NOTE: This Operation Plan was transcribed from COPY NO. 1016, typed 60 years ago. The pages have aged, the type is not always clear, and the text has been amended by hand-written notes (which will be shown in green, although it is not always clear where the hand-written notes are additions, or corrections or simply clarify faint text. Deleted text (strike-thru) is displayed in [grey].

Every reasonable step has been taken to preserve the original formatting, pagination, spelling, etc., but allowances should always be made for the possibility of errors in my transcription.    --HyperWar


ANNEX I TO CANF, SWPA OP-PLAN NO. 13-44.

BOAT POOL PLAN
  1. SOUTHERN ATTACK FORCE - NAVY BOAT POOL.

    A Boat Pool will be established in LEYTE GULF and will be landed as directed by the Commander Southern Attack Force. Boat Pool landing craft and personnel will be provided by the Commander Southern Attack Force in accordance with the following list and he will designate the ships to supply the several boats of each pool:

    Landing Craft
    Personnel
      Officers Men
    21 LCT Commander 1 CO OF SLCU #24
    60 LCM LCM Crews - 240
    40 LCVP LCVP Crews - 120
      Oper. & Admin. 11 44
      Repair 6 70
      Communications 1 10
      Commissary 1 (SC) 10
      Mess Cooks - 24
      Medical 1 (MC) 4
      LCT Crews 21     *252
     
    TOTALS
    42 774
    *The Lct Crews will be the permanently assigned crews. Boats (LCM & LCVBP) will be manned by personnel of S.L.C.U. #24 (augmented).

    In addition to landing craft and personnel of the above table, spare parts, equipment, and rations for (30 days) will be carried in transport groups of the SOUTHERN ATTACK FORCE.

    The Commanding Officer of SLCU #24 will be responsible for the movement of all pontoon barges and pontoon causeways from the Southern Attack Force beaches to the TACLOBAN AREA as soon as they are no longer required for unloading Southern Attack Force shipping. In the event that pontoon causeways are not required for unloading over the Southern Attack Force beaches, the LST's will transport them to the TACLOBAN AREA and launch them. These causeways will be moored in CANCABATO BAY until required for construction of floating piers.

    It is anticipated that Northern Attack Force transports will be employed for one turn-around echelon and will leave 105 LCVPs before departing from the assault area. These boats will become part of SLCU #24 and will be manned by the additional boat crews assigned to that unit which arrive with the garrison elements. Additional Navy boat crews will be supplied from the SOWESPAC Area as required.

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    The Southern Attack Force will send 10 LCT's with crews to the Northern Attack Force as soon as is practicable in the assault phase to assist in the unloading of ships of the latter force.

    The primary mission of the : Boat Pool will be the unloading of echelon ships of that Force.

    Upon departure of the Southern Attack Force from the assault area the Commanding Officer of S.L.C.U. #24 will report to the Northern Attack Force to assist in the unloading of ships of the latter Force.

  1. NORTHERN ATTACK FORCE - ARMY BOAT POOL.

    Boats for unloading shipping of the Northern Attack Force will be supplied and manned by the 2nd ENGINEER SPECIAL BRIGADE and will be landed as directed by the Commander Northern Attack Force. Boats will be transported to the assault areas in shipping assigned to the Northern Attack Force. The total number of boats of the 2nd Engineer Special Brigade to be lifted to the assault are is 252 LCM (Mark 3 or Mark 6) and 42 LCVPs. The number of boats that can be transported to the assault area during the assault phase D-Day to D+15 is dependent upon available assault transport lift and LCM(3)s and LCM(6)s will be carried in such proportions as to obtain the maximum lift.

    Engineer Special Brigade boats will be staged at Hollandia sufficiently in advance so that they can be picked up by assault shipping of the Northern Attack Force as follows:

    65 LCM(3)    108 LCM(6))    42 LCVP

    Crews to man the above boats will be distributed among assault shipping so that all Army boats will be completely manned on arrival in the assault area.

    The 2nd Engineer Special Brigade is responsible for supplying repair and commissary units, spare parts and equipment, and rations for the support of their personnel and their boats.

    The estimated available boat lift of the assault transports arriving in the SWPA Area to transport SWPA Units is as follows:

      LCM's   LCVP's
    TransDivs 20,26,32 15   50
    TransDivs 6,8,24 45   55
    4 LSD  68 (6)  --
    TOTALS 128   105

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    BOAT LOADING

    2nd Engineer Special Brigade Navy
    LCM LCVP LCM LCVP
    128(3s or 6s) None None 105

    The primary mission of the Northern Attack Force Boat Pool will be the unloading of the ships of that Force.

  1. POLICY GOVERNING BOTH NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN ATTACK FORCE BOAT POOLS.

    All landing craft will be under the operational control of the respective Attack Force Commanders.

    When the Southern Attack Force departs the assault area, SLCU #24 will come under the operational control of the Senior Officer Present of the Seventh Amphibious Force.

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