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From the ship's log of the USS RENO (CL-96): "During the 3-day strike on Formosa 12-14 October, RENO shot down six enemy planes. At the height of the battle, one torpedo plane crashed and exploded on the RENO's main deck aft. Though Turret Six was partially incapacitated by the explosion, the turret captain succeeded in maintaining his fire against the attacking planes and ships."
10/12 Thu. Carrier-based aircraft from Third Fleet (Adm. W. F. Halsey) commence 5-day attack against enemy shipping, airfield facilities, and industrial plants on Formosa and northern Luzon, P. I. These strikes meet with intensive counterattacks by Japanese aircraft. United States naval vessel damaged: Destroyer PRICHETT (DD-561), accidentally by United States naval gunfire, Formosa area, 21 d. 08'N., 123 d. 19'E.
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10-13-44 Large Jap air attack. CANBERRA hit by 2 fish from Betty. Formation shot down 8 Jap Betties. CONNOR hit by AA fire 15 casulties. Dam Lucky to be alive. Said many extra prayers.
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The night of the 13th CANBERRA was hit.
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The following is from the log of the USS CANBERRA:
"While sailing in enemy waters to prepare for the landing on Leyte, the USS CANBERRA was struck by an enemy torpedo. The date was Friday October the 13th, 1944. Twenty three of our Shipmates lost their lives in that operation. The USS CANBERRA engaged in some of the fiercest and most crucial battles of World War II. For it's meritorious service in the Pacific Theater during World War II, the USS CANBERRA received seven Battle Stars.
On 13 October, only 90 miles off Formosa, close to the enemy and far from safe harbor, CANBERRA was struck below her armor belt at the engineering spaces by an aerial torpedo which blew a huge, jagged hole in her side and killed 23 of her crew instantly. Before damage control could isolate the compartments, some 4,500 tons of water rushed in to flood her after fireroom and both engine rooms, which brought the cruiser to a stop. Then began one of the most notable achievements of the war in saving wounded ships. CANBERRA was taken in tow by WICHITA (CA-45). The task force reformed to provide escort for her and HOUSTON (CL-81) who had been torpedoed on the morning of the 14th. Retiring toward Ulithi, "Cripple Division 1" fought off an enemy air attack which succeeded in firing another torpedo into HOUSTON. Admiral Halsey (CTF 38) attempted to use the group, now nicknamed "Bait Division 1," to lure the Japanese fleet into the open, but when the enemy sortied from the Inland Sea, air attacks from the rest of TF 38 roused enemy suspicions of the trap, and the Japanese force withdrew. CANBERRA and her group continued unmolested to Ulithi, arriving 27 October, 2 weeks from the day she was hit. The cruiser was towed to Manus for temporary repairs, thence departed for permanent repairs at Boston Navy Yard (16 February-17 October l945). CANBERRA returned to the west coast late in 1945 and was placed out of commission in reserve at Bremerton, Wash., 7 March 1947."
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From the log of the USS COWPENS (CV-25): "Cowpens with her task group flew strikes to neutralize Japanese bases on Okinawa and Formosa from 10 to 14 October, and when Canberra (CA-70) and Houston (CL-81) were hit by torpedoes, Cowpens provided air cover for their safe withdrawal rejoining her task group 20 October."
From the ship's log of the USS COWELL (DD-547): "When Canberra (CA-70) and Houston (CL-81) were torpedoed in heavy Japanese air attacks on 13 and 14 October, Cowell stood by to furnish light, power, and pumping facilities as the cripples slowly retired from the danger area."
From the ship's log of the USS MOBILE (CL-63): "On the 13th, MOBILE was again detached and, with others of her division, formed a screen around the damaged CANBERRA (CA-70) and HOUSTON (CL-81), wryly designated "CripDiv 1." MOBILE and her companions, playing up erroneous reports issued by the Japanese as to the degree of damage inflicted on "the defeated and fleeing" American force, hoped to draw out the Japanese in chase, so that the carrier task force could destroy them. With the discovery of the waiting American force by Japanese scout planes, orders were changed. CANBERRA and HOUSTON were towed eastward for repairs and MOBILE rejoined TG 38.3 on 17 October."
From the ship's log of the USS STEPHEN POTTER (DD-538): "On 13 October, Canberra (CA-70) was torpedoed below her armor belt and lost all power. She was taken in tow by Wichita (CA-45), and step/ben Potter was assigned as one of their escorts. The next day, Houston (CL-81), hit by a torpedo in the engine room, was taken in tow by Boston (CA-69) and joined the retiring Canberra group, now designated Task Unit (TU) 30.3.1. Munsee (AT-107) relieved Wichita of towing Canberra on the 15th, and Pawnee (AT-74) relieved Boston of her duties on the 16th. Houston was torpedoed again on the 16th, and all unnecessary men were removed. Stephen Potter took 83 on board."
The night of Friday, October 13th was a lulu. We were under constant attack and in one of the heavy raids the cruiser CANBERRA which was only a few hundred yards off our bow, was hit by an aerial torpedo. The next night was even worse.
10/13 Fri. Peleliu Island in the Palau Islands is secured. United States naval vessels damaged, Luzon, P. I., and Formosa area: Carrier FRANKLIN (CV-13), by suicide plane, 22 d. 55'N., 123 d. 12'E. Heavy cruiser CANBERRA (CA-70), by aircraft torpedo, 22 d. 48'N., 123 d. 01'E.
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10-14-44 Still hitting Formosa. B29 hit there also today. In 72 hours we've had 6 hours of sleep boggies all around. Everybody hoping we leave her tonight. Things are to dam hot. We are the only group here and expect it bad tonight. 1830 they came in. Betties with 2 fish each. HOUSTON hit bad. 2 cans and ourself drop back to assist her. They are abandining ship. It was awful men drowning all around. It was hell. Men screaming all around. A small group of men stayed aboard here. Tugs came and took her in tow at 1000 next morning. We joined up with CANBERA. We shot down 2 planes last night. We have 381 survivors aboard.
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The night of the 14th HOUSTON was hit. After the latter damage occurred BOYD, COWELL, and GRAYSON were ordered to assist in rescue of HOUSTON personnel in the water. BOYD closed HOUSTON to approximately 300 yards and launched a whaleboat which was later swamped after rescuing approximately 30 of the swimmers who were delivered to COWELL. Boat Officer and crew remained aboard that ship. Approximately 600 men from HOUSTON had gone overboard when it was thought that she was sinking. Remainder stayed after extent of damage was determined. BOYD used cargo nets, knotted lines and swimmers to rescue 385 of the HOUSTON personnel from the water. Entire rescue was performed on moonless night while under enemy air attack. Both before and during rescue, BOYD fired on enemy planes, at least one of which was shot down.
They were all over the place, and one of them dropped a fish on the HOUSTON. Many of the HOUSTON men were ordered to abandon ship when it was believed she wouldn't stay afloat and with the assistance of the COWELL, a DD in our division, we began picking up survivors. We picked up 385 men all told and our crew did a bang up job in sticking to their rescue stations in spite of the fact that we were still under attack and our guns were busy driving off enemy planes, one of which was seen to blaze into the sea.
The Houston appeared to be breaking up. After receiving conflicting reports of the Houston's damage from their damage control parties, the Houston's skipper, Captain William Behrens ordered the crew to abandon ship. The destroyer USS Grayson DD-435 rescued 194 men, the USS Cowell DD-547 rescued 195 men and the USS Sullivans DD-537 picked up 118 men. The USS Boyd DD-544 recovered 380 men and remained close aboard to serve as a communications relay for the Houston. After seven to eight hundred men had abandoned ship, the Houston's damage control officer Lieutenant Commander George Miller convinced Houston's Captain Behrens that the ship could be saved and to rescind his abandon ship order. The Houston signaled a request for a tow. Within twenty minutes, the cruiser USS Boston CL-69 approached and maneuvered to pass the towing cable. With the Houston in tow, the Boston set a southeasterly course for Ulithi Atoll along with the Wichita and the Canberra.
10/14 Sat. United States naval vessels damaged, Luzon, P. I., and Formosa area: Carrier HANCOCK (CV-19), by horizontal bomber, 23 d. 30'N., 121 d. 30'E. Light cruiser HOUSTON (CL-81), by aircraft torpedo, 22 d. 27'N., 124 d. 01'E. Light cruiser Reno (CL-96), by suicide plane, 22 d. 30'N., 124 d. 50'E. Destroyer COWELL (DD-547), by collision, 22 d. 27'N., 124 d. 01'E. Destroyer CASSIN YOUNG (DD-793), by strafing, 22 d. 30'N 124 d. 50'E.
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