Fast Carrier Task Force

Task Force 38 carriers off the Japanese coast on August 17, 1945

The Fast Carrier Task Force ( German Schneller Flugzeugträgerverband ) was the main force of the United States Navy during the Allied offensive against Japan in the Pacific War . The two admirals Halsey and Spruance took turns in the leadership of the superordinate fleet, which was referred to alternately as the 3rd or 5th US fleet . Accordingly, the Fast Carrier Task Force was called Task Force 38 or Task Force 58 .

history

The TF 38 was built around the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3) in August 1943 . Its commanding officer was Rear Admiral Frederick C. Sherman .

The TF 58 was set up on January 6, 1944 under the command of Vice Admiral Marc Andrew Mitscher . The TF 38 only continued to exist in its command structure in order to confuse the enemy and prepare for future operations. The same was done with the TF 58 during operations of the TF 38 and the 3rd US fleet.

At that time, the TF 58 with the flagship USS Lexington (CV-16) consisted of another five fleet carriers (identifier CV = cruiser heavier than air ), six light aircraft carriers of the Independence class (identifier CVL = cruiser heavier than air light) and numerous Escort and supply ships.

On August 26, 1944, the Fast Carrier Task Force returned to TF 38 with Vice Admiral John S. McCain as commander. It now consisted of nine fleet carriers and eight light aircraft carriers. This association formed the core of William "Bull" Halsey's 3rd US fleet during the reconquest of the Philippines the following fall .

On December 18, 1944, Typhoon Cobra hit TF 38 about 200 nautical miles east of the Philippines. Three destroyers overturned as a result of the storm and several ships were damaged, some severely. A total of 790 seafarers were killed and 80 injured.

On January 26, 1945, the Fast Carrier Task Force was again part of Admiral Raymond Spruance's 5th Fleet as TF 58 , which supported the landing on Okinawa . Their aircraft carriers were the first victims of the Japanese kamikaze attacks. From 1943 onwards the Japanese were only able to sink the light aircraft carrier USS Princeton (CVL-23) by an aerial bomb on October 24, 1944. Many of the large fleet carriers were damaged, but none were sunk. The worst damage was sustained by the USS Franklin (CV-13) on March 19, 1945 (724 dead) and the USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) on May 11, 1945 (372 dead).

The aircraft carrier of the TF 38 on November 8, 1944 in Ulithi Atoll

From May 25, 1945 until the end of the war, the Fast Carrier Task Force was again known as TF 38.

Web links

Commons : Fast Carrier Task Force - Collection of Pictures, Videos and Audio Files

Explanations

↑ Since the aircraft carriers were still regarded as pure reconnaissance ships in the early years, the US Navy classified them with the cruisers. The letter V stands since 1922 with the US Navy in general for aircraft heavier than air ( heavier than air ). The equivalent translation of the identifier is: flight deck cruiser for fixed wing aircraft . Carrier ships for airships carried the letter Z instead of V , e.g. B. the airship and balloon tender Wright AZ-1 .

[1] Since the aircraft carriers were still regarded as pure reconnaissance ships in the early years, the US Navy classified them with the cruisers. The letter V stands since 1922 with the US Navy in general for aircraft heavier than air ( heavier than air ). The equivalent translation of the identifier is: flight deck cruiser for fixed wing aircraft . Carrier ships for airships carried the letter Z instead of V , e.g. B. the airship and balloon tender Wright AZ-1 .