LSTs unloading cargo on the West Beach in the summer 1945. The long line of men are those waiting in a mess line for food. The lined-up ships on the right foreground are sunken concrete ships put there in an attempt to provide a breakwater against high waves and fierce waves. In the distance are cargo ships awaiting service.
The concrete ships were a desperate attempt by the CBs to give us some protection for unloading ships without the big waves which really made it dangerous for our shallow-draft DUKWs. The ships were first put out in early June, and a Typhoon in July broke most of them apart and sunk them. During that storm the USS Sheepscott was sunk. We watched as the crew, during the storm, were removed by breeches-buoy. If you wish I can send you a picture showing the upside down ship on the beach. After that major storm a new batch of concrete ships were brought in and sunk or anchored in place to provide something of a breakwater. That is what the picture shows.
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