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| Back to The Beginning |
| Back to February 1941 |
JOURNAL of DONALD ANDERSON, USN
MARCH, 1941
| Below is the journal my father kept during the pre-war years of 1941/42. I found it in his effects after his death in April of 1998, along with a series of photos that he took during that time period. I am publishing this account on the Web because it is a wonderful way to get to know the man who was my father, and the hundreds of men like him who manned the ships known as Four Stackers. Words in black type are transcribed directly from the journal. Where I deem it useful and appropriate I will include background data in other colors, and photos from his collection. |  |
March 1, 1941 Sat.
Reveille at 5:30. Fired 4in. guns at 0800 - 10 rounds - Had a hangfire on #2 gun.
Q. What is a Hang-Fire?Went into Balboa; took on fuel & went out & tied to buoy. Duty 12 to 4.
A. A hang-fire occurs when there is an appreciable interval between closing the firing key and the explosion of the charge. This interval may be of long or short duration.
Q. What are the principal causes of hang-fires?
A. 1. Displaced ignition charge, which keeps the flame from the primer from touching the black powder; or
2. The ignition charge may have been wet; or
3. The powder bag may have been inserted wrong end to the breech.
Q. Whenever a miss-fire occurs in any gun, what is the procedure in time of peace?
A. Whenever a gun pointer presses the firing key, or pulls the lock lanyard, and the gun fails to fire, a hang-fire shall be regarded as probable; and an interval of at least 30 minutes shall be allowed to elapse after the last effort to fire the gun, before the breech is opened. In time of war, the captain prescribes the length of this interval.From the BLUEJACKET'S MANUAL - UNITED STATES NAVY - 1918
WAR NEWS BULLETIN: Support Force, Atlantic Fleet (Rear Adm. A. L. Bristol), composed of destroyers and patrol plane squadrons, is established for the protection of convoys in the North Atlantic. Bulgaria joins the Axis as German troops occupy the country.
March 2, 1941 Sun.
Went to the Episcopal Church in Balboa. In the afternoon I went to the show at the Balboa Club. Wrote Doris + sent cards.
March 3, 1941 Mon.
Rev. at 5:30 to make prep to get underway. Went through the canal and anchored at Christobal. Got underway again about 1745 + secured for a heavy sea.
March 4, 1941 Tues.
Aboard BARRY at sea. Rough weather - no work. Chain Locker, Paint Locker & Sound Room flooded. Many of the crew are seasick.
March 5, 1941 Wed.
At sea. Sea has calmed a bit tonight. Increased speed from 11 to 15 knots. Had 4 to 8 messenger this morning + 4 to 8 after deck tonight. Steering Casualty this morning.
The steering cables ran along the main deck, starboard side, and could be jammed by something as simple as a rag getting caught up in a pulley, or a man standing on one of them!
March 6, 1941 Thu.
Scrubbed paintwork this morning. Cleaned up anchor Engine Room this afternoon. Pumped out Paint Locker getting ready to anchor tomorrow.
March 7, 1941 Fri.
Anchored in San Juan Harbor. Moved to oil dock later + took on fuel + supplies. Moved out to the harbor again + got underway at 1530 to go to Martinique on Patrol Duty offshore.
March 8, 1941 Sat.
At sea. Arrived at Martinique about 0600 and set condition III for Patrol Duty offshore. Cruised around at 5 knots all night. Had the 8 to 12 after-deck tonight. Rained off and on tonight.
March 9, 1941 Sun.
On patrol all day today off of Martinique. Had 4 to 8 and 1600 to 2400 watch today. Rained again tonight.
March 10, 1941 Mon.
Went to St. Lucia today. Went ashore to go swimming, no liberty in the town. Mail was taken from the ship to San Juan by plane. Went on patrol duty at night off of Martinique again. 12 to 4 tonight.
March 11, 1941 Tues.
On patrol all day + night. 12 to 4 after deck watch today. 8 to 12 tonight. Finished pumping water from Paint Locker + bilges. Saw Mt. Pierre today.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN: "Lend-Lease" Act becomes law; "cash and carry" provisions of Neutrality Act of 1939 are changed to permit transfer of munitions to Allies.
March 12, 1941 Wed.
On Patrol duty today. Made three challenges today but all answered. 12-4 gun watch today - Cond. III. Getting low on supplies.
March 13, 1941 Thurs.
Went to St. Lucia and moored to a buoy. Had duty so I couldn't go ashore. Got underway again at 1530 to resume patrol.
March 14, 1941 Fri.
On Patrol Challenged two ships. Pursued one for almost ten miles before receiving reply. 8 to 12 Gun watch Cond. III. Took on supplies from "TATTNALL" - no mail.
USS TATTNALL was DD-150. BARRY and TATTNALL would soon part company, but would be reunited in the Pacific much later. TATTNALL was present on May 25, 1945 when BARRY was sunk by a kamikaze near Okinawa.
March 15, 1941 Sat.
On Patrol duty today. Nothing special happened. Painted in Paint Locker today.
March 16, 1941 Sun.
Went to St. Lucia + tied up to buoy. Had swimming party and baseball game today. Got underway again at 1600 to go on Patrol.
March 17, 1941 Mon.
On patrol again today. Painted well deck today. Went on sick list this afternoon. Have two vertebrae out of place.
March 18, 1941 Tues.
On patrol today. Ship left harbor today but was cleared + there was no excitement. Chow is getting pretty bad from being out so long.
"There is nothing so desperately monotonous as the sea, and I no longer wonder at the cruelty of pirates." - James Russel Lowell
March 19, 1941 Wed.
On Patrol today. French cruiser entered the harbor early this morning. Got word today that we were going to Iceland.
March 20, 1941 Thursday
Went to St. Lucia + anchored alongside of TATTNALL to give her 20,000 gals. of fuel. Got underway about 1300 to go to Culebra Island for repairs from destroyer tender MELVILLE.
March 21, 1941 Friday
Arrived at Culebra and anchored about 1530. Anchored in harbor - couldn't tie up to MELVILLE today. No liberty here.
March 22, 1941 Saturday
Anchored at Culebra - Captain's inspection this morning. Holiday routine after inspection. Swimming party this afternoon but I didn't go because of my back.
March 23, 1941 Sun.
Moored alongside of MELVILLE this PM. Officers came back from town drunk. Connelly yelled down hatch "What about the G..damned movies?" and the Exec. restricted the whole ship for mutinous action.
March 24, 1941 Monday
Quarters this morning. Exec admitted he was wrong + said we would not be restricted. Scrubbed paintwork on the sides today. I didn't quit till about 1800. Touched up paint with red lead. "Maisie was a Lady" was tonight's movie.
March 25, 1941 Tuesday
Painted the sides today. Picture tonight was "Philadelphia Story".
March 26, 1941 Wed.
Alongside of MELVILLE - Finished painting sides today + painting numbers. Movie tonight was Bob Crosby in "Lets Make Music". Underway tomorrow at 1000.
March 27, 1941 Thurs.
Got underway at 1000. Arrived in San Juan about 1500. Liberty Started at 1600. Went into town to look around. Got job as shipfitter striker today.
March 28, 1941 Fri.
Moved to Fuel Dock + took on 95% capacity. Laid alongside of pier all night. Had 8-12 Aft. Deck.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN: The British fleet defeated the Italian fleet in the Battle of Cape Matapan; 3 Italian cruisers and 2 destroyers were sunk and several ships were damaged.
March 29, 1941 Sat.
Got underway for anchorage about 0800. Anchored in harbor. Set up Coke machine this AM. Liberty at 1300. Went ashore about 1600 but got back at 0150.
March 30, 1941 Sun.
Reveille at 0700. Wrote letters all morning and part of afternoon. Went ashore at 1800. All the stores were closed so I returned about 2100.
WAR NEWS BULLETIN: Unites States today took possession of all German, Italian, and Danish ships in United States Ports.
March 31, 1941 Sat.
Built rack for Coca Cola machine today. Have duty tonight 12-4 after deck. Movie tonight was
"Miracles for Sale".
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This page, and all contents, are Copyright (C) 1999 by Kenn Anderson,Sr., Scranton, PA. (USA)