Base 18 Inverness.
Mine Squadron One Captain R.R. Belknap, U.S.N. Squadron Commander
Minelayers
U.S.S. San Francisco Flagship Captain H. V. Butler
U.S.S. Aroostook Captain J. H. Tomb
U.S.S. Baltimore Captain A. W. Marshall
U.S.S. Canandaigua Captain W. H. Reynolds
U.S.S. Canonicus Captain T. L. Johnson
U.S.S. Housatonic Captain J. W. Greenslade
U.S.S. Quinnebaug Commander D. P. Mannix
U.S.S. Roanoke Captain C. D. Stearns
U.S.S. Saranac Captain S. Gannon
U.S.S. Shawmut Captain W. T. Cluverius
Mine Sweepers
Ontario † Lieutenant E. Delavy
Patuxent Lieutenant J. B. Hupp
Patapsco Lieutenant W. E. Benson
Sonoma ‡ Lieutenant J. S. Trayer
Staff
Chief of Staff Captain H. V. Butler *
Aid & Tactical Officer Commander B. L. Canaga
Squadron Const. Officer Commander L. F. Kimball *
Squadron Eng. Officer Lieut. Comm’dr F. R. Berg *
Same, Later Lieutenant G. J. Blessing *
Aide, Flag Secretary Lieut. Comm’dr E. S. R. Brandt
Same, Later Ensign R. F. Hooper R.F.
Squadron Radio Officer Lieutenant R. C. Starkey.
Aid & Communication Officer Lieutenant (J.G.) R. L. White, R.F.
Squadron Surgeon Commander (M.C.) G. C. Rhodes *
Same, Later Lieutenant (M.C.) H. P. Stevens R.F.
Squadron Supply Officer Lieutenant (P.C.) C. R. Eagle *
Squadron Athletic Off. Lieut. Comm’dr G. W. Hewlett *
Asst. Sqd. Const. Off. Lieutenant (C.C.) G. R. Arey *
U.S.S. Blackhawk Force Flagship & Repair Ship Captain R. C. Bulmer
Chief of Staff Captain R. R. Belknap *
Senior Aid Captain O. G. Murfin *
Aid, Flag Secretary Lieutenant N. Davis
Force Radio Officer Lieutenant W. K. Harrill
Force Commun. Officer Ensign D. A. Nichols, R.F.
Force Medical Officer Captain (M.C.) E. J. Grow
Force Supply Officer Captain (P.C.) G. C. Schafer
Same, Later Lieut. (P.C.) R. N. Smither, R.F.
Commander of Bases 17 & 18 Captain O. G. Murfin. Headquarters Base 18
Inverness, Scotland
Base 17 Invergordon, Scotland. Executive Officer in Charge Commander
E. A. Wolleson
General Management
Officers’ Messes
Print Shop
Communication
Signals
Telephone
Telegraph
Military Administration
Guard
Details
Quarters
Messing
Plant
Power Plant
Upkeep
Repair Force
Carpenters
Machinists
Operation
Assembly & Test of Anchors
Assembly & Test of Mines
Assembly & Test of Plummet
Assembly of Plummet & Anchor
Final Assembly
Heating Plant
Machine Shop
Tool Room
Medical Department
Dispensary
Sanitation
Sick Bay
Supply
Pay & Clothing
Commissary
Laundry
Canteen
General Mess
Chief Petty Officers
Gen. Store K Dept
Transportation
Land
Water
Disembarking Port Kyle of Loch Alsh. F. W. Ferguson, R.F.
Base 18 Inverness, Scotland. Executive Officer in Charge Lieut.
Comm’dr L. M. Stewart
Organization Like Base 17
Disembarking Port Corpach. A. W. Patten, R.F.
Transportation of Mine Layers’ Cargoes. Lieutenant T. Newhall, R.F.
* Additional to Principal Duty
† On Detached Duty after 11-May-1918
‡ Same, after 15-July-1918]
The other four, with the _San Francisco_, continued the training program.
An engine accident in the _Housatonic_, needing 10 days at Norfolk Navy
Yard to repair it, delayed us a week, which was profitable for tying
up the many loose ends left by the shipyards. Our second great event
came on Sunday, 28 April, 1918, when the new squadron got underway
together for the first time to exercise tactics and signals while en
route from the Chesapeake for Provincetown. The day began and ended
with steering gear troubles, and was followed by 40 hours of fog, which
deprived us of valuable time that had been counted on. Tuesday, at 5
p.m., the _San Francisco_ and _Housatonic_ arrived at Provincetown. The
_Canandaigua_ was already maneuvering on the measured mile course while
her diver was searching for a lost anchor. _Canonicus_ was anchored
inside. _Quinnebaug_ reported herself anchored in the fog off Nantucket
Lightship, repairing an engine break.
Next day, the morning fog lifted enough for all to begin standardizing
over the measured course, afterwards proceeding to Gloucester Harbor,
Massachusetts, where the final mine proving and the first practice
minelaying by the new ships would be done. Strenuous days these,
especially for captains! _Housatonic_ asked permission to lag behind
awhile, arriving at Gloucester very late. “Sorry to drag you over at this
unchristian hour, Greenslade, but I wanted to see you about to-morrow’s
work.” “Oh! never mind, sir. This is the _life_!”
_Quinnebaug_ joined next afternoon, but she still needed some engine
repairs which required navy yard assistance, and was accordingly ordered
at once to Boston. More than unwelcome there with mines on board, the
work and her departure were heartily speeded.
After scarcely any let-up since the ships had left the shipyards four
weeks previously, a Sunday, May 5, 1918, was devoted to a well-earned
rest. And now had to be decided whether to continue training longer or
not. Outside of the ships singly, little had been done. They had not even
been all together since the first evening at sea. Yet the mine bases were
in such need of the 500 men that we were to bring them that, although
only a meager part of the training had been carried out, it was decided
to push on. There would be tactics and gunnery exercise en route, and
possibly other training that had been omitted might be made up then too.
And so the original period of time, estimated as necessary to prepare,
was adhered to, namely: in 45 days after leaving the shipyards to be at
the North Sea base, with coal and mines on board, ready for a minelaying
operation. Despite the numerous delays and mishaps, our arrival in
Scotland, May 26, 1918, was on the fortieth day from the fifth ship
leaving the yard, and all ships were ready for duty.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
AFTER THE WAR
The war over, the reorganized United States fleet was to include only the
_San Francisco_, _Baltimore_, _Shawmut_, and _Aroostook_ as minelayers.
The Big Four ships were to bring troops home, and the _Quinnebaug_ and
_Saranac_ to go back to their owners, the Old Dominion Steamship Company.
The _San Francisco_ needing repairs, the squadron flag was transferred
temporarily to the _Baltimore_. This took place 17 January, 1919, at
Newport, Rhode Island, whence we had sailed on our mission eight months
before.
Never before in all my experience had I been in an organization where
harmony, mutual confidence, good will, and loyalty prevailed so
completely as in this Mine Squadron. The high spirit of the officers and
men showed in the condition of their ships, their work, their discipline,
and their individual personal bearing. To command such a body was an
honor that could not be laid down in silence, and so, before the two
pioneer minelayers parted, I spoke to their assembled officers and men as
follows:
I am speaking to you to-day as representing the Squadron. It
is very appropriate that, on this occasion of temporarily
transferring the flag, I should get together the officers
and crews of the two old war horses, _San Francisco_ and
_Baltimore_, that have made our success possible. The work in
the Northern Mine Barrage did not begin only a year ago. It
began for a squadron of mining ships when the _Baltimore_ and
the _Dubuque_ joined the _San Francisco_, in the middle of
1915. These old ships set an example that made the rest aspire
to follow, to live up to the high standard and steady pace
necessary to accomplish what we have done.
To-day marks the end of the “Yankee Mining Squadron,” that did
four-fifths of the Northern Mine Barrage. I do not need to tell
you how highly mentioned our work has been. When the reports
have been published, no doubt it will be highly thought of in
this country and by all who read about it in the future. This
success is due, not to any one of us, not to any few of us, it
is due to all of us. I am very proud to have commanded such a
force. It is a deep gratification to have such a success come
as a result of the efforts we have made through four years.
Naturally, I shall never forget, but I wish to let you know
that you should never forget it.
The Squadron is now reorganizing. Some of you may go to other
duty, some may go out into civil life, where you will work
during the conditions of peace which you helped to bring about.
And now let me remind you of the principles on which we won
success in our part in this war and on which we always did our
work. Remember this! that the everyday things are the easiest
to forget, and it is because we have carefully kept before us
the importance of doing the everyday things right that we have
earned success. We have not been afraid of work, we have never
shied at any job. Every man has felt his part as important to
do properly as any other man’s part, and as long as the work
was to be done he has kept up his attention. That has been the
main principle—not to slack down—that a job is not finished
until it is done, and it is not done until it is done right. We
have not sought the easiest way but the right way, and we have
generally found that the right way was the easiest way in the
long run. And further, that a job, to be rightly done, must be
as good at the end and in the middle as in the beginning. We
have not slackened. The 860th mine of the _Canonicus_, of the
longest string ever laid, was as good as the first or the 300th
or any other mine.
I congratulate you all on the work you have done. It will
be a very satisfactory and proud memory for you and for all
those connected with it. But I congratulate you most on the
preparation that it gives you to do still more, to be better
men, to be better citizens. Nothing more valuable could come
from our work than that.
You can fancy what my associations are with these two ships.
I made my first cruise as a commissioned officer in the
_Baltimore_; and the past four years in her and the _San
Francisco_ have been the most interesting I ever had. I am
very sorry to leave you of the _San Francisco_ even for a
short time, but I could not leave under happier conditions. To
leave at a time of a success like this happens only once in a
lifetime. Good luck to all of you.
Long before the barrage was finished we were studying how to sweep
it up, and soon after the signing of the armistice, experiment began
towards safeguarding the sweeping vessels. Before leaving for home the
squadron transferred over 400 men to the bases for the sweeping duty,
and subsequently a number of new sweepers were sent over from the United
States, in groups commanded by officers formerly of the mine squadron.
The British authorities took steps immediately to mark out the barrage
area, with light-vessels and gas buoys, and actual sweeping began as
early as December, 1918. It will take months to complete, but well inside
a year from its laying the Northern Barrage will have become a thing of
the past.
It served its purpose, and more besides. Through the part played in
former wars, submarine mines grew in recognition, though slowly, as
important means of defense. In this war they came into extensive
employment in offense, the largest as well as most striking offensive use
being the Northern Barrage, which, in popular phrase, put mines on the
map.
SUMMARY OF MINES LAID
--------------------+----+----+----+----+----+---+----+-------+
Excursions | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5a| 6 | 7 |
--------------------+----+----+----+----+----+---+----+-------+
1. Canonicus | 763| 710| 798| 810| 170| | 640| 810 |
2. Housatonic | 769| 800| 840| 830| 320| | | 810 |
3. Canandaigua | 775| 710| 760| 779| 170| | 640| 810 |
4. Roanoke | 745| | 830| 810| 146| | 640| 820 |
5. Quinnebaug | | | 600| 600| | | 610| 590 |
6. Saranac | | | 597| 580| | | | |
7. Aroostook | | | 320| 320| 290| | 330| 310 |
8. Shawmut | | | 300| 320| 150| | | 320 |
9. San Francisco | 153| [2]| 170| 170| 170|166| 160| 170[5]|
(Squadron Flagship)| | | | | | | | |
10. Baltimore | 180| | 180| 180| 180| | 180| 180 |
+----+----+----+----+----+---+----+-------+
|3385|2220|5395|5399|1596|166|3200|4820 |
--------------------+----+----+----+----+----+---+----+-------+
--------------------+------+-------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Excursions | 7a | 8[3] | 9[4] | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Total
--------------------+------+-------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
1. Canonicus | | 820 | 830 | 860| 860| 820| 890|9781
2. Housatonic | | 820 | 830 | 860| 840| 820| 800|9399
3. Canandaigua | | 820 | 830 | 840| 840| 855| |8829
4. Roanoke | | 820 | 840 | 840| 860| 855| |8206
5. Quinnebaug | | 600 | 600 | 610| 610| 615| 610|6045
6. Saranac | | 560 | 600 | 610| 610| 615| 610|4782
7. Aroostook |290 | | 320 | 330| 330| | 340|3180
8. Shawmut |290[6]| 270 | 320 | 330| 330| | 340|2970
9. San Francisco | | 170[5]| 170[5]| 170| 170| 170| 170|2179
(Squadron Flagship)| | | | | | | |
10. Baltimore | | | 180 | | | | |1260[7]
+------+-------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
|580 |4880 |5520 |5450|5450|4750|3760|
--------------------+------+-------+-------+----+----+----+----+-------
Supplied by Base 17 28,930
Supplied by Base 18 27,641
------
Total 56,571
Total U.S. Mines in Northern Barrage 56,571
Total laid by U.S. Squadron in the war 57,470
British mines in Northern Barrage 13,546
Grand Total in Northern Barrage 70,117
Total distance steamed, from the assembly buoy and back 8,383.5 miles
Total hours underway, from the assembly buoy and back 739 hours
FOOTNOTES
[1] Additional to ship duties.
[2] Present but not planting.
[3] Excursion by U.S. and British Minelaying Squadrons joined, Rear
Admiral Strauss. U.S.N., in command.
[4] Same, Rear Admiral Clinton-Baker, R.N., in command.
[5] Flying the flag of the Commander of the Mine Force for the excursion.
[6] Flying the Squadron Commander’s broad pennant for the excursion.
[7] Plus 899 British mines laid in North Irish Channel.