Rio Bravo
Posts: 1794
Joined: 7/13/2013 From: Grass Valley, California Status: offline
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Operation Sea Shark Invasion of the Four Southern Marianas Islands Order of Battle As of June 8, 1943 Opening Comments Since the inception of the war, the Allies have planned to invade Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam (the four southern Marianas Islands) during the month of June, 1943. Operation Sea Shark is an integral part of the Allied Grand Strategy to implement a Naval Blockade of Japan Proper and to transport ground forces, aircraft, and supply to China in support of Operation Land Shark (the land war to conquer Burma, China, Manchukua, and Korea). Consolidated Data Excluding the Submarines, Minesweepers, and PT boats under the Command of Captain Haggard, the Invasion Fleet is comprised of the following: • 3,120 Miles from Pearl to Objectives • 427 Wildcat Fighters • 271 Hellcat Fighters • 134 Dauntless Dive Bombers • 46 Task Forces • 971 Ships • 20 Carriers • 23 Battleships • 25 CAs • 26 CLs • 7 CLAAs • 95 Destroyers • 22 AOs • 262,310 Fuel Replenishment • 1,943 Saipan Assault Value • 788 Tinian Assault Value • 703 Rota Assault Value • 3,131 Guam Assault Value • 337,339 Saipan Supply • 331,106 Tinian Supply • 330,480 Rota Supply • 622,657 Guam Supply • 1,621,582 Total Supply • 14,000,000 Rolls of Toilet Paper Task Forces I have no doubt, that many of The War College members could have done a much better job creating the Invasion Fleet Task Forces. It has been a time consuming and daunting task configuring the following Task Forces: Carrier Task Forces (4) 72 ships TF 473 Carrier Group One (18 ships): CV Enterprise, CV Yorktown, CVE Altamaha, CVE Barnes, CVE Chenango, CA Wichita, CA Astoria, CL Cleveland, CL St. Louis, CLAA Atlanta, CLAA Oakland, DD Fletcher, DD Abbot, DD Aulick, DD Bache, DD Beale, DD Chevalier, and DE Austin. TF 528 Carrier Group Two (18 ships): CV Lexington, CV Saratoga, CVE Nassau, CVE Copalee, CVE Long Island, CA Indianapolis, CA New Orleans, CL Denver, CL Helena, CLAA Juneau, CLAA Reno, DD Conway, DD Cony, DD DeHaven, DD Eaton, DD Jenkins, DD La Vallette, and DE Edward C. Daly. TF 533 Carrier Group Three (18 ships): CV Hornet, CV Wasp, CVE Sangamon, CVE Suwanee, CVL Hermes, CA Portland, CA Minneapolis, CL Columbia, CL Honolulu, CLAA San Diego, CLAA Prince Rupert, DD Nichols, DD O’Bannon, DD Phillip, DD Radford, DD Renshaw, DD Saufley, and DE Juamma. TF 534 Carrier Group Four (18 ships): CV Essex, CV Victorious, CVE Prince William, CVE Anzio, CVE Santee, CA Quincy, CA San Francisco, CL Santa Fe, CL Nashville, CL Phoenix, CLAA San Juan, DD Converse, DD Ammen, DD Stanly, DD Strong, DD Taylor, DD Waller, and DE Sutlej. Bombardment Task Forces (4) 60 ships TF 521 Saipan Bombardment Group (15 ships): BB Maryland, BB Colorado, BB West Virginia, BB Arizona, BB Pennsylvania, CA Chester, CA Chicago, CA Houston, CA Louisville, CL Achilles, CL Concord, CL Detroit, CL Raleigh, DD Porter, and DD Phelps. TF 532 Tinian Bombardment Group (15 Ships): BB Idaho, BB Mississippi, BB New Mexico, BB California, BB Tennessee, CA Australia, CA Canberra, CA Doretshire, CA Cornwall, CL Danae, CL Marblehead, CL Richmond, CL Trenton, DD Clark, and DD Ellet. TF 535 Rota Bombardment Group (15 ships): BB Pronce of Wales, BB Revenge, BB Royal Sovereign, BB Ramillies, BB Resolution,CA Exeter, CA Shropshire, CA Sussex, CA Frobisher, CL Adelaide, CL Cape Town, CL Caredoc, CL Ceres, DD Benham, and DD Lang. TF 536 Guam Bombardment Group (15 ships): BB North Carolina, BB Washington, BB Massachusetts, BB Indiana, BB South Dakota, CA Vincennes, CA Northampton, CA Pensacola, CA Salt Lake City, CL Montpleir, CL Leander, CL Hobart, CL Perth, DD Balch, and DD Selfridge. Surface Combat Task Forces (3) 35 ships TF 537 Surface Combat Group One (13 Ships): BC Repulse, CL Durban, CA Hawkins, DD Anthony, DD Bennett, DD Hutchins, DD Pringle, DD Fanning, DD Mahan, DD Cummings, DD Drayton, DD Case, and DD Conyngham. TF 662 Surface Combat Group Two (11 Ships): BB California, DD Helm, DD Mugford, DD Ralph Talbot, DD Henley, DD Patterson, DD Jarvis, DD Craven, DD Gridley, DD McCall, and DD Maury. TF 670 Surface Combat Group Three (11 Ships): BB Tennessee, DD Walke, DD Lamson, DD Cushing, DD Smith, DD Preston, DD Reid, DD Flusser, DD Tucker, DD Cassin, and DD Downes. Fuel Replenishment Task Force (1) 21 ships TF 540 Fuel Replenishment Group (21 Ships): DD Stack, DD Sterrett, AO Bazos, AO Cuyama, AO Kanawka, AO Neches, AO Spbine, AO Karaskia, AO Cimarron, AO Platte, AO Guadalupe, AO Kankakee, AO Tappahanock, AO Monoghele, AO Tallulah, AO Cache, AO Suamioo, AO Milliooma, AO Saranac, AO Sahvylkill, AO Bishopdale and 232,850 fuel. One Destroyer, 3 AOs, and 29,460 fuel are undocked at Wake Island. Saipan Amphibious Task Forces (7) 175 ships TF 40 Saipan Amphib One (25 Ships): 6 US Army HQ, 7 Infantry Division, 181 USAAF BF, 48 USN SeaBees, 804 EAB, 4 FA Bn., 55 Coastal Artillery Bn., 203 Coastal AA Rgt., and 30,811 supply. TF 209 Saipan Amphib Two (25 Ships): XI US Corps HQ, 43 Infantry Division, 353 Construction Rgt., 144 USA BF, 182 USAAF BF, 98 FA Bn., 250 Coastal Artillery Bn., 210 Coastal AA Rgt., and 30,582 supply. TF 618 Saipan Amphib Three (25 Ships): US AirCenPac HQ, 129 Infantry Rgt., 145 Infantry Rgt., 1393 Construction Rgt., 150 USA BF, 224 USN BF, 822/824 EAB, 225 FA Bn., and 41,132 supply. TF 619 Saipan Amphib Four (25 Ships): 53 (Sep) Infantry Rgt., 102 (Sep) Infantry Rgt., 766 Tank Bn., D Det. Port Service, 151 USA BF, 39 USN SeaBees, 154 FA Bn., 259 Coastal Artillery Bn., and 60,950 supply. TF 621 Saipan Amphib Five (25 Ships): 138 (Sep) Infantry Rgt., 158 (Sep) Infantry Rgt., 767 Tank Bn., 4 USN Naval Construction Rgt., 152 USA BF, 40 USN SeaBees, 165 FA Bn., 30 Caostal AA Rgt., and 54,278 supply. TF 622 Saipan Amphib Six (25 Ships): 201 (Sep) Infantry Rgt., 503 Parachute Bn., 131 Combat Engineer Rgt., 109 Anti-Tank Bn., 5 USN Naval Construction Rgt., 108 USN BF, 41 USN SeaBees, 209 FA Bn., 77 Coastal AA Rgt., and 59,158 supply. TF 677 Saipan Amphib Supply Group (25 Ships): 60,428 Supply. Tinian Amphibious Task Forces (8) 173 ships TF 625 Tinian Amphib One (23 Ships): 8 NZ Bde., 11 USN SeaBees, 3 RNZAF BF, and 26,429 supply. TF 628 Tinian Amphib Two (23 Ships): 11 NZ Bde., 16 USN SeaBees, N Force Detachemnt, 501 Coastal AA Rgt., and 41,523 supply. TF 629 Tinian Amphib Three (22 Sips): 14 NZ Bde., 42 USN SeaBees, 7 USN Naval Construction, Rgt., A Det. Port Service, and 31,789 supply. TF 630 Tinian Amphib Four (23 Ships): 13 USAAF HQ, Fiji Bde., 6 USN Naval Construction Rgt., 35 Aviation BF, and 42,819 supply. TF 631 Tinian Amphib Five (22 Ships) 1 Fiji Commando Bn., 226 USN BF, 2 RNZAF BF, and 51,436 supply. TF 632 Tinian Amphib Six (22 Ships): 110 Combat Engineer, 15 NZ AA Bde., 142 USA BF, 842 EAB, 33 Medium Rgt., and 31,800 supply. TF 633 Tinian Amphib Seven (22): 3 NZ Division HQ, 227 USN BF, 857 EAB, 3 NZ Armor, 507 Coastal AA Rgt., and 45,030 supply. TF 653 Tinian Amphib Supply Group (16 Ships): 68,280 supply. Rota Amphibious Task Forces (8) 171 ships TF 634 Rota Amphib One (25 Ships): XiV US Corps HQ, 14 Canadian Bde., and 39,885 supply. TF 635 Rota Amphib Two (25 Ships): 18 Canadian Bde., 871 EAB, and 42,282 supply. TF 636 Rota Amphib Three (25 Ships): 24 (Sep) Infantry Rgt., 36 USN SeaBees, 57 Coastal AA Rgt., and 41,804 supply. TF 637 Rota Amphib Four (25 Ships): 112 Cavalry Rgt., 8 USN Naval Construction Rgt., 37 USN SeaBees, 863 EAB, and 40,317 supply. TF 638 Rota Amphib Five (25 Ships): Rocky Mountain Ranger Bn., 179 USAAF Bn., B Detachment Port Service, 40 Aviation Bn., and 46,204 supply. TF 639 Rota Amphib Six (24 Ships): 109 USN BF, 9 USN Naval Construction Rgt., and 45,457 supply. TF 226 Rota Amphib Seven: (5 Ships): 16 Canadian Bde., and 2,931 supply. TF 226 Rota Amphib Supply Group (17 Ships): 71,600 supply. 28 Canadian AA Rgt., 511 Coastal AA Rgt., and 611 Coastal AA Rgt. are loading at Pearl Harbor and will not be able to catch up with the Invasion Fleet prior to the Invasion Fleet Amphibious Task Forces hitting the beaches. Depending on the situation, these ground forces may land a few days late or simply go to Wake Island to await the capture of Rota. Guam Amphibious Task Forces (11) 263 ships TF 641 Guam Amphib One (25 Ships): 1 US Amphibious Corps, 1 Marine Division, 1 USMC Tank Bn., 1 Marine Defense Bn., 1 USMC FA Bn., 1 USMC EAB, 1 USMC Air Wing, 45 USN SeaBees, and 42,764 supply. TF 642 Guam Amphib Two (25 Ships): USMC AirFMFPac, 2 Marine Division, 2 USMC Tank Bn., 2 Marine Defense Bn., 2 USMC FA Bn., 2 USMC EAB, 2 USMC Air Wing, and 52,729 supply. TF 643 Guam Amphib Three (25 Ships): I US Corps HQ, 3 Marine Division, 3 USMC Tank Bn., 3 Marine Defense Bn., 146 USA BF, 46 USN SeaBees, and 56,017 supply. TF 644 Guam Amphib Four (25 Ships): 7 US Fleet HQ, 4 Marine Division, 4 USMC Tank Bn., 4 Marine Defense Bn., 147 USA BF, and 39,099 supply. TF 645 Guam Amphib Five (25 Ships): 22 Marine Rgt., 18 Combat Engineer Rgt., 1 USMC Corps Tank Bn., 5 Marine Defense Bn., 148 USA BF, 177 Construction Rgt., and 57,724 supply. TF 646 Guam Amphib Six (25 Ships): 1 USMC Parachute Bn., 1 Marine Raider Bn., 2 Eng. Amphibious Bde., 640 Tank Destroyer Bn., 7 Marine Defense Bn., 149 USA BF, E Detachment Port Service, and 63,134 supply. TF 647 Guam Amphib Seven (25 Ships): 2 USMC Parachute Bn., 2 Marine Raider Bn., 1 USN Naval Construction Rgt., 177 USAAF BF, 8 Marine Defense Bn., 223 USN BF, 39 Aviation BF, and 35,555 supply. TF 648 Guam Amphib Eight (25 Ships): 3 USMC Parachute Bn., 3 Marine Raider Bn., 2 USN Naval Construction Rgt., 178 USAAF BF, 222 USN BF, 9 Marine Defense Bn., and 57,275 supply. TF 649 Guam Amphib Nine (25 Ships): 4 Marine Raider Bn., C Detachment Port Service, 43 USN SeaBees, 10 Marine Defense Bn., 38 Aviation BF, and 97,819 supply. TF 650 Guam Amphib Ten (13 Ships): Pacific Ocean Areas HQ, 11 Marine Defense Bn., 12 Marine Defense Bn., 14 Marine Defense Bn., 15 Marine Defense Bn., 16 Marine Defense Bn., and 13,981 Supply. TF 652 Guam Amphib Supply Group (25 Ships): 622,657 supply. Best Regards, -Terry
< Message edited by Rio Bravo -- 4/22/2017 12:56:51 PM >
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"No one throws me my own guns and tells me to run. No one." -Bret (James Coburn); The Magnificent Seven
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