On June 7, 1945, the Salute was doing pre-invasion sweeps for landings at Bruneir Bay in Borneo. The next day, the ship struck a Japanese mine and buckled amidships and both the bow and stern began to sink. Two landing craft attempted to salvage attempted to keep the Salute afloat but were unable to control the flooding and the ship sank. Nine sailors died, but the rest of the crew survived.
It is at 5'8'North 115'5' E in 30 meters of water and it is a popular and challenging dive site. Many munitions are still aboard and nearby the wreck. The Malaysian Navy recently removed unexploded depth charges.
The nine sailors who lost their lives are listed on a plaque attached to the wreck by a local diving group:
Edward Banach
William Brown
Kaley Crotwell
David Lowry
Roy Ojalla
Ralph Shafer
Carl Swanson
Willard Turley
Douglas Van Dreese
And, There Is Another World War II Wreck Near the Salute. --Cooter
Showing posts with label USS Salute. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USS Salute. Show all posts
Monday, June 13, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
USS SALUTE (AM-294)-- Part 2: Battle of Samar
I had never heard of the Battle of Samar, so had to do some research on that as well. Thanks Wikipedia.
THE BATTLE OF SAMAR
The Battle of Samar took place October 25, 1944, and was a surprise attack on the American fleet which caused Admiral William Halsey some flack as he allowed his fleet to be drawn away from its job of covering the landings.
US losses was a destroyer escort sunk, 23 aircraft, 913 wounded and 1,583 killed or missing (which was why the Salute was patrolling). Japanese losses were 3 heavy cruisers sunk and three damaged, one destroyer escort damaged and an unknown number of casualties.
The battle again proved the effectiveness of air attack and destroyer torpedoes against larger vessels.
MORE PATROLS
In November, the Salute carried out patrols and sweeps in the Leyte area before participating in most of the subsequent landings in the Philippines doing pre-invasion sweeps and providing anti-aircraft and anti-submarine protection for the troops on the beaches and their transports.
They encountered few mines, but had serious problems with kamikazes.
From Feb. 13-14, the Salute did pre-invasion sweeps of Manila Bay where the ship and others came under Japanese fire.
More to Come. --DaCoot
THE BATTLE OF SAMAR
The Battle of Samar took place October 25, 1944, and was a surprise attack on the American fleet which caused Admiral William Halsey some flack as he allowed his fleet to be drawn away from its job of covering the landings.
US losses was a destroyer escort sunk, 23 aircraft, 913 wounded and 1,583 killed or missing (which was why the Salute was patrolling). Japanese losses were 3 heavy cruisers sunk and three damaged, one destroyer escort damaged and an unknown number of casualties.
The battle again proved the effectiveness of air attack and destroyer torpedoes against larger vessels.
MORE PATROLS
In November, the Salute carried out patrols and sweeps in the Leyte area before participating in most of the subsequent landings in the Philippines doing pre-invasion sweeps and providing anti-aircraft and anti-submarine protection for the troops on the beaches and their transports.
They encountered few mines, but had serious problems with kamikazes.
From Feb. 13-14, the Salute did pre-invasion sweeps of Manila Bay where the ship and others came under Japanese fire.
More to Come. --DaCoot
Friday, June 10, 2011
USS Salute (AM-294)-- Part 1
From Wikipedia.
Like I said in the previous post, I'd never heard of this ship before, so had to do some further research.
The USS Salute was an ocean-going minesweeper of the Admirable-class, the largest group of minesweepers built-ever for the US Navy, with 123 completed during the war. One, the USS Hazard (AM-240) remains today as a museum ship on dry land in Omaha, Nebraska.
It was laid down November 11, 1942, by Winslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Company in Seattle, Washington, and launched February 6, 1943. in a little less than three months. Commissioning was December 4, 1943.
Stats: 795 tons, 184.6 feet long, top speed of 15 knots, 104 crew with 9 guns and depth charges.
SERVICE
From April to September 1944, the Salute escorted convoys in the Pacific Ocean. On October 20th, it began a four-day sweep of mines in the main transport channel off Leyte and then provided anti-aircraft support for the landings.
From Oct. 27-31, the ship helped search for survivors from the Battle of Samar where a group of escort carriers, destroyers and destroyer escorts repulsed an attack by a larger Japanese fleet.
More to Come-- Cooter
Like I said in the previous post, I'd never heard of this ship before, so had to do some further research.
The USS Salute was an ocean-going minesweeper of the Admirable-class, the largest group of minesweepers built-ever for the US Navy, with 123 completed during the war. One, the USS Hazard (AM-240) remains today as a museum ship on dry land in Omaha, Nebraska.
It was laid down November 11, 1942, by Winslow Marine Railway and Shipbuilding Company in Seattle, Washington, and launched February 6, 1943. in a little less than three months. Commissioning was December 4, 1943.
Stats: 795 tons, 184.6 feet long, top speed of 15 knots, 104 crew with 9 guns and depth charges.
SERVICE
From April to September 1944, the Salute escorted convoys in the Pacific Ocean. On October 20th, it began a four-day sweep of mines in the main transport channel off Leyte and then provided anti-aircraft support for the landings.
From Oct. 27-31, the ship helped search for survivors from the Battle of Samar where a group of escort carriers, destroyers and destroyer escorts repulsed an attack by a larger Japanese fleet.
More to Come-- Cooter
USS Salute Survivors Meet in Oklahoma
From the June 9th Bartlesville (Ok) Examiner- Enterprise.
The survivors of the minesweeper USS Salute, sunk by a mine June 8, 1945, are having a reunion in Bartlesville this weekend. They traveled across the state and country to attend the meeting in the City of Legends, the second time the city has hosted the group. Last year they met in Oklahoma City.
This year's event was organized by Carol Randall, her father, Ted Miller, is one of the few remaining members of the group which gets smaller every year.
The first reunion was held June 8, 1986, and organized by Wayne Shafer, whose brother Ralph was killed that day in Brunei Bay, Borneo. It all started with a letter to Dear Abby inquiring about the loss of his brother and ship. Abigail Van Buren then invited all remaining crew mates to contact her, and as a result, the group had its first reunion.
I Had Never Heard of This Ship or Its Loss Before This Article. --DaCoot
The survivors of the minesweeper USS Salute, sunk by a mine June 8, 1945, are having a reunion in Bartlesville this weekend. They traveled across the state and country to attend the meeting in the City of Legends, the second time the city has hosted the group. Last year they met in Oklahoma City.
This year's event was organized by Carol Randall, her father, Ted Miller, is one of the few remaining members of the group which gets smaller every year.
The first reunion was held June 8, 1986, and organized by Wayne Shafer, whose brother Ralph was killed that day in Brunei Bay, Borneo. It all started with a letter to Dear Abby inquiring about the loss of his brother and ship. Abigail Van Buren then invited all remaining crew mates to contact her, and as a result, the group had its first reunion.
I Had Never Heard of This Ship or Its Loss Before This Article. --DaCoot
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)