ABSTRACT
At 5 p.m. on July 22, 1944, Howorth sailed from San Diego as part of a task group bound for Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. For the next month, the crew engaged in training exercises designed to integrate Howorth into fleet operations. Arriving at Hawaii, Raines was surprised by the bottle-neck entrance to Pearl Harbor and found the concentration of naval power a grim contrast to the legendary beauty of Oahu. Battle practice off Hawaii included shore bombardment, screening of aircraft carriers engaged in flight operations, air defense firing, and surface engagements involving gunfire and torpedo attacks on simulated enemy shipping. The ultimate purpose of these exercises was underscored by an order to dye all white working hats blue as a camouflage measure.
