Late November 1944

Task Force 38 went back to Ulithi for more replenishment and were anchored in the lagoon there the morning of November 20. Lookouts on the Mobile sighted the periscope of a Japanese midget submarine, which was fired upon. Later, when they spied another disturbance in the water, the Mobile's crew coached two destroyer escorts into position for depth charge attacks. Shortly after, two Japanese sailors and considerable wreckage came to the surface. Photo is from that attack.

The force returned to Luzon Island, Philippines by November 25, where, amidst both heavy air and submarine attacks, they commenced more strikes on the Manila area. While torpedoes exploded in the water as close as 200 yards from the Mobile, the crew assisted in bringing down one plane. Another crashed into the carrier Essex in their group, and two more into carriers Cabot and Intrepid of group 38.2. The carrier Hancock, also of that group managed to avoid a direct hit, but was damaged by falling debris.

Information on the November 25th engagement was taken from Morison's History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume 8.
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From the Data section of Joe's Journal:

Philippine Is. _____________ Nov 25
"Manila Area" air strike
Jap ships sunk
1 Heavy Cruiser
3 destroyers
1 destroyer escort
3 landing ships
2 large cargo ships
4 small cargo ships
4 oil tankers
2 luggers

Jap ships damaged
2 destroyers
4 large Cargo ships
4 medium cargo ships
1 small cargo ship
2 oil tanker
3 landing craft
1 small coastal ship
9 - luggers

Japs planes shot down _______ were 58
_" ___ " ___ destroyed on ground " _61