Under Fire From Enemy Beach Batteries
About 0346, Almaack observed gunfire starting in the vicinity of the city of Algiers; action continued intermittently until dawn. Anchoring off Beach Red at 0904, Almaack ceased cargo operations at 1015, "evidently because of excessive congestion of boats" at beach Charlie Red Two. Within the hour, however, the ship resumed unloading, but only vehicles and guns, as directed. As she did so, she observed three German Junkers Ju-88 bombers pass overhead at 10,000 feet (3,000 m)—evidently looking for bigger game or possessing empty racks, since they dropped no bombs.
Working to get high priority vehicles and antiaircraft guns unloaded, Almaack soon found the wind and sea making operations difficult. A strong breeze from the northeast rendered the operation of small boats hazardous by 1400, but the unloading continued in the face of mounting difficulties. By 1645, however, after the ship had managed to put ashore some 52 vehicles and guns during the day, "loading became impossible" in the teeth of a fresh to strong breeze and a rough sea.
Read more about this topic: USS Almaack (AKA-10)
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