| The United States Fleet, November 1, 1940 |
| In the back of On the Treadmill to Pearl Harbor, the memoirs of Admiral James O. Richardson, (GPO: Washington, DC, 1973) is printed as an appendix an official USN letter setting forth the Table of Organization of the US Fleet as of November 1, 1940, when Admiral Richardson served as CINCUS. Using that letter, and other sources for confirmation, I have put up similar tables. This info only covers the Forces Afloat in the Atlantic and Pacific, and does not cover the Shore Establishment or the Asiatic Fleet, though mention is made of vessels assigned to Naval Districts. The next time I'm in DC I'll check and see if I can get an original of this letter as well as info on those areas of the service it omits. As of May 2005 I have information on the shore establishment and some info on the Asiatic Fleet, which I will post as time permits. At this point in time the war in Europe was entering its second full year. Britain stood alone against the Axis, though Hitler was already planning for the disastrous invasion of the Soviet Union. The US Fleet, however, was concentrated in the Pacific to counter Japanese aggression, with a small but growing Patrol Force in the Atlantic. In fact. the Fleet's concentration at Pearl Harbor became a matter of contention between Admiral Richardson and President Roosevelt and eventually led to Richardson's relief by Rear Admiral Husband Kimmell, Commander, Cruisers, Battle Force at this time. Check the changes in the strength and organization of the fleet since October 1939 to see how the Navy was preparing for involvement in the world conflict. Further comparison to the October 1941 Organization may also be useful. UNITED STATES FLEET BATTLE FORCE/BATTLESHIPS, BATTLE FORCE CRUISERS, BATTLE FORCE DESTROYERS, BATTLE FORCE (PAGE 2) AIRCRAFT, BATTLE FORCE MINE FORCE, BATTLE FORCE SCOUTING FORCE/CRUISERS, SCOUTING FORCE AIRCRAFT, SCOUTING FORCE SUBMARINES, SCOUTING FORCE PATROL FORCE/BATTLESHIPS/CRUISERS/DESTROYERS, PATROL FORCE AIRCRAFT/PATROL WINGS/TRAIN, PATROL FORCE/SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT SUBMARINES, PATROL FORCE BASE FORCE/TRAIN, BASE FORCE ASIATIC FLEET NEW!! Added May 28, 2005 SHIPS ASSIGNED TO NAVAL DISTRICTS SHIPS ACQUIRED, 1939-1940 SHIPS TRANSFERRED TO BRITAIN, SEPTEMBER 1940 FLEET MARINE FORCE NAVY DEPARTMENT OFFICE OF SECRETARY, CNO, ETC NEW!! Added May 29, 2005 BUREAUS DISTRICTS SENIOR OFFICERS BY SIGNAL NUMBER NEW!! Added May 28, 2005 COMMANDERS BY SIGNAL NUMBER NEW!! Added September 10, 2005 Return to TABLE OF CONTENTS Contact me: [email protected] Return to WELCOME PAGE |
| Leaders of the Fleet meet in 1940. US Navy Photo from the Naval Historical Center On-Line Library. As far as I know, this photo is in the public domain. |
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