UNDERWATER DEMOLITION TEAM HISTORIES
WWII UDT TEAM SEVENTEEN
TRAINING:
Underwater
Demolition Team SEVENTEEN came into existence one day late in October of 1944,
at the
Finally, on
By 5 February it had its orders and by 7
February half of the team was in
The CROSLEY departed from
While waiting at
Team SEVENTEEN was assigned the Green
Beaches, northernmost of the Hagushi Beaches, where the main landings on
Up to 2$ March the
team had seen little or no evidence of enemy activity, but early that morning
the CROSLEY, and consequently the team, had its closest call of the campaign.
At about 0630 an enemy plane appeared out of nowhere, without warning, and
pointed its nose straight for the ship. The CROSLEY's guns soon were pumping
away, but it kept boring in, and only a quick maneuver saved the ship as the
plane plunged into the sea about thirty feet astern. That was the first taste
of the Kamikaze, which was to grow more intense day by day.
On the morning of 29 March the
reconnaissance operation took place, after a twenty-four hour delay. The
CROSLEY arrived at its position six thousand yards offshore on time at 0900,
and at 0930 the team was in its boats headed for the beaches. With the boats going
full speed and with shells of the Fleet's guns crashing into the beach, the
swimmers were dropped five hundred yards offshore. They swam across the four
hundred yards of fringing reef to the shore, taking soundings, studying the
reef floor and observing all that could be seen on the shore. By 1115 all
swimmers had returned and been picked up without a casualty. All six teams of
Underwater Demolition Group BAKER operated simultaneously along the length of
the main beaches. On returning aboard the CROSLEY, the teams prepared reports
and charts, which were delivered to the Commander Underwater Demolition
Flotilla that afternoon.
The only obstacles discovered by the
team were approximately two hundred wooden posts placed on the coral reef in a
staggered row about thirty yards from shore. On the following morning these
obstacles were removed by demolition, without casualties. Enemy opposition
proved to be light, although some swimmers reported machine gun and sniper fire
from the beach.
During the evening
of 30 March the team detached an officer, along with the Marine observers who
were aboard, to another APD which was to transport them to a rendezvous with
the Northern Attack Forces, where a delivery of charts and reports would be
effected. On the morning of 11 April, the day of the landings, team personnel
were delivered to the Green Beach Control Officer to act as wave guides and
assistants to the Beach Masters. While the landings were being carried out,
with virtually no opposition, the team stood by to await instructions regarding
post-assault operation.
During the two days
following the landings the team worked on the Green Beaches, blasting several
channels and ramps on the reef edge. Thereafter, until 15 April, it remained
inactive aboard the CROSLEY, which was assigned to screening duty and to the
job of fighting off the incessant suicide air attacks. In the fight against the
Kamikazes the team took its place at battle stations on the CROSLEY. Team men
manned 50 caliber machine guns, formed the fire and rescue parties and served
as ammunition passers. On two occasions, when the CROSLEY came to the
assistance of stricken ships, the team's fire and rescue party was sent aboard,
giving an excellent account of itself in fighting fires and in aiding the wounded.
On 12 April Team
SEVENTEEN was transferred from Task Force Fifty-one to Task Force Fifty-three,
and on 14 April it was ordered to proceed to the northern tip of Okinawa for a
reconnaissance of two beaches where it was planned to unload equipment for a radar
station.
By 0830 on the
morning of the 15th the CROSLEY was in position off the designated beach, and
the team proceeded ashore. Elements of the Sixth Marine Division had reached
this point two days previously, by means of the single road which wound along
the rugged western coast of the island. The Team Commanding Officer went ashore
to contact the Marine officer-in-command while two platoons proceeded to
investigate the reef, which lay off a small deserted Okinawa village. Another
platoon skirted around the island's sharp northern tip to the eastern shore
where it reconnoitered the other designated beach. The job was completed by
1400 and the team returned to the CROSLEY to make its report by dispatch to the
Commander of Task Force Fifty-one. This was the last task for Team SEVENTEEN at
Okinawa, and on 20 April the CROSLEY received orders to proceed to Ulithi,
where the team was to disembark.
INTERLUDE
The months of May, June and July were idle ones for Team SEVENTEEN
...[page missing] ...Squadron
One (Captain R.D. WILLIAMS) and in company with the other ships of its squadron
and Squadron Two, it proceeded full speed to Pearl Harbor. At Pearl two days
were required for loading explosives, fueling and provisioning, and on 24
August the BLESSMAN, with only half of its squadron, steamed off at twenty
knots for a fast trip to Manila, with brief fueling stops at Eniwetok and
Ulithi. After passing through San Bernandino Straits, the BLESSMAN steamed into
Manila Bay on the morning of 6 September. But the great need for speed was
unwarranted, inasmuch as the stay at Manila lasted until 10 September, after
which further layovers were made at Subic Bay and at San Fernando Bay in
Lingayen Gulf. By this time it was known that the destination was Wakayama,
Japan, and on 17 September a rehearsal operation was held at Lingayen by Teams
SEVENTEEN and THREE, who were to work together on the Wakayama beaches.
On 18 September,
the BLESSMAN and the U.S.S. JEFFERY (APD 44), with Teams SEVENTEEN and THREE,
departed Linayen for Buckner Bay, Okinawa, on the heels of a typhoon, arriving
20 September and departing 21 September. Dawn of the 23rd found the two ships
proceeding cautiously through the narrow channel cleared by mine sweeps in Kuii
Suido, Japan. By 0800, the BLESSMAN was in position off the Wakayama Beaches,
and the team proceeded to investigate the two thousand yards of beach to which
it was assigned. That afternoon, Team SEVENTEEN made a hydrographic and
photographic survey of the Wakayama Boat basin and inner harbor, while Team
THREE investigated the docking facilities of the Kino River. The following
morning Team SEVENTEEN made a reconnaissance of Wakanoura Wan and Osaki Wan in
search of beaches, docks or piers which could be used for unloading operations
by the occupational landing forces.
During these
operations, no hostility was encountered from the Japanese and no mines,
obstacles or other defense installations were found which could impair landing
operations.
At approximately
0830, 25 September, the first wave of Sixth Army troops, which were to occupy
the area, hit the Wakayama Beach. Subsequent landings and unloading proceeded
smoothly.
The Team originally was scheduled to.
perform reconnaissance with Team THREE at Yokkaichi, Japan, near Nagoya, but
this task, subsequently, was turned over to Team THREE, and on 30 September,
1945 Team SEVENTEEN, aboard the BLESSMAN, left Wakayama and Japan for San
Diego, California, via Guam, Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor. Enroute to Guam, the
BLESSMAN played a game of tag with two typhoons, which seemed bent upon
catching her, but her elusive tactics proved successful and Apra Harbor was
reached without mishap on 4 October. The team then knew that its job was done
and that the course home was safe and sure.
(compiled by Robert Allan
King for the UDT-
TEAM ROSTERS - To protect the integrity of the Teams and the privacy of individual frogmen, Team rosters are not made public. If you or your relative was a member of UDT Team SEVENTEEN and you would like further information, we suggest you contact the UDT-SEAL Museum.