The YPs knew the harbor at La Parouse Pinnacle had been mined, but for security reasons, only the lead ship, the Challenger (YP-239) had a map of their locations.
On May 23, the YPs entered the harbor single file behind the Challenger. Suddenly, the Triumpho (YP-277), third inline, exploded, then exploded again. Then a third monster explosion disintegrated the ship. Total fatalities were unknown, but YPs typically carried crews of17.
The other three YPs arrived safely at their destination.
No one knows what caused the end of the Triumpho (Triumfo). Some believe it hit a mine, others say it was a fuel accident.
--GreGen
The USS North Carolina (BB-55) My all-time favorite warship. As an elementary school student in North Carolina, I donated nickels and dimes to save this ship back in the early sixties.
Showing posts with label La Perouse Pinnacle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label La Perouse Pinnacle. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
World War II's "Floating Targets"-- Part 4: YPs, the "Hooligan Navy"
The crews of the YP boats consisted of Navy sailors and the San Diego tuna men. It did not take long for the tuna men to realize they knew more about the ship than their counterparts Nearly 600 San Diego tuna men were now in the Navy and wore their uniforms deliberately askew earning them the name "Hooligan Navy." They also generally left the decks unswabbed.
Vince Battaglia remembers 9 months without mail and 7 without pay.They had problems with the 50-caliber machine guns. Jack Theodore recalled, "Those .50 calibers were good for nothing. I didn't even use them when I got hurt."
The boat also had 12 depth charges astern mounted above the bait box.
Even though they were not intended for active combat, that was not the case. Early on a group of four YPs transported fuel and supplies from Pearl Harbor to La Perouse Pinnacle, 260 miles south of Midway Island. Heat made the fuel drums so hot, crews had to hose them down every two hours.
Vince Battaglia remembers 9 months without mail and 7 without pay.They had problems with the 50-caliber machine guns. Jack Theodore recalled, "Those .50 calibers were good for nothing. I didn't even use them when I got hurt."
The boat also had 12 depth charges astern mounted above the bait box.
Even though they were not intended for active combat, that was not the case. Early on a group of four YPs transported fuel and supplies from Pearl Harbor to La Perouse Pinnacle, 260 miles south of Midway Island. Heat made the fuel drums so hot, crews had to hose them down every two hours.
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