US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

Tough Toenails Paring 541
So again following Major General Vandegrift’s requirement that
landings should not be attempted in the face of organized resistance, if, by
any combination of march or maneuver, it is possible to land unopposed and
undetected
the Scheme of Maneuver called for the ground attack on Munda airfield to
be initiated following deployment to the westward after troop landings on
Zanana Beach.’
Having accepted this Scheme of Maneuver, it was essential for the amphib-
ians also to land troops on the islands controlling the direct approach to
Zanana Beach.
The destroyer transport Ta/bot (APD 7) and the destroyer minesweeper
Zane (DMS-I4) each picked up a company of the 169th Infantry Regiment
and an LCVP at the Russells on the 29th of June and landed their troops
unopposed on Dume and Baraula Islands commencing about 0225 on the
30th. Each ship lost its landing craft tow before dark due to steaming at
too high speed in the moderate swell. To top this off, the Zane, soon after
arriving in the debarkation area, ran aground forward during the heavy
rain squalls about 0257. After much effort she backed herself off with a
final desperate four bells and a jingle about 0523, and almost immediately
grounded again, this time aft. Despite her own and the Talbot’s efforts she
stayed aground untiI the tug Rail (AT-139) pulled her off nine hours later
(1419). The Rail logged receipt of the order to go help at 0942. She was
enroute at the rear of the amphibious movement, but bent on an extra
knot. She passed her towline to the Zane at 1342. The Zane banged up
her propellers when she grounded aft and ended up a sad sight by being
towed to Tulagi.’
However, it can be said in behalf of these two ships that they landed
their troops at the appointed hour and at the appointed beach. No alert
Japanese artillery man hauled up a battery to take the Zane under fire when
she was a stranded duck only five miles from Munda Airfield, and no alert
Japanese pilot picked out the Zane for a bombing or strafing run when
heckling the transports on the 30th of June. The troops of the 169th
Infantry were in a position to hold Onaiavisi Entrance against the hour when
Major General Hester would want to begin the shore to shore movement
of the New Georgia Occupation Force to Zanana Beach.
‘ CGFIRSTMARDIV, Final Report ou Guadalcanal Operation, Phase V, p. 6.
‘ Talbot, Zane, Rai[, Ships’ Logs.