Marshall Islands on the globe in the Pacific Ocean MH -map A

Naval Base Eniwetok was major

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

base at the

Eniwetok Atoll Enewetak Atoll (; also spelled Eniwetok Atoll or sometimes Eniewetok; mh, Ānewetak, , or , ; known to the Japanese as Brown Atoll or Brown Island; ja, ブラウン環礁) is a large coral atoll of 40 islands in the Pacific Ocean and with it ...

in the

Marshall Islands The Marshall Islands ( mh, Ṃajeḷ), officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands ( mh, Aolepān Aorōkin Ṃajeḷ),'' () is an independent island country and microstate near the Equator in the Pacific Ocean, slightly west of the Internati ...

in the western Pacific Ocean, just to west of the

International Date Line The International Date Line (IDL) is an internationally accepted demarcation on the surface of Earth, running between the South and North Poles and serving as the boundary between one calendar day and the next. It passes through the Pacific O ...

, during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. The base was built to support the island hopping

Pacific war The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War, was the theater of World War II that was fought in Asia, the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and Oceania. It was geographically the largest theater of the war, including the vast ...

efforts of the

allied nations The Allies, formally referred to as the United Nations from 1942, were an international military coalition formed during the Second World War (1939–1945) to oppose the Axis powers, led by Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, and Fascist Italy. ...

fighting the

Empire of Japan The also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was a historical nation-state and great power that existed from the Meiji Restoration in 1868 until the enactment of the post-World War II 1947 constitution and subsequent fo ...

. In terms of the number of ships at one base, Naval Base Enewetak was one of the largest Naval Base in the world in 1944 and 1945, with over 488 ships.Chapter XXVII Bases in the Central Pacific, Building the Navy's Bases in World War II, History of the Bureau of Yards and Docks and the Civil Engineer Corps, 1940–1946, Volume II, UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON, 1947, p.32

/ref>

History

Eniwetok is a large

coral atoll Corals are marine invertebrates within the class (biology), class Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact Colony (biology), colonies of many identical individual polyp (zoology), polyps. Coral species include the important C ...

with a lagoon circled by 40 islands in a

circumference In geometry, the circumference (from Latin ''circumferens'', meaning "carrying around") is the perimeter of a circle or ellipse. That is, the circumference would be the arc length of the circle, as if it were opened up and straightened out to ...

. Eniwetok is also spelled Enewetak or Eniewetok. The islands have less than of land only a few feet above sea level. The deep lagoon in the

atoll An atoll () is a ring-shaped island, including a coral rim that encircles a lagoon partially or completely. There may be coral islands or cays on the rim. Atolls are located in warm tropical or subtropical oceans and seas where corals can gr ...

offers excellent fleet anchorage for the largest ships. The lagoon has only three entrances, providing excellent control and protection. After

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

Eniwetok became part of Japan under the

South Seas Mandate The South Seas Mandate, officially the Mandate for the German Possessions in the Pacific Ocean Lying North of the Equator, was a League of Nations mandate in the "South Seas" given to the Empire of Japan by the League of Nations following Wo ...

. In November 1942 the

built an airfield on Enewetak Atoll's Engebi Island, to refuel and support planes at Truk. In the United States' Marshall campaign the US took control of the

, the

Imperial Japanese Army The was the official ground-based armed force of the Empire of Japan from 1868 to 1945. It was controlled by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office and the Ministry of the Army, both of which were nominally subordinate to the Emperor o ...

sent the

1st Amphibious Brigade First or 1st is the ordinal form of the number one (#1). First or 1st may also refer to: *World record, specifically the first instance of a particular achievement Arts and media Music * 1$T, American rapper, singer-songwriter, DJ, and rec ...

with 2,586 men to defend the base on Engebi Island and Parry Island. In the Battle of Eniwetok the US took Eniwetok starting on 17 February 1944 and ending 23 February. The action took place on three islands: Engebi, Parry and Eniwetok, by the US

22nd Marines The 22nd Marine Regiment (22nd Marines) is an inactive United States Marine Corps infantry regiment. The regiment was commissioned in 1942 and was placed under the command of the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade, and the 6th Marine Division. It to ...

and 106th Infantry. Medical dispensaries were built on each of the main islands: Eniwetok, Engebi, and Parry islands, with a total of 200 beds.

Engebi Airfield

On Engebi Island was a runway built by Japan. The

US Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...

47th Engineers repaired and improved the runway starting February 1944 and completing 10 March. The Engebi Airfield was named Wrigley Airfield. Four fighter squadrons used the 3,950-foot by 225-foot runway. At the airbase were an engine-overhaul shop and a 146,000 gallons aviation-gasoline tank farm. The Army had the 41st Bomber Group and 396th Bomber Squadron flying B-25.

Marine Aircraft Group 31 Marine Aircraft Group 31 (MAG-31) is a United States Marine Corps aviation group based at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina that is currently composed of two F/A-18C Hornet squadrons, one F/A-18A++ Hornet squadron, two F/A-18D Ho ...

and

VMF-113 Marine Fighter Squadron 113 (VMF-113) was a fighter squadron of the United States Marine Corps during World War II and in the Marine Forces Reserve until 1965. Known as the "Whistling Devils", the squadron participated in aerial combat over the M ...

also used the Engebi Airfield, flying

Vought F4U Corsair The Vought F4U Corsair is an American fighter aircraft which saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War. Designed and initially manufactured by Chance Vought, the Corsair was soon in great demand; additional production contracts ...

. In September 1944

Charles Lindbergh Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974) was an American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, and activist. On May 20–21, 1927, Lindbergh made the first nonstop flight from New York City to Paris, a distance o ...

visited Engebi Airfield and

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

flew the Corsairs. Charles Lindbergh helped improve the maximum ordnance load of the Corsairs. By June 1944, the major projects on Engebi had been completed and Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 594, CBMU 594, took over. Engebi Island was given the code name Janet and is at . The airfield was abandoned at the end the war.

Eniwetok Island

US Navy Seabees with the 110th Naval Construction Battalion arrived at Eniwetok starting 21 February 1944. The Seabee's first task was clearing the runway of battle damage and repairing the runway to be a bomber airbase for the

United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

. The completed runway, Stickell Field, was wide on Eniwetok Island. The first plane landed on 11 March, and the first attack mission was carried out on 5 April. Seabee built air facilities that included a major engine overhaul depot, and

barracks Barracks are usually a group of long buildings built to house military personnel or laborers. The English word originates from the 17th century via French and Italian from an old Spanish word "barraca" ("soldier's tent"), but today barracks are u ...

for Army aviation personnel with

quonset hut A Quonset hut is a lightweight prefabricated structure of corrugated galvanized steel having a semi cylindrical cross-section. The design was developed in the United States, based on the Nissen hut introduced by the British during World War I ...

s. The most common bombers were

Consolidated B-24 Liberator The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models des ...

and North American B-25 Mitchell. The US Navy also used Stickell Field, with unit VD-3 flying PB4Y, Navy Liberator. The Navy had stationed at base unit VB-109, VD-4 and VPB-109 flying Lockheed Ventura Harpoon-PV-1 and

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer The Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer is an American World War II and Korean War era Maritime patrol aircraft, patrol bomber of the United States Navy derived from the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The Navy had been using B-24s with only minor modif ...

. Stickell Field is named after Lt. John H. Stickell, a US Navy and former RAF pilot. John H. Stickell was killed in 1944 in action against the

Jaluit Atoll Jaluit Atoll ( Marshallese: , , or , ) is a large coral atoll of 91 islands in the Pacific Ocean and forms a legislative district of the Ralik Chain of the Marshall Islands. Its total land area is , and it encloses a lagoon with an area of . Most ...

. Seabees built a large tank farm with twelve 1,000-barrel tanks to fuel the bombers with

aviation gasoline Avgas (aviation gasoline, also known as aviation spirit in the UK) is an aviation fuel used in aircraft with spark-ignited internal combustion engines. ''Avgas'' is distinguished from conventional gasoline (petrol) used in motor vehicles, whi ...

at Stickell Field. Tankers in the lagoon could refill the tanks by a floating pipeline that was 1,200 feet long at a tanker mooring. The tank farm was completed by May 1944. The tank farm was partly damaged when a Landing craft tank, LCT(5)-315, had an explosion on 23 March 1944. Seabees built two (80-foot and 150-foot) coral-fill piers out into the lagoon on Eniwetok Island for unloading supplies. Also for unloading supplies at Eniwetok Island Seabees built two beach ramps for unloading LCTs. On Eniwetok Island 3,500 troops were stationed in 1944. Naval Base Eniwetok Fleet Post Office Box# was 3237. Eniwetok Island was given the code name Fred at . After the war, the runway became

Enewetak Auxiliary Airfield Enewetak Auxiliary Airfield is a private airport at Enewetak on Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands. This airport is assigned the location identifier ENT by the IATA. Facilities Enewetak Auxiliary Airfield has one runway designated 06/24, with an ...

, now an emergency landing runway. Hal Kanter built and ran Armed Forces Radio Service radio station on Naval Base Eniwetok. Seabees built two berths that were used for ships to dock and do

anti-aircraft Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based, ...

target practice. For the target practice the airbase would provide towed target and also had drone planes tow targets for safety.

Bob Hope

In 1944

Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was a British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer and dancer. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films, with 5 ...

put on a Bob Hope Show on Eniwetok Island. In the

USO The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...

military tour there were still wrecked planes and equipment in the background. Hope had Jerry Colona and

Frances Langford Julia Frances Newbern-Langford (April 4, 1913 – July 11, 2005) was an American singer and actress who was popular during the Golden Age of Radio and made film and television appearances for over two decades. She was known as the "GI Nighting ...

sing on stage.

Patty Thomas Patty Thomas was an American dancer, USO entertainer and actress. She appeared in the 1961 film ''The Ladies Man'', 1938 film You Can't Take It with You (film), ''You Can't Take It with You'' and toured with Bob Hope during and after World Wa ...

danced and musician guitarist Tony Romano played. Hope called his 1944 tour of the South Pacific: "Loew’s Malaria Circuit" and "the Pineapple Circuit". Hope did 150 shows in the two months they were on the 1944 road trip. Hope's 1944 show visited

Naval Base Pearl Harbor A navy, naval force, or maritime force is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake-borne, riverine, littoral, or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions. It include ...

Hawaii at the Nimitz Bowl, Eniwetok,

Naval Base Cairns Naval Base Brisbane was a major United States Navy base built in the early part of World War II at Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. At first, operated as a base for patrol aircraft and convoy escort aircraft to protect the last leg of the Pacific ...

Green Islands The Green Islands is a small archipelago of islands in the Solomon Sea, within the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, in northeastern Papua New Guinea. They are located at , about northwest of Bougainville Island, and about east of Rabaul ...

, Bougainville, Milner Bay,

Naval Base Treasury Islands The Battle of the Treasury Islands was a Second World War battle that took place between 27 October and 12 November 1943 on the Treasury Islands group, part of the Solomon Islands. The battle formed part of the wider Pacific War and involved New ...

, Naval Base Mios Woendi called Wendy Island, and

Naval Base Kwajalein Naval Base Kwajalein was United States Navy base built on Kwajalein Atoll, in the Marshall Islands to support the World War II efforts in the Pacific War. The base was built after the Battle of Kwajalein ended 3 February 1944. The US Navy buil ...

Parry Island

Troops at sea on ships and boats need R&R, so in June 1945, the 67th Naval Construction Battalion arrived and built a 35,000-man recreation center on Parry Island. Parry Island had mark off swimming beaches. At the recreation center in the atoll, the Navy had an

ice cream Ice cream is a sweetened frozen food typically eaten as a snack or dessert. It may be made from milk or cream and is flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit such as str ...

barge Barge nowadays generally refers to a flat-bottomed inland waterway vessel which does not have its own means of mechanical propulsion. The first modern barges were pulled by tugs, but nowadays most are pushed by pusher boats, or other vessels ...

that could make up to 500 gallons of ice cream for the troops in 8 hours. The ice cream barge also would make fresh bread products. The base officer's club was built on Parry Island. The base printed a bulletin newspaper to keep the Troops up-to-date at the base. After completion, the Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 608 (CBMU 608) took over the day-to-day operation and Maintenance of the center. Naval Base Eniwetok was part of the vast Naval Base Marshall Islands. On Parry Island the 110th Battalion Seabees repaired and improved the Parry Island Seaplane Base captured from Japanese forces. Parry Island is also known as: Medren, Elmer, Igem, Heartstrings, and Overbuilt at .

Smaller Islands

The local inhabitants,

Micronesians The Micronesians or Micronesian peoples are various closely related ethnic groups native to Micronesia, a region of Oceania in the Pacific Ocean. They are a part of the Austronesian ethnolinguistic group, which has an Urheimat in Taiwan. Ethno ...

, at Eniwetok were restricted to the smaller islands of Biijiri, Aomen, and the Rojoa complex. Aomen (Aranit, Ulie) codename was Sally. Biijiri, Bijire codename was Tilda. One of the small islands, that was away from the base and inhabitants, for safety, was used as an ammunition depot. Seabees of the 126th Battalion built a second fleet recreation center on Runit Island, codename Hawthorne, six weeks later it was crated up and shipped to Naval Base Ulithi. The 126th Battalion also built facilities on Japtan, codename, David.

Eniwetok lagoon

The deep lagoon the Navy set up fleet anchorage and a major

US Naval Advance Base US Naval Advance Bases were built globally by the United States Navy during World War II to support and project U.S. naval operations world-wide. A few were built on allied soil, but most were captured enemy facilities or completely new. Advanc ...

. The

USS Cascade (AD-16) USS ''Cascade'' (AD-16), the only ship of its class, was a destroyer tender in the United States Navy. Originally designed as a passenger-freighter, the ''Cascade'' was launched on 6 June 1942 by Western Pipe and Steel Company in San Francisco, ...

became the

flagship A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the fi ...

of Service Squadron 4 and Service Squadron 10. A Service Squadron is a floating Naval Base, with all the support a land base would give. In the Service Squadron were all the supplies and repair depot support the fleet needed. The Service Squadron had:

Fleet Oilers A replenishment oiler or replenishment tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds which can supply both fuel and dry stores during underway replenishment (UNREP) at sea. Many countries have used replenishment oilers. The ...

(AO),

Gasoline Tanker A tanker (or tank ship or tankship) is a ship designed to transport or store liquids or gases in Bulk liquids, bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and gas carrier. Tankers also carry commodities such as ve ...

(AOG), Repair Ships (AR),

Ammunition ship An ammunition ship is an auxiliary ship specially configured to carry ammunition, usually for naval ships and aircraft. An ammunition ship's cargo handling systems, designed with extreme safety in mind, include ammunition hoists with airlocks bet ...

s (AE), Destroyer Tenders (AD),

Tugboats A tugboat or tug is a marine vessel that manoeuvres other vessels by pushing or pulling them, with direct contact or a tow line. These boats typically tug ships in circumstances where they cannot or should not move under their own power, suc ...

Barges Barge nowadays generally refers to a flat-bottomed boat, flat-bottomed inland waterway vessel which does not have its own means of mechanical propulsion. The first modern barges were pulled by tugs, but nowadays most are pushed by Pusher (boat) ...

Seaplane tender A seaplane tender is a boat or ship that supports the operation of seaplanes. Some of these vessels, known as seaplane carriers, could not only carry seaplanes but also provided all the facilities needed for their operation; these ships are rega ...

s, hospital ship (AH),

Net laying ship A net laying ship, also known as a net layer, net tender, gate ship or boom defence vessel was a type of naval auxiliary ship. A net layer's primary function was to lay and maintain steel anti-torpedo or anti-submarine nets. Nets could be laid ...

s (AN),

barracks ship A barracks ship or barracks barge or berthing barge, or in civilian use accommodation vessel or accommodation ship, is a ship or a non-self-propelled barge containing a superstructure of a type suitable for use as a temporary barracks for sai ...

s (APL), Small Auxiliary Floating Dry Docks, stores ship and Submarine tenders (AS). By July 1944 there were about 488 at the base, after a fleet depart there were 283. ships. Seabes built a signal tower at the entrance to the lagoon, that became the Harbor Entrance Control Post (H.E.C.P.), to direct port traffic. The

USS Vega (AK-17) USS ''Vega'' (AK-17), was a of the United States Navy, originally the ''Lebanon'' — a single-screw, steel-hulled Type 1022 freighter, built under a United States Shipping Board contract at Hog Island, Pennsylvania, by the American Internatio ...

was used to assemble floating pontoon barges. Shipping Pontoons flat and unassembled took a lot less space. Outboard engines were added to many barges for moving supplies in the atoll. As the fighting front moved east and closer to Japan, Service Squadron 10 was too far away from the action. Service Squadron 10 started departing Enewetak Atoll on 4 October 1944 for

Naval Base Ulithi Naval Base Ulithi was major United States Navy base at the Ulithi Atoll in the Caroline Islands in the western Pacific Ocean, to the north of New Guinea during World War II. The base was built to support the island hoping Pacific war e ...

arriving on the 15th.

Ulithi Ulithi ( yap, Wulthiy, , or ) is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about east of Yap. Overview Ulithi consists of 40 islets totaling , surrounding a lagoon about long and up to wide—at one of the largest i ...

is 1,538 miles east of Eniwetok. Squadron 10 was moved to Ulithi in four convoys, tugboats returning to move non-self-propelled craft for each trips. Non-self-propelled craft included: APL-14 troopsship, 7

concrete Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, and is the most wi ...

3,000-ton storage barges, 19 oil/

water Water (chemical formula ) is an inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms (in which it acts as a ...

barges, 17 gasoline barges, 24 500-ton barges with ammunition, freight, spare parts, radio, medical, mail, refrigerated food, and etc. The Service Squadron 10 move took two weeks.Service Squadron Ten Main Body Moves to Ulithi
'US Navy''

Eniwetok repair depot

The US Navy set up a large ship and boat repair depot at Naval Base Eniwetok. The repair depot provided the fleet with support to keep ships and subs tactically available in the Pacific War with the repair and supply depot, rather than ships having to return to continental United States. The Navy had built special

auxiliary floating drydock An auxiliary floating drydock is a type of US Navy floating dry dock. Floating dry docks are able to submerge underwater and to be placed under a ship in need of repair below the water line. Water is then pumped out of the floating dry dock, r ...

s that were able to repair battle damage to even the largest ships and do regular maintenance in the field saving ships trans-pacific travel time for repair. Supply store ships were also at the base with the parts needed to keep the fleet ready. The

USS Endymion (ARL-9) USS ''Endymion'' (ARL-9) was one of 39 ''Achelous''-class landing craft repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Endymion (in Greek mythology, a handsome Aeolian shepherd or hunter), she was the only U.S. Nav ...

was torpedoed and had temporary repairs made at Eniwetok. In September 944 a stron westerly storm hit Eniwetok and damaged many boats and barges, and drove high-speed target rafts ashore. The depot worked overtime to repair the damage. *Some of the Eniwetok repair depot ships and crafts: * USS Richland (YFD-64), Auxiliary floating drydock *

USS Oak Ridge (ARDM-1) USS ''Oak Ridge'' (ARD-19/ARDM-1) was originally a United States Navy Auxiliary floating drydock suitable for dry docking destroyers, submarines and landing craft, built by the Pacific Bridge Company. In the early 1960s she was upgraded to supp ...

, Auxiliary floating drydock *

USS Endurance (ARDM-3) was originally laid down as ARD-18, a non self-propelled United States Navy Auxiliary floating drydock in 1944. Built by the Pacific Bridge Company in Alameda, California. During World War II USS ARD-18 was assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater ...

, Auxiliary floating drydock *AFDL-32, a type of Small Auxiliary Floating Dry Docks *USS ARD-13, ARD Auxiliary floating drydock, mostly destroyer repair *USS ARD-15, ARD Auxiliary floating drydock, mostly destroyer repair *USS ARD-23, ARD Auxiliary floating drydock, mostly destroyer repair *

USS Jason (AR-8) USS ''Jason'' (AR-8) was the fourth of the Vulcan class repair ship of the United States Navy in service from 1944 to 1995, serving in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War. At the time of her decommissioning, ''Jason'' was (with the ex ...

, large repair ship * USS Ajax, large repair ship * USS Nestor (ARB-6), repair ship and small craft tender *

USS Oceanus (ARB-2) USS ''Oceanus'' (ARB-2) was planned as a United States Navy , but was redesignated as one of twelve ''Aristaeus''-class battle damage repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Oceanus (believed to be the worl ...

, battle damage repair ship * USS Preserver (ARS-8), repair ship *

USS Zeus (ARB-4) USS ''Zeus'' (ARB-4) was planned as a United States Navy , but was redesignated as one of twelve ''Aristaeus''-class battle damage repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Zeus (in Greek mythology, the king o ...

, repair ship *

USS Vestal USS ''Vestal'' (AR-4) was a repair ship in service with the United States Navy from 1913 to 1946. Before her conversion to a repair ship, she had served as a collier since 1909. ''Vestal'' served in both World Wars. She was damaged during the ...

, large repair ship *

USS Mona Island (ARG-9) USS ''Mona Island'' (ARG-9) was laid down on 10 April 1944, as a Maritime Commission type ( EC2-S-C1) hull, under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2634) at Bethlehem Fairfield Shipyard, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland. Launched on 11 May 1944. Acqu ...

, repair ship *

USS Deliver (ARS-23) USS ''Deliver'' (ARS-23) was a commissioned by the U.S. Navy during World War II. Her task was to come to the aid of stricken vessels. ''Deliver'' was launched 25 September 1943 by Basalt Rock Company in Napa, California; sponsored by Mrs. W. W. ...

rescue and salvage ship Rescue and salvage ships (hull classification symbol ARS) are a type of military salvage tug. They are tasked with coming to the aid of stricken vessels. Their general mission capabilities include combat salvage, lifting, towing, retraction of grou ...

* USS Shackle (ARS-9), rescue and salvage ship *

USS Supply (IX-147) The third USS ''Supply'' (IX-147/AVS-1) was a freighter and aviation supply ship of the United States Navy during World War II. The ship was built in 1921 by Doullet and Williams of New Orleans, Louisiana, and was operated by the American Pio ...

, aircraft stores ship *YRB-34, Floating Workshop

Eniwetok seaplane base

The Parry Island seaplane base had only one seaplane ramp and it was not usable at low tide. Most of the seaplane base operations were carried out by

seaplane tender A seaplane tender is a boat or ship that supports the operation of seaplanes. Some of these vessels, known as seaplane carriers, could not only carry seaplanes but also provided all the facilities needed for their operation; these ships are rega ...

s in the lagoon. Seaplanes did reconnaissance patrols and search, also rescue missions for downed aircrew mem and survivors of sunk ships. The most common seaplanes at the base were Consolidated PBY Catalina and Martin PBM Mariner. The seaplane base take off and landing was a spot was marked off in the atoll. The seaplanes were supported by a floating base of seaplane tenders. Seaplane tenders had stores to supply: food, fuel, ammo, spare parts. The seaplane tender also had housing and mess halls for the aircrew while the seaplane was being serviced. Aircrew on leave could go to Eniwetok's fleet recreation center. Some seaplane tenders were stationed at Eniwetok seaplane base for months. Other seaplane tenders came to Naval Base Eniwetok to resupply the ship's stores before returning to a

. Some came to Eniwetok repair depot to be repaired. Unit base at Eniwetok seaplane base VP-13,

VP-16 VP-16, nicknamed the ''War Eagles'', is an active Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It has been based at NAS Jacksonville, Florida since its founding in 1946. The squadron's mission is to operate Maritime patrol aircraft to the fleet in support o ...

, VP-21, VP-23, VP-MS-6,

VP-102 VP-102 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. It was established as VP-18 on 1 September 1937, redesignated as VP-13 on 1 July 1939, redesignated as VP-26 on 11 December 1939, redesignated as VP-102 on 16 December 1940 and disestablished on 18 Ap ...

, VP-202 VPB-19, and VPB-22. Some seaplane tenders at Naval Base Eniwetok: *

USS Corson (AVP-37) USS ''Corson'' (AVP-37) was a United States Navy ''Barnegat''-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1946 and from 1951 to 1956. Construction and commissioning ''Corson'' was launched on 16 July 1944 by Lake Washington Shipy ...

* USS Hamlin (AV-15) *

USS Casco (AVP-12) The third USS ''Casco'' (AVP-12) was a United States Navy ''Barnegat''-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1941 to 1947. She saw service in World War II. After her decommissioning, the U.S. Navy loaned her to the United States Coas ...

USS Suisun USS ''Suisun'' (AVP-53) was a United States Navy ''Barnegat''-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1955. It was named for northern California's Suisun Bay, which takes its name from the Native American Suisun tribe. Construct ...

* USS Chandeleur (AV-10) *

USS Mackinac (AVP-13) The second USS ''Mackinac'' (AVP-13) was a United States Navy small seaplane tender in commission from 1942 to 1947 that saw service during World War II. After the war, she was in commission in the United States Coast Guard from 1949 to 1967 ...

USS Barataria (AVP-33) The second USS ''Barataria'' (AVP-33) was a United States Navy ''Barnegat''-class seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1946. She saw service in the later stages of World War II and was decommissioned postwar. She then was transferred to ...

USS Chincoteague (AVP-24) USS ''Chincoteague'' (AVP-24) was a United States Navy seaplane tender in commission from 1943 to 1946 that saw service in the Pacific during World War II. After the war, she was in commission in the United States Coast Guard as the cutter U ...

* USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14) *

USS Onslow (AVP-48) USS ''Onslow'' (AVP-48) was a United States Navy ''Barnegat''-class seaplane tender in commission from 1943 to 1947 and from 1951 to 1960. Constructioning and commissioning ''Onslow'' was laid down on 18 May 1942 by Lake Washington Shipyard ...

USS Pocomoke (AV-9) USS ''Pocomoke'' (AV-9) was a , originally built as the and acquired by the U.S. Navy as the military build-up occurred in the United States just prior to World War II. She operated principally in the Pacific Theatre of the war and serviced mil ...

USS St. George (AV-16) USS ''St. George'' (AV-16) was a in the United States Navy. ''St. George'' was laid down on 4 August 1943 by the Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Tacoma, Washington, launched on 14 February 1944, sponsored by Mrs. Alfred E. Montgomery; ...

USS Duxbury Bay (AVP-38) USS ''Duxbury Bay'' (AVP-38) was a United States Navy ''Barnegat''-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1966. Construction and commissioning ''Duxbury Bay'' was launched on 2 October 1944 by Lake Washington Shipyard, Hou ...

* USS San Pablo (AVP-30) *

USS Yakutat (AVP-32) USS ''Yakutat'' (AVP-32) was a United States Navy Barnegat class small seaplane tender, ''Barnegat''-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1946. ''Yakutat'' tended seaplanes in combat areas in the Pacific during the latter stag ...

* USS Cumberland Sound (AV-17) * USS Shelikof (AVP-52) *

USS Coos Bay USS ''Coos Bay'' (AVP-25) was a United States Navy ''Barnegat''-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1943 to 1946 that saw service during the latter half of World War II. After the war, she was in commission in the United States Coas ...

*YSD-42 Seaplane Wrecking Derrick

Stationed at Eniwetok

USS Relief (AH-1) in a western Pacific harbour c1945

*Over 6,000 seamen were at Eniwetok, stationed in ships and on shore bases. Hundreds of ships at anchored at Eniwetok, some stationed, some in for repair or resupply. United States Merchant Navy ships would unload supply at Naval Base Eniwetok to keep the fleet and base supplied. *

Service Squadron 10 A Service Squadron (ServRon) was a United States Navy squadron that supported fleet combat ships and US Navy Auxiliary ships. Service Squadrons were used by the US Navy from their inception in 1943 to as late as the early 1980s. At the time of th ...

, a floating 400 ship base with

tankers Tanker may refer to: Transportation * Tanker, a tank crewman (US) * Tanker (ship), a ship designed to carry bulk liquids ** Chemical tanker, a type of tanker designed to transport chemicals in bulk ** Oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tanke ...

Fleet oilers A replenishment oiler or replenishment tanker is a naval auxiliary ship with fuel tanks and dry cargo holds which can supply both fuel and dry stores during underway replenishment (UNREP) at sea. Many countries have used replenishment oilers. The ...

refrigerator A refrigerator, colloquially fridge, is a commercial and home appliance consisting of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump (mechanical, electronic or chemical) that transfers heat from its inside to its external environment so th ...

ships,

ammunition ship An ammunition ship is an auxiliary ship specially configured to carry ammunition, usually for naval ships and aircraft. An ammunition ship's cargo handling systems, designed with extreme safety in mind, include ammunition hoists with airlocks bet ...

s, supply ships, floating docks and repair ships. Service Squadron 10 started departing Enewetak Atoll 4 October 1944 for

arriving on the 15th. * USS Abatan, distilling ship freshwater from the sea for land base and small vessels. *

USS Dauphin (APA-97) USS ''Dauphin'' (APA-97) was a Windsor class attack transport, ''Windsor''-class attack transport that served with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946. She was sold into commercial service in 1948 and was scrapped in 1979. History ''Dauphi ...

, floating barracks, troopship * APL-14, floating barracks * USS Amador, ammunition tender * USS Firedrake (AE-14), ammunition tender *

USS Lassen (AE-3) USS ''Lassen'' (AE-3) was built as MS ''Shooting Star'' under a U.S. Maritime Commission contract, was delivered to the U.S. Navy after sea trials, and became an ammunition cargo ship during World War II. Like many Naval ships of this catego ...

, ammunition tender stores *SS Plymouth Victory, ammunition stores *

USS Turkey (AM-13) USS ''Turkey'' (AM-13) was a the U.S. Navy, thus named after the bird, not after the country which in 1917 was an enemy in the ongoing World War I. The minesweeper was acquired by for the dangerous task of removing mines from minefields laid i ...

, minesweeper *

USS Sabine (AO-25) USS ''Sabine'' (AO-25), a fleet replenishment oiler serving in the United States Navy, was the second ship named for the Sabine River on the Texas-Louisiana border. ''Sabine'' was laid down on 18 September 1939 as SS ''Esso Albany'', MC hull ...

, carrier oiler * USS Aucilla, carrier oiler * USS Marias (AO-57), battleship oiler *

USS Platte (AO-24) USS ''Platte'' (AO-24) was a oiler serving with the United States Navy, named for the 1836 Platte Purchase that included the Platte Rivers in Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska. Her memorial in Platte County, Missouri honors all four rivers that shar ...

, battleship oiler * USS Taluga (AO-62), cruisers oiler * USS Sepulga (AO-20), cruisers oiler * USS Cowanesque (AO-79), destroyer oiler *

USS Chotauk (IX-188) USS ''Chotauk'' (IX-188), an unclassified miscellaneous vessel, was the victim of a typographical error: she was intended to be named for USS ''Chotank''. Her keel was laid down in 1920 by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation's Fore River Shipyard ...

, destroyer oiler *

USS Elk (IX-115) USS ''Elk'' (IX-115), an ''Armadillo''-class tanker designated an unclassified miscellaneous vessel, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the elk, a large deer of the northern forests of Europe, Asia, and North America ...

, destroyer oiler *USS Malvern (IX-138), destroyer oiler * USS Genesee (AOG-8), oiler * USS Enoree (AO-69), oiler *

USS Nantahala (AO-60) USS ''Nantahala'' (AO–60), the second ship of this name, was laid down under Maritime Commission contract by Bethlehem Sparrows Point Shipyard, Inc., Sparrows Point, Maryland, on 31 October 1943. Launched on 29 April 1944; sponsored by Miss M ...

, oiler * USS Tombigbee (AOG-11), oiler *

USS Saranac (AO-74) USS ''Saranac'' (AO-74), originally named the SS ''Cowpens'', was a Type T2-SE-A1 ''Suamico''-class fleet oiler of the United States Navy, and the fourth ship of the Navy to bear the name. Laid down under Maritime Commission contract (MC hull ...

, oiler *

USS Neosho (AO-48) USS ''Neosho'' (AO–48) was a USS Kennebec (AO-36), ''Kennebec''-class T2 tanker, type T2 Oiler (ship), fleet oiler of the United States Navy. The ship was laid down on 8 July 1941, as SS ''Catawba'', by the Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard In ...

, oiler *

USS Caliente (AO-53) USS ''Caliente'' (AO-53) was a built during World War II for the U.S. Navy. During her career in the Pacific Ocean, ''Caliente'' participated in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. She was highly decorated for fulfilling her dange ...

, oiler *

USS Pecos (AO-65) USS ''Pecos'' (AO–65) was laid down 20 April 1942 by the Sun Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. as a type T3-SE-A1 tanker, Chester, Pennsylvania, as ''Corsicana'' (MC hull 325); launched 17 August acquired by the Navy 29 August 1942; and commissi ...

, oiler *

USS Cimarron (AO-22) USS ''Cimarron'' (AO-22) was a oiler serving with the United States Navy and the second ship to be named for the Cimarron River in the Southwestern United States. She was launched 7 January 1939 by Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, Chest ...

, oiler *

USS Standard Arrow (ID-1532) USS ''Standard Arrow'' (ID-1532) was a United States Navy tanker in commission from 1917 to 1919. She was built as SS ''Standard Arrow'' for the Standard Oil Company. In World War II, she was again acquired by the U.S. Navy from Standard Oil and ...

, oiler *

USS Wabash (AOG-4) USS ''Wabash'' (AOG-4) was a acquired by the U.S. Navy for the dangerous task of transporting gasoline to warships in the fleet, and to remote Navy stations. ''Wabash'' was laid down on 30 June 1942 at Seattle, Washington, by the Seattle-Tacoma ...

, oiler *

USS Arethusa (IX-135) USS ''Arethusa'' (IX-135) began life as ''Gargoyle''—a tanker built in 1921 at Oakland, Calif., by the Moore Shipbuilding Co. and was renamed ''Arethusa'' by the Navy and designated IX-135 on 3 November 1943; acquired by the Navy on 23 March 1 ...

, oiler *

USS Inca (IX-229) USS ''Inca'', a 3,381-ton (light displacement) "Liberty" ship, was launched in March 1943 at Los Angeles, California, and entered merchant service later the same month as SS ''William B. Allison'', MCE hull 724. Two years later she would be tak ...

, oiler *

USS Neches (AO-47) USS ''Neches'' (AO-47) was a in the United States Navy during World War II and the Vietnam War. She was the second U.S. Navy ship named for the Neches River in eastern Texas. Construction and commissioning ''Neches'' was laid down as type T2 ...

, oiler *

USS Lackawanna (AO-40) USS ''Lackawanna'' (AO-40) was a ''Kennebec''-class type T2 fleet oiler of the United States Navy. The ship was laid down 27 December 1941, as SS ''Conastoga'' (hull number 4359), by the Bethlehem-Sparrows Point Shipyard Inc., Sparrows Point, ...

, oiler * USS Gazelle (IX-116), oiler * USS Kaskaskia (AO-27), oiler *USS Antona (IX-133), oiler tanker barge *YO-76, oiler tanker barge *USS Bullwheel (YO-46), oiler tanker barge * USS Gamage (IX-227), storage for lubricants and drummed petroleum * USS Giraffe (IX-118), gasoline tanker *USS Quiros, water tanker * USS Athanasia, stores ship *

USS Palisana (AF-39) USS Palisana (AF-39) was an Adria stores ship stores ship acquired by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. Her task was to carry stores, refrigerated items, and equipment to ships in the fleet, and to remote stations and staging areas. ' ...

, stores ship *

USS Latona (AF-35) USS ''Latona'' (AF-35) was an ''Adria''-class stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1949. She was scrapped in 1973. History ''Latona'' was launched under United States Maritime Commission contact 10 August 1944 by Pen ...

, stores ship * USS Graffias (AF-29), stores ship *

USS Trefoil (IX-149) USS ''Trefoil'' (IX-149), the lead ship of Trefoil class concrete barge, her class of concrete barge, concrete-hulled cargo barge, was the second ship of the United States Navy to be given that name. Her keel was laid down in 1944 under a Mariti ...

, stores ship *

USS Quartz (IX-150) USS ''Quartz'' (IX-150), a designated an unclassified miscellaneous vessel, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for quartz or silicon dioxide (SiO2) a hard, vitreous mineral occurring in many varieties and comprising 12% of the ...

, stores ship * USS Megrez (AK-126), stores ship * USS Aldebaran, food stores ship * USS Polaris (AF-11), food stores ship *

USS Sirius (AF-60) USS ''Sirius'' (AF-60) was a ''Alstede''-class stores ship in service with the US Maritime Administration from 1943, and acquired by the United States Navy in 1956. Her task was to carry stores, refrigerated items, and equipment to ships in the ...

, refrigerator food stores ship *

USS Rutilicus (AK-113) USS ''Rutilicus'' (AK-113) was a commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipment to locations in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. Construction ''Rutilicus'' was laid down 2 A ...

, food stores ship *SS Cape Pilar, merchant food stores ship * USS Ascella, medical stores ship *

USS Azimech USS ''Azimech'' (AK-124) was a commissioned by the US Navy for service in World War II, named after the Azimech, the other name of Spica, the brightest star in constellation Virgo. She was responsible for delivering troops, goods and equipm ...

, medical stores ship * USS Iolanda, stores ship *

USS Carmita (IX-152) USS ''Carmita'' (IX-152) was a - a supply ship made of concrete - during World War II. Considered an unclassified miscellaneous vessel, she was acquired and placed in service on 11 May 1944. The IX-152 was the second ship of the United States Na ...

, stores ship *

USS Arctic (AF-7) USS ''Arctic'' (AF-7) was an ''Arctic''-class stores ship acquired by the United States Navy shortly after World War I, which saw extensive service in World War II. She served in the Pacific Ocean, delivering food and household items to ship ...

, stores ship *

USS Gordonia (AF-43) USS Gordonia (AF-43) was an ''Adria''-class stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1946. She was scrapped in 1974. History ''Gordonia'', a provision stores ship, was launched 30 November 1944 by Pennsylvania Shipyards ...

, stores ship * USS Hesperia, stores ship * USS Volans, stores ship *

USS Karin (AF-33) USS ''Karin'' (AF-33) was an Adria stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1945 to 1958. She was into commercial service in 1969 and was scrapped in 1987. History ''Karin'' was launched 22 June 1944 by Pennsylvania Shipyard In ...

, stores ship *

USS Adria USS Adria (AF-30) was an ''Adria''-class stores ship in service with the United States Navy from 1944 to 1954. She was scrapped in 1977. History ''Adria'' was laid down under a Maritime Commission contract (MC hull 2194) on 27 December 1943 a ...

, stores ship *

USS Antares (AG-10) USS ''Antares'' (AG-10/AKS-3) was an ''Antares''-class cargo ship acquired by the U.S. Navy after World War I for use in transporting cargo, named after Antares, the brightest star in constellation Scorpius. She earned two battle stars in ser ...

, stores ship * USS Lioba (AF-36), stores ship * USS Kerstin (AF-34), stores ship * USS Luna, stores ship *

USS Corundum (IX-164) USS ''Corundum'' (IX-164), a designated an unclassified miscellaneous vessel, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for corundum. The ship (a Type B7-D1 barge) was laid down on 19 October 1943 under a Maritime Commission contra ...

, spare parts *

, stores ship * USS Silica (IX-151) fresh, frozen food, and dry provisions, *APL-15 – None propelled

* USS Orvetta (IX-157), barracks ship *USS Sea Hag, barracks ship *USS Seaward (IX-209) troopship and mail ship (was USS LST-278) *YF-1038 cover lighter Type B ship *YG-36, YG-33 and YG-37 self-propelled Garbage lighter *YF-254 lighter *YC-1006 lighter *YP-688 lighter *YF-788 lighter *YF-786 lighter *

USS Turkey (AMS-56) USS ''Turkey'' (AMS-56/YMS-444) was a ''YMS-135'' subclass of s built for the United States Navy during World War II. History ''Turkey'' was a coastal minesweeper of the United States Navy laid down as ''YMS-444'' on 16 November 1943 at Kings ...

minesweeper * USS Unadilla (ATA-182)

Tugboat A tugboat or tug is a marine vessel that manoeuvres other vessels by pushing or pulling them, with direct contact or a tow line. These boats typically tug ships in circumstances where they cannot or should not move under their own power, su ...

, Type V ship *

USS Chickasaw (AT-83) USS ''Chickasaw'' (AT-83/ATF-83) was a constructed for the United States Navy during World War II. She served in the Pacific Ocean in World War II and the Korean War, and was awarded six battle stars for World War II and two battle stars during ...

, Tug *

USS Jicarilla (ATF-104) USS ''Jicarilla'' (ATF-104) was during the World War II. The ship was later sold to Colombia as ARC ''Sebastián De Belalcázar'' (RM-73). Her namesake is a group of the Apache tribe found in the southwestern United States. Design and descrip ...

, Tug *USS ATR 71, Tug *USS AT 116, Tug *USS YTB-372, Tug *

USS Hitchiti (ATF-103) USS ''Hitchiti'' (ATF-103) was during the World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The ship was later sold to Mexico as ARM ''Chac'' (R-55). Her namesake is a tribe of Creek Indians who lived in Florida and Georgia. The word "Hitchiti" means "to look ...

, Tug *USS YTB-384, Tug *USS Mobile Point, Tug *

USS Arapaho (ATF-68) USS ''Arapaho'' (AT-68/ATF-68) was a fleet ocean tug which served the U.S. Navy during World War II with her towing services. She was assigned initially to support the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and was eventually assigned to support Allied forces ...

, Tug *USS Point Loma, dredge ship *USS Benson, dredge * Landing Ship, Tanks (LST) for moving supplies *Small

landing craft Landing craft are small and medium seagoing watercraft, such as boats and barges, used to convey a landing force (infantry and vehicles) from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. The term excludes landing ships, which are larger. Pr ...

for moving supplies and personal * Motor Launch boats for moving personal

Eniwetok destroyer base

USS Hamul (AD-20) with destroyer escorts during WWII

Hundreds of US Navy

destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...

s were used in the Pacific war. Destroyers were used to protect

capital ship The capital ships of a navy are its most important warships; they are generally the larger ships when compared to other warships in their respective fleet. A capital ship is generally a leading or a primary ship in a naval fleet. Strategic im ...

s like

aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying, and recovering aircraft. Typically, it is the capital ship of a fleet, as it allows a ...

battleship A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of large caliber guns. It dominated naval warfare in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The term ''battleship'' came into use in the late 1880s to describe a type of ...

s and heavy cruisers. Destroyers were used to screen and protect convoy of ships. Destroyers were used to hunt submarines and protect

amphibious landing Amphibious warfare is a type of offensive military operation that today uses naval ships to project ground and air power onto a hostile or potentially hostile shore at a designated landing beach. Through history the operations were conducted ...

s at beaches. Destroyers had

guns,

radar Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...

, and forward-launched ASW weapons,

dual-purpose gun A dual-purpose gun is a naval artillery mounting designed to engage both surface and air targets. Description Second World War-era capital ships had four classes of artillery: the heavy main battery, intended to engage opposing battleships and ...

depth charge A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) weapon. It is intended to destroy a submarine by being dropped into the water nearby and detonating, subjecting the target to a powerful and destructive Shock factor, hydraulic shock. Most depth ...

s, and torpedoes. Destroyers needed to be restocked with food, fuel, supplies, and

weapons A weapon, arm or armament is any implement or device that can be used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime, law enforcement, s ...

s to keep operational. Eniwetok had a large destroyer base, with destroyer tenders. Destroyer tenders could do minor repair work on the ships also, and major work could be done at the Eniwetok repair depot. *Destroyer tenders stationed at Eniwetok: *

* USS Prairie (AD-15) * USS Piedmont (AD-17) * USS Yosemite (AD-19) *

USS Hamul (AD-20) USS ''Hamul'' (AD-20) was the lead ship of a class of two destroyer tenders; she was most likely named after ''Hamal'', the brightest star in the constellation Aries. Laid down on 6 March 1940 as SS ''Sea Panther'', a Maritime Commission type ...

* USS Dixie (AD-14) *

USS Sierra (AD-18) USS ''Sierra'' (AD-18) was a built just before the start of World War II for the U.S. Navy. Her task was to service destroyers in, or near, battle areas and to keep them fit for duty. The second U.S. Navy ship to bear the name, ''Sierra'' wa ...

USS Markab USS ''Markab'' (AD-21) was a USS Hamul (AD-20), ''Hamul''-class destroyer tender named for Alpha Pegasi, ''Markab'', the third-brightest star in the constellation Pegasus (constellation), Pegasus. Construction, acquisition, and commissioning ''M ...

Eniwetok Submarine Base

Many US Navy

submarine A submarine (or sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability. The term is also sometimes used historically or colloquially to refer to remotely op ...

s were used in the Pacific War. The submarine attacked

warship A warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the armed forces of a state. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster a ...

s and sank supply ships that were needed by Japan to resupply their many bases in the Pacific. US subs also did reconnaissance patrols, landed guerrilla

special forces Special forces and special operations forces (SOF) are military units trained to conduct special operations. NATO has defined special operations as "military activities conducted by specially designated, organized, selected, trained and equip ...

and

search and rescue Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...

missions for downed aircrew mem. US submarine had long ranges, but needed to be resupplied with fuel, food,

torpedo A modern torpedo is an underwater ranged weapon launched above or below the water surface, self-propelled towards a target, and with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Historically, su ...

es and deck gun shells. At Naval Base Eniwetok the Navy set up a floating submarine base in the

. The submarine tenders:

USS Sperry (AS-12) USS ''Sperry'' (AS-12) was a in the United States Navy. She was named for Elmer Sperry. ''Sperry'' was laid down on 1 February 1941 at the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, California; launched on 17 December 1941, just 10 days after the Japane ...

and

USS Beaver USS ''Beaver'' (AS-5) was a submarine tender which served in the United States Navy from 1918 to 1946. Construction and acquisition ''Beaver'' was built in 1910, as a steel-hulled, single-screw, freight and passenger steamer at Newport News, ...

were stationed in the atoll to supply the submarines. While the submarine was being resupplied, and repaired if needed, crews could have a break ( R&R) at the Ulithi's fleet recreation center on Mogmog Island. Some of the subs stationed at the base were:

USS Tunny (SS-282) USS ''Tunny'' (SS/SSG/APSS/LPSS-282) was a which saw service in World War II and in the Vietnam War. ''Tunny'' received nine battle stars and two Presidential Unit Citations for her World War II service and five battle stars for her operati ...

, USS Salmon (SS-182),

USS Darter (SS-227) USS ''Darter'' (SS-227), a ''Gato''-class submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the darter. Her keel was laid down on 20 October 1942 by the Electric Boat Company of Groton, Connecticut. She was launched on ...

USS Spearfish (SS-190) USS ''Spearfish'' (SS-190), a ''Sargo''-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the spearfish, any of several large, powerful, pelagic fishes of the genus ''Tetrapturus'' allied to the marlins and sailfishes ...

, USS Scabbardfish (SS-397),

USS Sargo (SS-188) USS ''Sargo'' (SS-188), the lead ship of her class of submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the sargo fish. Her keel was laid on 12 May 1937 by the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut. She was lau ...

USS Thresher (SS-200) was the most decorated United States Navy submarine of World War II, with 15 battle stars and a Navy Unit Commendation. ''Thresher'' was the third of twelve ''Tambor''-class submarines that were commissioned. All twelve fought in the war, an ...

USS Tilefish (SS-307) USS ''Tilefish'' (SS-307), a ''Balao''-class submarine, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the tilefish, a large, yellow-spotted deepwater food fish. Her keel was laid down on March 10, 1943 at Vallejo, California, by ...

and USS S-35 (SS-140).

Eniwetok floating hospital

Naval Base Eniwetok was used as a major forward Naval hospital. US Navy Hospital ships were stationed Naval Base Eniwetok during parts of the war and some were stationed shortly as they joined staging for upcoming invasions. Hospital ships also were able to resupply and refuel at the base. * USS Relief (AH-1), 550-beds, stationed at Eniwetok September 1944, help with a dysentery outbreak at the atoll. * USS Mercy (AH-8), up to 400 patients *

USS Hope (AH-7) USS ''Hope'' (AH-7) was a launched under Maritime Commission contract by Consolidated Steel Corporation, Wilmington, California, 30 August 1943; sponsored by Miss Martha L. Floyd; acquired by the Navy the same day for conversion to a hospital sh ...

, up to 400 patients *

USS Solace (AH-5) The second USS ''Solace'' (AH-5) was built in 1927 as the passenger ship SS ''Iroquois'' by the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Newport News, Virginia. The liner was acquired by the Navy from the Clyde Mallory Steamship Line on 22 J ...

up to 418 patients

Net Laying

To protect the many ships at Eniwetok the Navy had anti-torpedo net installed. The ship USS Tuscana (AKN-3) supplied the nets. The ships also installed the moorings at Eniwetok. *

s stationed at Eniwetok: * USS Anaqua *

USS Rosewood (AN-31) USS ''Rosewood'' (YN-26/AN-31) was an built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was later transferred to the French Navy as ''Libellule'' (A730). She was sunk as a target near Brest in 1983. Career ''Rosewood'' (YN-26) was laid ...

USS Keokuk (CMc-6) USS ''Keokuk'' (AN-5/CM-8/CMc-6/AKN-4) was a minelayer, mine and net laying ship of the United States Navy during World War II. Laid down in 1914 as the by William Cramp & Sons, Philadelphia, and renamed in 1940, she was acquired by the U.S. N ...

* USS Pinon (AN-66) * USS Chinaberry (AN-61) * USS Suncook (AN-80) * USS Corkwood (AN-44) * USS Cohoes (AN-78) * USS Hoptree (AN-62)

Submarine chaser base

To help protect the base and shipping around the base, Naval Base Eniwetok had a fleet of

submarine chaser A submarine chaser or subchaser is a small naval vessel that is specifically intended for anti-submarine warfare. Many of the American submarine chasers used in World War I found their way to Allied nations by way of Lend-Lease in World War II. ...

s. The submarine chasers were supported by a submarine chaser tender ship: the

USS Mindanao (ARG-3) USS ''Mindanao'' (ARG-3) was a ''Luzon''-class internal combustion engine repair ship in service with the United States Navy from 1943 to 1947. She was sunk as an artificial reef in 1980. History Construction ''Mindanao'' was named for the ...

was stationed at Eniwetok to support the fleet of submarine chasers and some crash boats.

crash boat Crash Rescue Boat is a name used in the United States to describe military high-speed offshore rescue boats, similar in size and performance to motor torpedo boats, used to rescue pilots and aircrews of crashed aircraft. During World War II th ...

s were fast boats use to rescue downed airmen. Some of the submarine chasers served at Eniwetok : PC-1080,

USS PC-1137 USS ''PC-1137'' was a built for the United States Navy during World War II. Shortly after the end of the war, she was renamed USS ''PCC-1137'' when she was reclassified as a combat communications control ship. In 1956, she was renamed ''Worthingto ...

, USS PC-1142,

USS PC-1136 USS ''PC-1136'' was a built for the United States Navy during World War II. Shortly after the end of the war, she was renamed USS ''PCC-1136'' when she was reclassified as a combat communications control ship. In 1956, she was renamed ''Galena'' ...

, USS PGM-18,

USS PC-1138 USS ''PC-1138'' was a built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was later renamed ''Lapeer'' (PC-1138) but never saw active service under that name. Career ''PC-1138'' was laid down at the Defoe Shipbuilding Company in Bay City, M ...

, USS Winnemucca (PC-1145), and USS PC-598.

Fleet support

Naval Base Eniwetok was used for the

Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

Raymond A. Spruance Raymond Ames Spruance (July 3, 1886 – December 13, 1969) was a United States Navy admiral during World War II. He commanded U.S. naval forces during one of the most significant naval battles that took place in the Pacific Theatre: the Battle ...

United States Fifth Fleet The Fifth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy. It has been responsible for naval forces in the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean since 1995 after a 48-year hiatus. It shares a commander and headq ...

anchorage. Ships in the Fifth Fleet were able to resupply, and refuel from Seron Ten, (Service Squadron 10). Resupply included food, freshwater for small crafts, share parts and ammunition. Troops were able to have liberty leave at the fleet recreation. Eniwetok was use for staging upcoming missions. Eniwetok had a depot, tenders and repair ships for servicing

amphibious ship An amphibious assault ship is a type of amphibious warfare ship employed to land and support ground forces on enemy territory by an amphibious assault. The design evolved from aircraft carriers converted for use as helicopter carriers (and, as ...

s and

amphibious craft An amphibious vehicle (or simply amphibian), is a vehicle that is a means of transport viable on land as well as on or under water. Amphibious vehicles include amphibious bicycles, ATVs, cars, buses, trucks, railway vehicles, combat vehicles and ...

s in the southern anchorage, later moved to eastern anchorage. Eniwetok was the staging for the Marianas invasion, three hundred vessels supplied before departure.

VPB-13 VPB-13 was a patrol bombing squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 13 (VP-13) on 1 July 1940, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 13 (VPB-13) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 1 December 1945. Operationa ...

was staged at Eniwetok for weeks before the Guam campaign. Eniwetok also had spare fighter planes and parts for the

s. The

USS Bowditch (AG-30) USS ''Bowditch'' (AG 30) was first launched in 1929 by Burmeister and Wain in Copenhagen, Denmark, as the passenger ship ''Santa Inez''. She was later purchased by the United States Navy on 4 March 1940 and temporarily commissioned on 12 March 1 ...

had surveyed the lagoon to find the best mooring for large and small ships. USS Bowditch also placed the navigational markers for entrance and path through the atoll. The Fifth Fleet also used

Naval Base Majuro Map Majuro and Arno Atolls Naval Base Majuro was a major United States Navy base built on Majuro Atoll, in the Marshall Islands to support the World War II efforts in the Pacific War. The base was built after the Battle of Majuro-Kwajalein end ...

and

for resupply. After

Naval Base Guam Naval Base Guam is a strategic United States Navy#United States territories, U.S. naval base located on Apra Harbor and occupying the Orote Peninsula. In 2009, it was combined with Andersen Air Force Base to form Joint Region Marianas, which is a ...

was re-established some of Seron Ten ships departed to support the new base there.

LORAN station

The

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mult ...

built a

LORAN LORAN, short for long range navigation, was a hyperbolic radio navigation system developed in the United States during World War II. It was similar to the UK's Gee system but operated at lower frequencies in order to provide an improved range u ...

(Long Range Navigational Signal) station at Eniwetok in January 1951. The station closed 1978, as in 1978 the

Global Positioning System The Global Positioning System (GPS), originally Navstar GPS, is a satellite-based radionavigation system owned by the United States government and operated by the United States Space Force. It is one of the global navigation satellite sy ...

replaced the need for LORAN.

Post war

Starting on 14 April 1948 the US did

nuclear testing Nuclear weapons tests are experiments carried out to determine nuclear weapons' effectiveness, yield, and explosive capability. Testing nuclear weapons offers practical information about how the weapons function, how detonations are affected by ...

at Eniwetok as part of the

Cold War The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...

. The series of tests exploded over 30 megatons of TNT. The nuclear testing ended on 18 August 1958. In 1977 construction started on a concrete dome, the

Runit Dome Runit Island () is one of 40 islands of the Enewetak Atoll of the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The island is the site of a radioactive waste repository left by the United States after it conducted a series of nuclear tests on Enewetak A ...

, on Runit Island. Under the dome, the US deposited

radioactive Radioactive decay (also known as nuclear decay, radioactivity, radioactive disintegration, or nuclear disintegration) is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation. A material containing unstable nuclei is consid ...

soil and debris. The construction was completed in 1980.A Pacific isle radioactive and forgotten
''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'', Michael B. Gerrard, 3 December 2014. Retrieved 19 September 2016.

Gallery

File:EniwetokAtoll1966.jpg, US Naval map from January 1966, with all island names. File:Burning Japanese aircraft on Engebi airfield c1944.jpg, Burning Japanese aircraft on Engebi airfield 1944 File:US Quonset hut chapel on Eniwetok 1944.jpg, US Quonset hut chapel on Eniwetok 1944 Construction on Eniwetok. Bulldozers working on air strips - NARA - 520723.jpg, Construction on Eniwetok, Seabee Bulldozers working on airstrip File:Seabee_made_Water_trucks_at_Eniwetok_runway_1944.jpg, Seabee made Water trucks with pontoons to water the airstrip at Eniwetok to pack the coral on the airstrip in 1944. File:Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless of VC-35 fly over Eniwetok, 18 February 1944 (80-G-218609).jpg, Douglas SBD Dauntless with Navy Unit VC-35 over Eniwetok, 18 February 1944 File:155-mm-guns-eniwetok.jpg, 155-mm guns on Eniwetok File:Enewetak or Eniwetok atoll.jpg, Aerial view of Enewetak and Parry Enewetak Atoll - 2014-02-10 - Landsat 8 - 15m.png, Enewetak Atoll in 2014 from Landsat 8 File:Boeing B-17 drone at Eniwetok 1948.jpg, B-17 drone at Eniwetok Airfield in 1948 for Operation Sandstone File:AbombOperationSandstoneApril1948.png, Operation Sandstone File:Ivy Mike (Eniwetok-Atoll - 31. Oktober 1952).jpg, Ivy Mike test, October 31, 1952 File:Atombombentest Greenhouse-George.jpg, Operation Greenhouse test File:Ivy King - mushroom cloud.jpg, Ivy King test, November 1952 File:Atombombentest Redwing-Seminole 01.jpg, Test shot Seminole of Operation Redwing, conducted on the coast of the island of Bogon File:Hardtack Umbrella nuke.jpg, Hardtack Umbrella test

External links

youtube.com USO Eniwetok Island Bob Hope Troupe

youtube.com USO Eniwetok Island Bob Hope Troupe #2youtube.com US soldiers on Enewetak, Marshall Islands after its capture during World War II.

References

{{Federated States of Micronesia topics Enewetak Atoll Naval Stations of the United States Navy World War II airfields in the Pacific Ocean Theater Airfields of the United States Navy Military installations closed in the 1940s Closed installations of the United States Navy

History

Engebi Airfield

Eniwetok Island

Bob Hope

Parry Island

Smaller Islands

Eniwetok lagoon

Eniwetok repair depot

Eniwetok seaplane base

Stationed at Eniwetok

Eniwetok destroyer base

Eniwetok Submarine Base

Eniwetok floating hospital

Net Laying

Submarine chaser base

Fleet support

LORAN station

Post war

Gallery

See also

External links

References