Evening star., 1947-08-15
Unified Force Opens
Amphibious Assault
On Bay Island,
By w. J. WheotIey
Sfor Stoff Correspondent

WITH THE ATLANTIC AM
PHIBIOUS FORCE OFF BLOODS-
WORTH ISLAND, Md, Aug. Is
Devastating fire from the guns o1
ships plowed through the jungle
growth of this marshy. uninhab.
itated Chesapeake Bay island to sig.
nal the opening yesterday of ar
amphibious assault by the largest
unified Army, Navy and Marine
force assembled since the war.
1t marked the first of a series
of full-scale exercises arranged fol
the two-fold purpose of keeping thil
powerful web-footed landing fore,
on its toes ready for any eyentualit,
and for the Instruction. Of cadet
of the seeond. class ofatileAA Nina u
Academy .st West Point and
corresponding class of midshipmei
at Annapolis - They have bee,
dubbed afof xtnist exercise the "CA
mids."- ( i ss.s ~ Z Z Z
In scorching weather, which bat
tle-tried veterans described as no
unlike conditions under which the,
stormed and took hot coral-cov'
cred beaches of the Pacific atolls
the Camids witnessed demonstra'
ton of the use of all available
weapons of the last conflict.
Smoke Blocks OFF Area.
Soaring rockets launched from
the decks of specially developed
craft and from the wing-racks Of
roaring planes burned deeply into
the vegetation. Aircraft dropped
fire and heavy explosive bombs
which dug deep craters as they
sent geysers of earth and water
high into the air. Great clouds
of smoke soon blocked the landing
areas and the attacking fleet from
view, adding more discomfort te
the personnel engaged in the exer-
else.
In the few short hours between
midnight and dawn naval craft be-
gan to move to their assigned posi-
tions on the f1anks of the main feet
At precisely 6 am. cargo nets were
dropped over the sides of the attack
transport Cambria and the I'd Bat
talon of the 9Th Marines clambereo
over the sides to their tracked land
ing vehicles in a landing ship dock
This is a sort of floating dry dock
which transports the smaller craft
and opens her gates to float them
out at the prearranged time.
While the Marines were getting
ready the Camids were being de-
barked from the transports Noble
and New Kent to be taken to the
50o-yard lane through which the
Marine assault force was to pass
toward the landing beach.
Heavy Guns Open Fire.
At precisely 7::3o o'clock, the
cruiser Spokane and two mine
sweepers opened fire with their
heavy guns, sending salvo after salvo
onto the beach. A half hour later
the gun fire ceased. The last shells
from the ships had not spent their
force, when the din was augmented
BY 36 Army and Marine Corps fight
er bombers which dived out of the
air dropping bomos, straf1ng the
beach with small-caliber ammuni.
tion and death-dealing rockets.
AS the rocket ships headed ir
toward the beach, they were fol-
lowed at a distance of 500 yards BY
the assault boats with the Marines
It was strictly q simulated landing
Tor the force turned away 1900 yard,
from the beach for several reasons
The water was shallow, live ammu.
milton was being used, and there are
many dangerous duds IN the area
from previous naval exercises.
The landing boats departed in siz
waves at 5-minute intervals. AS the
first wave hit the turn-away line
another group Of Marine planes
dropped in to smoke up the area anc
take photographs for intelligence
This was followed by two other all
strikes, as the waves of the assault
forces moved in. The first was
group of 1s Marine and 8 Army
planes and the second of 80 Marine
and 8 Army planes.
Admiral Davis Directs.
Directing the whole operation was
Rear Admiral Ralph o. Davis. COM
mander Of the Atlantic Amphibious
Force, from his flagship, Taconic.
BY IL o'clock the assault" was
over, the situation was well IN hand
and the amphibious force headed
south in the bay for Lynnhaven
Roads, leaving behind well ripped
UP island and a pail of heavy smoke
Today the Camids will have a full
day Of sightseeing in Little Greek
watching the demonstrations OF ths
varied uses of the many types oi
craft used in amphibious landing.