Naval Base Finschhafen | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 6°36′S147°51′E / 6.600°S 147.850°E Coordinates: 6°36′S147°51′E / 6.600°S 147.850°E | |
Country | Papua New Guinea |
Naval Base | United States Navy (1943-1945) |
Time zone | UTC+10 (AEST) |
Climate | Af |
Naval Base Finschhafen was a United States Navy base built during World War II at Finschhafen on the Huon Peninsula in Morobe Province of Papua New Guinea. The US Navy built a PT boat base, Dreger Harbor PT Boat Base, boat repair depot, and harbor facilities at Dreger Harbour and Langemak Bay to support the Pacific War in 1943. Harbor was also built to support the US Navy in building 6,000-foot Finschafen Airfield, also called Dreger Field, now Finschhafen Airport on the island. The base was part of the New Guinea campaign. [1] [2]
The Imperial Japanese Army took over Finschhafen on March 10, 1942 in the Battle of Finschhafen and the Landing at Scarlet Beach. On October 2, 1943, the Australian Forces recaptured Finschhafen in the Huon Peninsula campaign. On November 2, 1943, members of the US Navy's Seabee 60th Construction Battalion arrived to start work on the Naval Base. The members of the 60th Construction Battalion arrived from Naval Base Woodlark Island, where most work had just been completed. LST ship did a beach landing of the Seabee crew and the equipment. Work was delayed due to thick mud from a rain storm. On November 16 Seabees began working with 808th Army Aviation Engineer Battalion on the runway. Seabees did grading and mat-laying on the north end of the runway. The runway opened on time on December 5. [1] [3]
On December 9 the 78th Battalion arrived at a point south of the city of Finschhafen and started work on a base camp and the Naval Base. On December 16 the 40th Battalion arrived with the first Liberty ship full of supplies. On January 6, the 46th Battalion arrived on the south side of Langemak Bay and built a camp near the 78th Battalion. [1] [4]
On January 5, 1944, the 808th Army Aviation Engineers departed Finschhafen. The Seabee 60th Battalion took over all maintenance and the remaining construction at the airfield. 60th Battalion built: aviation gasoline tank farm, aviation repair depot, and parking for fighter planes and bombers. The 60th, 78th, and 46th Battalion built the harbor facilities, including a 200-foot pile timber jetty -dock. The PT Boat was opened. Next in 1944, built was: a 30-by-60-foot pier, a torpedo pier, one finger pier, two unloading piers, and an 84-foot repair pier, base camp, supply depot, torpedo shop, and machine shops. By July 1944, the 91st Battalion arrived and improved the base facilities. The 91st Battalion built four 330-foot timber cargo unloading piers for Merchant Navy ships and recreation buildings. Seabee built a 300-bed hospital, Base Hospital 14, and 500 man Navy camp. To refuel the many ships now stopping at the new Naval Base, Seabee built a 10,000-barrel tank farm of Fuel oil. [1] [2] [5] [6]
Finschhafen became a staging camp for upcoming campaigns, and Seabee built a US Army camp for 17,000 Troops. To support the Troops, Seabee built beach ramps to support 14 LST ships and 15 miles of roads. Seabee built a staging camp for 2,500 Navy Troops. The 102nd Battalion arrived in March 1944 ad departed in June 1944. Construction Battalion Maintenance Units 545 and 543 arrived in February and April 1944 to work at the base. During all the construction projects there were delays due to heavy rains. Finschhafen is in the Tropical rainforest climate and can have 4,081 mm (160 inches) of rain a year. There were some enemy bombings from Rabaul, that caused some delay and Seabee casualties. By November 1944 all projects had been completed and by January 1945, some of the base was being shipped to more forward bases. The base was closed at the end of the war. [1]
Naval Base Finschhafen Feet Post Office is FPO# 722 SF Finschhafen.
Mios Woendi island is an island in the Schouten Islands of Papua province, eastern Indonesia. It lies in Cenderawasih Bay 50 km off the north-western coast of the island nation of New Guinea.
Finschhafen Airport is a general aviation airport in Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea.. It is located on the south-east tip of Huon Peninsula at Finschafen. A half mile inland, parallel to Schneider Harbor, with Dregerhaffen to the south-east. It has no scheduled commercial airline service.
Dreger Harbour is a harbour south of Finschhafen, Papua New Guinea.
Lombrum Naval Base, also known as HMPNGS Tarangau and formerly PNG Defence Force Base Lombrum, is a naval military base operated by the Maritime Operations Element of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF). It is located on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. Lombrum is the home port of the PNGDF's Pacific-class patrol boat force.
Naval Advance Base Espiritu Santo or Espiritu Santo Naval Base, most often just called Espiritu Santo, was an major advance Naval base that the U.S. Navy Seabees built during World War II to support the allied effort in the Pacific. The base was located on the island Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides, now Vanuatu in the South Pacific. The base also supported the U.S. Army and Army Air Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and US Marine Corps. It was the first large advance base built in the Pacific. By the end of the war it had become the second-largest base in the theater. To keep ships tactically available there was a demand for bases that could repair and resupply the fleet at advance locations, rather than return them to the United States. Prior to December 7th, Pearl Harbor was the U.S. fleet's largest advance base in the Pacific. Espiritu became capable of all aspects necessary to support the Fleet's operations from fleet logistics in fuel, food, and ammunition, to transport embarkation for combat operations or returning to the continental United States. The ship repair facilities and drydocks were capable of attending to most damage and routine maintenance. Had it not existed, ships would have had to return to Pearl Harbor, Brisbane, or Sydney for major repairs and resupply. The base became a major R and R destination for the fleet.
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. Advance bases provided the fleet with support to keep ships tactically available with repair and supply depots of facilities, rather than return them to continental United States. Before Japan declared war on the United States the US Navy had a single fleet sized advanced base in the Territory of Hawaii. It was Naval Station Pearl Harbor. During the war the US Navy Seabees built over 400 advance bases categorized by size. Naval bases were either Lions or Cubs while airfields were either Oaks or Acorns. Lions and Oaks were major facilities while Cubs and Acorns were minor. PT Boats typically would get a Cub and airfields with single runways were Acorns. The larger bases could do refueling and overhaul; loading of troopship and cargo ships; and preparing amphibious assault ships. Some became major repair depots. The Seabees developed auxiliary floating drydocks were able to repair battle damage and do regular maintenance in the field saving ships trans-pacific trips for repair. A few bases also were developed to be R and R for all U.S. personnel. Most Advance Bases were built by the US Navy's Seabees in Naval Construction Battalions (CBs). At the start of the war some civilian contractor were employed in construction. The Seabees in World War II built most of the airfields used by the United States Army Air Forces and United States Marine Corps, as they had the ships and cranes needed to transport the vast amount of equipment needed at the advance bases. The US Army and United States Coast Guard also operated out of many of these facilities. Seabees could build new or repair damaged runways, and with advancements in heavy bomber technology lengthen runways as needed. A few Naval Advance Bases were built for the Korean War and Vietnam War.
Naval Base Saipan or Naval Advance Base Saipan or Naval Air Base Saipan was a United States Navy Naval base built during World War II to support Pacific Ocean theater of war and the many warships and troops fighting the war. The base was on the island of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands. The base was part of the Pacific island hopping campaign. The base construction started after the Battle of Saipan ended on July 9, 1944. US Naval Advance Base Saipan was constructed by the Seabees Naval Mobile Construction Battalions. The base was under the Commander Naval Forces Marianas. Saipan is 12 miles (19 km) long and 5 miles (8.0 km) wide. About 70% of the island was sugarcane cultivation at the start of the base construction. At the start of the Battle of Saipan, the island's population had about 30,000 Japanese troops and about 20,000 Japanese civilians. The city of Garapan was the administrative center for the Saipan governmental district.
Naval Base Noumea was a major United States Navy sea and air base at Nouméa, New Caledonia. Naval Base Noumea was built at Noumea Harbor. Noumea was picked for a Naval Base as it was beyond the range of Japanese land-based planes. Noumea is on the east side the Coral Sea, 1,469 km, from Brisbane, Australia. The Base was built during World War II to support the many ships and aircraft fighting and patrolling in the South West Pacific theatre of war as part of the Pacific War. Naval Base Noumea had anchorage for large ships. Noumea was protected against submarine attack by ring of islands and Naval minefields. At its peak 50,000 Troops were stationed at Naval Base Noumea. New Caledonia has been a colony of France since 1853. Noumea is the capital City of New Caledonia on the southwest end of the island. On November 8, 1942, US Navy South Pacific headquarter moved to Noumea.
Peleliu Naval Base was a major United States Navy sea and airbase base on Peleliu island, one of sixteen states of Palau. The United States Marine Corps took the island in the Battle of Peleliu during World War II. Battle of Peleliu was a costly conflict that started September 15, 1944 and ended November 27, 1944. On September 30, 1944 Peleliu is declared occupied. The taking of Peleliu and Morotai gave the sea and air protection needed for the later invasion of the Philippines. US Navy Seabee built a number of facilities at Peleliu Naval Base.
Naval Base Milne Bay, also called Naval Advance Base Milne Bay, was new major United States Navy sea and airbase base built on Milne Bay in Milne Bay Province in south-eastern Papua New Guinea. By spring 1943, the build up of the US Navy to support the Pacific War had caused overcrowding at the ports on the east coast of Australia. To help the Seabee departed Naval Base Brisbane on June 19, 1943 to set up a new base in Milne Bay. Naval Base Milne Bay headquarters was at Ladava Navy Base. The Royal Australian Navy already had a small base in Milne Bay: HMAS Ladava. Australians were able to defend and keep Milne Bay in the Battle of Milne Bay in 1942. Naval Base Milne Bay was built during World War II to support the many ships and aircraft fighting and patrolling in the South West Pacific theatre of war. Ladava Navy Base provided a large protective US Navy fleet anchorage at Gahora Bay next to Ladava. At Naval Base Milne Bay Seabee built large Naval facility.
Naval Base Okinawa, now Naval Facility Okinawa, was and is a number of bases built after the Battle of Okinawa by United States Navy on the Okinawa Island of Japan. The naval bases were built to support the landings on Okinawa on April 1, 1945, and the troops fighting on Okinawa. The Navy repaired and did expansion of the airfields on Okinawa. United States Navy Seabee built or repaired the facilities on the island. The bases on Okinawa put the United States Armed Forces only 350 miles from Japan's home islands. Most facilities closed after the war, but some are still in use today in all branches of the United States Armed Forces.
Manus Naval Base was a number of bases built after the World War II Battle of Manus by United States Navy on the Manus Island and a smaller island just east, Los Negros Island in the Admiralty Islands chain. The major naval base construction started with the Los Negros landings on February 28, 1944. The Navy repaired and did the expansion of the airfields on the Admiralty Islands. United States Navy Seabee built or repaired the facilities on the islands. The large Manus Naval Base, also called the Admiralty Island base, supported United States Seventh Fleet, Southwest Pacific command, and part of the Pacific Fleet. The base was abandoned by the US Navy after the war.
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 War to the Southwest Pacific. As the US Navy expanded in the island hopping campaign, Naval Base Brisbane expanded to include a submarine base, repair depot, seaplane base and other facilities. US Navy operations started on April 14, 1942, and ended after the war in 1945.
Naval Base Merauke was a United States Navy base built during World War II at city of Merauke in the South Papua province of Indonesia, then Papua New Guinea. The base was 2 miles from the mouth of the Merauke River. The US Navy built a PT boat base and base dock with anchorage to support the Pacific War and the New Guinea campaign.
Naval Base Port Moresby was a United States Navy base built during World War II at the city of Port Moresby on Papua New Guinea. The US Navy built a communication center and advance base headquarters for the US Seventh Fleet to support the Pacific War in 1943. The base was part of the New Guinea campaign.
Naval Base Woodlark Island was a United States Navy base built during World War II on Woodlark Island on Papua New Guinea. The US Navy built a PT boat base, boat repair depot, and harbor facilities at the city of Guasopa to support the Pacific War in 1943. The Harbor facilities was also built to support the US Navy in building the Narewa Airfield on the island. The base was part of the New Guinea campaign.
Naval Base Hollandia was a United States Navy base built during World War II at Humboldt Bay, near the city of Hollandia in New Guinea. The base was built by the US Navy Seabees during the Battle of Hollandia, starting on May 9, 1944. Later Naval Base Hollandia became a supply base to support the invasion of the Philippines that started on October 20, 1944. Naval Base Hollandia became an advance headquarter of the United States Seventh Fleet.
Naval Base Alexishafen was a United States Navy base built during World War II at Alexishafen, north of the city of Madang in New Guinea. The base was built by the US Navy Seabees starting June 13, 1944 as part of the New Guinea campaign of the Pacific War. The base was built at the request of the Seventh Amphibious Force of the United States Seventh Fleet to support the many boats patrolling the area. The US Navy built a boat repair depot including Auxiliary floating drydocks. The base was closed in January 28, 1945.
Naval Base Banika Island was a United States Navy base built during World War II on Mbanika Island in the Russell Islands, part of the Solomon Islands. A larger supply depot was built to support the ships fighting in the Pacific War. Also built were a repair base for landing craft, PT boats, and other boats. Banika Island offered excellent fleet anchorage. Banika Island was taken during the Solomon Islands campaign. Also at the base was built the Renard Sound Seaplane Base.
Naval Base Lingayen was a United States Navy base built during World War II at Lingayen Gulf on the northwestern Island of Luzon in the Philippines. The base was founded after the Invasion of Lingayen Gulf on January 9, 1945 at Lingayen city and the surrounding gulf. The Naval base was used to support the later operations at Manila and the rest of Luzon Island and then at Okinawa. Lingayen Gulf offered excellent fleet anchorage.