Action Report of the USS-LST 701 on the Nasugbu Bay Operation, January 1945

1. The plan for this operation was for the landing of the 187^th and 188^th Para-Glider Infantry Division in the Nasugbu area in the Island of Luzon in the Philippine Islands. This command being one of the unit of six (6) LST’s and a part of a group consisting of LST’s, APD², LSM’s³, and LCI’s⁴. These units and their equipment and bulk cargo of gasoline, ammunition, rations, and engineering stores were embarked near Tarraguna and the Maya River, Leyte Island, Philippine Islands on 26 January 1945 and 27 January 1945. The voyage from Leyte to Luzon was without any noteworthy incidents. During the whole operation, the sea was calm and the prevailing winds were from the North and the East.

2. This ship beached at 1857, 26 January 1945 for the purpose of loading units of the 187^th and 188^th Para-Glider Infantry Divisions and their equipment. At 2155, the landing was commenced, however, a dry ramp was not obtained and it was necessary to build a sand ramp for the loading of bulk cargo and motor vehicles and trailers.

1½ ton trucks – 2
1 ton trucks – 8
¼ ton trucks – 41
¼ ton trailers – 33

325 tons of Bulk cargo consisting of Ammunition, Gasoline, Rations and Engineering Supplies.

At 1800, 26 January 1945, Army personnel were embarked. The loading was completed at 0110, 27 January 1945 and the ship was finally retracted from the beach at 1307.

3. At 1633, 27 January 1945, we got underway for the assault area and proceeded without noteworthy incident to the assault beaches. The stern anchor was lost in beaching at 0959, 31 January 1945. We retracted and beached again and the unloading was commenced at 1536 by use of the LCVP’s⁶ because of it being impossible to obtain a dry ramp with the ship in its fully loaded condition. The load on the main deck consisting of “Jeeps” and trailers were unloaded in this manner. The ship was retracted from the beach at 2340, 31 January 1945, and another run was made on the beach. In this maneuver, we collided with LST 269 at 0016, 1 February 1945, our bow anchor gouging a 4 by 30 foot hole just above its second deck on her starboard side about amidships. Our damage consisted of losing our bow anchor and a connecting link, an 8 inch hole 4 feet above the second deck in the port bow door control room, a dent at frame 12 on the port side and the distortion of our number two boat davit. The unloading was again commenced at 0520 and completed at 1810. With the help of LCI’s acting as tugs, the ship was finally retracted from the beach at 2330 and got underway for the withdrawal from the assault area.

4. The ship was never under attack and no ammunition was expended.

5. It is recommended that ships of this type not be so heavily loaded when there is a known very gradual beach gradient and no pontoons available for unloading.

6. There were no casualties and the crew performed their duties in the prescribed manner.

Respectfully submitted,

RICHARD F. CURRENCE