WesWorld

Quoted

Originally posted by BruceDuncan
One would think that Enseigne de vaisseau de deuxième classe Édouard Theisman would be able to find the works of that great French novelist of the sea Édouard Corbière; if not, perhaps the works of Frederick Marryat, Cecil Scott Forester, Rafael Sabatini or Emilio Salgari in translation. On a more serious note, some of the historical works of Raoul Castex would be in order.

Doubtless he shall endeavor to get a number of them. But you can only do what you can...

To quote someone,

"You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes well you might find you get what you need"

May 1 (Monday)
Arrived off Arzew at 0900 hours and took on training advisor from the Interservice Amphibious Operations Center. Advisor convened meeting with senior officers and landing craft crews to provide instruction. At 1100 hours, ship launched "Lucie" and "Alice" to begin beach-landing practices. Landing craft completed three practice landings before dusk.

May 2 (Tuesday)
Remained off Arzew, conducting six further practice landings with light craft. At 1100 hours, conducted shore-bombardment gunnery exercises with twelve rounds per gun.

May 3 (Wednesday)
Remained off Arzew until 0930 hours, conducting one further beach landing with "Alice" and "Lucie". At 0930 hours, turned back to return to antisubmarine exercise area. Arrived at 1600 hours to hunt Thetis for further ASW practice. Completed exercise at 2200 hours.

May 4 (Thursday)
Conducted simulated damage-control exercises between 0800 hours and 1200 hours; conducted man-overboard exercise at 1230 hours. Arrived at Toulon at 1500 hours.

May 5 (Friday)
Began refueling and revictualling at pierside. Senior officers not given shore leave in April during April refit receive three days liberty.

May 6 (Saturday)
Remained at pierside in Toulon. Crew began repainting ship in preparation for deployment.

May 7 (Sunday)
Remained at pierside in Toulon. Most crew have departed the ship for several days of leave in preparation for deployment to the Pacific. Approximately one-fourth of the crew have confirmed that their immediate families (wives and children) will be heading to Noumea by civilian steamer.

May 8 (Monday)
Crew continued repainting the ship. Capitaine Chauveau announced that a departure ceremony would take place on Friday, with Vice-Admiral Gensoul in attendance.

May 9 (Tuesday)
Remained at pierside in Toulon, continuing to prepare the ship for overseas deployment. All fuel and ammunition has been taken aboard, and loading of final supplies has begun. Painting of the vessel continues and should be completed before Friday's ceremony.

May 10 (Wednesday)
Activities disrupted today following a test of the ship's diesel fuel, which found the fuel to be watered down. Chief Engineer Laporte ordered all fuel pumped out of the tanks and returned to the supplier.

May 11 (Thursday)
All fuel tanks fully emptied and briefly washed. Re-fueling commenced by 1930 hours and continued overnight.

May 12 (Friday)
Remained at pierside in Toulon. Painting of the ship, fueling, and loading of supplies were completed by 1200 hours. Ship's deployment ceremony took place today starting at 1800 hours. Vice-Admiral Gensoul presided over the ceremonies and presented Capitaine Chauveau with a painting of pre-dreadnoughts at anchor, by former Painter of the Navy Roger Chapelet. Capitaine Chauveau accepted the painting on behalf of the entire ship, and ordered it hung in the officers' mess.

May 13 (Saturday)
The majority of the crew received a final twenty-four hour liberty leave prior to the ship's departure. Preference for liberty was given to those with families. Capitaine Chauveau brought his shotgun, several boxes of clay pigeons, and his cat aboard ship.

May 14 (Sunday)
Liberty personnel returned aboard ship by 1500 hours, and final preparations took place prior to deployment.

May 15 (Monday)
At 0630 hours, ship weighed anchor and departed Toulon for the Pacific. A crowd of two thousand was present for the departure, with the crowd including the wife and youngest daughter of the President of France. Ship saluted by MN France, Republique, Richelieu, Courbet, and numerous other ships. Shaped course for Port Said in Egypt.

Quoted

May 10 (Wednesday)

Activities disrupted today following a test of the ship's diesel fuel, which found the fuel to be watered down. Chief Engineer Laporte ordered all fuel pumped out of the tanks and returned to the supplier.

Sabotage?

No doubt the Mexicans, so they can come in and deliver what they will call "proper" fuel instead of the what they will call "crap" fuel.

Quoted

Originally posted by BruceDuncan

Quoted

May 10 (Wednesday)

Activities disrupted today following a test of the ship's diesel fuel, which found the fuel to be watered down. Chief Engineer Laporte ordered all fuel pumped out of the tanks and returned to the supplier.

Sabotage?

To: Vice-Admiral Gensoul, C-in-C Mediterranean Fleet
From: Capitaine de frigate Adrien Chauveau, MN Polynésie, Toulon Harbour
Date: May 11, 1944
Regarding: Watered-Down Fuel

Sir,

After investigating the delivery of the watered-down diesel fuel delivered to Polynésie on May 8th, I wish to report the following findings.

First, that all the relevant fuel was delivered from the #16 storage tank belonging to the Marine Nationale. This tank was checked and the diesel fuel was determined to be of lower quality, having been stored since August 1942 without use. The tank was shown to have some rust in the exterior, but the fuel showed no other signs of being watered down.

Second, that the fuel was delivered by pipeline to a civilian-operated fueling barge owned by Robert et Cie. The barge was inspected by the owner and officers under my command last evening, and all remaining fuel not offloaded was found to be watered down.

Third, investigation by the barge owner revealed that the refueling procedures of the barge crew, which was overseen by an inexperienced foreman, resulted in the fuel storage tank being filled with seawater as fuel was being offloaded from the barge. This watered-down mixture was then pumped aboard the Polynésie, where it was discovered by the ship's chief engineering officer.

The owner of Robert et Cie has agreed, as per his contract with the Navy, to recover the watered-down diesel fuel at his own cost, provide the Navy with replacement fuel, and cover the cost of refueling operations. He has additionally taken other corrective actions to prevent any repetition of this incident, which he agreed to report in full to the Office of the Maritime Prefect.

Sincerely,

Capitaine de frigate Adrien Chauveau.

Eh... such a simple explanation.

Reminds me of the days when some of my colleagues had to spend nights overseeing barge loadings and deliveries to assure that this sort of thing did not happen. QA never sleeps!

May 16 (Tuesday)
At sea, 37°37' N by 11°16' E at noontime sighting. Tracked by an Italian aircraft at high altitude. Two friendly fighters arrived overhead and began shadowing the Luigi. Conducted damage control exercises through the afternoon.

May 17 (Wednesday)
35°29' N by 18°12' E at noontime sighting. Passed Greek destroyers on patrol. All ships manned the rails and saluted each other before continuing on. At 1400 hours, slowed to ten knots to launch "Tornade" and "Cyclone" for practice maneuvers. Recovered torpedo boats without incident at 1600 hours.

May 18 (Thursday)
At sea south of Crete. Conducted non-firing gunnery exercises between 0900 and 1100 hours. Conducted damage control exercises between 1300 and 1500 hours. Conducted man overboard exercise between 1500 and 1600 hours. Number One Boarding Party conducted training in disarming demolition charges between 1400 and 1700 hours.

May 19 (Friday)
31°39' N by 31°49' E at noontime sighting. Anchored in Port Said at 1430 hours. Number Two Boarding Party conducted training in disarming demolition charges between 0800 and 1100 hours. Received Compagnie de Suez pilot aboard ship; Capitaine Chauveau called on senior Egyptian and senior British naval officer present in port.

May 20 (Saturday)
Entered the Suez Canal at 0440 hours, following British merchant ship City of Bristol. City of Bristol suffered engine casualty at 0921 hours and lost way for fifteen minutes. Offered to render assistance, but the request was declined and City of Bristol got underway again at 0936 hours. Passed City of Bristol in the Great Bitter Lakes. Exited canal at 1900 hours after fourteen hour transit. Dropped pilot shortly thereafter and began steaming down the Gulf of Suez in the main shipping channel.

May 21 (Sunday)
Ship at 26°38' N by 34°57' E as of the noon sighting. Between 0900 and 1000 hours, practiced launch and recovery of "Alice", "Lucie", "Tornade", and "Cyclone". Number One Boarding Party conducted small arms exercises on deck between 1030 and 1130 hours. Number Two Boarding Party conducted small arms exercises between 1330 and 1430 hours. Damage control and engineering teams practiced containment of engine-room fires. Electronics officers practiced equipment failure analysis.

May 22 (Monday)
Ship is off Jeddah; numerous dhows and small motorships observed in region. Between 1320 and 1430 hours, rendered assistance to a dhow which had suffered an engineering casualty; "Lucie" and "Cyclone" launched to render assistance. The dhow's single-cyclinder steam engine had become clogged with grease. Engineering team cleaned out the cyclinder and restarted the engine. Ship resumed cruising speed to recover lost time.

May 23 (Tuesday)
16° 3' N by 41°7' E as of the noon sighting; between Yemen at Eritrea. Gunnery team practiced non-firing gunnery and anti-aircraft processes. At 1340 hours, DEM detected Italian MAS boats operating out of Massawa, and Capitaine Chauveau ordered the launch of "Tornade" and "Cyclone". Vedettes assumed escort formation around the ship. Also encountered torpedo boats from Yemen. Passed the guns at Bab-el-Mandab just before midnight.

May 24 (Wednesday)
Ship arrives in Djibouti at 0830 hours. Capitain Chauveau called on the commanding officer of the contratorpilleur Oliver. Deck division engaged in refueling.

May 25 (Thursday)
Remained at anchor in Djibouti. Challenged the crew of Oliver (Indian Ocean Flotilla champions) to a football match. Lost game 3-2, with final tiebreaker scored thirty seconds before the end of overtime. Matelot Isidore Robert suffered from a pulled ligament in the second half and retired from the game. Ship's physician advised three day's rest and use of crutches.

May 26 (Friday)
Departed Djibouti at 1200 hours in company of the 1st Aviso Division (departing to engage in sea-patrol and port call in Aden). Number One Boarding Party conducted training in preventing the scuttling of a ship between 1300 and 1800 hours. Number Two Boarding Party conducted kickboxing training between 1300 and 1500 hours.

May 27 (Saturday)
In the Gulf of Aden at the noontime sighting. Number One Boarding Party conducted kickboxing training between 0800 and 1000 hours, followed by demolitions training between 1200 and 1600 hours. Number Two Boarding Party conducted demolitions training between 0800 and 1200 hours, and training in preventing the scuttling of a ship between 1300 and 1800 hours.

May 28 (Sunday)
Entered the Arabian Sea. Father Payet conducted two services in the empty marine mess. Lieutenant Lamour conducted inspection of all safety equipment. Capitaine Chauveau conducted inspection of the machinery spaces.

May 29 (Monday)
Location 11°21' N by 61° 9' E, in the Arabian Sea. Conducted gunnery exercises; six 130mm rounds per gun and 12 57mm rounds per gun expended in practice.

May 30 (Tuesday)
9°35' N by 66°59' E at 1200 hours (central Arabian Sea). Launched "Tornade" and "Cyclone" at 1100 hours. Vedettes conducted gunnery exercises and then made practice torpedo runs on the ship. Recovered both vedettes at 1700 hours due to rising seas. DEM detected unknown aircraft to the northeast at 2000 hours; Indian Navy maritime patrol aircraft presumed.

May 31 (Wednesday)
Transiting the eastern Arabian Sea, north-northwest of the Maldives islands chain. Encountered patrolling Indian Navy cruiser Ludhiana, a ship of the Patna-class. Manned rails and saluted ship in passing. Also detected Indian patrol aircraft out of the Maldives and mainland India. Conducted three damage control exercises between 0800 hours and 1700 hours. Officers began informal chess tournament.

Dear Mama and Papa,

Just a quick letter! We're leaving Djibouti tomorrow (next mail stop is Singapore), and we have to have any mail out in the next hour and a half if I want to get it out; I'm going to play in a football match against the officers of the destroyer Oliver, which apparently fields the best football team in the Indian Ocean Flotilla. I'm going to be playing the backup keeper.

Mama, it was good to see you when we left Toulon. I wanted you to know it meant a lot to me to see you there.

I took your advice on putting together the ship's library, Papa, and found all of the Corbière books, as well as most of the Sabatini volumes. But I also discovered that when the destroyer Topaze was decommissioned, the ship's library had been boxed up and ended in a storehouse here in Toulon. I finagled all of the boxes out of the supply depot and added them to everything I've already gotten hold of. Capitaine Chauveau commented to me that he'd not seen such a well-stocked library since he was chief gunner on the coast defense battleship Foch.

Djibouti is a pretty dusty city, but it seems to have grown and greened quite a lot since my graduation cruise on Belle Poule. There are two big concrete apartment blocks going up in the suburbs that are supposed to house lower-class laborers, and the port has been busy since we arrived, with merchant ships from - according to my unscientific count - fifteen different nations now docked or anchored in Djibouti for transshipping or services.

In my last letter, I mentioned that my cabin-mate, Jean-Marc, was pretty quiet and shy. Since I wrote, he's opened up a bit to me. It sounds like he only joined the Navy because his father, who commands the Sans Reproche, expected him to follow in his footsteps, and Jean-Marc is a bit estranged from him. Even so, Jean-Marc said he likes the Navy and wants to continue, at least for another few years, until he gets more experience in the electronics field.

When we passed through the Suez Canal, I took a lot of photographs, but I think I made a mistake while processing them, because very few of them turned out, even a little bit. The ship's intelligence officer, who has an ad-hoc darkroom and his own photography equipment, couldn't tell me what I did wrong, either. Maybe it's time for me to just buy a new camera - perhaps I can find something when we stop in Singapore. The other officers who have been to Noumea or Cam Ranh Bay tell me that it's often difficult to find specialized stores there. If I don't find something by the time we reach Noumea, then I'll need to mail-order something.

Two days ago, when we were coming down the Red Sea, we spotted some Italian MAS boats on patrol, and Capitaine Chauveau ordered us to launch the vedettes. Since we're doing cross-training, I was assigned to ride along with Louis - Enseigne Charrier - on the "Tornade" to become his backup boat commander. All I did this time was stand a step behind him observing the operation of the boat, and listening to all of his orders. We stayed out on the water for about four hours, as long as we saw the Italians in the area. At one point, two of them came up and cruised with us in fairly close formation, about fifty meters away, and we exchanged greetings in the traditional style - a short race. We paced the lead MAS boat for a while before edging ahead. I don't think either of us, however, really wanted to show what our boats could do.

One of the members of the crew I forgot to describe in my last letter was Father Gustave Payet, the ship's chaplain. Usually the Navy doesn't attach chaplains to ships as small as Polynesie, but apparently the personnel office decided that with our expected mission parameters, out in the wilds of the Pacific for weeks on end, that it might be a good idea to attach a permanent chaplain. Father Gustave is a real character: he reminds me a lot of Uncle Jean-Luc. He apparently was a merchant sailor during the Great War, and survived his ship being sunk by a U-boat. He didn't become a priest until after the end of the war, and he probably is a bit unorthodox in his approach to the men. He broke his nose in the Polynesie versus Sans Reproche rugby game (before I came aboard). The best way I can describe him is that he "lives larger than life" in everything he does. If he plays a game of rugby, he plays hard enough to break his nose. If he's fencing (as I've experienced), then he fights with so much enthusiasm that he intimidates his opponent into defeat. And when he gives his homilies, he gets so excited that most of the ship turns out to listen.

Well, I should get this letter folded up and sent off before it's too late. I don't want to wait until Singapore to have to post it.

Enseigne de vaisseau de deuxième classe Édouard Theisman
MN Polynésie
Djibouti, Outre-Mer
May 25th, 1944

June 1 (Thursday)
Transiting Laccadive Sea, southwest of Sri Lanka. Lieutenant Laporte won officers' chess tournament. Crew conducted non-firing gunnery exercises between 0900 and 1100 hours. Capitaine Chauveau organized a tracking exercise for the tactical team, which convened between 1300 hours and 2000 hours.

June 2 (Friday)
Entered the Bay of Bengal. Ship encountered heavy weather, with winds over forty knots and sea state rising to seven by mid-afternoon. Began hourly weather reporting on standard channels. At 1600 hours, the radio room noted that the Indian cruiser Ludhiana has similarly been reporting weather positions for the last four hours from a position approximately 45 nm northwest of us. Capitaine Chauveau postulated that the Indians have been shadowing the ship using our weather reports, which include the ship's approximate position, in addition to search aircraft. Turned northeast and slowed to thirteen knots; at 1710 hours, detected the Indian ship using navigational DEM. At 1730, resumed course and speed.

June 3 (Saturday)
Continued to encounter heavy weather in the Bay of Bengal. Indian cruiser Ludniana reported position far to the west of us. Capitaine Chauveau believed the ship had broken off shadowing us, provided their positioning was accurate; Indian ship not detected for last six hours via navigational DEM. Capitaine Chauveau determined to make half-hour long speed run in sea state seven, and increased speed to twenty-two knots. Seven cases of seasickness reported. Cook complained that the waves caused a severe disruption to his preparation of dinner.

June 4 (Sunday)
Entered the Andaman Sea and passed Dutch gunboat north of Banda Aceh. Wind and sea moderated, but encountered rainstorms (often intense) throughout the day. Number One Boarding Party conducted combat training, practicing clearing a ship of hostiles.

June 5 (Monday)
In the Straits of Malacca. Encountered heavy merchant traffic from multiple nations; passed Dutch and British colonial patrol craft, to which we rendered passing salutes. Number Two Boarding Party conducted combat training. At 1555 hours, spotted Dutch gunboat engaged in the pursuit of a suspected smuggler.

June 6 (Tuesday)
Entered Singapore before dawn and anchored near the British naval base. Launched "Alice" and "Lucie" as well as liberty boats. Eligible members of the port watch received twenty-four hours leave. Crew disappointed to learn that we'd just missed a visit to Singapore by HMS Hood, which has continued on to Hong Kong.

June 7 (Wednesday)
Remained at anchor in Singapore, refueling the ship. Eligible members of the starboard watch received twenty-four hours leave. Capitaine Chauveau hosted delegation composed of local British and Australian naval officers. Crew challenged visiting Australian warship to a friendly game of rugby; crew discovered that the Australians do not play "friendly games of rugby". Lost badly. Australians hosted the team to a shoreside "shrimp barbie".

June 8 (Thursday)
Remained at anchor in Singapore until 2100 hours. Got underway and went to sea late in the evening in order to avoid heavy weather, forecast for the morning.

June 9 (Friday)
Entered the South China Sea, encountering the remnants of a tropical storm. Course set northeast for Cam Ranh Bay.

June 10 (Saturday)
Encountered Aeronavale patrol plane from Indochina at 0930 hours. Between 1100 and 1500 hours, conducted non-firing gunnery and damage control exercises. Crew engaged in washing the ship's upperworks, scrubbing the decks, polishing brass, and general maintenance.

June 11 (Sunday)
Father Payet conducted early services at sea prior to entering Cam Ranh Bay. Welcomed to the naval base by French, Russian, and Indochinese warships. Anchored in southern reach of the harbour alongside Russian torpedo cruiser Kiev.

June 12 (Monday)
At anchor in Cam Ranh Bay. Began refueling and resupply of the ship. Capitaine Chauveau and the ship's senior officers were hosted for dinner aboard Russian torpedo cruiser Kiev. All eligible members of the crew received forty-eight hours shore leave.

June 13 (Tuesday)
Remained at anchor in Cam Ranh Bay. Capitaine Chauveau received a visit from Lieutenant Philippe Verlain, the commander of the Troupes de Marine platoon to be assigned to the ship. Lieutenant Verlaine made the arrangements to bring his men and equipment aboard. At 1830, Capitain Chauveau hosted the commander and senior officers of the Kiev at dinner.

June 14 (Wednesday)
Lieutenant Verlaine's Marine platoon came aboard, finally filling out the Marine quarters and mess. Lieutenant Verlain's platoon is an ethnically-mixed force: one section of French troops, two sections of Indochinese volunteers (French-speaking), and one section of black Fidjians under a white Franco-Irish sergeant. Total manpower is forty-four men.

June 15 (Thursday)
At anchor in Cam Ranh Bay. Marines drilled on deck and practiced loading the landing craft. Capitaine Chauveau received orders to sail to Port Dayot to conduct disembarkment exercises with the Marines. (The Marines have previously served with the Forces Navale de Extreme-Orient as riverine infantry.) Planned departure date set for June 17th.

June 16 (Friday)
Crew played Marines in football and discovered the Fidjian members of the platoon are particularly talented at the sport. Marines won, 5-1. Crew finished preparing the ship for sea.

June 17 (Saturday)
Departed Cam Ranh Bay at 0545 hours. Marines made running circuit on the ship's main deck, running the circuit twenty times in full kit, starting at 0600 hours, with shouted running march.

June 18 (Sunday)
Capitaine Chauveau (normal sleep time 0200-0700 hours) ordered Lieutenant Verlain to reschedule the very noisy Marine morning exercise until after 0700 hours. Capitaine Chauveau very cross and short on sleep. Arrived at Port Dayot at 0830 hours. "Lucie", "Alice", "Cyclone", and "Tornade" engaged in landing exercises with the marines from 0900 hours to 2100 hours. Capitaine Chauveau allowed a small liberty party that wasn't able to go ashore at Cam Ranh Bay to take the ship's remaining boats to shore for the afternoon. Six-man liberty party encountered local crocodile and chased up a tree after attempting to photograph it. Crocodile eventually shot by Enseigne Theisman and brought back to the ship.

PHOTO TO FOLLOW

June 19 (Monday)
Conducted two more practice landings with the marines between 0540 hours and 0800 hours. Recovered all boats at 0900 hours and got underway for Ha Long Bay. Joined in company by Indochinese frigate Tran Nhat Duat, on training cruise to Hai Phong with cadets of the Indochinese Patrouille Navale.

Capitaine Chauveau is still very irritable. The officers received crocodile steaks for dinner, but this did not alter the captain's foul mood.

June 20 (Tuesday)
Arrived at Ha Long Bay at 0300 hours, following Tran Nhat Duat into the anchorage. Capitaine Chauveau was in a much improved mood today, and gave the crews of the landing craft and vedettes a day-long liberty. Divers conducted a brief underwater survey of the hull to inspect for marine growth, then practiced moored mine disposal in conjunction with the minesweeping launch.

PHOTO TO FOLLOW

June 21 (Wednesday)
"Tornade" and "Cyclone" conducted exercises today with four Indochinese vedette de rapides. Marines demonstrated combat techniques to Number One and Number two Boarding Teams.

June 22 (Thursday)
Departed Ha Long Bay at 0500 hours. Conducted antisubmarine exercises between 0800 hours and 1400 hours; successfully spotted submarine, evaded attack, and counterattacked according to doctrine. Submarine surfaced and offered us congratulations. Continued back to Cam Ranh Bay at high cruising speed.

June 23 (Friday)
Returned to Cam Ranh Bay and anchored; began refueling operations. Eligible crew received twelve hours shore leave.

June 24 (Saturday)
At anchor in Cam Ranh Bay. Completed refueling operations. Transferred "Lucie" ashore for repair at the naval base machine shop. Propellers and propeller shafts replaced following analysis of damage presumed to have occurred during June 19th exercises at Port-Dayot. "Lucie" returned to service by overtime shift.

June 25 (Sunday)
Departed Cam Ranh Bay at 0900 hours. Father Payet conducted services on the foredeck. Capitaine Chauveau spent part of the afternoon observing the Marines practicing hand-to-hand combat, then oversaw the inspection of the ship's safety gear and damage-control equipment.

June 26 (Monday)
Passed between some of the Kalayaan (Spratley) Islands. Crew turned out to see what the South China Sea War had been fought over; none of the crew was impressed with what they saw. Conducted a damage control exercise between 1000 and 1200 hours.

June 27 (Tuesday)
Increased speed prior to entering the Sulu Sea, as Capitaine Chauveau determined the ship was behind schedule. Passed into the territorial waters of the Philippines in the early morning. Encountered one Filipino minesweeper undertaking sea patrol against smugglers and rebels. Arrived in Zamboanga City at 1900 hours and traded salutes with senior vessel in port. Capitaine Chauveau visited the Filipino commanding officer.

June 28 (Wednesday)
At anchor at Zamboanga city. Ship opened between 0800 and 1600 hours for tours by Philippine civilians and naval personnel. At 1730 hours, Capitaine Chauveau hosted a party on ship's foredeck for local VIPs and a number of Filipino navy officers.

June 29 (Thursday)
Departed Zamboanga City at 0900 hours, officially entering the Pacific Ocean.

June 30 (Friday)
North of Halmahera. Conducted gunnery exercise between 0900 and 1100 hours, expending sixteen 130mm rounds per gun in a one-minute rapid-fire exercise, and ninety 57mm rounds per gun. Marines conducted visit-board-search-and-seize training. One Marine and one sailor mildly injured when the former fell down a gangway onto the latter.

July 1 (Saturday)
At sea approximately 300km north of West Papua. Temperatures reached 46° C. One seaman reported burned hands from touching a polished metal external fitting. Ship's air-conditioning operating at maximum capacity.

July 2 (Sunday)
Father Payet conducted services in the main enlisted mess. Officers ate the last of the crocodile steak at lunch.

At 1250 hours, estimated position at 0° 0'S 139°18' E (north of Papua). King Neptune came aboard to initiate the a hundred and thirty-one pollywogs (including two officers) into the mysteries of the deep. After his departure, the crew gathered for a movie () in the mess deck.

July 3 (Monday)
Off the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. Encountered heavy weather shortly before dawn. Prepared ship for storm and began closely observing conditions, but continued on course. Temperature dropped to 30° C by 1400 hours, accompanied by heavy rain and sea state nine. Conditions did not suggest a typhoon. Weather slightly moderated starting at 1930 hours.

July 4 (Tuesday)
Entered the Solomon Sea and increased cruising speed to sixteen knots, accounting for time lost due to weather. Temperatures have risen again to 36° C despite heavy overcast.

July 5 (Wednesday)
Continued south through the Solomon Sea, with weather conditions clearing. Marines conducted simulated visit-board-search-and-seize exercises from 0800 to 1200 hours. Damage control exercise started at 1300 hours, but the exercise was disrupted when the ship's main air conditioning system stopped operating. After initial attempts to restart the system failed, primary damage control personnel cancelled exercise and worked to restore air conditioning by 1600 hours.

July 6 (Thursday)
Entered the Coral Sea. Marines conducted small-arms practice on the foredeck starting at 0700 hours. "Tornade" and "Cyclone" launched, and both vedettes conducted their own gunnery exercises from 1000 to 1300 hours.

July 7 (Friday)
Position 21° 6' S by 163°45' E at noontime sighting, off the western coast of Nouvelle Caledonie. Conducted man overboard exercises at 0400 hours. Number One and Number Two Boarding Parties, as well as Marine squad leaders, conducted four hour training in disarming demolitions.

July 8 (Saturday)
Entered the port of Noumea at 0800 hours. The ship was saluted by current Pacific Fleet East flagship MN Algerie and welcomed by a crowd of approximately fifteen hundred, including families of many of the crew. All eligible members of the crew receive forty-eight hours shore leave.

July 9 (Sunday)
At anchor in Noumea. Majority of the ship dispersed in shore leave; no major activity undertaken aboard ship.

July 10 (Monday)
Crew returned aboard following forty-eight hours of shore leave. Moved ship to main drydock in Noumea to conduct underwater inspection of hull, and scraping of marine growth. Entered dock by 1400 hours and yard personnel commenced draining the main chamber.

July 11 (Tuesday)
Dock personnel finished draining drydock by 0900 hours. Most personnel engaged in the scraping of the hull until 1400, when Capitaine Chauveau called a halt to work after one man fainted due to heat. Electronics officer used shipyard crane to remove main radar unit for maintenance and replacement of minor parts.

July 12 (Wednesday)
Continued scraping underwater hull; the task is now 90% completed. Work began at 0300 hours due to cooler temperatures, and stopped at 1200 hours. Main radar unit replaced between 0500 and 0930 hours.

July 13 (Thursday)
Completed scraping underwater hull before sunrise, and applied new paint to upper surfaces. At 1100 hours, began flooding drydock. Watch officers not given leave previously in the week received an overnight pass.

July 14 (Friday)
Moved ship back out to anchorage and restarted main engines. Capitaine Chauveau announced the ship would depart on patrol at 0610 hours on July 17th. Crew engaged in scuttlebutt betting over our patrol destination. Leading contenders are the Fidji Islands and a cruise to the Marquesas.

July 15 (Saturday)
Ship moved alongside provisioning barge and began taking on supplies. Deck crew began refueling.

July 16 (Sunday)
Father Payet conducted outdoor shoreside services, in conjunction with Father Martin of the cruiser Guadeloupe. Mass was attended by both crews and their families. In the afternoon, the deck division completed refueling and tugs moved the ship to the outer harbor.