UNDERWATER DEMOLITION TEAM HISTORIES

WWII UDT TEAM TWENTY-SIX

The following is the Action Report on UNDERWATER DEMOLITION TEAM TWENTY SIX, dated 10 October 1945. The report covers beach reconnaissance for occupation landings that begin at Taku - Port of Tientsin - North China on 30 September 1945 - based on George W. Ingram in Task Unit 78.1.61.

Action at Taku Bar, China by UNDERWATER DEMOLITION TEAM TWENTY SIX (Reconnaissance and Piloting in Mole Area at Mouth of Peking River)

Part I BRIEFS

A. During the day of M minus 1 (29 September 1945) in preparation for landings by the III Marine Amphibious Corp at Taku, China. Underwater Demolition Team Number TWENTY SIX conducted a reconnaissance of the mole area at the mouth of the Peking River. Reconnaissance revealed that a good channel gives access to the mole, a dock suitable for unloading exists, and that a satisfactory road exit leads to the mainland. On M plus 1, the team made a reconnaissance around the coal dock on the mole to determine a good location for an LST berthing and re-surveyed the channel in order to train officer pilots. On M plus 2 and M plus 4, pilot officers from the team piloted LST's thru the channel to berths in the mole area.

Part II PRELIMINARIES,

A. Underwater Demolition Team #26 consisted of 12 officers and 83 men divided into four operating platoons. In this operation it performed with Underwater Demolition Team #9 as a unit of Underwater Demolition Group SEVEN CTU 78.1.61 under the operational command of Captain J. B. CLELAND, USNR.

B. Underwater Demolition Team #26, embarked aboard the U.S.S. GEORGE W. INGRAM (APD-43) (Comdr A.S. Boyce, USNR, Commanding) joined CTU 78.16.9 under Captain C. W. Gray, USN, aboard U.S.S. Wythe (APD-4 1) at Jinson, Korea which task unit departed that port 26 September 1945. The ship was assigned screening duty under Captain J. B. CLELAND, USNR, until arrival on the 29 September at Taku Bar, the team was engaged in preparation of charts and gear for the operation.

C. Underwater Demolition Group SEVEN CTU 78.1.61 (Captain J. B. Cleland, USNR) was directed in OcOrder of ComTransRon SEVENTEEN No. 1-45 section (0) to "reconnoiter along north bank in search of suitable location for landing vehicles over ramps". Underwater Demolition Team #26 was directed by verbal orders of Capt. Cleland to reconnoiter the mole area on the north side of the river mouth and to survey and buoy the channel, examine any possible landing or unloading areas on the mole and locate any road exits to the mainland.

D. The third platoon was requested to remain at the ship for picket boat duty. The remaining three platoons were assigned separate areas and tasks in the mole area as follows;

(a) The first platoon was assigned a one mile section of the shore end of the mole and the tidal basins on the mainland.

(b) The second platoon was assigned the center mile section of the mole area and the examination of any and all road exits.

(c) The fourth platoon was assigned the seaward mile section of the mole area and the mole's channel thru Taku Bar.

E. Forces of the defeated enemy had cleared the mole area and were therefore not encountered.

PART III CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF ACTION (All times are HOW)

A. M minus 1 (29 September 1945)

0915 The Ist, 2nd, and 4th platoons, embarked in 3 LCPR's and the team's commanding officer and staff in a plane personnel boat left the ship and entered the channel leading to the mole area. The weather was cloudy and nasty with visibility of about two miles. The sea was moderate. Soundings were taken and buoys checked on the way thru the channel into the mole area.

1030 All platoons arrived assigned areas and began reconnaissance. Navigational aids and hazards were buoyed and charted. Landing and unloading positions were carefully examined. Road exits were found and examined and local civilians were questioned on tide, navigation conditions and dock facilities.

1600 All tasks completed. Platoons rendezvoused and started back to ship. Wind had increased in velocity and very heavy seas were running,

1800 Team reported aboard the INGRAM.

2100 Charts were completed and taken to Capt. J. B. CLELAND, USNR, aboard the U.S.S. BANNING (APD-55) (SEE ENCLOSURE D).

M Day (30 September 1945)

1000 The commanding officers of UDT#26 and UDT#9 reported with Capt. J. B. CLELAND and his staff, to ComTransRon SEVENTEEN (Commodore Britain) aboard the U.S.S. CHILTON (APA-36) for submission of charts and questioning on the reconnoitered areas. During the interview UDT#26 was directed by verbal orders to investigate the area at the east end of the coal dock for suitable LST berth and to be prepared to provide officer pilot service for the channel to the mole area.

M plus 1 (1 October 1945)

0615 The 3rd platoon under the direction of the team Executive Officer Lieut (jg) E. J. Voss, Jr., USNR, departed from the INGRAM to reconnoiter the proposed LST berthing.

The team officers of the 1st, 2nd and 4th platoons under the direction of Ensign J. T. HUMME, USNR, departed to examine the channel and prepare themselves for pilot service.

1100 Pilot officers returned to the ship.

1700 3rd platoon returned to the ship.

M plus 2 (2 October 1945)

1000 Report made over UDT voice common to Capt. J. B. CLELAND on condition of channel and proposed LST berthing (Date time 020210 Zebra).

1100 The team commanding officer was directed by dispatch from Capt. J. B. CLELAND (Date time 020302 Zebra) to provide an officer pilot for the U.S.S. WYTHE (APD-41) and piloted it thru the channel into assigned berth at the mole.

1255 Officer pilot Ensign A. W. MOLNAR, USNR, and intelligence officer Ensign D. G. THOMAS, USNR, reported aboard the U.S.S WYTHE (APD-41) and piloted it thru the channel into assigned berth at mole.

1600 Pilot officers returned to INGRAM.

M plus 3 (3 October 1945)

In accordance with dispatch from Capt. J. B. CLELAND (Date time 031522 Zebra) arrangements were made with ComLSTGrp 100 to provide pilots for 3 LST's of that group.

M plus 4 (4 October 1945)

1200 Lieut. (jg) E. J. VOSS, Jr., USNR, boarded the LST#26 and assigned Ensign A. W. MOLNAR, USNR to LST#458 and Ensign D. G. THOMAS, USNR, to LST#748. Ensign J. T. HUMME, USNR took LCPR into mole area to make arrangements for berthing the ships.

1300 LST#26 entered channel and was piloted to area off coal dock on mole.

1320 LST#748 entered channel and was piloted to area off coal dock on mole. Ensign HUMME made the necessary arrangements to move the small boats which crowded the coal dock area and found docking space for LST#26. He then directed the pilot aboard LST#458 to enter the channel.

1630 LST#458 entered the channel and was piloted to area off coal dock.

1830 Officer pilots returned to the INGRAM.

PART IV ORDNANCE

A. 30 cal. machine guns were mounted on all LCPR's and all personnel carried small arms, but this ordnance was not employed.

B & C Does not apply

PART V DAMAGE

A&B No battle damage was sustained.

PART VI SPECIAL COMMENTS AND INFORMATION

A&B No comment

C. Amphibious Action. No underwater demolition required of UDT #26.

D, E, & F No comment.

PART VII PERSONNEL PERFORMANCE AND CASUALTIES

No casualties were sustained.

Unusual ability and initiative and a willingness to accept the responsibility of their assignments was displayed by the officers who served in official capacity as pilots.

PART VIII LESSONS LEARNED, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The use of the plane personnel boat as a team staff boat proved to be very satisfactory. It provided a means for the staff to obtain an overall picture of the area and maintain close personal supervision over the operation.

The most difficult problem in this type of reconnaissance was encountered in trying to take accurate bearings with the equipment available. It is recommended that an accurate compass with a bearing ring be installed on the LCPR'S.

Performance of this team was entirely satisfactory.

J.B. CLELAND, Jr.

Copy to:

CO U.D. Team #26

(compiled by Robert Allan King for the UDT-SEAL Museum from public records at the Operational Archives of the Naval Historical Center)

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 TWENTY-SIX and you would like further information, we suggest you contact the UDT-SEAL Museum.

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