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

Naval Base Eniwetok was a major

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

base located at

Enewetak Atoll Enewetak Atoll (; also spelled Eniwetok Atoll or sometimes Eniewetok; , , or , ; known to the Japanese as Brown Atoll or Brown Island; ) is a large coral atoll of 40 islands in the Pacific Ocean and with its 296 people (as of 2021) forms a leg ...

in the

Marshall Islands The Marshall Islands, officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands, is an island country west of the International Date Line and north of the equator in the Micronesia region of the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. The territory consists of 29 c ...

, during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. The base was built to support the

island-hopping Leapfrogging was an amphibious military strategy employed by the Allies in the Pacific War against the Empire of Japan during World War II. The key idea was to bypass heavily fortified enemy islands instead of trying to capture every island in ...

strategy used by allied nations fighting the

Empire of Japan The Empire of Japan, also known as the Japanese Empire or Imperial Japan, was the Japanese nation state that existed from the Meiji Restoration on January 3, 1868, until the Constitution of Japan took effect on May 3, 1947. From Japan–Kor ...

in the

Pacific War The Pacific War, sometimes called the Asia–Pacific War or the Pacific Theatre, was the Theater (warfare), theatre of World War II fought between the Empire of Japan and the Allies of World War II, Allies in East Asia, East and Southeast As ...

. During 1944-5 Eniwetok was one of the busiest naval bases in the world with over 488 ships.

History

Enewetak (also spelled Eniwetok) Atoll is a large

coral atoll Corals are colonial marine invertebrates within the subphylum Anthozoa of the phylum Cnidaria. They typically form compact colonies of many identical individual polyps. Coral species include the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oce ...

with a lagoon circled by 40 islands in a

circumference In geometry, the circumference () is the perimeter of a circle or ellipse. The circumference is the arc length of the circle, as if it were opened up and straightened out to a line segment. More generally, the perimeter is the curve length arou ...

. The islands have less than of

land Land, also known as dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial surface of Earth not submerged by the ocean or another body of water. It makes up 29.2% of Earth's surface and includes all continents and islands. Earth's land sur ...

that is 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. There may be coral islands or cays on the rim. Atolls are located in warm tropical or subtropical parts of the oceans and seas where corals can develop. Most ...

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

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, 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 W ...

. 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 Islands campaign The Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign was a series of engagements fought from August 1942 to February 1944, in the Pacific theatre of World War II between the United States and Japan. They were the first battles of a large-scale offensive ...

, the US took control of the

and the

Imperial Japanese Army The Imperial Japanese Army (IJA; , ''Dai-Nippon Teikoku Rikugun'', "Army of the Greater Japanese Empire") was the principal ground force of the Empire of Japan from 1871 to 1945. It played a central role in Japan’s rapid modernization during th ...

sent the 1st Amphibious Brigade with 2,586 men to defend the base on Engebi Island and Parry Island. In the

Battle of Eniwetok The Battle of Eniwetok was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought from 17 to 23 February 1944 on Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The invasion of Eniwetok followed the American success in the Battle of Kwajalein to ...

, 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 and the Army's 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 primary land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of the United Stat ...

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 ...

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 th ...

also used the Engebi Airfield, flying

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

. In September 1944

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

visited Engebi Airfield and

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

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

Seabee United States Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the Navy Seabees, form the U.S. Naval Construction Forces (NCF). The Seabee nickname is a heterograph of the initial letters "CB" from the words "Construction Battalion". Dependi ...

s 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. Seabees built air facilities that included a major engine overhaul depot, and

barracks Barracks are buildings used to accommodate military personnel and quasi-military personnel such as police. The English word originates from the 17th century via French and Italian from an old Spanish word 'soldier's tent', but today barracks ar ...

for Army aviation personnel with

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

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 desi ...

and

North American B-25 Mitchell The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allies of World War ...

. 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 patrol bomber of the United States Navy derived from the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The Navy had been using B-24s with only minor modifications as the PB4Y-1 L ...

. 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 Republic of the Marshall Islands. Its total land area is , and it encloses a lagoon with a ...

. 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, wh ...

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. It was partly damaged when a

Landing craft tank The Landing Craft, Tank (LCT) (or tank landing craft, TLC) was an amphibious assault craft for landing tanks on beachheads. They were initially developed by the Royal Navy and later by the United States Navy during World War II in a series of ver ...

, LCT(5)-315, had an explosion on 23 March 1944. Seabees also built two (80-foot and 150-foot) coral-fill piers out into the lagoon on Eniwetok Island for unloading supplies. They also built tow beach ramps for unloading LCTs. In addition, Seabees built two berths that were used for ships to dock and do

anti-aircraft Anti-aircraft warfare (AAW) is the counter to aerial warfare and includes "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It encompasses surface-based, subsurface ( submarine-launched), and air-ba ...

target practice. For target practice, the airbase would provide a towed target and also had drone planes tow targets for safety. 3,500 troops were stationed on Eniwetok Island in 1944. Naval Base Eniwetok Fleet Post Office Box's number was 3237. Eniwetok Island was given the code name Fred at . After the war, the runway became

Enewetak Auxiliary Airfield Enewetak Auxiliary Airfield (formerly Stickell Field) is a military airfield on Enewetak Island, Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands. Originally built for the United States Navy during World War II, the airport is currently operated by the United St ...

, now an emergency landing runway.

Hal Kanter Hal Kanter (December 18, 1918 – November 6, 2011) was an American writer, producer and director, principally for comedy actors such as Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis, and Elvis Presley (in '' Loving You'' and ''Blue Hawaii''), for both feature films ...

built and ran

Armed Forces Radio Service The American Forces Network (AFN) is a government television and radio broadcast service the United States Armed Forces provides to soldiers stationed or assigned overseas, and is headquartered at Fort Meade in Maryland. AFN comprises two sub ...

radio station on Naval Base Eniwetok.

Bob Hope

In 1944

Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was an American comedian, actor, entertainer and producer with a career that spanned nearly 80 years and achievements in vaudeville, network radio, television, and USO Tours. He appeared ...

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 Nightinga ...

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'' and toured with Bob Hope during and after World War II. Patty Thomas was born Patric ...

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, military maritime fleet, war navy, 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 ...

Hawaii at the Nimitz Bowl, Eniwetok, Naval Base Cairns, Green Islands, 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 a 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 bu ...

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 frozen dessert typically made from milk or cream that has been flavoured with a sweetener, either sugar or an alternative, and a spice, such as Chocolate, cocoa or vanilla, or with fruit, such as strawberries or peaches. Food ...

barge A barge is typically a flat-bottomed boat, flat-bottomed vessel which does not have its own means of mechanical propulsion. Original use was on inland waterways, while modern use is on both inland and ocean, marine water environments. The firs ...

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 Naval Base Marshall Islands were United States Navy advance bases built on the Marshall Islands during World War II to support the Pacific War efforts. The bases were built by US Navy after the Marshall Islands campaign that captured the island ...

. 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. Eth ...

, 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 worldwide. A few were built on Allied soil, but most were captured enemy facilities or completely new. Advance ...

. The USS Cascade (AD-16) became the

flagship A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of navy, 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 ...

Service Squadron 4 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 t ...

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. Th ...

(AO), Gasoline Tanker (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 Tender A destroyer tender or destroyer depot ship is a type of depot ship: an auxiliary ship designed to provide maintenance support to a flotilla of destroyers or other small warships. The use of this class has faded from its peak in the first half of ...

s (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, such ...

Barges A barge is typically a flat-bottomed vessel which does not have its own means of mechanical propulsion. Original use was on inland waterways, while modern use is on both inland and marine water environments. The first modern barges were pull ...

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 ...

hospital ship A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating healthcare, medical treatment facility or hospital. Most are operated by the military forces (mostly navy, navies) of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or ...

(AH),

Net laying ship 300px, , an American net laying ship that worked at Pearl Harbor in the 1940s 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 l ...

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 Combat stores ships, or storeships, are ships used to store naval supplies. They are used to deliver supplies such as provisions and fuel to combat ships on extended deployments. The United States Navy operated the and es and the Royal Navy oper ...

, and

Submarine tender A submarine tender, in British English a submarine depot ship, is a type of depot ship that supplies and supports submarines. Development Submarines are small compared to most oceangoing vessels, and generally cannot carry large amounts of foo ...

s (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 (HECP), 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 Internati ...

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 a 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-hopping Pacific Wa ...

arriving on the 15th.

Ulithi Ulithi (, , or ; pronounced roughly as YOU-li-thee) is an atoll in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean, about east of Yap, within Yap State. Name The name of the island goes back to Chuukic languages, Proto-Chuukic ''*úlú-diw ...

is 1,538 miles west 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 aggregate bound together with a fluid cement that cures to a solid over time. It is the second-most-used substance (after water), the most–widely used building material, and the most-manufactur ...

3,000-ton storage barges, 19 oil/

water Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known liv ...

barges, 17 gasoline barges, 24 500-ton barges with ammunition, freight, spare parts, radio, medical, mail, refrigerated food, etc. The Service Squadron 10 move took 2 weeks.

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 contiguous United States, also known as the U.S. mainland, officially referred to as the conterminous United States, consists of the 48 adjoining U.S. states and the District of Columbia of the United States in central North America. The te ...

. The Navy had built special

auxiliary floating drydock An auxiliary floating drydock is a type of US Navy List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy, auxiliary Dry dock#Floating, floating dry dock. Floating dry docks are able to submerge underwater and to be placed under a ship in need of repai ...

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. Na ...

was torpedoed and had temporary repairs made at Eniwetok. In September 944 a strong westerly storm hit Eniwetok, damaging many boats and barges and driving 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), Auxiliary floating drydock * USS Endurance (ARDM-3), 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), large repair ship * USS Ajax, large repair ship *

USS Nestor (ARB-6) USS ''Nestor'' (ARB-6) was planned as a United States Navy , but was redesignated as one of twelve USS Aristaeus, ''Aristaeus''-class battle damage repair ships built for the United States Navy during World War II. Named for Nestor (mythology), ...

, 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), repair ship * USS Vestal, large repair ship * USS Mona Island (ARG-9), 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), 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 men and survivors of sunk ships. The most common seaplanes at the base were

Consolidated PBY Catalina The Consolidated Model 28, more commonly known as the PBY Catalina (U.S. Navy designation), is a flying boat and amphibious aircraft designed by Consolidated Aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s. In U.S. Army service, it was designated as the OA- ...

and

Martin PBM Mariner The Martin PBM Mariner is a twin-engine American Maritime patrol aircraft, patrol bomber flying boat of World War II and the early Cold War era. It was designed to complement the Consolidated PBY Catalina and Consolidated PB2Y Coronado, PB2Y C ...

. 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-21 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 7-B (VP-7B) on 23 July 1929, redesignated Patrol Squadron 7-F (VP-7F) on 1 July 1931, redesignated Patrol Squadron 7 (VP-7) on 1 October 1937, redesign ...

VP-23 VP-23, Patrol Squadron 23, known as the Seahawks, was a U.S. Navy fixed-wing, anti-submarine and maritime patrol squadron based at Brunswick Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine, United States. It was established as Weather Reconnaissance Squadr ...

, 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 Hamlin (AV-15) USS ''Hamlin'' (AV-15) was a in the United States Navy. ''Hamlin'' was launched by Todd-Pacific Shipyards, Inc., Tacoma, Washington on 11 January 1944; sponsored by Miss Constance Taffinder, daughter of Rear Admiral S. A. Taffinder; and commis ...

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 Chandeleur (AV-10) USS ''Chandeleur'' (AV-10), a seaplane tender, was launched on 29 November 1941 by Western Pipe and Steel Company, San Francisco, California, under a United States Maritime Commission, Maritime Commission contract; transferred to the United St ...

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 a ...

* USS Barataria (AVP-33) *

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 USC ...

USS Kenneth Whiting (AV-14) USS ''Kenneth Whiting'' (AV-14) was the lead ship of her class of seaplane tenders in the United States Navy. Namesake Kenneth Whiting (Naval Aviator No. 16) received flight training from the Wright brothers at Dayton, Ohio; and was the first ...

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 a ...

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 mi ...

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 San Pablo (AVP-30) *

USS Yakutat (AVP-32) USS ''Yakutat'' (AVP-32) was a United States Navy ''Barnegat''-class small seaplane tender in commission from 1944 to 1946. ''Yakutat'' tended seaplanes in combat areas in the Pacific during the latter stages of World War II. After the war, sh ...

* USS Cumberland Sound (AV-17) * USS Shelikof (AVP-52) * USS Coos Bay *YSD-42 Seaplane Wrecking

Derrick A derrick is a lifting device composed at minimum of one guyed mast, as in a gin pole, which may be articulated over a load by adjusting its Guy-wire, guys. Most derricks have at least two components, either a guyed mast or self-supporting tower ...

Stationed at Eniwetok

*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 List of auxiliaries of the United States Navy, Auxiliary ships. Service Squadrons were used by the US Navy from their inception in 1943 t ...

, 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. Th ...

refrigerator A refrigerator, commonly shortened to fridge, is a commercial and home appliance consisting of a thermal insulation, thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump (mechanical, electronic or chemical) that transfers heat from its inside to ...

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 ship A repair ship is a naval auxiliary ship designed to provide maintenance support to warships. Repair ships provide similar services to destroyer, submarine and seaplane tenders or depot ships, but may offer a broader range of repair capability incl ...

s. Service Squadron 10 started departing Enewetak Atoll 4 October 1944 for

arriving on the 15th. * USS Abatan,

distilling ship Distillation, also classical distillation, is the process of separating the component substances of a liquid mixture of two or more chemically discrete substances; the separation process is realized by way of the selective boiling of the mixt ...

freshwater from the sea for land base and small vessels. * USS Dauphin (APA-97), floating barracks,

troopship A troopship (also troop ship or troop transport or trooper) is a ship used to carry soldiers, either in peacetime or wartime. Troopships were often drafted from commercial shipping fleets, and were unable to land troops directly on shore, typic ...

* APL-14, floating barracks * USS Amador, ammunition tender * USS Firedrake (AE-14), ammunition tender * USS Lassen (AE-3), ammunition tender stores *SS Plymouth Victory, ammunition stores *

USS Turkey (AM-13) USS ''Turkey'' (AM-13) was a the United States 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 minefiel ...

minesweeper A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping. History The earliest known usage of ...

* USS Sabine (AO-25), 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 sha ...

, battleship oiler * USS Taluga (AO-62), cruisers oiler * USS Sepulga (AO-20), cruisers oiler * USS Cowanesque (AO-79), destroyer oiler * USS Chotauk (IX-188), destroyer oiler * USS Elk (IX-115), destroyer oiler *USS Malvern (IX-138), destroyer oiler * USS Genesee (AOG-8), oiler * USS Enoree (AO-69), oiler * USS Nantahala (AO-60), oiler * USS Tombigbee (AOG-11), oiler * USS Saranac (AO-74), oiler * USS Neosho (AO-48), 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 dang ...

, 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 commiss ...

, oiler * USS Cimarron (AO-22), oiler * USS Standard Arrow (ID-1532), oiler * USS Wabash (AOG-4), oiler * USS Arethusa (IX-135), oiler *

USS Inca (IX-229) USS ''Inca'', a 3,381-ton (light displacement) "Liberty" ship, was launched in March 1943 in 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 ta ...

, oiler * USS Neches (AO-47), oiler * USS Lackawanna (AO-40), 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) USS ''Inca'', a 3,381-ton (light displacement) "Liberty" ship, was launched in March 1943 in 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 ta ...

, storage for lubricants and drummed petroleum * USS Giraffe (IX-118), gasoline tanker *USS Quiros, water tanker * USS Athanasia, stores ship * USS Palisana (AF-39), stores ship * USS Latona (AF-35), stores ship *

USS Graffias (AF-29) USS ''Graffias'' (AF-29), a , is the only ship of the United States Navy to have this name. The name ''Graffias'' is another name for the star Beta Scorpii in the constellation Scorpius. The ''Graffias'' was originally laid down in 1943 as ''T ...

, stores ship * USS Trefoil (IX-149), stores ship * USS Quartz (IX-150), stores ship * USS Megrez (AK-126), stores ship * USS Aldebaran, food stores ship * USS Polaris (AF-11), food stores ship * USS Sirius (AF-60), refrigerator food stores ship * USS Rutilicus (AK-113), food stores ship *SS Cape Pilar, merchant food stores ship * USS Ascella, medical stores ship * USS Azimech, medical stores ship *

USS Iolanda USS Iolanda (AKS-14) was an Acubens-class general stores issue ship, ''Acubens''-class general stores issue ship commissioned by the U.S. Navy for service in World War II. She was responsible for delivering and disbursing goods and equipment to ...

, stores ship * USS Carmita (IX-152), stores ship * USS Arctic (AF-7), stores ship * USS Gordonia (AF-43), stores ship * USS Hesperia, stores ship * USS Volans, stores ship * USS Karin (AF-33), stores ship * USS Adria, stores ship * USS Antares (AG-10), stores ship * USS Lioba (AF-36), stores ship * USS Kerstin (AF-34), stores ship * USS Luna, stores ship * USS Corundum (IX-164), spare parts * USS Trefoil (IX-149), 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 The Type B ship is a United States Maritime Administration (MARAD) designation for World War II barges. Barges are very low cost to build, operate, and move, and can transport bulky cargo. Because barges lack engines for self-propulsion, they are ...

*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 ...

USS Unadilla (ATA-182) Although originally projected as steel-hulled, seagoing, rescue tug ATR-109, the third ''Unadilla'' was re-classified an auxiliary ocean tug and redesignated ATA-182 on 15 May 1944; laid down on 30 June 1944 at Orange, Texas, by the Levingston ...

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, suc ...

Type V ship The Type V ship is a United States Maritime Commission (MARCOM) designation for World War II tugboats. Type V was used in World War II, Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Type V ships were used to move ships and barges. Type V tugboats were made o ...

* USS Chickasaw (AT-83), Tug * USS Jicarilla (ATF-104), Tug *USS ATR 71, Tug *USS AT 116, Tug *USS YTB-372, Tug * USS Hitchiti (ATF-103), Tug *USS YTB-384, Tug *USS Mobile Point, Tug * USS Arapaho (ATF-68), Tug *USS Point Loma, dredge ship *USS Benson, dredge *

Landing Ship, Tank A Landing Ship, Tank (LST) is a ship first developed during World War II (1939–1945) to support amphibious operations by carrying tanks, vehicles, cargo, and landing troops directly onto a low-slope beach with no dock (maritime), docks or pier ...

s (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. ...

for moving supplies and personal *

Motor Launch Launch is a name given to several different types of boat. The wide range of usage of the name extends from utilitarian craft through to pleasure boats built to a very high standard. In naval use, the launch was introduced as a ship's boat ...

boats for moving personal

Eniwetok destroyer base

Hundreds of US Navy

destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, maneuverable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy, or carrier battle group and defend them against a wide range of general threats. They were conceived i ...

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 i ...

s like

aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and hangar facilities for supporting, arming, deploying and recovering carrier-based aircraft, shipborne aircraft. Typically it is the ...

battleship A battleship is a large, heavily naval armour, armored warship with a main battery consisting of large naval gun, guns, designed to serve as a capital ship. From their advent in the late 1880s, battleships were among the largest and most form ...

s and

heavy cruiser A heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range and high speed, armed generally with naval guns of roughly 203 mm (8 inches) in calibre, whose design parameters were dictated by the Washington Naval Treat ...

s. 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 system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), direction ( azimuth and elevation angles), and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It is a radiodetermination method used to detect and track ...

, 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 designed to destroy submarine A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. (It differs from a submersible, which has more limited ...

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 is 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 (e.g., murder), law ...

to keep operational. Eniwetok had a large destroyer base, with

destroyer tender A destroyer tender or destroyer depot ship is a type of depot ship: an auxiliary ship designed to provide maintenance support to a flotilla of destroyers or other small warships. The use of this class has faded from its peak in the first half of ...

s. These ships could do minor repair work with major work done at the Eniwetok repair depot. *Destroyer tenders stationed at Eniwetok: * USS Cascade (AD-16) * USS Prairie (AD-15) *

USS Piedmont (AD-17) USS ''Piedmont'' (AD–17) was a built during World War II for the United States Navy. Her task was to service destroyers in, or near, battle areas and to keep them fit for duty. She served in the Pacific Ocean during World War II, the Cold Wa ...

* USS Yosemite (AD-19) * USS Hamul (AD-20) *

USS Dixie (AD-14) The second USS ''Dixie'' (AD-14) was the first of destroyer tender, destroyer tenders Dixie-class destroyer tender, class built for the United States Navy just before the start of the Second World War. Her objective was to assist destroyers wi ...

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. She was the second U.S. Navy ship to bear the name. Constru ...

* USS Markab

Eniwetok Submarine Base

Many US Navy

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

s were used in the Pacific War. The submarine attacked

warship A warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is used for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the navy branch of the armed forces of a nation, though they have also been operated by individuals, cooperatives and corporations. As well as b ...

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 Guerrilla warfare is a form of unconventional warfare in which small groups of irregular military, such as rebels, Partisan (military), partisans, paramilitary personnel or armed civilians, which may include Children in the military, recruite ...

special forces Special forces or 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 men. 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, with an explosive warhead designed to detonate either on contact with or in proximity to the target. Historically, such ...

es and

deck gun A deck gun is a type of naval artillery mounted on the deck of a submarine. Most submarine deck guns were open, with or without a shield; however, a few larger submarines placed these guns in a turret. The main deck gun was a dual-purpose w ...

shells. At Naval Base Eniwetok the Navy set up a floating submarine base in the

. The

submarine tender A submarine tender, in British English a submarine depot ship, is a type of depot ship that supplies and supports submarines. Development Submarines are small compared to most oceangoing vessels, and generally cannot carry large amounts of foo ...

s: USS Sperry (AS-12) and USS Beaver 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 atoll's fleet recreation center. Some of the subs stationed at the base were: USS Tunny (SS-282),

USS Salmon (SS-182) USS ''Salmon'' (SS-182) was the lead ship of her class of submarine. She was the second ship of the United States Navy to be named for the salmon. Construction and commissioning ''Salmon''′s keel was laid down on 15 April 1936 by the Elect ...

USS Darter (SS-227) USS ''Darter'' (SS-227), a , was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the Percidae, darter. Construction and commissioning ''Darter''′s keel was Keel-laying, laid down on 20 October 1942 by the Electric Boat Company of G ...

, USS Spearfish (SS-190), USS Scabbardfish (SS-397),

USS Sargo (SS-188) USS ''Sargo'' (SS-188), the lead ship of Sargo class submarine, her class of submarine, was the first ship of the United States Navy to be named for the sargo fish. Construction and commissioning ''Sargo''′s keel was Keel-laying, laid on 12 ...

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 A submarine (often shortened to sub) is a watercraft capable of independent operation underwater. (It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability.) The ...

, and

USS S-35 (SS-140) USS ''S-35'' (SS-140) was an S-class submarine of the United States Navy. Construction and commissioning ''S-35''′s keel was laid down on 14 June 1918 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation in San Francisco, California. She was launched ...

Eniwetok floating hospital

Naval Base Eniwetok was used as a major forward Naval hospital. US Navy

Hospital ship A hospital ship is a ship designated for primary function as a floating healthcare, medical treatment facility or hospital. Most are operated by the military forces (mostly navy, navies) of various countries, as they are intended to be used in or ...

s 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) The sixth USS ''Relief'' (AH-1), the first ship of the United States Navy designed and built from the keel up as a hospital ship, was laid down 14 June 1917 by the Philadelphia Navy Yard; launched 23 December 1919; and commissioned 28 December 19 ...

, 550-beds, stationed at Eniwetok September 1944, to help with a dysentery outbreak at the atoll. *

USS Mercy (AH-8) The second USS ''Mercy'' (AH-8) was a laid down under Maritime Commission contract by Consolidated Steel Corporation at the Wilmington Yard, Wilmington, California, on 4 February 1943. She was acquired by the US Navy from the Maritime Commissio ...

, 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 s ...

, up to 400 patients * USS Solace (AH-5) up to 418 patients

Net Laying

To protect the many ships at Eniwetok the Navy had

anti-torpedo net Torpedo nets were a passive ship defensive device against torpedoes. They were in common use from the 1890s until the Second World War. They were superseded by the anti-torpedo bulge and torpedo belts. Origins With the introduction of the Whiteh ...

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 Keokuk (CMc-6) * USS Pinon (AN-66) * USS Chinaberry (AN-61) * USS Suncook (AN-80) * USS Corkwood (AN-44) *

USS Cohoes (AN-78) USS ''Cohoes'' (YN-97/AN-78/ANL-78) was a which was assigned to protect United States Navy ships and harbors during World War II with her anti-submarine nets. Her World War II career was short lived; however, she was recommissioned during the Vi ...

* 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 type of small naval vessel that is specifically intended for anti-submarine warfare. They encompass designs that are now largely obsolete, but which played an important role in the wars of the first half of th ...

s. The submarine chasers were supported by a submarine chaser tender ship: the USS Mindanao (ARG-3) was stationed at Eniwetok to support the fleet of submarine chasers and some crash boats. crash boats 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. After World War II, the ship was renamed USS ''PCC-1137','' reflecting her new role as a combat communications control ship. Later, in 1956, she was renamed ''Worthin ...

USS PC-1142 USS ''PC-1142'' was a built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was later renamed ''Hanford'' (PC-1142) but never saw active service under that name. ''Hanford'' was transferred to the Republic of China Navy in July 1957 and rena ...

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 ''PGM-18'' was a built for the United States Navy during World War II. She was built and originally commissioned as USS ''PC-1255'', a , and was decommissioned and converted in late 1944. USS PGM-18 struck a mine off the coast of Okinawa ...

, USS PC-1138, USS Winnemucca (PC-1145), and

USS PC-598 The USS ''PC-598'' was a 173ft (approx. 54m) metal hulled in the United States Navy. The submarine chaser fought in the Pacific War, Pacific Theatre during World War II, and was converted to an amphibious landing control vessel during the war, ...

Fleet support

Naval Base Eniwetok was used for the

Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many 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. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

Raymond A. Spruance's

United States Fifth Fleet The Fifth Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy. Its area of responsibility encompasses approximately 2.5 million square miles, and includes the Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean. It shares a comma ...

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, spare parts and ammunition. Troops were able to have liberty leave at the fleet recreation. Eniwetok was used for staging upcoming missions. Eniwetok had a depot, tenders and repair ships for servicing amphibious ships and

amphibious craft An amphibious vehicle (or simply amphibian) is a vehicle that works both on land and on or under water. Amphibious vehicles include amphibious bicycles, ATVs, cars, buses, trucks, railway vehicles, combat vehicles, and hovercraft. Classic lan ...

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. Operati ...

was staged at Eniwetok for weeks before the Guam campaign. Eniwetok also had spare

fighter plane Fighter aircraft (early on also ''pursuit aircraft'') are military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat. In military conflict, the role of fighter aircraft is to establish air superiority of the battlespace. Domination of the a ...

s and parts for the

s. The

USS Bowditch (AG-30) USS ''Bowditch'' (AG-30) was a United States Navy survey ship in commission from 1940 to 1947. She saw service during World War II. Prior to her U.S. Navy service, the ship operated as the American motor passenger ship MS ''Santa Inez''. Cons ...

had surveyed the lagoon to find the best

mooring A mooring is any permanent structure to which a seaborne vessel (such as a boat, ship, or amphibious aircraft) may be secured. Examples include quays, wharfs, jetties, piers, anchor buoys, and mooring buoys. A ship is secured to a mooring to ...

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 en ...

and

for resupply. After

Naval Base Guam Naval Base Guam is a strategic 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 Navy-controlled joint base. The Ship Rep ...

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 Admiralty law, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the armed forces of the United States. It is one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...

built a

LORAN LORAN (Long Range Navigation) was a hyperbolic navigation, hyperbolic radio navigation system developed in the United States during World War II. It was similar to the UK's Gee (navigation), Gee system but operated at lower frequencies in order ...

(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) is a satellite-based hyperbolic navigation system owned by the United States Space Force and operated by Mission Delta 31. It is one of the global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that provide ge ...

replaced the need for LORAN.

Post war

From 14 April 1948 through 18 August 1958, the United States conducted

nuclear weapons testing Nuclear weapons tests are experiments carried out to determine the performance of nuclear weapons and the effects of Nuclear explosion, their explosion. Nuclear testing is a sensitive political issue. Governments have often performed tests to si ...

at Eniwetok Atoll, exploding over 30

megatons TNT equivalent is a convention for expressing energy, typically used to describe the energy released in an explosion. A ton of TNT equivalent is a unit of energy defined by convention to be (). It is the approximate energy released in the det ...

. From 1977 to 1980, the US constructed a concrete dome on

Runit Island Runit Island () is one of forty 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 Enewe ...

, under which

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 conside ...

soil and debris were deposited.

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 The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") was the United States Navy's main Carrier-based aircraft, ...

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 Landsat 8 is an American Earth observation satellite launched on 11 February 2013. It is the eighth satellite in the Landsat program and the seventh to reach orbit successfully. Originally called the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM), it i ...

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 Operation Sandstone was a series of nuclear weapon tests in 1948. It was the third series of American tests, following Trinity in 1945 and Crossroads in 1946, and preceding Ranger. Like the Crossroads tests, the Sandstone tests were carried o ...

File:Ivy Mike (Eniwetok-Atoll - 31. Oktober 1952).jpg, Ivy Mike test, October 31, 1952 File:Atombombentest Greenhouse-George.jpg,

Operation Greenhouse Operation Greenhouse was the fifth American nuclear test series, the second conducted in 1951 and the first to test principles that would lead to developing Teller-Ullam, thermonuclear weapons (''hydrogen bombs''). Conducted at the new Pacific ...

test File:Ivy King - mushroom cloud.jpg, Ivy King test, November 1952 File:Atombombentest Redwing-Seminole 01.jpg, Test shot Seminole of

Operation Redwing Operation Redwing was a United States series of 17 nuclear test detonations from May to July 1956. They were conducted at Bikini and Enewetak atolls by Joint Task Force 7 (JTF7).Blumenson, Martin and Hugh D. Hexamer (1956). ''A History of ...

, conducted on the coast of the island of Bogon File:Hardtack Umbrella nuke.jpg,

Hardtack Hardtack (or hard tack) is a type of dense Cracker (food), cracker made from flour, water, and sometimes salt. Hardtack is inexpensive and long-lasting. It is used for sustenance in the absence of perishable foods, commonly during long sea voyage ...

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