U.S. NAVY AT WAR 1941-1945 OFFICIAL REPORTS TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY by FLEET ADMIRAL ERNEST J. KING, U.S. NAVY Commander in Chief, United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations Washington, United States Navy Department 1946 Transcribed and uploaded by Larry W. Jewell, jewell@mace.cc.purdue.edu Table of Contents FIRST REPORT Page LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL .......................................... 2 INTRODUCTION ................................................... 3 I THE PEACETIME NAVY ......................................... 4 Prior to the War in Europe ................................. 4 As Affected by the War in Europe ........................... 7 II THE WARTIME NAVY ........................................... 12 Fighting Strength .......................................... 12 Personnel .................................................. 20 The Marine Corps ........................................... 26 The Coast Guard ............................................ 27 The Seabees ................................................ 29 The WAVES .................................................. 29 III COMBAT OPERATIONS .......................................... 31 General .................................................... 31 Strategy ................................................... 37 The Pacific Theater ........................................ 39 The Defensive .......................................... 39 The Defensive-Offensive ................................ 47 The Offensive-Defensive ................................ 49 The Offensive .......................................... 70 Supporting Operation ................................... 74 The Atlantic Theater ....................................... 77 The Mediterranean Theater .................................. 82 Landings in North Africa ............................... 82 Landings in Sicily ..................................... 86 Landings in Italy ...................................... 88 IV TEAMWORK ................................................... 89 The Navy Team .............................................. 89 The Army and Navy Team ..................................... 89 The Allied Team ............................................ 90 V CONCLUSION ................................................. 92 SECOND REPORT LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL .......................................... 96 I INTRODUCTION ............................................... 97 II COMMAND AND FLEET ORGANIZATION ............................. 100 United States Fleet ........................................ 100 Organization of United States Naval Force in the Pacific ... 100 Organization of United States Naval Force in the Atlantic- Mediterranean .......................................... 101 III COMBAT OPERATIONS: PACIFIC ................................. 103 Hollandia and Fast Carrier Task Force Covering Operations .. 104 Marianas Operations ........................................ 106 Progress along New Guinea Coast ............................ 112 Western Caroline Operations ................................ 114 Reoccupation of Philippine Islands ......................... 117 Assault on Inner Defenses of Japan ......................... 129 Continuing Operations ...................................... 132 IV COMBAT OPERATIONS: ATLANTIC-MEDITERRANEAN .................. 134 United States Atlantic Fleet ............................... 134 United States Naval Forces in Europe- The Normandy Invasion .................................. 135 Eighth Fleet-Italy ......................................... 143 Eighth Fleet-Invasion of Southern France ................... 143 V FIGHTING STRENGTH .......................................... 146 Ship, Planes and Ordnance .................................. 146 Personnel .................................................. 152 Supply ..................................................... 155 Health ..................................................... 157 The Marine Corps ........................................... 159 The Coast Guard ............................................ 159 VI CONCLUSION ................................................. 161 THIRD REPORT LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL .......................................... 166 I INTRODUCTION ............................................... 167 II COMBAT OPERATIONS: PACIFIC ................................. 173 The Capture of Iwo Jima .................................... 173 Assault on Okinawa and its Capture ......................... 175 Fast Carrier Force Operation in Support of Okinawa Invasion ....................................... 180 Joint Operations in the Philippines and Borneo ............. 183 Fast Carrier Force Pre-Invasion Operations against Japan .......................................... 188 Contributory Operations .................................... 190 The Surrender and Occupation of Japan ...................... 192 III LOGISTICS AND BASES-PACIFIC ................................ 196 IV SUBMARINE OPERATIONS ....................................... 201 Attacks on Merchant Shipping ............................... 201 Attack on Naval Vessels .................................... 202 Special Missions ........................................... 203 V ATLANTIC OPERATIONS ........................................ 205 Antisubmarine Operations ................................... 205 Tenth Fleet ................................................ 206 U. S. Naval Forces in Europe ............................... 207 U. S. Atlantic Fleet ....................................... 211 VI SHIPS, AIRCRAFT AND PERSONNEL .............................. 213 Shipbuilding Program ....................................... 213 Aircraft ................................................... 214 Personnel .................................................. 216 Health ..................................................... 219 The Marine Corps ........................................... 221 The Coast Guard ............................................ 222 VII NAVAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DURING WORLD WAR II ......... 225 VIII CONCLUSION ................................................ 231 APPENDIX A Status of major combatant ships of Japanese Navy at the conclusion of hostilities .................... 233 APPENDIX B Major combatant ships added to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941-1 October 1945 ...................... 252 APPENDIX C Losses of United States naval vessels from all causes, 7 December 1941-1 October 1945 ...................... 287