Return to Naval Historical Center home page. Return to Online Library listing

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- EVENTS -- The Korean War, 1950-1953 --

Logistics & Support Activities in Japan, 1950-1953 --
Overview and Selected Views

Throughout the Korean conflict, the U.S. and other United Nations' forces were fortunate to have Japan as a forward base. Japan's ports, airfields and other facilities, and the well-educated and hard-working Japanese people, were a priceless asset to keep the operating forces well-supplied and repaired, as well as to provide relaxation and recreation opportunities for naval and military people.

For the U.S. Navy, the port of Sasebo in western Kyushu, some 165 sea miles from Korea's southern end, was a nearly ideal base location. Near Tokyo, Yokosuka provided a well-equipped maintenance facility. Though nearly 700 miles by sea from the combat area, Yokosuka was still vastly nearer than any other comparable naval shipyard. Several Japanese airfields and other ports were also invaluable logistics and operating assets.

This page features selected images of Korean War logistics and support activities in Japan and provides links to broader pictorial coverage of this subject.

For more views of Korean War activities in Japan, see:

  • Logistics & Support Activities in Japan, June-December 1950; and
  • Logistics & Support Activities in Japan during 1951-1953.

    See also Trans-Pacific Logistics for views of the arrival and departure of personnel at Japanese ports during the Korean War years.

    For broader coverage of Korean War logistics & support efforts, see:

  • Korean War Logistics & Support, 1950-1953.


    For a precis of our Korean War images, and links to more comprehensive pictorial coverage of other aspects of that conflict, see:

  • The Korean War, June 1950 - July 1953 -- Introductory Overview and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: 80-G-426270

    USS Valley Forge (CV-45)

    and
    USS Leyte (CV-32)

    Moored at Sasebo, Japan, circa October-November 1950.
    USS Hector (AR-7) is moored beyond the two carriers, with other U.S. and British warships in the distance.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-478507

    USS Ajax (AR-6)


    Tending destroyers and patrol vessels at Sasebo, Japan.
    Photo is dated 14 December 1952.
    Ships nested along her port side include (left to right):
    USS The Sullivans (DD-537);
    USS McGowan (DD-678);
    USS Lewis Hancock (DD-675) and
    Korean frigate Imchin (# 66, ex USS Sausalito, PF-4)

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 120KB; 740 x 625 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-K-16282 (Color)

    USS New Jersey (BB-62)

    Steams into a Japanese port, during her second Korean War tour, circa April-May 1953.
    Note harbor defense nets beyond the ship.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 101KB; 740 x 600 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 97090

    "Teamwork, Courage, and Skill"


    "Men of Destroyer Division 91 crowd the foc'sle and superstructure of their ships in Sasebo, Japan, to receive their Navy Unit Commendations. During the presentation on the Mansfield, a crane crew in the background continues its task of installing new gun barrels on the De Haven. Streaks of red lead on the Collett and the Swenson in the foreground show the work that has occupied all the crews while in port. By coincidence the famed 'Sitting Duck' destroyers are berthed in their numerical order: USS De Haven (DD-727), Mansfield (DD-728), Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729), and Collett (DD-730)."
    Photograph and caption released by Commander Naval Forces, Far East, under date of 18 December 1951.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 168KB; 740 x 625 pixels

     
    Photo #: NH 96784

    USS Missouri (BB-63)


    Crewmen load 16-inch projectiles aboard Missouri in preparation for further Korean War bombardment operations. Photographed at a base in Japan, circa February 1951.
    Photo is dated 14 February 1951, a day when Missouri was at Inchon, Korea.
    Note shell carts, used to move the projectiles on the battleship's upper deck.

    U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

    Online Image: 79KB; 740 x 615 pixels

     
    Photo #: 80-G-477167

    USS Ajax (AR-6)


    MRFN Robert W. Tatum cutting a gate valve seat on a horizontal metal lathe. Photographed on board Ajax at Sasebo, Japan.
    Photo is dated 13 December 1952.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 118KB; 740 x 630 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-424756

    USS Buck (DD-761)


    Ship's crew holds a Christmas party for underprivileged Japanese children from Yokosuka, December 1950.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 124KB; 595 x 765 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 97160

    USS Valley Forge (CV-45)


    "Valley Forge Sailors Enjoy Leave in Japan -- M. Dean Johnson, Airman, USN, (left) ... with two shipmates from the Puget Sound Country, Miner C. Hazen, Airman, USN, ... and Korval I. Wickton, Jr., Airman, USN, ... give their dinner orders to the Japanese waitress at the Maipei Hotel, Karuizawa, Japan, while on rest leave after extended sea duty in the Far East aboard USS Valley Forge."
    Photograph and caption were released by Commander Naval Forces, Far East, under date of 16 April 1952.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the "All Hands" collection at the Naval Historical Center.

    Online Image: 109KB; 740 x 625 pixels

     

    For more views of Korean War activities in Japan, see:

  • Logistics & Support Activities in Japan, June-December 1950; and
  • Logistics & Support Activities in Japan during 1951-1953.

    See also Trans-Pacific Logistics for views of the arrival and departure of personnel at Japanese ports during the Korean War years.

    For broader coverage of Korean War logistics & support efforts, see:

  • Korean War Logistics & Support, 1950-1953.


    For a precis of our Korean War images, and links to more comprehensive pictorial coverage of other aspects of that conflict, see:

  • The Korean War, June 1950 - July 1953 -- Introductory Overview and Special Image Selection.


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the Online Library's digital images, see: How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions.


    Return to Naval Historical Center home page.

    27 August 2000