USS Ulvert M. Moore (DE-442) - Splashed One "Val"

Splashed One "Val"

Ulvert M. Moore received orders to stand by Stafford, along with Halligan and the fleet tug USS Quapaw (AT-12) which arrived to take the stricken destroyer escort in tow. Gunfire from Halligan and Ulvert M. Moore splashed a "Val" dive bomber early on the 6th, before USS Ralph Talbot (DD-390) relieved Halligan at 1849 on that day. Another Japanese plane ventured too close to the little formation on the 7th, and Ulvert M. Moore's gunners splashed it.

After transferring the crewmen of Stafford -- who had been embarked in Ulvert M. Moore -- to Ralph Talbot, the destroyer escort resumed antisubmarine patrols in the vicinity of Mindoro Island as part of Task Unit (TU) 77.4.1. While thus engaged, she received orders to assist USS La Vallette (DD-448) in searching for a Japanese submarine reported by a plane to be running on the surface in the vicinity. Accordingly, USS Goss (DE-444) accompanied Ulvert M. Moore and joined La Vallette and USS Jenkins (DD-447). At 1557 on 30 January, La Vallette made contact and dropped a depth charge barrage but observed no results and soon lost the contact. The group continued to search throughout the night with negative results.