War Diary of LSM 18 for March 1945, Including Trip to Nasugbu - Batangas History, Culture and Folklore

Transcription of war diary by the LSM¹ 18 March 1945, including a run from Subic Bay to Nasugbu. This is a declassified document² taken from the United States National Archives.

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USS LSM 18
Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, Calif.File No. LSM18/A12-1
Serial No. 40

3 April 1945.

CONFIDENTIAL

From: To: Subject:

The Commanding Officer. Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet. War Diary – Month of March 1945.

1. March 1-2, at anchor in Subic Bay, Luzon, P.I. Latitude 14 50.5’ N; Longitude 120 14’ E.

2. March 3-4, got underway at 0151, on March 3, enroute to Nasugbu, Luzon, P. I. At 0759, beached at Nasugbu to load Army supplies and personnel for lift to San Jose, Mindoro, P. I. At 1500, completed loading and retracted. At 1745, got underway for San Jose, Mindoro, P. I. At 1146, March 4, beached in Mangarin Bay, Mindoro. At 2002, completed unloading and retracted. At 2345, anchored in Mangarin Bay, Mindoro, P. I.

3. March 5-6, at anchor in Mangarin Bay, Mindoro, P.I.

4. March 7, beached at 0734, and took on Army vehicles and forty (40) personnel for lift to Zamboanga, Mindanao, P.I. At 1040, completed loading and returned to anchorage.

5. March 8-12. At 0647, March 8, got underway for Zamboanga. Positions are as follows:

Date	Time	Latitude	Longitude
March 8	0800 1200 2000	12   12' N 11   55' N 10   53' N	120   57' E 120   58' E 120   33' E
March 9	0800 1200 2000	09   27' N 08   52' N 07   48' N	121   35' E 121   40' E 121   40' E
March 10	2000	07   01' N	121   49' E
March 11	0800 1200 2000	08   36' N 09   06' N 10   04' N	121   46' E 121   46' E 121   51' E

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USS LSM 18
Fleet Post Office
San Francisco, Calif.File No. LSM18/A12-1
Serial No. 40

3 April 1945.

CONFIDENTIAL

Subject: War Diary – Month of March 1945.
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Date	Time	Latitude	Longitude
March 8	0800 1200	11   18' N 11   53' N	121   18' E 121   06' E

At 0756, March 10, anchored in assigned berth on Santa Cruz bank to await beaching orders. At 1124, beached and began unloading. At 1209, completed unloading and returned to anchorage on Santa Cruz bank. At 1827, got underway for return to Mangarin Bay, Mindoro, P. I. At 1510, March 12, anchored in assigned berth in Mangarin Bay, Mindoro, P. I.

6. March 13-14, took on dry provisions from U.S.S. STAG and distributed them amongst LSM Group FOUR ships present.

7. March 15-17, at anchor in Mangarin Bay, Mindoro, P. I.

8. March 18-19. At 1248, March 18, got underway and joined convoy to Subic Bay. At 1510, March 19, anchored in Subic Bay, Luzon, P. I.

9. March 20-21, moored in the nest of U.S.S. DOBRIN for repairs.

[Sgd.] WILLIAM B. WILDER.

CC: Com LSM Flot TWO.

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To view or download the original document, please refer to Item ² below under Notes and References.

Notes and references:
¹ LSM stands for Landing Ship, Medium. “Glossary of US Naval Abbreviations,” online at Ibiblio.org.
² “USS LSM-18 - War Diary, 3/1-31/45,” online at the United States National Archives.