Seamanship Awards

SAT 14 OCT 1944
Pacific
While TF 38 remains nearby to provide cover for the ongoing salvage of crippled heavy cruiser Canberra (CA-70) that had been damaged the previous day, Japanese aerial counterattacks continue, inflicting damage on carrier Hancock (CV-19), 23°30'N, 121°30'E; light cruiser Reno (CL-96) (suicide plane); and destroyer Cassin Young (DD-793) (strafing), 22°30'N, 124°50'E. Light cruiser Houston (CL-81) is damaged by aerial torpedo, and destroyer Cowell (DD-547) is damaged when she fouls Houston as Cowell lies alongside assisting in salvage efforts, 22°27'N, 124°01'E. Heavy cruiser Boston (CA-69)--later relieved by fleet tug Pawnee (ATF-74)--takes Houston in tow. At this juncture, heavy air attacks on TF 38, together with enemy radio propaganda broadcasts that reflect a vast overestimation of the destruction wreaked by attacking Japanese aircraft, prompts Commander Third Fleet to withdraw TG 38.2 (Rear Admiral Gerald F. Bogan) and TG 38.3 (Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman) to the eastward to set upon any important Japanese fleet units that would attempt to finish off the "crippled remnants" of TF 38. The enemy, however, does not take the bait.

During TF 38 operations against Japanese shipping and installations on Formosa, Navy carrier-based planes damage coastal minelayer Enoshima and auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 7 and Cha 151 off Takao.

Submarine Angler (SS-240) sinks Japanese army transport Nanrei Maru south of Tablas Strait, 11°53'N, 121°39'E.

Submarine Bonefish (SS-223) sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Fushimi Maru in South China Sea off west coast of Luzon, 16°12'N, 119°45'E.

Submarine Dace (SS-247) sinks Japanese merchant tankers Eikyo Maru and Nittetsu Maru and damages merchant ore carrier Taizen Maru off North Borneo, 06°05'N, 115°55'E.

British submarine HMS Sturdy sinks Japanese Communication Vessel No.128 in Gulf of Boni.

Carrier Saratoga (CV-3) and destroyer escort Howard F. Clark (DE-533) are damaged in collision during maneuvers off Oahu.