Washington
United States Navy Department
1946
Table of Contents
FIRST REPORT 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 5 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 Operations 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 Forces in the Pacific 100 Organization of United States Naval Forces 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 Carolines 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 Ships, 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 Operations 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 192 IV Submarine Operations 201 Attacks on Merchant Shipping 201 Attacks 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 Appendices A Status of major combatant ships of Japanese Navy at the conclusion of hostilities 233 B Major combatant ships added to United States Fleet, 7 December 1941-1 October 1945 252 C Losses of United States naval vessels from all causes, 7 December 1941-1 October 1945 287