A responce to skunk works posting on the invasion of Tinian. The actual invasion was to the north of Tinian. The Colorado BB, the Cleveland CL, the Norman Scott DD, the Remey DD, the Wadleigh DD and the Monssen DD were part of a fake invasion force. They were sent to the south of Tinian to make the Japanese think the ivansion was going to be in the southern part of the Island. It worked. The Colorado was hit first. The Norman Scott was going to the Colorado's aid. The Colorado moved out of range of the shore batteries. The Norman Scott moved closer to knock out the shore batteries. The Norman Scott was 25 seconds from getting the solution to her fire director that controlled her five 5 inch guns. Before the Norman Scott could return fire, she was hit. The captain Seymour Owens was killed along with 22 of his ship mates, 57 were wounded. The Norman Scott laid dead in the water. Her two forward 5 inch guns were the ownly guns able to fire back. They were set on manual control. The Norman Scott was dead in the water and drifting towards shore. The Cleveland CL 55 got between the Norman Scott and the shore batteries with her 12 - 5 inch and 12- 6 inch guns firing. The Cleveland took out the 3 shore batteries and saved the Norman Scott from being sunk or destroyed. The navy made a film called This is America - Navy Yard. The film is about the repair of the Norman Scott. The Norman Scott was part of the famous squadron of DesRon 54. Desron 54 opened the battle at Surigao Striat. The Norman Scott was just leaving Mare Island to join her squadron at that battle. The Melvin DD sank the battle ship Fuso and the McGowan sank two Japanese destroyers and crippled another. On July 15, 1945 Desron 54 was the first surface ships to bomb the Japanese homeland. They went in with the battle ships Wisconsin, Missouri and the Iowa. Halsey was on the Missouri. Evey one thought they were going to be clobbered. The Japanese never fired back. Desron 54 was a squadron of 7 Fletcher class destroyers. Wayne