6-9 Oct    Yokosuka for voyage repairs

9-11 Oct    En route  to Korea Bombline, with USS JOHN R. CRAIG (DD885) as escort

11-17 Oct    Commenced firing in Bombline area (Kosong-Myon) at 1349, 11 October, using main battery.  First mission of ship's second tour destroyed 5 bunkers, damaged 4, neutralized observation post and damaged 100 yards of enemy trench.

17-20 Oct    Relieved on Bombline by USS HELENA (CA75) and joined Task Force 77 for routine mission as heavy support ship.

20 Oct    Departed TF 77 with USS STEMBEL (DD644) for Cobra Patrol and gunstrike.  Patrolled northern coast during night.

21 Oct    Using Helicopter spot, fired on railroad targets in the vicinity of Songjin.

22 Oct    Rejoined TF 77.

23 Oct    TF anti-aircraft shoot.  Ship knocked down three sleeves.  That night departed TF, with USS FRANK KNOX (DDR742) as escort, and moved north again for second Cobra Patrol and gunstrike.

24 Oct    Fired at Songjin on transformer station, railroad repair building, warehouse, industrial plant, rail tunnel and bridge, inflicting damage to all targets.

25-30 Oct    Returned to Bombline. Commenced firing during afternoon with air spotters, to destroy two gun positions and damage bunkers. Treated injured U. S. Army Officer brought aboard by helicopter. Helicopter forced to land on fantail of USS ORLECK (DD886) during passenger transfer 28 October.

31 Oct    Intercepted small boat offshore during early morning. Found to be friendly even after improper recognition signals used. In afternoon departed Bombline and moved south to rendezvous with USS BAYONNE (PF21), transferred aboard medical patient, and returned to Bombline.

1 Nov    Left Bombline in morning to conduct emergency Search and Rescue for crashed F9F fighter plane. Found oil slick, but no sign of pilot.  Colonel E. A. Walker, USA, Senior Officer, Military Advisory Group, I ROK Corps, brought aboard by helicopter for conference.

2 Nov    Relieved at Bombline by USS TOLEDO (CA133).  Rejoined TF 77.

2-18 Nov    Operated with TF 77, departing 4 November for Nagoya, Japan Stayed three days in Nagoya, where general visiting was held for Japanese nationals.  Local military and civil authorities received aboard, including U. S. Ambassador to Japan, Robert Murphy.  From Nagoya moved on to Yokosuka for seven days routine upkeep.

19 Nov    Underway from Yokosuka for Bombline.

21-22 Nov    Relieved USS HELENA on Bombline and commenced operations with USS LYMAN K. SWENSON (DD729) as escort.  At 1600 set General Quarters and with destroyers SWENSON and  HAILEY (DD556) the ship fired in close support of ground forces.

23 Nov    Firing ceased in afternoon to receive South Korean Presidential party aboard: President and Mrs. Syngman Rhee, Lieut. General and Mrs James A. Van Fleet; Lieut. General Paik Sun Yup, chief of staff, ROK Army; and Lieut.  General Lee Hung Koon, commanding general, First ROK Corps.  Party transferred to and from ship by helicopter.

24 Nov    Made first gunstrike of tour at Wonsan.  Among targets hit was a tank in a cave-LOS ANGELES being the first ship to score on it after the firing of over 1500 rounds by numerous vessels.

25 Nov    Replenished and fired at Bombline.

26-28 Nov    Relieved at Bombbline by USS TOLEDO to rejoin and operate with TF 77. Representative-elect William S. MaiIIiard, California, (CDR.  USNR) aboard for visit and Thanksgiving Dinner.

28-30 Nov    Cobra Patrol in Sonjin area with USS PHILIP (DDE498).

1-7 Dec    Relieved TOLEDO on Bombline,.  Conducted two-hour strike at Wonsan on 5 December.  Representative James E. Van Zandt (REP. PA.), Captain USNR, visited aboard ship 7 December.

8 Dec    Relieved at Bombline by USS ROCHESTER (CA124) and joined TF 77 about noon.  Detached that evening, with USS RENSHAW (DDE499) as escort, to move north for SAR mission at Songjin.

9 Dec    Helicopter, piloted by Ensign Lester B. Shackford, USNR, picked up Pilot of AD-5 aircraft from USS ESSEX (CV9) (ENS George E. Tomkins, Woodland Hills, Calif.) after he crash-landed in water near ship.

10 Dec    Remained on SAR station, but without incident.

11 Dec    Joined TF 77 early morning, replenished, and departed again early evening with USS HUBBARD (DD748) for Songjjn gunstrike.

12 Dec    Firing on targets south of Songjjn

13 Dec    Conducted special SAR mission for USAF

14-15 Dec    Rejoined and operated with TF 77

16 Dec    With USS ERBEN (DD631) as escort, departed TF 77 and, proceeded to Sasebo, en route Hong Kong for R&R period

21-27 Dec    At anchor in Hong Kong.  Tours, exchange of calls with VIP's and British vessels, Christmas party for orphans and performances in city of Victoria by Glee Club

28 Dec    Departed Hong Kong, proceeding via Sasebo to rejoin TF 77 the afternoon of 31 Dec

31Dec-2 Jan    Rejoined and operated with TF 77

3-6 Jan    Arrived Songjin with USS JAMES E. KYES (DD787) for SAR mission; then moved on down coast to relieve TOLEDO on Bombline.  Emergency trip to Nando 4 January to give medical assistance to ROK soldiers injured in blast

7 Jan    Went to Wonsan for gunstrike, but heavy snow prevented firing; returned to Wonsan after reprovisioning morning of 8 January and conducted gunstrike

9-12 Jan    Routine Bombline duty.  USS McDERMUT (DD677) relieved KYES as escort on 10 January

13 Jan   Helicopter crashed on deck during take-off.  No injuries, but plane damaged beyond repair

14 Jan    Received TOLEDO's Helicopter

15 Jan    One of the best days firing at Bombline.  Marine Air spotter used.  In one target area destroyed 8 buildings, damaged 13, caused several secondary explosions, fires and trench cuts

16 Jan    Wonsan gunstrike, resulting in destruction of several buildings, damage to many more and destruction of heavy mortar position

17-20 Jan    Routine Bombline duty, with USS YARNALL (DD541) relieving McDERMUT as escort on 18 Jan

21-24 Jan    Relieved at Bombline by USS ROCHESTER.  Received patient from USS MACKENZIE (DD614) for emergency appendectomy 23 Jan.  Departed TF late evening with USS NICHOLAS (DDE449), moving north for gunstrikes and radar surveillance of rail targets.

25-26 Jan    Operating near Hungnam.  Firing both batteries simultaneously, 12 buildings destroyed, 13 damaged and 2 warehouses damaged.  Also rail cuts, box cars damaged. secondary explosions and fires.  Spotting plane hit by flak and forced to ditch near ship.  Helicopter, with Lt. W. W. Wear, USNR, at the controls, guided pilot (ENS David L. Drenner, Falls City, Neb.) in ditching plane and picked him up.  Took aboard medical patient from NICHOLAS prior to leaving coastal region to rejoin TF 77.

27 Jan    Transferred pilot back to USS ORISKANY (CV34) and proceeded to Yokosuka accompanied by RENSHAW.

30 Jan-7 Feb    Yokosuka for routine upkeep and recreation.  Underway 7 Feb and joined TF 77 on 10 Feb.

10-24 Feb    Operated with TF 77.  Picked up one pilot who crashed shortly after takeoff from USS VALLEY FORGE (CV 45) shortly after sunrise.  Ensign Shackford piloted helicopter.

24-27 Feb    Returned Bombline with USS HAMNER (DD718) as escort, to relieve TOLEDO.  Firing uneventful.

28 Feb    Moved into Wonsan and commenced fire about 0900, four-hour shoot accounting for destruction of 19 buildings, damage to several more, fires, secondary explosions in buildings and power station, and hits on gun positions.

1- 2 Mar    Restricted fire on Bombline due to limited visibility.  HAMMER relieved by SWENSON as screening unit.

3 Mar    Conducted pre-attack bombardment of hill for one hour, with excellent results reported by troops ashore.

4 Mar    Gunstrike at Wonsan, with mediocre target damage.  Ship's three-inch battery used for first time against enemy shore installations.  Ensign Shackford in ship's Helicopter made commendatory pick-up, of pilot (LTJG James B. Overton, Sunnyvale, Calif.) shot down by enemy AA fire, taking him off Red beach while under fire.  Shackford later recommended for Navy Cross.  Estimated ten enemy killed in heavy barrage laid down after rescue of pilot.  Returned to Bombline.

5 Mar    Relieved by MANCHESTER (CL83) after replenishment.  Proceeded to Yokosuka for R&R, arriving there 8 Mar.

8-17 Mar    Yokosuka.

18-20 Ma    Underway and enroute Bombline.

21 Mar    Arrived Suwon-dan area with HAMNER, began firing on supply area targets.

22 Mar    Ship fired on for first time in current cruise while entering Wonsan harbor for gunstrike.  USS HALSEY POWELL (DD686) accompanying.  Spotter called three-gun salvos on building group in northwest corner of harbor the sharpest shooting he had seen. Day's fire destroyed seven buildings and damaged others, in addition to damaging several bridges and achieving a direct hit on a rail tunnel.

23-26 Mar    Routine fire missions along Bombline, with Chaplain and party going ashore on 25 March to distribute soap, candy, and clothing to refugees in a number of fishing villages above Sindaeri.

27 Mar    Began tenth gunstrike on Wonsan, accompanied by USS EVERSOLE (DD789).  Ship sustained first direct hit from enemy fire, a single round hitting a starboard radar director room, putting it out of commission but injuring no one.  Ship proceeded to neutralize several of the guns which opened fire on us.

28 Mar-1 Apr    Routine Bombline missions.

2 Apr    Second Red shell, believed 105 millimeter, slightly injured twelve men during Wonsan gunstrike.  Shell struck mainmast, throwing shrapnel into two open gun mounts.  Armored vests prevented other injuries.

3-6 Apr    Routine fire, High-line swap of chaplains brought Easter divine services to Catholics and Protestants.

7 Apr    Wonsan gunstrike with heavy air support.  Ship destroyed or neutralized approximately a dozen gun positions.  Two counterbattery rounds fell 1500 yards short.

8-12 Apr    Routine Bombline missions.

13 Apr    Uneventful Wonsan gunstrike.  Single counterbattery round splashed 1500-2000 yards short.

14 Apr    Ship's gunnery officer, LCDR Robert W. Dart, closed firing key to fire round number 6,000 from cruiser's 8-inch battery during morning.

15 Apr    Chaplain Organ and musical combo transferred to beach by small boat for divine services and "Happy Hour" at Korean Military Advisory Group Headquarters, First ROK Army Corps.

Late Apr '53    En route to Yokosuka, Japan & Long Beach (about 17,000 rounds were fired in N. Korea)

Mid May '53    Returned to Long Beach

AMMUNITION EXPENDITURES
AS OF 16 APRIL 1953

(Not including training ammunition)
8" High capacity 6143
8" Armor piercing 12
5" High capacity 8063
5" Illuminating 572
5" AA common 1105
5" White phosphorous 170
5" VT 362
3" VT 192
TOTALS
8"/55 Caliber 6155
5"/38 Caliber 10272
3"/50 Caliber 192

Total rounds fired  16619

Damage inflicted to the enemy as of 16 April 1953
Buildings destroyed 182
Buildings damaged 259
Bunkers destroyed 159
Bunkers damaged 149
Trench cuts 83
Fires started 18
Secondary explosions 57
Supply shelters destroyed 23
Supply shelters damaged 29
Gun positions destroyed 24
Gun positions damaged 34
Main supply routes cut 13
Rail road cuts 31
Rail cars damaged 3
Enemy personnel killed or wounded 53
Troop shelters destroyed 14
Troop shelters damaged 2
H and I targets (recorded) . 434
Observation Command Posts damaged 5
Gun position cave entrance damaged 14
Tank cave entrance closed 3
Tank damaged 1
Vehicle shelters damaged 1.
Vehicles destroyed 10
Vehicles damaged 8
RR bridges damaged 4
Radar station damaged 2
Electric transformer station damaged 1
Industrial plant damaged 1
Radio tower damaged 1
Tunnel damaged 1
Platoon position damaged 1
Small boat damaged