The Story of Fleet Logtistics Afloat in Atlantic and Mediterranean Waters During World War II
Ships, Salvage, and Sinews of War
by
Rear Admirals
Worrall Reed Carter
and
Elmer Ellsworth Duvall USN (Retired)with a Foreword by
Admiral Robert Bostwick Carney, USN
Chief of Naval Operationsand an Introduction by
Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt, USN (Retired)
who commanded our ships in the Moroccan, Sicilian, Italian and Southern France operationsWashington: 1954
This volume is "under development" and will be completed as time allows...
Contents
Chapter Page Foreword v Introduction vii Preface xi I. Neutrality Patrol, Prewar Baxses Acquired 1 II. Fleet Organization and Neutrality Short of War 7 Task Forces 14 Gain in Ships 16 III. Principle Bases, North Atlantic 19 Continental East Coast 19 Navy Supply Depots 19 Petroleum 22 Fuels--Oils--Storage 22 Ammunition 23 Maintenance and Repairs 25 Training 25 Air Stations 27 Lighter-Than-Air 28 North Atlantic Advance Bases 29 Argentia 29 Iceland 29 Iceland Shore Development 31 Greenland 34 Bermuda 43 Londonderry and Rosneath 43 Rosneath, Scotland 44 IV. Principle Bases, Caribbean and South American 45 Caribbean 45 San Juan 45 Guantanamo 47 Trinidad 47 Jamaica 55 British Guiana 55 Aruba 55 South American, Brazil 58 Recife 58 Bahia 58 V. War: Changes in Fleet Organization--Expansion 61 Task Forces 21 to 30, Inclusive 61 Logistics: At Argentia 68 At Londonderry 71 At Iceland 71 Casco Bay Base 80 Greenland Patrol 81 Jan Mayen Island 87 VI. Service Force 91 Fuel 91 Provisions 95 Ammunition 99 Personnel 101 Maintenance 102 Additional Duties 103 Supplying Bases in the Mediterranean 107 Medical 109 Gunnery 110 Pay 110 VII. South Atlantic 111 Neutrality Patrol 111 Ascension Island 115 Fuel 116 Commandante Lyra 117 Gasoline 118 Convoy AS4 120 Patoka 120 128 President Roosevelt's visit 129 Melville 129 VIII. North African Operations--Purpose--Start 133 Statement of Objectivs 134 Command Organization for Assault of North Africa 134 Outline of Participation by the United States 135 Mission and Organization of Western Naval Task Force 135 Mission of Forces Mounted in United Kingdom 138 Composition of Forces 138 Logistic Annes of TORCH Operation Order 139 Loading and Departure 140 Policy for Operation TORCH. Some attendant enxieties 144 Evasive Efforts 144 Logistics en route 147 Final Days of Approach 155 IX. Moroccan Landings--Logistics--Salvage 157 Landing attack plan 157 The three groups fan out for their assault landings 162 Serenity disrupted--shooting begins 162 Logistics at the objectives 163 At Mehdia 163 At Fedala 166 At Casablanca 171 Establishment of Sea Frontier Forces and NOB Casablanca 175 At Safi 177 Assistance to the Army 170 X. Landings in Algeria 183 Participation of U.S. Ships 183 Transport Division 11 183 Establishment of Naval Operating Base, Oran Area 186 Points noted 190 Ammunition 190 Replacement of Aircraft 191 Boats and Landing Conditions 192 Conclusion 193 XI. Base Developments Algeria--Logistic Facilities 195 Naval Operating Base Oran 195 Drydock Facilities 200 Potable Water 200 Delivery of fuel and stores to Units of Fleet 200 Provisions 203 Ammunition 203 Repairs 203 Hospital 204 XII. Invasion of Sicily 209 General Outline of Plan 210 Task Organization 211 Support Problem 213 Brief Account of the Military Operation 215 Development of Bases--Logistic Support 224 Alterations, Repair, and Overhaul Facilities 226 Achelous 227 Vulcan 227 Delta 228 Supply Arrangements 238 Fuel 238 Ammunition 243 Mt. Baker 243 Food and Clothing 246 Tarazed 246 Medical Plans 247 Salvage Planning 251 Logistics During Operations 251 Salvage and Firefighting 251 Medical 255 After Landings 256 Status of Bases in October 259 Conclusion 262 XIII. Invasion of Italy--Salerno Landings 265 Preparatory Period 266 General Outline of Logistic Support 266 Forces Involved 273 Combat Operations--An Outline 274 Logistics involved 281 Repairs 281 Fuel 283 Ammunition 287 Food 293 Firefighting, Rescue, and Salvage 297 Touring the Warspite 302 Medical 320 Conclusion 323 XIV. Invasion of Italy--Anzio Landings 325 Composition of Forces 327 Landings 329 Logistics Involved 332 Food, Water, and Clothing 332 Fuel 335 Ammunition 340 Firefighting, Rescue, and Salvage 345 Repairs 355 Medical 359 Palermo Base 361 XV. The Big Show--Normandy 365 Preparation 365 The Bases 367 Services 375/td> Maintenance 377 Loading 382 Far Shore Port Operations and Ferry Control 389 Salvage 392 Operational Changeovers 400 Far Shore Bases 402 Maintenance Work After D-day 405 Ordnance and Ammunition 409 Communications 413 Casualties and Medical Services 414 Navy Postal Service 417 XVI. Invasion of Southern France 419 Task Organization 420 Mounting, Staging and Sailing of Assault Convoys 428 Assault 431 Logistic Support 433 Provisions 434 Provision Stores Ship Yukon 437 Provision Stores Ship Tarazed 438 Clothing and Stores 439 Fuel and Water 441 Corsica 444 Ammunition 452 Firefighting, Salvage, and Rescue 460 Harbor Clearance 463 Repairs 466 Medical 471 Other Services 475 Rhone River Crossings 475 Conclusion 477 XVII. Rhine River Crossing--Navy assists the Army 479 Pipe Down 495 Appendix 497 The appendix contains a glossary of abbreviations. Index 509
List of Photographs
Page Admiral Henry Kent Hewitt Frontispiece Destroyers Trippe and anothern in Portland, Maine 10 Torpedoed destroyer Kearney alongside repair ship Vulcan in Iceland 11 Some of the damage to the Kearney 13
List of Charts
No. Title Page 1. North Atlantic Ocean 3 2. Greenland 18 3. Caribbean Sea 46 4. South Atlantic 112 5. Western Mediterranean 132 6. English Channel 364