Transcribed from the original pocket log book. Spelling, punctuation, abbreviations and wartime slang are kept as written, including racial terms common in 1944–45 U.S. service writing. Bracketed text marks a reading that is uncertain or a modern spelling of a ship or place name. G.Q. = general quarters. "Can" = destroyer. "Wagon" = battleship. "Fish" = torpedo.
Pay account
Each line settles on its own — pay less drawn equals the balance for that period, not a running total. Every row in the book balances that way.
| Date | Pay | Drawn | Balance |
|---|
Time in the West Pacific
Counted by the writer in whole months, 11 Oct 1944 to 15 Oct 1945 — thirteen periods, each running from the 11th of one month to the 11th of the next, the last being Oct 11 to Oct 15, 1945.
Ports and passages
| Date | Movement |
|---|
Action citation, July 1945
July 1945, the U.S.S. Collett in company with destroyer squadron sixty-one sighted and attacked Japanese convoy at Sagami Wada [Sagami Nada], Honshu. Enemy convoy consisted of three merchant vessels and one escort. As a result of torpedo attacks and main battery gun fire, two merchant vessels known sunk, one probably sunk, and escort vessel damaged.
Authorized to wear one Silver Star on Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Ribbon in lieu of five bronze stars earned while attached to the U.S.S. Collett during periods covered in previous entries. Auth: General Order No. 207.
Authorized to wear one bronze star on Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Ribbon in accordance with provisions of CinCPac's Confidential ALPAC #211 of 29 September 1945: for Third Fleet operations against Japan from 10 July to 15 August 1945.
Ship's credit
The destroyer U.S.S. Collett 730 received credit for five Jap planes shot down, four shore bombardments, three cargo ships sunk and one submarine sunk during her time on duty in the Western Pacific area during World War No. II.
The personel of the Collett who have been with her since time of commission in Boston May 16, 1944 are entitled to wear the American Theatre of War ribbon, Asiatic and Pacific ribbon and the Philippine liberation ribbon. The Asiatic & Pacific ribbon is to be worn with one silver and one bronze star in it (the same as six bronze stars). The Philippine liberation ribbon is to be worn with one bronze star in it.
Stars awarded to the personel of the Collett
Service record
Sworn in U.S. Navy Dec 11, 1942 as A.S. Sent on inactive duty on the 11th and recalled to
active duty 22nd Dec. 1942.
To FC3/c from S2/c (U-6) — effected 2 August 1943.
To FC2/c T from FC3/c (U-6) — effected 1 August 1945.
Served aboard U.S.S. Collett from May 16, 1944 until transferred January 14th 1946.
Abstract of service
| Station | Dates |
|---|
Places the Collett worked that you can put a regulator in today. Each site links back to the day it appears in the diary — tap a date to jump to the entry.
Most of these are war graves with men still aboard. Standard practice applies: look, don't take, don't penetrate beyond your training, and follow whatever the local operator says about permits and remains. Depths and certification minimums below come from the operators currently running the sites; confirm before booking, since access to several of these changes year to year.
Planning notes
The one with a deadline. Bikini has no confirmed operations past the 2026 season. If the group wants the Nagato, that changes the trip order — Bikini first, everything else later.
Two very different trips. Truk, Okinawa, Subic and Coron are recreational-depth and can be done by a mixed-ability group. Bikini and Ulithi are technical expeditions with real prerequisites and long lead times. Trying to fold them into one itinerary usually means half the group sits out.
Routing. Micronesia flights generally run through Guam, and Guam has its own WWII diving, so a layover there is worth building in rather than avoiding.