APPENDIX D

Task Organization and relevant material from
CTF 4 Op Plan 3-42 of 10 March, 1942.


TASK ORGANIZATION:

24.1 MID-OCEAN ESCORT GROUPS
A. 24.1.1 -- 24.1.5 Escort Units A-1 to A-5, inclusive, 15 U.S. DDs and CGCs (augmented by RN and RCN corvettes)
B. 24.1.11 -- 24.1.14 Assigned Canadian Escort Units, C-1 to C-4 inclusive -- Canadian Escort Commanders.
C. 24.1.15 -- 24.1.19 Assigned British Escort Units B-1 to B-5 inclusive -- British Escort Commanders.
24.2 DESTROYER FLOTILLAS
24.3 AIR GROUP - Captain Mullinnix
24.4 HOME BASE GROUP - Rear Admiral Carpender
24.5 TASK FORCE FOUR ADMINISTRATION
24.6 TASK FORCE FOUR ESCORT CONTROL, ICELAND -- Commandant NOBI
24.7 TASK FORCE TWENTY FOUR ESCORT CONTROL, UNITED KINGDOM (LONDONDERRY) -- Capt. Thebaud.
24.8 GREENLAND PATROL -- Capt. E. H. Smith
24.11 ASSIGNED CANADIAN MID-OCEAN ESCORT GROUP
24.18.1 -- 21.18.7 Assigned to Western Local Escort Units (W-1 to W-7 inclusive)
24.19 MID-OCEAN ESCORT GROUPS AT SEA
24.19.1 All A-1 to A-5, inclusive, escort units at sea.
24.19.2 All C-1 to C-4, inclusive, escort units at sea.
24.19.3 All B-1 to B-4, inclusive, escort units at sea.

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1. (a) The UNITED STATES and Associated Powers are at war with GERMANY, ITALY, AND JAPAN. The United States Navy, Royal Navy, and Roya1 Canadian Navy are operating jointly in the protection of transatlantic convoys in the NORTH ATLANTIC. Commander Task Force POUR Operation Plan No. 2-42 (distributed to appropriate Commands) provides for these joint operations.

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  (b) This Plan implements CinClant Secret Op Plan No. 8-41, and CinClant Secret Directive, serial (00228) of October 10, 1941.
  (c) CinClant Secret Directive Serial (00228) delegated to Vice Admiral A. L. Bristol the conduct of trans-Atlantic escort-of-convoy operations within the Western NORTH ATLANTIC, including coordinating supervision of the operations of Canadian escort units which latter is effected through Flag Officer, Newfoundland Force (FONF), ST. JOHN's, and Commanding Officer, Atlantic Coast (COAC), at HALIFAX. These officers will have entire charge of the availability of ships assigned their commands. Commander in Chief, Western Approaches, exercises strategic direction and coordinating supervision of operations of the joint forces engaged in escort-of-convoy operations in the Eastern NORTH ATLANTIC.
  (d) Air coverage by RCAF and RAF is arranged on a cooperative basis.
  (e) A Destroyer Squadron Commander, or other designated officer, will be maintained in LONDONDERRY where, under the strategic direction of Commander in Chief, Western Approaches he will perform duties set forth in paragraph 3(g) and will be addressed and referred to as Commander Task Group 24.7, Task Force Twenty-Four Escort Control, UNITED KINGDOM (LONDONDERRY) short (ECUK) . . .
  (i) United States Naval forces are authorized to use SYDNEY, HALIFAX, and SHELBURN as operating bases with rights to use ST. JOHN's, ST. MARY's HARBOR, and MAL BAY (NEWFOUNDLAND). HALIFAX and ST. JOHN' s should not be used to such an extant as to interfere with the assembling of convoys, or the operation of Canadian and United Kingdom naval forces. It is preferred that SHELBURNE be used principally by patrol planes, and that SYDNEY be used only by ships. The NEWFOUNDLAND Government has granted permission for U.S. war vessels to use any NEWFOUNDLAND waters for anchorages without advance notification . . . .

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  (q) The Coast Guard maintains weather reporting ships on station at approximately latitude 39° North, longitude 50° West and latitude 52° North, longitude 42° 3O' West, which are assigned the additional task a of destroying enemy submarines and aircraft reported within a reasonable distance of assigned stations.
2. This Force will:
  (a) Escort convoys and other shipping in conjunction with the Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy and in cooperation with RAF and RCAF provide patrol plane coverage therefore in the NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN.
  (b) Destroy Axis navel, land, and air forces encountered.
  (c) When available, provide hunting groups to operate in connection with reported submarine concentrations.
  (d) Prevent access to the territory and territorial waters of GREENLAND by any hostile elements of any enemy nationals or agents.
  (e) Support U.S. Government operations and policies in GREENLAND.
3. (v) Vessels met at sea which are suspected of aiding the enemy in any manner whatsoever shall be boarded for examination. If examination establishes prima facie evidence of such activity, the vessel shall be seized or sunk.

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