing within sight 
                    contact of Tutuila, thence northward direct to 
                    Pearl Harbor.  Speed 16.5 knots.  No enemy 
                    contacts or unusual incidents during passage.



                                                       A.F. FRANCE
                                                    Captain, U.S. Navy



ADDEMDA TO WAR DIARY - November 1942.

    The action reports referred to in November War Diary have been 
classified as SECRET.

    Action Report of Night Action, November 12-13 : See U.S.S. SAN 
FRANCISCO SECRET Serial 03812. (Missing)

    Action Report - U.S.S. JUNEAU, torpedoing of, November 13 : See 
U.S.S. SAN FRANCISCO SECRET serial 00118b of November 22, 1942.
(missing)

    Copies have been previously delivered to CinC Pac.


IN REPLY
REFER TO:             U.S.S. SAN FRANCISCO


LIST OF OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN KILLED AND WOUNED IN TORPEDO PLANE
ENGAGEMT NOVEMBER 12, 1942:

                          KILLED IN ACTION
NAME                        RANK OR RATE         SIGNAL - SERVICE NO.
HARRIS, Albert Thomas            Lieut(jg)           DVG USNR
CARLSON, Neil Alvin              AMM3c               385 93 81
GATES, William Finnie            Sea2c               640 17 33
CHATELL, Harold John             Sea1c               311 72 69
EISELE, George Raymond           Sea2c               660 19 58
FALGOUT, George Irvin            Sea2c               644 28 72
GANDY, Andrew Jackson Jr.        Sea2c               640 23 68
GEORGE, Eugene Frank             Sea2c               312 01 06
GREER, Charles Fred              FO3c(M)             360 06 67
LOWE, Harry James Jr.            GM3w                287 44 05
LOY, Jackson Kieth               GM3w                300 15 52
POWELL, William Thomas           GM2c                279 63 32
SLATER, Frank Olga               Sea2c               604 26 57
STOLTE,. Raymond Louis           Sea2c               382 46 29
WILLIAMSON, John Leon            Sea1c               262 61 38


                          WOUNDED IN ACTION
BARTA, Vit John                  FC2c(M)             360 18 20
BRANEL, Burgess Vance            Sea2c               654 24 14
BRANDON, Glen Harvey             Sea2c               616 59 26
BRIGHAM, Donald Carlisle         QM1c                234 17 94
CLARK, Acy Frances               Sea 2/c             624 23 98
COVERT, Albert Donald            Sea 1/c             279 75 59
FELIX, Len Wilbur                Sea 1/c             670 13 97
FINFROCK, Harry Lee              Y 2/c               300 15 44
FLISAK, Stanley Anthony          Y 2/c               243 65 98
HIJEBSGH, Joe Henry              AMM 3/c             393 39 72
IUSE, William Eugene             Y 3/c               321 46 61
MC DERMOTT, Joseph Alexander Jr. Y 2/c               258 14 58
MIDYETTE, Lewis Bracy            FC2/c               262 37 13
MURPHY, Ralph Ivan               Sea 1/c             372 15 98
MYLMI, Robert Vincent            FC 3/c(M)           660 04 00
NASH, James Robert               Sea 2/c             640 23 99
NICHOLS, Harold Wright           FC 3/c (M)          287 41 45
PERRINE, Sheldon Rose            Sea2c               614 09 00
SEXTON, Jefferson David          Sea1c               382 23 29
SOLANO, Ralph Joseph Jr.         Y2c                 372 15 53
STARK, Joseph Paul               Sea2c               382 57 17
TARPLEY, Lewis (n)               GM2c                268 50 09
TERLIZZI, Angelo (n)             Sea1c               207 28 47
VIANELLO, Charles Pratt          RM2c                376 01 98
WALLACE, John Arnold             FC3c(M)             337 48 79
CHOUTEAU, Walter Cerre           Lieut (jg)          DVG, USNR
LOMBARD, John Archer             Lieut (jg)          DVG, USNR
WALLACE, John George             Lieut (jg)          USN
WEEMS, Jeptha Clark              Ship's Clerk        USN


                           MISSING IN ACTION
# BONCOSKEY, Ralph Frank         Sea1c               300 14 92

    # Subsequently rescued.  


IN REPLY
REFER TO:             U.S.S. SAN FRANCISCO


LIST OF OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN KILLED AND WOUEDED IN NIGHT SURFACE
BATTLE ENGAGEMENT NOVEMBER 13, 1942:

                          KILLED IN ACTION
NAME                        RANK OR RATE         SIGNAL - SERVICE NO.
CALLAGHAN, Daniel J.             Admiral, Rear       283
LE HARDY, Louis M.               Lieut-Comdr.        2667
CUMMINGS, Damon M.               Lieut-Comdr.        3866
WINTLE, Jack W.                  Lieut-Comdr.        4298
YOUNG, Cassin                    Captain             589
#ROUTER, Mark Hanna              Commander           1207
HUBBARD, Joseph Charles          Commander           1353
HINE, Thomas Ringle              Lieut.              4966
HANNA, John Carlyle              Lieut.              7197
VANDERHOOF, Allan Lynne          Lieut.(jg)          DVG, USNR
EISNER, Jacques Rodney           Lieut.(jg)          DVG, USNR
CURTIS, Bernard John             Lieut.(jg)          AVN, USNR
WITTER, Jean Carter Jr.          Ensign              DVG, USNR
BROWN, Lewis T.                  Lieut.(jg)          DVS, USNR
ADAMS, Arthur Vincent            Mamth2c             382 26 86
ANDERSON, Eric John              GM3c                316 67 95
BUEREN, Ernest August            Sea1c               376 47 22
CHRISMAN, Glen Alva              SM3c                412 10 43
CHRONISTER, William Jessie       Sea2c               668 74 12
EVANS, Winfred Lorin             CQM(AA)             341 93 79
GARRETT, Clifford Taylor         Cox.                337 31 57
GASTELUM, William (n)            Sea2c               555 55 81
GLASS, Earl Jenks                Sea2c               624 38 36
GREEN, George (n)                Sea2c               644 25 93
GRUNDER, John Dale               Sea1c               321 68 57
HALL, William Stewart            Sea2c               660 20 34
HAND, Haro1d Holmes              Sea2c               382 17 39
HARBOR, Walter (n)               AMM3c               223 79 17
HARMON, Leonard Roy              Matt1c              360 04 18
HAUG, Thor Egil                  F1c                 223 82 06
HELVESTON, Otis Lamar            Sea2c               604 23 43
HUDSON, Dale Kermit              Sea1c               337 28 80
HUGRES, William Hayden           SK3c                375 86 62
JACKSON, Charles Allen           Matt1c              272 38 30
JAMES, Richeleau Xertes          Sea1c               632 00 86
JANOSCO, Nicholas (n)            PR3c                328 74 35
JAPP. Edwin Henry                Sea2c               660 21 21
JENKINS, Clair Raymond           Sea1c               321 46 48
KAUFFMAN, Elmer Henry            Cox.                243 74 17
KAZMIERSKI, Edwin Stanley        GM2c                243 73 46
KEMPA, George Edward             SM3c                368 53 29
KLINE, Floyd Munro               Sea2c               670 19 72
LAMB, Cecil Elmer                Sea2c               616 51 31
LIBBY, Abe (n)                   Sea2c               640 23 89
LOCKWOOD, Will Allen             Sea1c               279 61 25
MADISON, Herbert (n)             OC3c                287 26 57
MARCY, Gorden Wayne              Sea2c               654 34 65
MARTIN, Clyde Custer             Sea2c               668 44 64
MC BRIDE, Jack Lafayette         Sea2c               316 66 95
MC KERNAN, Louis Frank           SF1c                341 72 61
MC NEIL, William Claude          Sea2c               300 39 61
NICHOLS, John Richard            Sea1c               372 25 31
PASTOR, JOSEPH John              Sea2c               668 54 13
PERKINS, Robert Paul             Sea1c               287 50 40
RAY, Clarence Wendell            Sea1c               321 74 37
ROSSON, George Bobo              Y2c                 616 01 92
SCBODER, Raymond Walter          GM1c                321 22 21
SLOUGH, Thomas Glenn             Sea1c               356 18 17
SPANGENBERG, Kenneth Jerome      GM3c                243 75 65
STEELE, Roy Lerson Jr.           Sea2c               640 19 05
STONE, Wesley Howard             GM3c                212 58 53
BZYMANSKI, Edward Robert         SF2c                346 72 73
TAYLOR, Emmett Shaw              CM3c                268 48 12
TUCKER, Francis Joseph           Cox                 201 76 41
TURNER, Jack Monroe              Cox                 295 68 93
WAGNER, Walter John              Sea2c               316 83 42
WERTEEN, Edwin Loid              GM3c                342 26 17
WILKINS, Wilbur Jackson Jr.      F2c                 604 26 08
WISENBERGER, Paul Grey           F2c                 612 08 66
ZAIGER, Albert Charles           CM3c                620 04 88
KLATT, George Staat              Plt.Sgt.            222792 USMC
DALTON, Charles Milton           Corporal            307004 USMC
BERRAY, James E.                 Pfc                 340536 USMC
BURDETTE, Snyder                 Pfc                 311827 USMC
RITCHIE, George                  Pfc                 347714 USMC
ST. JOHN, Earl J.                Pfc                 350056 USMC
SAMUELSON, Allen B.              Pvt.                357426 USMC
    # Seriously wounded in action of November 12th.


                          MISSING IN ACTION

# THOLUPSON, Wilbert Lee         Lieut.(jg)          CVS, USNR
  BOCKOVER, Harvey Allen         Sea2c               664 08 87
# HARDY, Wendell Richard         GM3c                300 15 68
# LEWIS, Robert Jerd             Sea1c               337 50 15
  LUNDIE, JACK LEROY             Cox                 265 93 55
  QUICK, Ray Wilbur              F3c                 668 43 79
  WAIJLEN Samuel Elmer           Sea1c               262 60 03

## Subsequently rescued


                          WOUNDED IN ACTION
O'BEIRNE, Emmett                 Lieut-Comdr.        3703
ARISON, Rae Emmett               Commander           1812
MC CANDLESS B.                   Lieut-Comdr.        4265
WESTIN, Howard Sevens            Lieut.              5177
KERKERING, Stanley William       Lieut.              6556
SIMMONS, Arthur Edwin            Lieut.(jg)          AVN,USNR
ISBELL, Harold Austin            Carpenter           USN
BAKER, Arthur Oliver             Sea2c .             654 24 44
BAUER, Carl Raymond              Sea2c               618 21 75
BODIKEY, Romualdo (n)            OC1c                497 91 20
BONDSTEEL, Lynford Lawrence      PHM3e               311 82 12
BURRIS, William Addison          Sea2c               644 44 34
CAMP, James Ernest               Sea2c               630 17 13
CONKLIN, Elmer James             Sea1c               316 68 18
DAWSON, Wesley Harrison          Sea2c               660 20 63
EDWARDS, Richard Marion          Sea1c               356 54 84
EVES, Stephen Corbett            Sea2c               660 20 52
FAULKNER, Cecil Thedore          Sea2c               604 43 70
FAUST, Albert Charles            RM2c                404 90 99
GILPIN, Edgar Gordon             Sea2c               300 81 83
GOHN, James Calvin               Sea2c               633 13 02
GOWENS, Earl Alferd              F3c                 628 26 09
GRAHAM, Ralph Junior             Sea1c               316 67 83
HALL, Oscar Smith                Sea2c               624 40 28
HAMMACK, James Lloyd             Sea1c               346 93 70
HANNAH, Hoyt "N"                 Cox                 346 71 34
HARSH, Donald Edward             Sea2c               612 22 00
HEAD, Lester Curt                BM1c                272 21 78
HILIMAN, Ralph Albert            Cox                 316 67 76
HOLBROOK, Heber "A"              PHM3c               368 61 50
JAMES, Carrol Woodfin            Sea1c               360 39 11
KIEFER, Harry Joseph             Sea1c               243 73 54
KING, John William Jr.           Sea2c               274 64 44
KINNEY, Charles Leonard          Cox                 342 27 66
KLEE, Walter Donald              GM2c                328 74 15
KRAUSE, Lloyd Stanley            Sea1c               316 66 83
LASSEN, Henry (n)                Sea2c               372 40 59
LEVY, Harold Bertrum             Sea1c               342 27 48
LEWIS, Alvin Jesse               Sea1c               223 89 56
MARLEY, Thomas Keith             Cox                 262 28 45
MIKULENCAK, Joseph Frank         Sea2c               624 03 61
MORTIMER, Melvin Wayne           F3c                 399 56 76
MURPHY, George Delmas Jr.        Sea1c               376 06 20
MYHRE, Leonard Marvin            Sea2c               660 20 31
NIEMEIER, Walter Henry           EM2c                321 39 24
OLSON, Manfred. Chester          F2c                 393 44 04 
PETERSON, Robert George          CGM(AA)             320 85 85 
PHILLIPS, Robert (n)             Sea2c               668 17 85 
POTTER, Joseph Skinner Jr.       EM3c                382 10 83 
REYNOLDS, William Dwain          F2c                 368 67 29 
RISLAND, Oscar Stanley           Sea2c               638 48 91 
ROBB, Semuel Kelly               Cox                 385 79 35 
SEHRT, Glann Francis             Sea2c               662 51 53 
SETTLE, Carl Dean                Sea2c               337 49 04 
SMITH, Samuel Robert             Cox                 370 08 39 
SPENCER, Jimmie Leon             Sea2c               670 17 01 
ST GEORGE, Merlyn Joseph         Sea1c               328 82 58 
STORCK, Emory Thompson           Sea1c               266 16 48 
STORY Henry Cleve                Sea2c               670 17 10 
TUPPER, Theodore (n) Jr.         FM3c                223 83 77 
VALACH, Elemil (n)               CGM(AA)             212 39 37 
VOISINET, Robert Keen            SM3c                234 26 87 
WARD, Harold Emanuel             MAtt2c              223 64 44 
WHITE, WILLIAM David             Sea2c               640 19 29 
WILDER, James Richard            SF3c                316 63 42 
BEAN, Harold Ray                 Sk3C                356 50 33 
GRACE, Elwood Grant Jr.          F3c                 382 96 33 
HANNA, Julius Andy               Sea1c               321 60 03
HOGAN, Raymond Henry             Sea1c               660 23 09
ROBINSON, Harold Payne           GM1c                268 20 24
SNELL, Ralph Howard              Cox                 376 01 19 
STODGHILL, James Edward          Cox                 268 49 90 
TROOP, Charles Jr.               Sea1c               287 51 33 
LEE, Benjamin G.                 First Sergeant      241740 USMC 
EGAN, John Maurice Francis       Sergeant            269130 USMC 
HOPSON, Miles W.                 Corporal            302754 USMC 
MEALER, Hubert R.                Corporal            306102 USMC 
RAMSY, Walter J. Jr.             Corporal            298707 USMC 
LARGE, Charles J.                FLDCK               300824 USMC 
MAELER, Carl W.                  Pfc                 311471 USMC 
MC CARSTLE, Howard P. Jr.        Pfc                 324043 USMC 
POORE Forrest F.                 Pfc                 307370 USMC 
SPENCER, Clifford C.             Pfc                 336891 USMC 
AGUILAR, Joe M.                  Sergeant            298737 USMC 
MEDLIN, Otho H.                  Corporal            292832 USMC 
CARRELL, Robert R.               Pfc                 311748 USMC 
ROGERS, Harold W.                Pfc                 314306 USMC 
MIDDLESWORTH, Malbert            FM1c                307943 USMC 
CARLSON, Oscar                   Gunnery Sgt.        235122 USMC 
HILLAS, Robert Alexander Jr.     Ensign              DVS, USNR
ISBELL, Harold Austin            Carpenter           USN 
AVALOS, Christopher (n)          Sea1c               618 21 25 
CHRISTENSEN, Jess Willard        BM2c                371 91 05 
DE BENEDETTI, Albert (n)         Sea2c               393 59 20 
GILGREASE William Eugene         Sea2c               360 51 34 
HOLMQUIST Carl Eric              CMM(PA)             238 33 41 
JENKINS, Elmer Leslie Jr.        Sea2c               291 64 50 
KEPPLER, Reinhardt John          BM1c                385 67 73 
LUKENS, Edward Alan              Sea1c               243 78 92 
NICKSON, Joseph Francis          BM2c                204 31 87 
PETERSON, John William Dean      GM3c                328 55 36 
REYNOLDS, Jesse (n) Jr.          BM2c                311 44 47 
VANCE "C" "R"                    BM2c                376 01 03 
WHITE, Arnold Earl               RDM3c               356 54 65 
WUBKER, Virgil Max               Sea1c               321 43 82 


IN REPLY
REFER TO:             U.S.S. SAN FRANCISCO


ENLISTED MAN KILLED IN ACTION SOLOMON ISLAND NOVEMBER 18, 1942:

   NAME                          RATE                SERVICE NO.
*  GANNO, Otis Charles           ARM2c               274 44 70

*   Killed in crash of PBY patrol on November 18, 1942, near Tulagi,
    Solomon Island.  Plane in which GANNON was a passenger crashed on 
    take-off.  Body recovered and buried in grave #80, U.S. Navy - 
    U.S. Marine Corps Cemetery, #1 White Beach.





                             ACTION REPORT

USS SAN FRANCISCO                                                CA-38 
 
SERIAL 0411                                           16 NOVEMBER 1942
 
    AIR ATTACK OFF LUNGA POINT, GUADALCANAL, 12 NOVEMBER 
    1942, REPORT OF.

           REPORT OF ACTING C.O. LCDR. H. E. SCHONLAND COVERING ACTION 
           AT 1408 DURING JAPANESE AIR ATTACK ON TASK FORCE 67, OFF 
           LUNGA POINT, GUADALCANAL. A DAMAGED TORPEDO PLANE APPEARED 
           TO DELIBERATELY CRASH THE AFTER SUPER STRUCTUR, CAUSING 
           EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND 45 CASUALTIES. 
                          
                                                                44804



In Reply
Refer To:               U.S.S. SAN FRANCISCO 
CA38/A16-3.

Serial ts/133                                       November 16, 1942.

From:         The Commanding Officer.
To  :         The Commander in Chief, U. S. PACIFIC FLEET.
Via :         (1) The Commander Task Force SIXTY-SEVEN,
                  (Rear Admiral R. K. Turner).
               (2) The Commander South Pacific Area and
                   South Pacific Force.

Subject:       Action Report - Air Attack, November 12, 1942.

    1.     The following report is made of repulse of an air attack 
against Task Force 67 off Lunga Point, Guadalcanal, in the Solomons 
during the afternoon of November 12, 1942.

    2.     Task Force 67 formed special anti-aircraft disposition 
about 1317 on orders of Commander Task Force 67. Transports (6) were 
formed in two columns, in line of divisions, axis 340, course 340, 
speed 10 knots, with SAN FRANCISCO stationed 1000 yards on the axis 
ahead of the transports. Speed was later increased to 14 knots and the 
disposition maneuvered by Commander Task Force 67 off Lunga Point. SAN 
FRANCISCO generally adhered to the station assigned but during the 
attack increased speed to 25 knots (for brief intervals) and 
maneuvered radically to avoid torpedoes and to enable the main and 
anti-aircraft batteries to fire at torpedo planes.

    3.     Japanese air attack group has been estimated to have 
comprised 21 torpedo planes (twin engine land planes), 9 Zero fitters, 
and some dive bombers totaling about 52 planes, Except for one Zero 
fighter which was seen to plummet down through the clouds, only 
torpedo planes were seen by this ship. Between 19 and 21 of them were 
counted.

    4.     Torpedo planes approached undetected (or at least 
unreported) down the north coast of Florida Island, and came south 
going over Florida Island. They fanned out as they came over and. 
appeared to break up into two groups, one approaching the formation 
from the southeast, the other from the northeast. A.A. Control 
estimates their speed at 170 knots. Planes flew very low, literally 
skimming the water (less than 50 feet) and used the dark background of 
Florida and Tulagi Islands to reduce silhouette effect against the 
sky. Approach formation appeared to be excellent, planes fanning out 
from three plane sections.

    5.     Fire was commenced at 1408 with the 5" battery. The first 
bursts were on and the plane under fire crashed immediately. Salvos 
were fired by the main battery at ranges between 5000 and 2000 yards. 
Splashes from 8" A.P. projectiles were very effective in causing 
planes to make radical maneuvers. Our A.A. fire shot down one plane, 
damaged two planes and heavily hit the plane which crashed into 
Control Aft.

    6.     One torpedo passed ahead of this ship and was avoided by 
maneuvering. One passed forward long the starboard side. One torpedo 
was soon to ricochet upwards at an angle of about 45 degrees on 
striking the water and nearly torpedoed the plane that dropped it. It 
went end over end several times and then sank. One or two were seen to 
porpoise during the early part of the run but apparently took their 
depth and ran properly. One erratic run (circular) was noted. No hits 
were registered on any ships. Wakes were very distinct, more by 
apparent ripples on the surface of the water than by bubbles.

    7.     At 1416 this ship was individually attacked by an already 
damaged torpedo plane which dropped its torpedo on the starboard 
quarter (torpedo passed alongside to starboard) and plane then 
appeared to deliberately crash the after superstructure of this ship. 
Plane's right wing struck Control Aft about 170 relative, swung around 
into that structure, and plunged over tile port side into the sea 
where it crashed and burned. Considerable damage and intense fires 
were caused by this crash and the following personnel casualties 
occurred.

              Killed or Died       Wounded
               of Injuries.      (Mostly Burned)     Missing
Officers             1                  4                0

Enlisted            14                 25                1

    Control Aft was demolished, Battle two burned out, and the after
A.A. Director and After Fox Cast Radar were put out of commission. 
Three 20 mm. mounts were demolished. Wounded personnel were 
transferred to U.S.S. PRESIDENT JACKSON, with the exception of 
Commander Grouter who wished to remain aboard ship so that he could be 
returned to duty in a minimum time. Commanfer Grouter's gallantry was 
ill-rewarded, in that he suffered additional injuries when a shell 
exploded in his cabin during the subsequent night action resulting in 
his death The loss of personnel and disabling of equipment was most 
keenly felt by this vessel in the following engagement.

    8.     Ammunition expended:

           8" - 15 rounds
           5" - 180 rounds
         1.1" - 160 rounds (approximately).
        20mm. - 1200 rounds (approximately).

    9.     Name plate from the plane which crashed this ship was 
obtained and is forwarded separately via airmail to Officer in Charge, 
Intelligence Center, Pacific Ocean Area, (Commandant 14th Naval 
District). Plane appears to have been a Mitsubishi 97 twin engine 
landplane, painted dark.

    10.    During the action, a submarine was seen on the surface in 
the vicinity of Cape Esperance-Savo Island, with one Japanese torpedo 
plane flying low in the vicinity. ComTaskGroup 67.4 was notified and 
the U.S .S. SHAW was dispatched by him to destroy the submarine, and 
reports reaching this indicate that she destroyed this submarine by 
gunfire on surface.

    11.    At 1505 radio Guadalcanal reported all clear shortly 
thereafter transports moved in to resume unloading. This ship observed 
at least eight torpedo planes destroyed, including one that was 
damaged by this ship but apparently getting away when it was destroyed 
by a fighter (F4F4) . This believed to be only a fraction of the 
enemy's losses.

    12.    It is desired to mention the remarkable fire 
discipline and courage of the crews of the 20 mm. guns on the 
gallery around Control Aft who were firing on the approaching
torpedo plane and who continued to fire into it with all their
guns until they were wiped out by the plane's actually flying
into them. They met their deaths without flinching and in a 
manner which has been an inspiration to us all.

                                 H. E. SCHONLAND,
                                 Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy. 
                                 Commanding.



Copies to:
CINCPAC (Original plus 1.)
COMPAC
COMTASKFOR 67 (Rear Admiral Turner)
WAR DIARY



File No. 
                          AMPHIBIOUS FORCE
E25/ A16-3(3)           SOUTH PACIFIC FORCE
                      Office of the Commander
Serial: TS/133
                     U.S.S. McCAWLEY, Flagship,

November 17, 1942
First endorsement to
CO SAN FRANCISCO Ltr.
of November 16, 1942.

From:         Commander Task Force SIXTY SEVEN. 
To  :         Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Via :         Commander South Pacific Force.

Subject:      Action Report - Air Attack, November 12, 1942.

    1.        Forwarded

                              R. K. TURNER,



COMSOPAC FILE
                       SOUTH PACIFIC FORCE  
A16/(11)        of the UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET
                  Headquarters of the Commander
Serial TS/133


SECOND ENDORSEMENT to:
C.O. SAN FRANISCO ltr.
CA38/A16-3/ Ser. 0411
of November 16, 1942.

From:         The Commander South Pacific Area and South Pacific 
              Force.
To  :         The Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Subject:      Action Report - Air Attack, November 12, 1942.

    1.        Forwarded.

                                    W. F. HALSEY

History of the U.S.S. SAN FRANCISCO CA-38

Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships
U.S.S. San Francisco CA-38
	The second SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38) was laid down on 9 September 1931 at 
the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Calif.; launched on 9 March 1933; 
sponsored by Miss Barbara M. Bailly; and commissioned on 10 February 1934, 
Capt. Royal E. Ingersoll in command.

	After an extensive shakedown cruise--which included operations off 
Mexico, in Hawaiian waters, off Washington and British Columbia, and a voyage 
to the Panama Canal Zone--the cruiser returned to the Mare Island Navy Yard.  
Gunnery installation and conversion to a flagship took her into the new year, 
1935.  In February, she joined her division, Cruiser Division (CruDiv) 6 at 
San Diego.  In May, she moved north, participated in Fleet Problem XVI; then 
returned to southern California.  A few weeks later, she was back off the 
northwest coast for fleet tactics, and, in July, she steamed farther north to 
Alaska.  In August, she returned to California and, through the end of 1938, 
SAN FRANCISCO continued to range the eastern Pacific, cruising from the state 
of Washington to Peru and from California to Hawaii.

	In January 1939, she departed the west coast to participate in Fleet 
Problem XX conducted in the Atlantic east of the Lesser Antilles.  In March, 
she became flagship of CruDiv 7 and commenced a goodwill tour of South
American ports.  Departing Guantanamo Bay in early April, she called at ports 
on the east coast of that continent, moved through the Strait of Magellan; 
visited west coast ports; and, in early June, transited the Panama Canal to 
complete her voyage around the continent.

	On 1 September, World War II started, and, on the 14th, SAN FRANCISCO 
moved south from Norfolk to join the Neutrality Patrol.  The cruiser carried 
freight and passengers to San Juan, thence sailed for a patrol of the West 
Indies as far south as Trinidad.  On 14 October, she completed her patrol 
back at San Juan and headed for Norfolk, where she remained into January 
1940.  On the 11th, she headed for Guantanamo Bay, where she was relieved of 
flagship duties by WICHITA (CA-45), and whence she returned to the Pacific.

	Transiting the Panama Canal in late February, she called at San Pedro 
and, in March, continued on to her new home port, Pearl Harbor, where she 
rejoined CruDiv 6.  In May, she steamed northwest to the Puget Sound Navy 
Yard for an overhaul, during which she also received four 3-inch guns.  On 29 
September, she returned to Pearl Harbor.  In early May 1941, she became 
flagship of CruDiv 6, and, at the end of July, she moved east for a cruise to 
Long Beach, returning to Hawaii on 27 August.  In September, the flag of 
ComCruDiv 6 was hauled down, and, on 11 October, SAN FRANCISCO entered the 
Pearl Harbor Navy Yard for an overhaul which was scheduled for completion on 
25 December.

	On 7 December, SAN FRANCISCO was awaiting docking and the cleaning of 
her heavily fouled bottom.  Her engineering plant was largely broken down for 
overhaul.  Ammunition for her 5-inch and 8-inch guns had been placed in 
storage.  Her 3-inch guns had been removed to permit installation of four 
1.1-inch quadruple mounts.  The 1.1-inch mounts had not been installed.  Her 
.50 caliber machine guns were being overhauled.  Only small arms and two .30 
caliber machine guns were available.  Moreover, a number of SAN FRANCISCO's 
officers and men were absent.

	At 0755, Japanese planes began bombing dives on Ford Island, and by 
0800, the surprise air attack was well underway.  The men in SAN FRANCISCO 
had secured the ship for water-tightness and had begun looking for  
opportunities to fight back.  Some crossed to NEW ORLEANS (CA-32) to man 
antiaircraft batteries.  Others began using available rifles and machine 
guns.  Fifty caliber machine gun ammunition was transferred to TRACY (DM-19) 
for use.

	By 1000, the Japanese had left; and work to ready SAN FRANCISCO for 
action was begun.

	On 14 December, the cruiser left the yard; scaling had been postponed 
in favor of more necessary repairs on other ships.  On 16 December, she 
sortied with Task Force (TF) 14 to relieve Wake Island.  The force moved west 
with a Marine Corps fighter squadron on board SARATOGA (CV-3) and a Marine 
battalion embarked in TANGIER (AV-8).  But, when Wake fell to the Japanese on 
the 23d, TF 14 was diverted to Midway which it reinforced.  On the 29th, the 
force returned to Pearl Harbor.

	On 8 January 1942, SAN FRANCISCO again moved west.  In TF 8, she 
steamed toward Samoa to rendezvous with, and cover the offloading of, 
transports carrying reinforcements to Tutuila.  Thence it joined TF 17 for 
raids on Japanese installations in the Gilberts and Marshalls.  SAN FRANCISCO 
arrived in the Samoan area on the 18th and, on the 24th, was detached to 
continue coverage for the transports while the remainder of the task force 
and TF 17 conducted offensive operations to the northwest.

	On 8 February, SAN FRANCISCO departed Tutuila.  On the 10th, she 
rejoined CruDiv 6, then in TF 11, and set a course for an area northeast of 
the Solomons to strike Rabaul.  However, the American force was sighted and 
attacked by two waves of twin-engined Japanese bombers.  Sixteen of the 
planes were destroyed, but the element of surprise had been lost.  TF 11 
retired eastward.

	During the next few days, TF 11, centered on LEXINGTON (CV-2), 
conducted operations in the South Pacific, then headed for New Guinea to 
participate with TF 17 in a raid against Japanese shipping and installations.

	On 7 March, one of SAN FRANCISCO's scout planes was reported missing 
and could not be found.

	On the night of 9 and 10 March, TF's l1 and 17 entered the Gulf of 
Papua, whence, at dawn, LEXINGTON and YORKTOWN (CV-5) launched their aircraft 
to cross the Owen Stanley range and attack the Japanese at Salamaua and Lae.

	The next day, the missing plane was sighted by MINNEAPOLIS (CA-36) and 
recovered by SAN FRANCISCO.  It had landed on the water, but had been unable 
to communicate.  The pilot, Lt. J. A. Thomas, and the radioman RM3 O. J. 
Gannan, had headed for Australia, sailing the plane backwards as it tended to 
head into the prevailing east wind.  In five days and 21 hours, they had 
covered approximately 385 miles on a course within 5% of that intended.

	SAN FRANCISCO returned to Pearl Harbor on the 26th.  On 22 April, the 
cruiser departed Oahu for San Francisco in the escort of convoy 4093.  At the 
end of May, she headed west, escorting convoy PW 2076, made up of transports 
carrying the 37th Army Division, destined for Suva, and special troops 
bound for Australia.  The cruiser remained in the escort force as far as 
Auckland; thence steamed for Hawaii, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 29 June.

	SAN FRANCISCO steamed west with destroyer LAFFEY (DD-459) and seaplane 
tender BALLARD (AVD-10) to escort convoy 4120 to the Fiji Islands.  From 
there, she got underway to rendezvous with the Solomon Islands Expeditionary 
Force.

	Operation "Watchtower," the Guadalcanal-Tulagi offensive, opened on the 
morning of 7 August.  Through that day and the remainder of the month, SAN 
FRANCISCO helped to cover the American forces in the area.  The flag of Rear 
Admiral Norman Scott, commanding the cruisers attached to TF 18, was shifted 
to SAN FRANCISCO.

	On 3 September, SAN FRANCISCO's force put into Noumea, New Caledonia, 
for fuel and provisions.  On the 8th, the ships departed that island to cover 
reinforcements moving up to Guadalcanal.  On the 11th, SAN FRANCISCO's force, 
TF 18, rendezvoused with TF 17, the HORNET (CV-8) group, and, the next day 
both groups refueled at sea.  On the 14th, the reinforcement convoy departed 
the New Hebrides.  TF 61 commenced covering operations with TF 17 operating 
to the eastward of TF 18 and conforming to the movements of TF 18.

	At about 1450, on the 15th, WASP (CV-7) was torpedoed on the starboard 
side.  Fires broke out on the carrier.  Explosions multiplied the fires.  
Rear Admiral Scott took command of TF 18.  SAN FRANCISCO and SALT LAKE CITY 
(CA-25) prepared to take the carrier in tow; but, by 1520, the fires were out 
of control and destroyers began taking on survivors.  LANSDOWNE (DD-486) 
torpedoed the burning hulk.  TF 18 headed for Espiritu Santo.

	On the morning of 17 September, SAN FRANCISCO, JUNEAU (CL-52), and five 
destroyers put back to sea to rendezvous with TF 17 and resume coverage of 
reinforcement convoys.  Other units of TF 18 had headed for Noumea with WASP 
survivors.

	On 23 September, SAN FRANCISCO, SALT LAKE CITY, BOISE (CL-47), HELENA 
(CL-50), MINNEAPOLIS, CHESTER (CA-27), and Destroyer Squadron 12 became TF 
64, a surface screening and attack force under the command of Rear Admiral 
Scott in SAN FRANCISCO.  On the 24th, the force headed to the New Hebrides.

	On 7 October, TF 64 departed Espiritu Santo and moved back into the 
Solomons to cover Allied reinforcements and to intercept similar operations 
by the Japanese.  On the 11th, at about 1615, the ships commenced a run 
northward from Rennel Island, to intercept an enemy force of two cruisers 
and six destroyers reported heading for Guadalcanal from the Buin-Faisi area.  
The force continued north, to approach Savo Island from the southwest.

	By 2330, when the ships were approximately six miles northwest of Savo, 
they turned to make a further search of the area.  A few minutes after 
setting the new course, radar indicated unidentified ships to the west, 
several thousand yards distant.  At about 2345, the Battle of Cape Esperance 
began.

	Initial confusion caused both sides to momentarily check their fire in 
fear of hitting their own ships.  Then, the battle was reopened and continued 
until 0020 on the 12th, when surviving Japanese ships retired toward 
Shortland.  Two American cruisers, SALT LAKE CITY and BOISE, and two 
destroyers, DUNCAN (DD-485) and FARENHOLT (DD-491), had been damaged.  Later, 
DUNCAN went down.  A Japanese cruiser and a destroyer had been sunk during 
the surface action.  Two more enemy destroyers were sunk on the 12th by 
planes from Henderson Field.  After the engagement, TF 64, having shown the 
United States Navy to be the equal of the Imperial Japanese Navy in night 
fighting, retired to Espiritu Santo.

	On 15 October, SAN FRANCISCO resumed operations in 
support of the Guadalcanal campaign.  On the evening of the 
20th, her group was ordered back to Espiritu Santo.  At 
2119, torpedoes were reported.  CHESTER was hit amidships on 
the starboard side but continued under her own power.  Three 
other torpedoes exploded:  one off HELENA's starboard 
quarter; a second between HELENA and SAN FRANCISCO; and the 
third about 1,200 yards off SAN FRANCISCO's port beam.  Two 
others were sighted running on the surface.

	SAN FRANCISCO reached Espiritu Santo on the night of 
the 21st, but departed again on the 22d to intercept any 
enemy surface units approaching Guadalcanal from the north 
and to cover friendly reinforcements.  On the 28th, Rear 
Admiral Scott transferred to ATLANTA (CL-51).  On the 29th, 
SAN FRANCISCO returned to Espiritu Santo; and, on the 30th, 
Rear Admiral D. J. Callaghan commanding officer of SAN 
FRANCISCO when the United States entered the war, returned 
to the ship and raised his flag as CTG 64.4 and prospective 
CTF 65.

	On 31 October, the newly-designated TF 65 departed 
Espiritu Santo, the ships again headed into the Solomons to 
cover troop landings on Guadalcanal.  Bombardment missions 
in the Kokumbona and Koli Point areas followed.  On 6 
November, the transport group completed unloading, and the 
force retired, arriving at Espiritu Santo on the 8th.  On 
the 10th, SAN FRANCISCO, now flagship for TG 67.4, got 
underway again toward Guadalcanal.

	Just before noon, a Japanese twin-float reconnaissance 
plane began shadowing the formation.

	The force arrived off Lunga Point on the 12th, and the 
transports commenced unloading.  By mid-afternoon, an 
approaching Japanese air group was reported.  At 1318, the 
ships got underway.  At 1408, 21 enemy planes attacked.

	At 1416, an already damaged torpedo plane dropped its 
torpedo off SAN FRANCISCO's starboard quarter.  The torpedo 
passed alongside, but the plane crashed into SAN FRANCISCO's 
control aft, swung around that structure, and plunged over 
the port side into the sea.  Fifteen men were killed, 29 
wounded, and one missing.  Control aft was demolished.  The 
ship's secondary command post, Battle Two, was burned out 
but was reestablished by dark.  The after antiaircraft 
director and radar were put out of commission.  Three 20 
millimeter mounts were destroyed.

	The wounded were transferred to attack transport 
PRESIDENT JACKSON (APA-18) just before the approach of an 
enemy surface force was reported.  The covering force 
escorted the transports out of the area, then reassembled 
and returned.  At about midnight, SAN FRANCISCO, in company 
with one heavy cruiser, three light cruisers, and eight 
destroyers, entered Lengo Channel.

	At 0125 on the 13th, the enemy force was discovered 
about 27,000 yards to the northwest.  Rear Admiral 
Callaghan's task group maneuvered to intercept.  At 0148, 
SAN FRANCISCO opened fire on an enemy cruiser 3,700 yards 
off her starboard beam.  At 0151, she trained her guns on a 
small cruiser or large destroyer 3,300 yards off her 
starboard bow.  An enemy battleship was then sighted and 
taken under fire, initial range 2,200 yards.

	At about 0200, SAN FRANCISCO trained her guns on a 
second battleship.  At the same time, she became the target 
of a cruiser off her starboard bow and of a destroyer which 
had crossed her bow and was passing down her port side.  The 
enemy battleship joined the cruiser and the destroyer in 
firing on SAN FRANCISCO, whose port 5-inch battery engaged 
the destroyer but was put out of action except for one 
mount.  The battleship put the starboard 5-inch battery out 
of commission.  SAN FRANCISCO swung left while her main 
battery continued to fire on the battleships which, with the 
cruiser and the destroyer, continued to pound SAN FRANCISCO.  
A direct hit on the navigation bridge killed or badly 
wounded all officers except the communications officer.  
Steering and engine control were lost and shifted to Battle 
Two.  Battle Two was out of commission by a direct hit from 
the port side.  Control was again lost.

	Control was then established in the conning tower which 
soon received a hit from the starboard side.  Steering and 
engine control were temporarily lost, then regained.  All 
communications were dead.

	Soon thereafter, the enemy ceased firing.  SAN 
FRANCISCO followed suit and withdrew eastward along the 
north coast of Guadalcanal.

	Seventy-seven sailors, including Rear Admiral Callaghan 
and Capt. Young, had been killed.  One Hundred and five had 
been wounded.  Of seven missing, three were subsequently 
rescued.  The ship had taken 45 hits.  Structural damage was 
extensive, but not serious.  No hits had been received below 
the waterline.  Twenty two fires had been started and 
extinguished.

	At about 0400, SAN FRANCISCO, all her compasses out of 
commission, joined HELENA and followed her through Sealark 
Channel.

	At about 1000, JUNEAU's medical personnel transferred 
to SAN FRANCISCO to assist in treating the numerous wounded.  
An hour later, JUNEAU took a torpedo on the port side, in 
the vicinity of the bridge.  "The entire ship seemed to 
explode in one mighty column of brown and white smoke and 
flame which rose easily a thousand feet in the air.  The 
JUNEAU literally disintegrated."  SAN FRANCISCO was hit by 
several large fragments from JUNEAU.  One man was hit, both 
his legs were broken.  Nothing was seen in the water after 
the smoke lifted.

	On the afternoon of 14 November, SAN FRANCISCO returned 
to Espiritu Santo.  For her participation in the action of 
the morning of the 13th, and for that of the night of 11 and 
12 October, she received the Presidential Unit Citation.  On 
18 November, the cruiser sailed for Noumea, and, on the 23d, 
she got underway toward the United States.  She reached San 
Francisco on 11 December.  Three days later, repairs were 
begun at Mare Island.

	On 26 February 1943, she got underway to return to the 
South Pacific.  After escorting convoy PW 2211 en route, SAN 
FRANCISCO arrived at Noumea on 20 March.  Five days later, 
she continued on to Efate.  She arrived back in the Hawaiian 
Islands in mid-April; thence headed north to the Aleutians 
to join the North Pacific Force, TF 16, and reached Alaska 
toward the end of the month.  Based at Kuluk Bay, Adak, she 
operated in the Aleutians for the next four and one half 
months.  She patrolled the western approaches to the area, 
participated in the assault and occupation of Attu in May 
and of Kiska in July; and performed escort duties.

	In mid-September, she was ordered back to Pearl Harbor 
for repairs and reassignment to TF 14.  On the 29th SAN 
FRANCISCO departed Pearl Harbor in Task Unit (TU) 14.2.1 for 
a raid against Wake and Wilkes Islands.  On 5 October, the 
group arrived off the target area and conducted two runs by 
the enemy positions.  On the 11th, her task unit returned to 
Pearl Harbor.

	On the 20th, the force arrived off Makin.  SAN 
FRANCISCO participated in the pre-invasion bombardment of 
Betio, then patrolled outside the transport area to the west 
of Makin.  On the 26th, she was detached and assigned to TG 
50.1, joining YORKTOWN (CV-10), LEXINGTON (CV-16), COWPENS 
(CVL-25), five cruisers, and six destroyers.  With that 
force, she steamed toward the Marshalls to strike Japanese 
shipping and installations in the Kwajalein area.  On 4 
December, the carriers launched their planes against the 
targets.  Shortly after noon, enemy aerial activity 
increased, and, at 1250, SAN FRANCISCO came under attack.  
Three torpedo planes closed her on the port bow.  Her guns 
splashed two.  The third was shot down by YORKTOWN.  But the 
cruiser had been strafed several times.  One man had been 
killed; 22 were wounded.  After dark, the Japanese returned 
and, on that night, LEXINGTON was torpedoed.  The force 
moved north and west.  Shortly after 0130, on the 5th, enemy 
planes faded from the radar screens.  On the 6th, the ships 
headed back to Pearl Harbor.

	On 22 January 1944, SAN FRANCISCO sortied with TF 52 
and again headed for the Marshalls.  On the 29th, the 
division, screened by destroyers, left the formation and 
moved against Japanese installations on Maloelap to 
neutralize them during the conquest of Kwajalein.  Following 
the bombardment, the ships proceeded on to Kwajalein.  SAN 
FRANCISCO arrived off the atoll at about 0630 on the 31st.  
At 0730, she opened fire on targets of opportunity, 
initially a small ship inside Kwajalein lagoon.  At 0849, 
she ceased firing.  At 0900, she resumed firing at targets 
on Berlin and Beverly Islands.  Through the day, she 
continued to shell those islands, and, in late afternoon, 
added Bennett Island to her targets.  During the next week, 
she provided pre-landing barrages and support fire for 
operations against Burton, Berlin, and Beverly Islands.  On 
the 8th, the cruiser sailed for Majuro, whence she would 
operate as a unit of TF 58, the fast carrier force.

	On 12 February, SAN FRANCISCO, in TG 58.2 cleared 
Majuro lagoon.  Four days later, the carriers launched their 
planes against Truk.  On the night of 16 and 17 February, 
INTREPID (CV-11) was torpedoed.  SAN FRANCISCO with others, 
was assigned to escort her eastward.  On the 19th, the group 
split:  INTREPID, with two destroyers, continued toward 
Pearl Harbor; SAN FRANCISCO and the remaining ships headed 
for Majuro.  On the 25th SAN FRANCISCO sailed for Hawaii 
with TG 58.2.  On 20 March, the group returned to Majuro, 
refueled, and departed again on the 22d to move against the 
Western Carolines.  From 30 March to 1 April, carrier planes 
hit the Palaus and Woleai.  SAN FRANCISCO's planes flew 
rescue missions.

	On 6 April, the force was back in Majuro lagoon.  A 
week later, the ships set a course for New Guinea.  From the 
21st to the 28th, TG 58.2 supported the assault landings in 
the Hollandia area.  On the 29th, the ships moved back into 
the Carolines for another raid against Truk.  On the 30th, 
SAN FRANCISCO was detached and with eight other cruisers, 
moved against Satawan.  On completion of that bombardment 
mission, the cruisers rejoined TG 58.2 and headed back to 
the Marshalls.

	Initially at Majuro, SAN FRANCISCO shifted to Kwajalein 
in early June, and, on the 10th, departed that atoll in TG 
53.15, the bombardment group of the Saipan invasion force.  
On the 14th, she commenced two days of shelling Tinian, 
then, after the landings on Saipan, shifted to fire support 
duties.  On the 16th, she temporarily joined CruDiv 9 to 
bombard Guam.  Word of a Japanese force en route to Saipan, 
however, interrupted the cannonade, and the ships returned 
to Saipan.

	On 17 June, SAN FRANCISCO refueled and took up station 
between the approaching enemy force and the amphibious force 
at Saipan.  On the morning of the 19th, the Battle of the 
Philippine Sea opened for SAN FRANCISCO.  At about 1046, she 
was straddled fore and aft by bombs. ". . . a mass of enemy 
planes on the screen at 20 miles."  At 1126, the cruiser 
opened fire.  A 40 millimeter shell from INDIANAPOLIS 
(CA-35) set off SAN FRANCISCO's smoke screen generators.  By 
noon, quiet had returned.  At 1424, dive bombers made the 
last Japanese attack.  By the 20th, SAN FRANCISCO steamed 
westward in pursuit of the Japanese force.  On the 21st, she 
returned to the Saipan area and resumed operations with the 
covering force for the transports.  On 8 July, SAN FRANCISCO 
again steamed to Guam to bombard enemy positions.  During 
the next four days, she shelled targets in the Agat and 
Agana areas.  On the 12th, she returned to Saipan, 
replenished, refueled and, on the 18th, again took station 
off Guam.

	On that day and on the 19th and the 20th, she shelled 
enemy positions, supported beach demolition units, and 
provided night harassing and defense repair interdiction in 
the Agat and Faci Point areas.  On the 21st, she began to 
support Marines assaulting the Agat beaches.  On the 24th, 
the cruiser shifted her fire to the Orote Peninsula.

	On the 30th, she headed, via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor, 
for San Francisco.  The cruiser arrived back on the west 
coast on 16 August for overhaul.

	On October 31st, she steamed west again and, on 21 
November, arrived at Ulithi where she resumed flagship 
duties for CruDiv 6.  On 10 December, she cleared the 
anchorage and moved toward the Philippines in TG 38.1.  On 
the 14th and 15th, during carrier strikes against Luzon, SAN 
FRANCISCO's planes were employed on antisubmarine patrol and 
in rescue work.  On the 16th, the force headed for a 
rendezvous with TG 30.17, the replenishment force.  A 
typhoon interrupted the refueling operations, and, on the 
17th and 18th, the ships rode out the storm.  On the 19th, 
she participated in a search for survivors from three 
destroyers which had gone down during the typhoon.

	On the 20th, TF 38 turned westward again to resume 
operations against Luzon, but high seas precluded strikes.  
On the 24th, the force returned to Ulithi.

	Six days later, the force again sortied from Ulithi.  
On 2 and 3 January 1945, strikes were conducted against 
Formosa.  On the 5th, 6th, and 7th, Luzon was hit.  On the 
9th, fighter sweeps against Formosa were resumed.  The force 
then headed for the Bashi Channel and a five-day, high speed 
strike against enemy surface units in the South China Sea 
and against installations along the coast of Indochina.  On 
the 15th and 16th, the Hong Kong-Amoy-Swatow area was hit; 
and, on the 20th, the force passed through Luzon Strait to 
resume operations against Formosa.  On the 21st, aerial 
opposition was constant.  Bogies appeared on the screen 
throughout the day.  LANGLEY (CVL-27) and TICONDEROGA 
(CV-14) were hit.  On the 22d, strikes were launched against 
the Ryukyus, and, on the 23d, the force headed for the 
Western Carolines.

	Arriving on 26 January, the ships sailed again on 10 
February.  On the 16th and 17th, strikes were conducted 
against air facilities in central Honshu.  On the 18th, the 
force moved toward the Volcano and Bonin Islands; and, on 
the 19th, covering operations for the Iwo Jima assault 
began.  The next day, SAN FRANCISCO closed that island with 
other cruisers and assumed fire support duties, which she 
continued until the 23d.  Then she headed back toward Japan.  
On the 25th, Tokyo was the target.  Poor weather prohibited 
operations against Nagoya on the 26th; and, on the 27th, the 
force headed back to Ulithi.

	On 21 March, SAN FRANCISCO, now attached to TF 54 for 
Operation "Iceberg," departed Ulithi for the Ryukyus.  On 
the 25th, she approached Kerama Retto west of Okinawa, and 
furnished fire support for minesweeping and underwater 
demolition operations.  That night, she retired and the next 
morning moved back in to support the landings and supply 
counter battery fire on Aka, Keruma, Zamami, and Yakabi.

	By the morning of the 27th, aerial resistance had 
begun.  On the 28th, SAN FRANCISCO shifted to Okinawa for 
shore bombardment in preparation for the assault landings 
scheduled for 1 April.  On that day, she took up station in 
fire support sector 5, west of Naha, and for the next five 
days, shelled enemy emplacements, caves, pill boxes, road 
junctions, and tanks, trucks, and troop concentrations.  At 
night, she provided harassing fire near the beachhead.

	On 6 April, the cruiser retired to Kerama Retto; 
refueled and took on ammunition, assisted in splashing a 
"Jill," then, rejoined TF 54 off Okinawa as that force 
underwent another air raid.  SAN FRANCISCO downed a "Kate."  
Dawn of the 7th brought another air raid, during which a 
kamikaze attempted to crash the cruiser.  It was splashed 50 
yards off the starboard bow.  After the raid, SAN FRANCISCO 
shifted to TF 51 for fire support missions on the east coast 
of Okinawa, rejoining TF 54 on the west coast in late 
afternoon.  On the 11th, air attacks increased; and, the 
next day, SAN FRANCISCO set a "Val" on fire.  The plane then 
glanced off a merchant ship and hit the water, enveloped in 
flames.

	On the 13th and 14th, the cruiser again operated with 
TF 51 off the east coast of the embattled island.  On the 
15th, she returned to Kerama Retto, thence proceeded to 
Okinawa and operations with TF 54 in the transport area.  
There, she provided night illumination to detect swimmers 
and suicide boats and, just before midnight, assisted in 
sinking one of the latter.  During the night, two further 
attempts by suicide boats to close the transports were 
thwarted.

	With dawn, SAN FRANCISCO returned to the Naha area to 
shell the airfield there.  On the 17th, she moved up the 
coast and fired on the Machinato air field.  On the 18th, 
she again shifted to the eastern side of the island and, 
that night, anchored in Nakagusuku Wan.  The next day, SAN 
FRANCISCO supported troops in the southern part of the 
island.  From 21 April through 24 April, she shelled targets 
in the Naha airstrip area; and got underway for Ulithi.

	On 13 May, SAN FRANCISCO returned to Okinawa, arriving 
in Nakagusuku Wan and resuming support activities against 
targets in southern Okinawa.  For the next few days, SAN 
FRANCISCO supported the 96th Infantry Division in an area to 
the southeast of Yunabaru.  On the 20th, she shifted to 
Kutaka Shima, and by the night of the 22d, she had depleted 
her supply of ammunition for her main batteries.  On the 
25th, the Japanese launched a large air attack against 
Allied shipping in Nakagusuku Wan.  On the 27th, SAN 
FRANCISCO provided fire support for the 77th Infantry 
Division, and, on the 28th, she retired to Kerama Retto.  On 
the 30th, the cruiser returned to the western side of 
Okinawa and, for the next two weeks, supported operations of 
the 1st and 6th Marine Divisions.

	On 21 June, SAN FRANCISCO was ordered to join TG 32.15, 
120 miles southeast of Okinawa.  A week later, she put into 
Kerama Retto for a brief stay, then rejoined that group.  In 
early July, she provided cover for the eastern anchorage.  
On the 3d, she sailed toward the Philippines to prepare for 
an invasion of the Japanese home islands.  The cessation of 
hostilities in mid August, however, obviated that operation, 
and SAN FRANCISCO prepared for occupation duty.

	On 28 August, the cruiser departed Subic Bay for the 
China coast.  After a show of force in the Yellow Sea and 
Gulf of Pohai areas, she covered minesweeping operations 
and, on 8 October, anchored at Jinsen, Korea.  From the 13th 
to the 16th, she participated in another show of force 
operation in the Gulf of Pohai area, then returned to 
Jinsen, where Rear Admiral J. Wright, ComCruDiv 6, acted as 
senior member of the committee for the surrender of Japanese 
naval forces in Korea.

	On 27 November, SAN FRANCISCO headed home.  Arriving at 
San Francisco in mid-December, she continued on to the east 
coast in early January 1946 and arrived at Philadelphia for 
inactivation on the 19th.  Decommissioned on 10 February, 
she was berthed with the Philadelphia Group of the Atlantic 
Reserve Fleet until 1 March 1959 when her name was struck 
from the Navy list.  On 9 September, she was sold for 
scrapping to the Union Mineral and Alloys Corp., New York.

	SAN FRANCISCO (CA-38) earned 17 battle stars during 
World War II.

                      New Orleans Class
                      CA-Heavy Cruisers

CA-32 NEW ORLEANS
CA-36 MINNEAPOLIS
CA-37 TUSCALOOSA
CA-38 SAN FRANCISCO


Completed:
    1934

Displacement (tons):
    9,950 (stand)
   13,000 (Mean war service)

Length (oa):
    588'

Beam:
    60'

Draft (max):
    25'

Armament (max auth):
     9 8"/55 
     8 5"/25 DP
     6 40 mm quads 
 26-28 20 mm (18 on #32)

Propulsion:

    Speed:
       30 knots (max)

    Max. Cruising radius:
       3,500 miles @ 25 knots
       7,600 miles @ 15 knots

Horsepower:
       107,000 (shaft)

Drive:
       4 screws
       geared turbine
Fuel:
       2,256 tons oil (max)

Aircraft:
       2 SC-1

Remarks:
       The NEW ORLEANS Class represents a turning point in American cruiser design development, 
particularly with respects to armor and underwater protection.  The light surface unit pattern 
of armoring and subdivision of earlier cruisers is dropped in favor of a system more analogous 
to that of modern capital ships, thus making these and all succeeding heavy cruisers comparable 
to the armored cruisers of the pre-dreadnought battleship era.  Every weight-saving expedient 
was employed throughout the ship's structure to achieve this within the then existing rigid 
treaty displacement limitations.  Other innovations in these cruisers included the replacement 
of heavy tripod masts by tower bridges and pole mast, and the adoption of a raked stem for the 
clipper bow of earlier units.  Aircraft hangers were relocated in the after superstructure and 
the upper deck extended aft to the midships section.  A new design turret, with separate gun ports, 
was also introduced.

       Structural wartime alterations centered  around the bridge, resulting in the elimination of 
bridge wings and conning tower, and the fitting of an open "monkey island" on the top of the bridge.  
One of the two aircraft and boat handling cranes was also suppressed.

War losses included the:
       CA-34 ASTORIA 
       CA-39 QUINCY  
       CA-44 VINCENNES




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