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Five destroyers operating with the U. S. Seventh Fleet in support of the four Corps areas fired about 2,000 rounds of gunfire in support of friendly forces during the month of October.
Buck
The destroyer Buck fired almost 100 five-inch shells at an enemy concentration about eight miles from Quang Tri. All rounds were reported on target
Gurke
USS Gurke destroyed 24 enemy structures, including two made of concrete, and damaged 25 others in a II Corps area 50 miles from Qui Nhon. Continuing support of Operation Irving in that region,
Gurke directed about 125 five - inchers and was credited with outstanding target coverage by air spotter. Three structures continued burning after Gurke's attack.
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In the same Corps area, Gurke fired about 115 five - inch rounds at enemy concentrations and a supply trail. Two illuminating rounds were fired at the request of a ground spotter receiving hostile fire.
Hull
Supporting Operation Prairie near the Demilitarized Zone Oct. 25 the USS Hull directed about 90 five-inch shells at enemy approach routes 16 miles from Quang Tri. A 7th Marine spotter in the northernmost corps
requested the firepower, including high explosives and illumination rounds.
Mullinix
Twenty-two enemy structures were destroyed and 62 others damaged along with eight sampans and six fortifications by five-inch fire from the destroyer USS Mullinix. Also firing in I Corps, Mullinix directed more than 260 shells in an area 23
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miles from Quang Ngai. In support of Marine Operation Prairie in the I Corps area, Mullinnix fired almost 150 five-inch shells at enemy avenues of approach.
The mission was fired at the request of the 7th Marines' spotter. Supporting
1st Marines, she sent more than 150 five-inch high explosive rounds at enemy positions and supply facilities south of DaNang.
First Marines reported "outstanding coverage and severe effect on targets."
O'Hare
The five-inch guns of the USS O'Hare are credited with destroying 16 structures, damaging another 74 and cutting two road segments. Firing at the request of a I Corps spotter, the O'Hare directed more
than 500 shells in an area 12 miles south of Quang Ngai where friendly ground patrols probed the area to assess the results.
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