THIRD FLEET — JAPAN RAIDS 3Q 1945
The most significant active naval operation on 1 August 1945 was the first phase of Operation OLYMPIC being conducted by the Fast Carrier Forces of the THIRD FLEET. Task Force 38 and Task Force 37 (British Pacific Fleet) were assigned the task of attacking aircraft and strategic targets in the Tokyo area, in northern Honshu, and on Hokkaido, by air strikes and surface bombardment, commencing 10 July. In addition, photographic air reconnaissance was to be made of Japan, north of 37 N.
The purposes of these operations were: first, to deduce the tactical air strength of the enemy; second, to destroy any strategic targets which directly supported the Japanese war effort; and third, to assess the enemy war potential in northern Honshu and Hokkaido. In short, the mission of Admiral W.F. Haley’s THRID FLEET was to conduct a pre-invasion campaign of destruction against every industry and resource contributing to Japan’s ability to wage war.
On July 31, the fast carrier forces had retired to the fueling area after having delivered the third in a series of heavy air assaults on the Tokyo area on the 30th. For three weeks the planes and surface ships of the THIRD FLEET had ranged up and down the coast of the Japanese homeland, bombing and bombarding important military installations and other strategic targets contributing to the enemy’s war effort. These attacks together with those of Allied land-based planes were part of a pre-invasion campaign to destroy both the ability and will of Japan to continue the war. On August 1, the carrier groups were replenishing at sea from Task Group 30.8.
At this time, Eniwetok was being built up as the main support base for the fast carriers. As such, the plan was for the U.S. carrier task forces to retire to Eniwetok in mid-August where a fourth U.S. carrier group would be established. Task Force 38 would return to strike Japan east of the 135th meridian in late August and September. The British Pacific fleet would retire to Australia and sortie again in September to conduct operations against Hong Kong and Canton.
(Material taken largely from CINCPAC’s, Operations in the Pacific Ocean Areas, for July and August 1945, individual ship logs, and Clark Reynolds book, The Fast Carriers.)
The order of battle of the THIRD FLEET was as follows:
THIRD FLEET Admiral W. F. Halsey
TASK FORCE 38 Vice Admiral J. S. McCain
Task Group 38.1 Rear Admiral T. L. Sprague
CV 20 BENNINGTON Carrier Air Group 1
CV 16 LEXINGTON Carrier Air Group 94
CV 19 HANOCK Carrier Air Group 6
CVL 30 SAN JACINTO Light Carrier Air Group 49
CVL 24 BELLAU WOOD Light Carrier Air Group 31
BatRon 2 Rear Admiral Shafroth
BatDiv 8 Rear Admiral Shafroth
BB 59 MASSACHUSETTS
BB 58 INDIANA
BB 57 SOUTH DAKOTA
CruDiv 18 Rear Admiral Holden
CL 67 TOPEKA
CL 87 DULUTH, Join 7/21, (with TICONDEROGA) following repair at Guam
CL 104 ATLANTA
CL 105 DAYTON
CruDiv 20
CL 91 OKLAHOMA CITY
CL 101 AMSTERDAM
Screen, Task Flotilla 6 Commodore Simpson
CLAA 54 SAN JUAN
DesRon 61
DesDiv 121
DD 727 DE HAVEN
DD 728 MANSFIELD
DD 729 LYMAN K. SWENSON
DD 730 COLLETT
DD 732 MADDOX
DesDiv 122
DD 747 SAMUEL N. MOORE
DD 744 BLUE
DD 745 BRUSH
DD 746 TAUSSIG
DD 806 HIGBEE, Radar Picket
DesRon 25
DesDiv 49, less DD 521 KIMBERLEY at Pearl Harbor following repair. (Okinawa Kamikaze)
DD 574 JOHN RODGERS
DD 573 HARRISON
DD 575 MCKEE
DD 576 MURRAY, Joined 7/21 (with TICONDEROGA) after intercept of enemy AH
DesDiv 50, Less DD 502 SIGSBEE at Pearl Harbor for repair. (Okinawa Kamikaze)
DD 500 RINGGOLD
DD 501 SCHROEDER
DD 659 DASHIELL
DesDiv 100
DD 651 COGSWELL
DD 650 CAPERTON
DD 652 INGERSOLL
DD 653 KNAPP
Task Group 38.3 Rear Admiral C. F. Bogan
CV 9 ESSEX Carrier Air Group 83
CV 15 RANDOLPH Carrier Air Group 16
CV 14 TICONDEROGA Carrier Air Group 87, Absent 7/3 to 7/21 for repair at Guam
CVL 26 MONTEREY Light Carrier Air Group 34
CVL 29 BATAAN Light Carrier Air Group 47
BatDiv 6 Rear Admiral Cooley
BB 55 NORTH CAROLINA, Join 7/8
BB 60 ALABAMA
CruDiv 17 Rear Admiral Jones
CL 65 PASADENA
CL 66 SPRINGFIELD
CL 90 ASTORIA
CL 103 WILKES BARRE
Screen, Task Flotilla 2 Commodore Womble
CLAA 95 OAKLAND
CLAA 98 TUCSON, Operated independently 7/10 to 7/16; Radio Deception Unit
DesRon 48
DesDiv 95
DD 631 ERBEN
DD 517 WALKER
DD 629 ABBOT
DD 642 HALE
DD 644 STREMBEL
DesDiv 96, (less DD 661 KIDD at Hunter’s Point Navy Yard)
DD 666 BLACK
DD 680 CHAUNCEY
DD 667 BULLARD
DD 532 HEERMANN, From DesDiv 93, TDY to DesDiv 96
DD 807 BENNER, Radar Pickett, joined 7/26 with WASP
DesRon 62
DesDiv 123 (less DD 700 HAYNSWORTH West Coast training DD)
DD 696 ENGLISH, Operated with TG 30.8 7/12-7/16 while affecting repairs
DD 450 O’BANNON, Replaced English7/12-7/16
DD 698 AULT
DD 697 C. S. SPERRY
DD 699 WALDRON
DesDiv 124
DD 701 J. W. WEEKS, 7/3 To Guam with TICONDEROGA; Returned 7/8
DD 702 HANK, 7/3 To Guam with TICONDEROGA; Returned 7/8
DD 704 BORIE, 7/3 To Guam with TICONDEROGA; Returned 7/8
DD 703 W. L. LIND
DD 743 SOUTHERLAND, Radar Pickett
Task Group 38.4 Rear Admiral A. W. Radford
CV 10 YORKTOWN Carrier Air Group 88
CV 38 SHANGRI LA (FF) Carrier Air Group 85
CV 31 BON HOMI RICHARD Night Carrier Air Group 91
CV 18 WASP Carrier Air Group 86, Join 7/26
CVL 22 INDEPENDENCE Light Carrier Air Group 23
CVL 29 COWPENS Light Carrier Air Group 50
BatDiv 7 Rear Admiral Badger
BB 61 IOWA
BatDiv 9 Rear Admiral Denford
BB 64 WISCONSIN
BB 63 MISSOURI(FFF)
CruDiv 10 Rear Admiral Wiltse
CA 71 QUINCY(F)
CA 136 CHICAGO, Join 7/8
CA 69 BOSTON, Join 7/20
CA 73 ST. PAUL, Join 7/20
Screen, Task Flotilla 4 Commodore Wombie
CLAA 97 SAN DIEGO
CLAA 53 FLINT
DesRon 54
DesDiv 107
DD 688 REMEY
DD 689 NORMAN SCOTT
DD 690 WADLEIGH, Dep 7/10, AsstSecNAV to Iwo Jima rejoin 7/21 with TICONDEROGA
DD 691 MERTZ
DD 798 MONSSEN
DesDiv 108
DD 677 MCDERMUT
DD 678 MCGOWAN
DD 679 MCNAIR
DD 680 MELVIN
DesRon 53
DesDiv 105 (Less DD 686 HALSEY POWELL at Pearl Harbor)
DD 797 CUSHING
DD 658 COLAHAN
DD 796 BENHAM, To Guam 7/4, Rejoin 7/21, (with TICONDEROGA) after repair
DD 683 STOCKHAM, Join 7/8
DesDiv 106 (Less DD 541 YARNALL at Pearl Harbor)
DD 540 TWINING
DD 684 WEDDERBURN
DD 683 STOCKHAM
DesRon 57
DesDiv 113
DD 564 ROWE
DD 565 SMALLEY
DD 566 STODDARD
DD 567 WATTS
DD 568 WREN
DD 742 FRANK KNOX, Radar Pickett
BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET
TASK FORCE 37—Join 7/16
1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron
CV FORMIDABLE
CV VICTORIOUS
CV IMPLACALE
CV INDEFATIGABLE-Join 20 July
1st Battleship Squadron
BB KING GEORGE V
4th Cruiser Squadron
CL NEWFOUNDLAND
CL GAMBIA
CL ACHILLIES
CLAA EURYALKUS
CLAA ARGONAUT
CLAA BLACK PRINCE
Com Destroyers British Pacific Fleet
DD BARFLEUR-Join 7/20
24th Destroyer Flotilla
DD TENACIOUS
DD TROUBRIDGE
DD TERPSICHORE
DD TEAZER
DD TERMAGANT
4th Destroyer Flotilla
DD QUADRANT
DD QUIBERO
DD QUALITY
DD QUICKMATCH
25th Destroyer Flotilla
DD GRENVILLE
DD UNDINE
DD URANIA
DD ULYSSES
DD UNDAUNTEED
27th Destroyer Flotilla
DD WAKEFUL-Join 7/20
DD WRANGLE-Join 7/20
Task Group 30.6
Task Group 30.6 was an Antisubmarine Warfare Group assigned to the THIRD FLEET.
Task Group 30.6
CVE 57 ANZIO ASW Composite Squadron 13
CortDiv 72 (less DE 414 LE RAY WILSON with 30.18.23)
DE 415 LAWRENCE C. TAYLOR(F)
DE 416 MELVIN R. NAWMAN
DE 417 OLIVER MITCHELL
DE 418 TABBERER
DE 419 ROBERT F. KELLER
Task Group 30.8 (Service Squadron 6), Rear Admiral Beary
The Group was initially composed of 27 oilers, 5 ammunition ships, 1 cargo ship, 1 refrigerated stores ship, 4 ocean tugs, 2 transports, 1 hospital ship, 4 transport aircraft carriers, 2 escort carriers, and 36 destroyers/destroyer escorts. Every 3 or 4 days the Group would rendezvous at sea with Task Force 38. The fleet would then spend one or two days replenishing the fleet. Oilers shuttled between Ulithi and the Group. Transport aircraft carriers shuttled replacement aircraft between Guam and the Group. The ammunitions ships made one sortie from Leyte to the Group. 1 August was a replenishment day and the organization of Task Group 30.8 reflects that task. Task Group 30.8 also serviced Task Group 30.6.
Task Unit 30.8.10
CL 8 DETROIT (GF)
CVE 74 NEHENTA BAY Composite Squadron 8
CVE 71 KITKUN BAY Composite Squadron 63
CVE 103 ROI Replacement Aircraft
CVE 90 THETIS BAY Replacement Aircraft
ATF 100 CHOWANOC
ATF 106 MOCTOBI
ATF 151 CAWASHA
ATF 118 WENATCHEE
DD 645 STEVENSON (CDS 19)
DE 450 JOSEPH E. CONNOLLY
DD 513 TERRY
DD 468 TAYLOR
DE 42 REYNOLDS
DE 303 CROWLEY
DD 484 BUCHANAN
DD 487 LARDNER
DD 647 THORN
Task Unit 30.18.1 Refueling TG 38.1
AO 22 CIMARRON
AO 35 HOUSATONIC
AO 44 PATUXENT
AO 48 NEOSHO
AO 51 ASHTABULA
AO 56 AUCILLA
AO 57 MARIAS
AO 62 TALUGA
AF 10 ALDEBARAN
AE 3 LASSEN
AE 6 SHASTA
DD 441 WILKES (CDD 14)
DD 450 O’BANNON
DD 662 NICHOLSON
DE 262 CANFIELD
DE 261 DIONNE
DE 744 KYNE
Task Unit 30.18.3 Refueling TG 38.3
AO 39 KANKAKEE
AO 43 TAPPAHANNOCK
AO 47 NECHES
AO 52 CACAPON
AO 53 CALIENTE
AO 67 CACHE
AO 71 NESHANIC
AO 81 KENNEBAGO
AE 8 MAUNA LOA
DE 739 BANGUST (CCD 23)
DE 645 STOCKTON
Task Unit 30.18.4 Refueling TG 38.4
AO 24 PLATTE
AO 25 SABINE
AO 27 KASKASKIA
AO 60 NANTAHALA
AO 63 CHIPOLA
AO 70 ESCALANTE
AO 77 COSSATOT
AO 82 CAHABA
AE 12 WRANGELL
AE 15 VESUVIUS
AKA 7 ALCYONE
DE 264 ELDEN
DD 609 GILLESPIE
DD 611 KALK
Task Unit 30.18.?, Refueling Group not identified, likely 3 units to Group 3 & 4 units to Group 4.
DD 486 LANSDOWN
DE 741 WEAVER
DD 263 DEEDE
DD 449 NICHOLA(CDS 21) Probably Unit 4
DD 460 WOODWORTH
DD 43 MITCHELL
DE 743 LAMONS
Task Unit 30.18.22 Arriving at Ulithi
AO 34 CHICOPEE
AO 37 MERRIMACK
AO 40 LACKAWANNA
AO 80 ESCAMBIA
AO 83 MASCOMA
DE 260 CABANA
DE 301 LAKE
DE 44 DONADSON
DE 7 GRISWOLD
Task Unit 30.8 At Ulithi loading
AO 56 ATACOSA
AO 58 MANATEE
AO 85 PAMANSET
AO 87 SEBEC
AO 95 CANEY
AKA 6 ALCHIBA
Task Unit 30.18.23 Carrier Unit, arrive 30.8 8/4, relieve CVE 71 and 74
CVE 28 CHENANGO Escort Carrier Air Group 33
CVE 107 GILBERT ISLANDS Marine Carrier Group 2
DE 740 WATERMAN
DE 414 LE RAY WILSON
DE 538 WILLMARTH
DE 9 CARLSON
Task Unit 30.18.20, Depart Guam 31 JUL with replacement aircraft. Join 30.8 2 AUG.
CVE 104 MUNDA
DD 857 BRISTOL
DE 259 WILLIAM C. MILLER
Task Unit 30.18.21, Depart Guam 1 AUG with replacement aircraft. Join 30.8 4 AUG.
CVE 97 HOLLANDIA
DE 302 LYMAN
DD 742 HILBERT