Logs & Action Reports, 1943-45
Courtesy of Curtis E. Presley
These documents include routine logs, war diaries, ship’s movement sketches, radio traffic, weapon performance evaluations and narratives.
All log entries are signed by an officer. Authorship of other documents can be determined by initials (i.e. WRB:Lr), where the first initials are the author and the second are the yeoman or typist.
Many of these files are quite large and are suitable for making high-resolution prints. Click on the [Low Resolution] link to view a smaller file — less than 10MB — that is more appropriate for viewing on a computer monitor.
Some files can be searched for specific text. The latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader is strongly recommended; it’s free and these files contain some advanced features that are disabled in older Acrobat software.
For unfamiliar terms, see the glossary.
Logs
This is the official record of Abbot’s navigation and other significant activities. Includes muster rolls and position reports. Gaps in the dates will be filled as new material in received. Dates of major engagements are noted in the battle stars listing. Traditionally, log entries on special occasions such as New Year’s Day are written in rhyme.
High-resolution file size in megabytes is indicated in [brackets].
- Commissioning to 18 June 1943 [Low resolution] [28MB]
- Administrative log 1943 (much is hand-written) [Low resolution] [45MB]
- 19 June 1943 to 17 August 1943 [Low resolution] [34MB]
- 18 August 1943 to 28 September 1943 [Low resolution] [22MB]
- 29 September 1943 to 30 November 1943 [Low resolution] [48MB]
- 1 December 1943 [missing]
- 02 December 1943 to 19 February 1944 [Low resolution] [46MB]
- 20/21 February 1944 [missing]
- 22 February 1944 to 06 August 1944 [Low resolution] [43MB]
- 7 August 1944 to 23 November 1944 [Low resolution] [36MB]
- 23 November 1944 to 17 April 1945 [Low resolution] [45MB]
- 18 April to 26 April 1945 [missing]
- 27 April 1945 to 30 June 1945 [Low resolution] [102MB]
- 1 July 1945 to 09 August 1945 [Low resolution] [32MB]
- 09 August 1945 to 30 September 1945 [Low resolution] [32MB]
- 18 October 1943: Collision with USS Cowpens (CV25) [Entries from collision to return to Pearl Harbor.]
War Diary
Concise narratives of combat and other activities in the Pacific. Includes ship’s latitude and longitude every eight hours. Some of the text can be searched.
High-resolution file size in megabytes is indicated in [brackets].
- 01 December 1943 to 04 June 1944 [Low resolution] [21MB]
- 04 June 1944 to 14 February 1945 [Low resolution] [25MB]
- 14 February 1945 to end of war [Low resolution] [85MB]
Radio Traffic
Combat radio traffic as monitored by Abbot’s radio room. Mostly fire control traffic during bombardments. Pretty boring stuff.
High-resolution file size in megabytes is indicated in [brackets].
- 1944-45 [Low resolution] [22MB]
Action Reports
Detailed narratives of specific combat activity, mid-1944 to mid-1945. Includes description of combat and analysis of weaponry and crew performance.
The action report forms were two-sided on cheap paper, so reproduction quality varies considerably. They are listed by date of action and official title. Comments and file size in megabytes are in [brackets]. Where no action report exists for an event, the war diary or log book entry can be used.
- 06 June 1944: Covering attacks while in Task Group 52/14 during strikes against Saipan. One aircraft shot down. [2MB]
- 20 to 21 October 1944: Screening and fire support, Leyte. [6MB]
- 5 to 22 November 1944: Antiaircraft fire, Morotai Harbor. [6MB]
- 24 November 1944: AA Activity, Dulag area, Leyte and Surigao Strait Task Group 78.13. [8MB]
- 4 to 31 January 1945: Screen of CVE’s during Lingayen and Sambales, Luzon, Operations. Covers sinking of light carrier Ommany Bay (CVE 79). [8MB]
- 13 to 17 February 1945: Fire support for landings on Bataan and Corregidor by task group 78.3. [7MB]
- 28 February 1945: Bombardment and occupation of Puerto Princesa Bay, Palawan Island, Philippine Islands. [3MB]
- 26 March 1945: Bombardment in support of initial landings for V-2 operation at Talisay Point southwest of Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines, in Task Group 74.3. Mentions asbestos problems. [1MB]
- 3 to 6 May 1945: Bombardment of Bogo Bay and Tabogan village areas, northeastern Cebu, Philippines. [7MB]
- 10 May 1945: Magalajar Bay Operation; fire support for virtually unopposed landing at Macajalar Bay, north central Minanao, Philippines. [4MB]