Mediterranean Cruise 1944

[pharmer]

My dad was one of the greatest generation. He has been gone 17 years. I post his journal of his cruise Memorial Day. My apologies if you have seen it before. It is originally handwritten in ink 1943-early 1944 then goes to pencil for the remainder. He started to type it but only got about half done, hence the scans and typos. I always promise to get it "right' this year but haven't. Hope everyone has a safe and reflective holiday. Joe

My Diary of the SS Madison
Boarded the TTSS Madison at Brooklyn Navy Yard on Dec. 20, 1943.
Jan. 4-Sailed from N.Y. to New London by way of N.J.
Jan. 6-Returned to Pier 33 Brooklyn.
Jan. 8-Salled on test run on Long Island Sound.
Jan. 9-Returned to Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Jan. 15-Left Brooklyn Navy Yard.
' Jan. 18 Arrived Norfolk.Va. Jan. 19-Sailed from Norfolk. 'Jan. 28-Reached Gibraltar.
Jan. 30-Arrived at Mers-El- Kebir about 6 miles from Oran, Algeria

Jan. 31-Pay Day- Drew 4 dollars
Feb. 1-Sailed on gun practice run. (6 hours).
Feb. 2-SaIled on gun practice run and then sailed for unknown destination.
( Feb.. 3- Arrived at Algiers at 9:00 A.M. Rated liberty at 2:00 P.M. walked through streets for 4 hours . souvenir prices exhorbitant. Bought 8 postcards and ring. Town is filthy, with streets unwashed. Natives mostly French. The weather has been niagnificent. The view from the ship also is very nice. The bui¬ldings are modern and large.
Feb. 5-the fire- control system has been declared out of control.At 9:30 A.M. left the port of Algiers. The day was beautiful. At 6:00 P.M. after a voyage at flying speed of 26 knots, we arrived at Oran.
Feb 6. Went to Church. The day is beautiful. The temp is at least 80 deg.
Left mers-ElKebir at 6:00pm
Feb 10 Arrive d at 8:00 am at Algiers. Departed for Gunnery exercises on the Mediterranean. Returned at 3:00pm.
Feb 11 left Algiers at 2:00pm.
Feb 13 sighted Mt Vesuvius at 8:00 am. Fueled from tanker at 9:00 in harbor of Naples. Tied to dock in naples at 2:00pm, no accommodations for church.
Feb 14 Generator failed. Postponed trip to Anzio front.
Feb 15 Sailed to Isle of Capri with intention of making liberty. Dock already taken by British destroyer. Returned to bay of Naples.
Feb 17 Generator repaired. Underway for Anzio at 1:00pm. Generator failed 10 minutes later. Returned.
Feb 18 7:00 am Underway for beachhead at Anzio. Crew calm. It is a beautiful day. Morning, up alone. Screened for 2 LST's Picking up survivors from sunk British cruiser HMS Penelope. Arrive at Anzio at 1:00pm. Watched destroyers shelling beach. On GQ all day.

Feb 19 At noon cruiser Philidelphia arrived at Anzio. We, with Jones, laid smokescreen while Phila laid back and shelled enemy positions. Enemy returned fire, shells bursting all around us. No one hit, target eliminated. All night got contact. We three steamed after it. Enemy succeeded in eluding us.

Feb. 20-Patrolled area around Anzio. Nothing of importance, just a few bodies of flyers spotted.
Feb. 21-Still patrolled
area on G.Q,, most of the time.
Nothing extrordinary happened.
Feb. 22-Patrolled Anzio. Sound contact on Submarine. Lost contact. Radar contact on E-Boats. Fired24 shells. Superior speed on U- Boats forced us to give up chase.
Feb. 23-?atrolled until noon. Relieved by British DD. Escorted DE back to Naples with Lieut. Gen. Clark aboard. Arrived at Naples at 8:00 P.M.
Feb. 24-Left Bay of Naples. Arrived at Bay near ancient Pompeii. Liberty for first section.
Feb. 26- Left for Anzio Beach-head on emergency ran. 16 crew members left ashore due to rough weather.(Could not be ferried back). Arrived Anzio at 8:00 P.M. British Destoyers fired on us by mistaken. (Not hit).
Feb. 27-Patrolled Anzio.DD (British) that relieved us on Feb. 23 sunk with three cargo ships. (German Planes). No dope.
Feb. 28-Still patrolled Anzio. IST's going back and forth all day. Ships in harbor shelled all afternoon. Shells landed all around us. No patrol vessejs hit. Food situation getting tight, no flour left. Men forced to eat Hardtack instead of bread.
Feb. 29-Ken returned aboard ship by LCI. 16 menwho missed ship at pompeii.Came to Anzio by 1ST. Slept at Anzio.
Came aboard shaking from the experience. Left Anzio at 11:00 am. Arrived naples at 4:00pm. Beautiful day.

Mar 2 Left Naples at 9:00 am. Sea rough. Docked at Isle of Capri. The most wonderful spot in the world for liberty. Bought many souveniers.

Mar 4 Left Capri at 8;00am. Arrived Naples at 10:30 am.

Mar 5 Left Naples at 7:30 am. Arrived Anzio 11:30 am. Sea very rough. Started patrolling. Rough seas all day.

Mar 6 Patrolled Anzio. Much shell fire from Germans. GQ most of day, rainy.

Mar 7 Continued patrol of Anzio. Fleet of 200 bombers passed overhead on way to bombing of Rome. Beautiful day.
Mar 8 Patrolled Anzio beach, many LCI's and LST's arriving, loaded with men and equipment. Seem to be getting ready for push.

Mar 9 patrol Anzio beach, much shelling of harbor. Many shells land close to us. Shore continuously being shelled. Beautiful day. GQ'd contacts all night. Dropped depth charges.

Mar 10. Patrolled until 9:00am then left for Naples. Arrived Naples 1:00pm.

Mar 14 Air raid on harbor of Naples at 1:30 that night. 12 troop transports arrive at 5:00pm.
Mar 15 Left Naples at 10:00am for Anzio. Arrive at Anzio at 2:00pm. Immediately started patrol.
Mar 16 Patrolled Anzio. Alerts sounded all day, no real contacts.


March 17-4:00 A.M. started dropping depth charges, dropped 32. At 11:00 A.M. dropped 9 more. No signs of sub.
March 18-Patrolled Anzio 10:00 P.M. Fellow hurt in accident of gun handling room.
March 19-9:00 A.M. transferred injured man to hospital ship a± Anzio. Continued patrol. Very Monotonous,
March 20-Patrolled Anzio. Contacts on E-Boats all night, Fired 87 rounds 5" ammunition, E-Boats escaped.
March 21-Patrolled Anzio. Fired on E-Boats. Possibly sunk It. Fired 79 rounds 5". Big explosions in water.
March 22-Left Anzio at mid- night after following sub
contact unsuccessfully. Convoyed LST'S back to Naples.
March 31-Patrolled off Anzio. Left for Naples at 2:00 P.M. Arrived at Naples at 1200 mid-night.
April 3-Left Naples at 6:00 P.M. Patrolled directly out¬side of the Tiber. Came within 25 miles of Rome. Many contacts, nothing serious.
April 4- Left Anzio at 3:00 P.M. Arrived At Naples at
7:00 P.?T.
April 6-Left Naples at 6:00
P.M.
April 7-Arrived at Palermo 8:00 A.M.
April 8-Left Palermo at 9:45P.M, (
April 9-Arrived at Bizerte, Tunsia, at 3:00 P.M.,Easter.
April 10-Underway from Bizerte at 6:00 P.M.April 12-Arrived at Oran at 10:00am. Went out on target practice at 1:00 P.M., returned at 8:30 P.M. to Oran.
(
April 22-Left Oran at 5:00 P.M. picked up convoy.
April 26-Arrived at Naples
at 8:00 A.M. Left Naples at 2:00
P.M. Arrived at Algiers after
flank speed trip. Arrived
at 6:00 P.M. 27 of April.
Ajril 28-7:00 A.M. left Algiers with 230 survivors of Lansdale. Arrived at Oran at 5:00 P.M. ( same day,
April 30-Left Oran at 2:OOP.M. Convoying six large troop transports.
May 3-Arrived in Naples at 7:00 A.M. Very nice crossing. Quiet and Peaceful.

 

[pawncop]

Thank you for sharing. Very interesting timeline.

 

[pharmer]

May 4- Left Naples at 5:00 P.M. with empty convoy.
May 7-Arrived at Oran at 4:00 P.M. with no incident. Convoy had many Germans prisoners aboard.
May9-Left Oran to tow target for other DD's (11:00)A.M. Returned at 5:00 P.M. tied up at Vulean.
May 15-Left Oran to towing g grounds. Practice towing destroyerst7:30A.M. Returned 6:00 P.M.
May 16-Left Oran 7*30 A.M. Fired on sleeve with 5" guns. At night had searchlight exercise with PT's. anchored at 12:00 P.M.
May 17-Left Oran after sub. Arrived just after sub was sunk , by shell fire by 5 destroyers.
Arrived at Oran at 6:00 P.M. Hamilton credited with sub. Left immediately on sub patrol.
May 19-Plane reported sub on surface at 4:00 A.M,, five DD's chased after it. Niblack and Ludlow sank it with 5" gun fire . We stood by. Saw 18 survivors picked up. Germans fired back with deck guns. Sub sank. Returned to Oran at 2:00 P.M, with Sub survivors.
May 21-Left Oran at 8:30P.M. with convoy of about 100 ships. Loaded with special equipment. Destination unknown.Heading east
May 23-Reached Bizerte at 11;00 P.M. Convoy entered port, we turned and headed back to Oran, with Jones.
May 24-Met convoy going to Naples. Jones went with it,we went to Oran, Patrolled outside nets all night.
May 25- Entered Mers El Kebir , at 7;00 A.M.
May 26- Left Mers SI Kebir for gunnery practise.All types of A,A. firing.Returned at 5:30
May 28-Left Mers El Kebir at 6:00 PM. Convoyed up to Bizerte, turned around headed for Oran. Arrived at Mers El Kebir at
7:00 A.M May 31.
June 3- Left Mers El Kebir at 1230 P.M. and arrived at dry dock at Oran at 2:30 P.M. D.E. with stern shot off had just left for the states.
June 4-Left dry dock after minor repairs. Went to Mers El Kebir.
June 5-Le.ft to Practise mass rescue. Left at 8:00 A.M. returned at 5:00 P.M. to Arzew.
June 6-Left port at 8:00 A.M. ( for firing Practise. Heard about landing in France. Returned at 5:00 pm.
June 8-Detached from Destoyer to help run D.D. club at Mers El Kebir.
July 3-Re turned to ship at
3:00 AM.
July 4-Pulled out with transport heading for Naples. Struck dock with screw in pulling out. Returned after short trip, unable to proceed Will have repairs. Now At Mers El Kebir,
Kebir
July 9- Left Mers El for Arzew.
July 10-Went out for 2 hours. Returned to Arzew.
July 12-Left Arzew, went to dry dock in Oran.
July 13-Left dry dock for Mers El Kebir.
July 14- Went on exercises with carrier. One pilot fell over side. One more man claimed by Mars, God of War.

 

[shouldazagged]

Fascinating stuff. Thanks for posting it.

 

[klondike]

My father landed under fire at Morrocco, Sicily, day two at Salerno, Anzio and So. France. Your father was probably providing cover for all of those landings.

 

[pharmer]

July 15-Exercises with other carrier. Planes out all day. Returned to Mers El Kebir at 1800. for 4-day availability
July 20- Left Mers El Kebir at 4:30 P.M.f picked up an all American convoy of about 75 ships. Left convoy off Bizerte.
July 24-Arrived at 6:00 A.M. at Mers El Kebir. Left for
Malta at 8:00 PM.
July 26-Arrived at Valletta, Malta at 10:45 A.M.
July 30-left Valletta at 5:30 A.M. Exercises with Philly.
July 31-Returned to some island near Malta. Left again at 4:00 P.M. Returned to some secluded harbor on Malta. Philly and Nields are with us.
Aug. 1- left harbor at 5:30A.M
with Philly and Nields for excersises.At 23:00 left exercises area for unknown port,
Aug.2-Arri.ved at Palermo at 7:30P.K. Tied up to Philly. Many ships tied up here.
Aug.7-Left Palermo at 3:00A.M. on emergency run. Arrived at Salerno at 9:OOA.M. Picked up task force and headed for unknown destination. Arrived at 10:00 P.M. off Anzio. Had maneuvers all night. ( (Headed for Naples at 5:00 A.M. Arrived at 12:00 Noon Aug. 8.) Large concentration of ships here. (Task force.)
Aug. 12- The ship has been sealed, only Captain and men with special reasons may leave ship. A large task force is all around us. This only means Invasion.
Underway for sea at 12:30 P.M. Aug.13

Aug. 13-Went along coast of Italy, then went between Corsica and Sardina at 1:00 P.M. Then went up coast of Corsica on the Western side. Tremendous amount of ships. Most of the men are calm. Attack is scheduled for 8:00 in the morning. I'm a bit nervous, but not a bit scared. Air search radar had been secured and any and all planes will now be shot at; whether friend or foe. Now it's 8:30 PM.

Aug. 15-7:45 A.M. Boy it's like thunder the beach is being bomarded.;all types of D.D.fs and B.B.'s Cruisers,etc, At 2:00 P.M. we had a contact on a submarine. I am a talker on bridge and in on all this stuff. Patrolled off beach¬head all day. At 7:00 P.M. were attached to Nevada. Accompanied it and the French battleship Lorraine to Propriano, a small harbor in Corsica. Arrived at 5:00am on Aug. 16.
Aug 16 We fueled and left at 1:00pm with another DD for the beachhead. Arrived at beachhead at 7:30 pm. About 8:30 pm we spotted 5 Ju88's on reconnaissance. We fired 18 5" projectiles. The range was 20,000yds so we gave up. Patrolled peacefully all night.
Aug 17. Quietly patrolled all day. Day was humid and misty. Got underway for edge of beachhead at 7:00pm. Picked up 3 cruisers, French Gloria, British Ajax, American Quincy. Patrolled with these three all night at 25 knots.
Aug 18. Lay to all morning. At afternoon, pulled up to German occupied island. Sent PT with white flags aboard asking island to surrender. PT was fired upon. Joined by Omaha, Augusta. Started shelling island at 4:00 pm. A terrific bombardment. At 8:00pm, pulled out with the three cruisers of night before nad began going back and forth of beachhead at 21 knots. This was good for all night.
Aug 19. Patrolled quietly all day. Nothing doing. All ships' captains had a conference at sea at 10:00 pm. Patrolled all night.
Aug 20. Screened all day while Quincy and Nevada shelled Toulon. Shells dropped all around us in return. Bombers came over all day. Saw three shot down in flames.
Aug 21 Patrolled all day, a bit choppy. Nevada and Omaha was with us. Got contact on sub at 8:00 pm. Dropped 11 depth charges. No results. Underway at 9:00pm at 10 knots.
Aug 22 Arrived at Propriano at 6:00am. Fueled and left for battle area at 1:00pm. Recalled by Nevada, turned around at 6:00pm. Picked up Nevada at 10:30 pm, headed for battle area immediately. Arrived at 6:00am. Sub contact at 6:30, dropped 2 charges, no success. Patrolled peacefully all night.
Aug 23 Went into beach with Nevada. Had 3 shells bounce at about 20, 40, and 50 yds distance. Screened for Nevada on a couple of runs. Left Nevada to screen for Lorraine. Lorraine fired on beach. We laid smokescreen. Pulled out later. Went for orders from CDS 7. Lat to all night.
Aug 24. Lay to all morning. Went to fuel at 12:00 at about 5 mi. east of Toulon. Left at 4;00pm. Reported to boss. Ordered to anchor overnight in port near Cannes.
Aug 25 Underway at 7:00am. Task force commander ordered us to Algiers at 9:00am. Turned about at 10:00pm. Arrived off Toulon at 3:00pm.
Aug 26 Patrolled directly off Toulon trying to draw fire, but no fire came. Toulon is being shelled mercilessly.
Aug 27 Toulon surrenders. We pull away and head for the eastern end of the front. Fired 286 rds of 5" at target on beach. Army says "results satisfactory." Patrolled all night.

 

[pharmer]

Captain Stuart was awarded Silver Star for action Sep 10


Aug. 28- Lay to. Patrolled all day. At 1:00 PM small craft with 9 German Officers came alongside to surrender the German garrison of 850 men. Peace terms were discussed by our captain and the Germans. They will absolutely not surrender to anyone except our captain. It is quite a thrill, being in on the capture of Marseille in Southern France.
Aug. 29 Entered Bay of Marseille. First Allied warship to do so beside minesweepers.
Lay to all day while Captain of Philadelphia negotiated. 5 LCI's came in. These are for taking of prisoners. Patrolled around Marseille all night.
Aug 30 Came in at 7:00 AM (Most of the time we lay to off the Isle of DIF where the Count of Monte Christo was supposed to be imprisoned for 20 yrs). At 8:30 PM went out on patrol for the night.
Aug 31 Came in harbor at 7:00 am. Dropped anchor, lay to all day. Left at 5:00Pm for St. Tropez. Fueled and anchored for night.
Sept 1 Underway at 10:00 AM for Propriano Corsica. Picked up Brooklyn at 5:00 pm.
Sept 2 Arrived at Naples at 9:00 AM after going through pass between Corsica and Sardinia.
Sept 3 Left Naples at 7:00 PM with Brooklyn. Beautiful sunset.
Sept 4 Arrived at St. Tropez, France at 5:00 PM. Anchored.
Sept 7 Left St Tropez at 2:00 PM Arrived off coast of Monte Carlo. Many human torpedoes here. Began patrol. Chased TNT boats all night.
Sept 8 Patrolled in rough waters just north of Genoa.
Sept 9 Patrolled off Monte Carlo. Bombarded beach. Targets eliminated according to Army. At 8:00 PM beach fired on minesweeps. Big battle went on for 1 hour. Patrolled all night.
Sept 10- Sunday. Many human torpedoes around us. We sunk 4 and took 2 prisoners, then proceeded to bombard beach. Toll was one railroad bridge and 12 vehicles (trucks and gun carriages). Between yesterday and today fired 900 rds 5". Only us and other DD was up here. 15 men injured when20mm exploded on deck. Patrolled all night. (At night we operate with PT's. Rugged little sons of beans.
Sept 11 Dropped 10 depth charges. Lorraine bombarded beach. Left Italian border at 6:00 pm. Arrived St Tropez at 7:45 PM. Anchored. Left St Tropez at 11:00 PM
Sept 12 At 7:30 AM arrived at Ajaccio, Corsica. Tied to dock. Fueled and loaded 1000 rds ammunition. Left Ajaccio at 11:00 PM.
Sept 13 Arrived at St Tropez at 7:00 AM.
Sept 17 Left St Tropez at 4:00 PM. Arrived off Monte Carlo at 6:00Pm. Fired on beach.
Sept 18 Fired on beach in Italy near San Remo. They fired back. We had 2 pieces of shrapnel. One piereced the bridge, the other hit the port ventilator. Patrolled peacefully all night. The harbor was all shot up by the Jones and us.
Sept 19 Patrolled same place we fired on, about half-way between San Remo and Genoa. Went back to Monte Carlo, all alone. The Germans opened up with a couple of guns, shells in our wake.
Sept 20 Patrolled in heavy weather. No one bothered us. Left area of Monte Carlo at 6:00PM At 8:00 PM arrived at St Tropez. Left St Tropez at 10:30 PM.

 

[pharmer]

Sept 21- Arrived at Ajaccio, Corsica at 6:00AM
Sept 22- Left Ajaccio at 7:00 AM. Arrived at St Tropez at 2:30 PM. Anchored.
Sept 23 Left St Tropez at 4:00 PM arrived off Monte Carlo at 6:00PM. Patrolled all night.
Sept 24 Patrolled between San Remo and Monte Carlo. Fired just 2 rds then patrolled all night.
Sept 25 Fired 200 rds at train. Knocked out engine and 2 cars. Patrolled. In afternoon, fired 14 rds and eliminated observation post. Continued patrol. Nothing happened.
Sept 26 Dropped 10 depth charges in morning. Got nothing we know of. French DD sunk three man sub. We picked up two men and French ship picked up other. We were patrolling alone, we two. Left Monte Carlo sector at 6:00 PM. Arrived St Tropez at 8:00PM.
Oct 1 At midnight, left St Tropez. Very rough weather.
Oct 3 At 9:00AM arrived at Oran.
Oct 13 Left Mers El Kebir at 8:00AM. Returned at 4:00PM. Rough sea, could not fire torpedo.
Oct 16 Left MEK at 8:00 AM. Practised torpedo firing. Fired torpedo at 10:00AM. Returned to port at 4:00PM
Oct 17 Left MEK at 7:30 AM. Picked up 7 ship convoy.
Oct 19 Arrived off Marseille at 1:00PM, dropped off convoy, proceeded to St Tropez. Patrolled outside harbor.
Oct 20 Left St Tropez at 2:00PM for assault area at Monte Carlo. Patrolled.
Oct 21 Patrolled, nothing happened.
Oct 22 Patrolled, Quiet and cloudy.
Oct 23 Patrolled until 11:30 AM, then fired on beach. 150 rds of 5" ammunition. 3 targets eliminated. This was off San Remo. Left Monte Carlo at 3:30 PM. Arrived at San Tropez at 6:00PM. Left San Tropez at 11:00PM
Oct 24 Arrived at Toulon. Many sunken ships in sight.
Oct 27 Left Toulon at 10:30 AM . Heavy sea.
Oct 28 Arrived off Monte Carlo, then patrolled off Gulf of Juan.
Oct 29 Patrolled off Monte Carlo. Rain all day.
Oct 30 Patrolled Monte Carlo. Sunk 9 mines by rifle fire.
Oct 31 Patrolled same area. Sunk 2 mines.
Nov 1 Patrolled until noon then left for Toulon. Arrived at Toulon at 4:30 PM.
Nov 7 Left Toulon at 7:00AM Arrived at Monte Carlo at 1:00PM, patrolled.
Nov 8 Continued patrol
Nov 9 Continued patrol, sunk 2 mines.
Nov10 Patrolled until 12:30 PM. Left for Toulon. Arrived Toulon at 5:00PM.
Nov 12 Left Toulon at 4:30 PM. Traveled at 25K.
Nov 13 Arrived at Oran at 3:00PM.
Nov 21 Left Oran at 8:00AM. Submarine exercise until 6:00PM. Then underway for sea.
Nov 23 Arrived at Toulon at 7:00AM Left for Monte Carlo. Arrived at 1:00PM. Patrolled.
Nov 24 Patrolled. Anchored at Cannes for the night. (Gulf of Juan).
Nov 25 Left Monte Carlo at 12 Noon.
Nov 26 Arrived Marseille at 8:00AM
Nov 28 Left Marseille at 7:30 AM. Arrived Monte Carloat 12:00Noon. At 5;00PM anchored at Gulf of Juan.
Dec 1 Patrolled for mines. Returned at sunset.
Dec 2 Same as Dec 1.
Dec 3 Same.
Dec 4 Blew up 2 large mines.
Dec 5 Went to Toulon.
Dec 8 Left Toulon for assault area. Arrived at 1:00PM.
Dec 9 Patrolled. Sunk 2 mines.
Dec 10 Patrolled.
Dec 11 Left Monte carlo for Toulon, arrived at 4:00PM.
Dec 16 Left Toulon at 8:00AM. Arrived at Marseille at 1:00PM.
Dec 17 Left Marseille at 8:00AM.
Dec 18 Arrived at Oran at 1:00PM after convoying West Point from Marseille.
Dec 19 Left Oran with West Point. Took her 100 miles outside Gibraltar.
Dec 21 Arrived at Oran at 8:00AM.
Dec 31 Left Oran at 10:00AM
Jan 11 Arrived at NY at 8:00AM.
Feb 13 Left USS Madison.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Thanks for sharing, and thanks to your dad for serving. Ivan

 

[pharmer]

I remember. Thanks to all who serve/served. Joe

 

[model70hunter]

It is very nice to be able to track your Dad's daily activities from his diary. After my military service I discussed Dad's history with him, he is now passed. My wife tells me to write it down as his story now only resides within me.

Thanks for sharing your Dad's story.