Kure shipyard

Loading the Cannon, continued

Note the size of the cannon, compared to the men.

Another pic of the steam crane at Kure

Loading the Cannon at Kure

Here are pictures of the 350 ton steam crane at Kure, which put loaded the 18.1 inch cannon:

(From my webpage:)"Our last assignment was to lead a three-ship group back to the United States carrying large-bore Japanese cannon. The LSM-371 was to carry back the world's largest (18.1-inch) naval cannon; it was to be picked up from Kure, a naval base about 10 miles from Hiroshima. This certainly was a great final mission for us; besides, it meant a trip back to the USA! We went through the Bungo Straits (which had been heavily mined) to the Inland Sea, and then northeasterly to Kure where the cannon was waiting to be loaded. On arrival, I made a tour of the shipyard and noted that one of the drydocks held about a hundred two-man midget submarines.
The cannon was 90 feet long and weighed 180 tons. It was transferred by an enormous floating crane, then to the shipyard's overhead crane and finally loaded on to our ship. The Japanese told us that the cannon was originally intended for the world's largest battleship, a proposed sister ship to the Yamato which had been sunk back in April 1945. Seeing that they were losing the war, they decided instead to place the cannon at the entrance to the Inland Sea; of course the war ended before this could be achieved. "

Layout of LSM 371 compartments 1944 sketch

Yokohama

Japanese at Yokohama September '45

Locomotive seen while at Yokohama Sept '45

In front of the American embassy. Shown are John White on the Left, Myself, and another LSM officer from our battle group (possibly the 362).

Yokosuka

Outside of the Officer's club.

Gunnery Officer Wayne Fisk is on the right.

Kamakure

John White (our "fifth officer"), myself, one of the Motormacs whose name escapes me after all these years...and Saathoff.

Crossing the Equator

July 13 1945

LSM 371's bow going under the waves

Drydock--Long Beach, CA

Shown is the LSM 371 with the Japanese cannon being transported back to Green Cove Springs. Next to it is the LSM 379 and LSM 362, also in our convoy. In the back is LSM 355 which was not in our group. An LCI is in front of the 371.

Cayuga Falls

Officers in training from Cornell diesel school, taking a break at nearby Cayuga Falls in 1944.

Cornell Diesel School 1944

Shown are officers in training at Cornell Diesel School in 1944.