ASHINGTON URVEYOR W S May 21, 2018
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THE ASHINGTON URVEYOR W S May 21, 2018 By Naval History and Heritage Command BATTLE OF MIDWAY A BRIEF BACKGROUND By MC3 Trey Hutcheson ONCE IN A LIFETIME NASCAR DRIVER REENLISTS GW SAILOR By MCSA Adam Ferrero BEAT THE HEAT SUMMERTIME SAFETY TIPS By MCSN Kyle Loree PLANNING FOR SUCCESS FAMILY CARE PLAN On the cover: Soldiers unload landing craft on the beach at Massacre Bay, Attu, on 13 May 1943. LCVPs in the foreground are from USS Zeilin (APA-3) and USS Heywood (APA-6). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. The Washington Surveyor SAILOR in the Commanding Officer PHOTO CAPT Glenn Jamison of theWEEK Executive Officer SPOTLIGHT CAPT Colin Day Command Master Chief CMDCM Maurice Coffey Public Affairs Officer LCDR Gregory L. Flores Deputy Public Affairs Officer LT Andrew Bertucci Departmental LCPO MCCS Reginald Buggs Divisional LCPO MCC Mary Popejoy Editors MCSN Zack Thomas (May 10, 2018) GW Sailors pose for a photo after a Night of Remembrance event hosted by ASIST. (Photo by MCSN Kyle Loree) Content MC3 Kashif Basharat MC3 Jamin Gordon MC3 Trey Hutcheson MC3 Alan Lewis QUESTIONSof theWEEK MC3 Brian Sipe MC3 Kristen Yarber MCSN Michael Botts MCSN Kyle Loree MCSN Marlan Sawyer Q: What Damage Control station receives reports from all others and coordinates their actions? MCSA Adam Ferrero DAMAGE CONTROL CENTRAL DEPARTMENT: Weapons DC A: DIVISION: G-4 HOMETOWN: Kansas City, Missouri The Washington Surveyor is an authorized Q: Who is the executive officer’s principal assistant for Maintenance and Material publication for Sailors serving aboard Management? USS George Washington (CVN 73). Contents WHAT SHE LIKES ABOUT HER DEPARTMENT: “We’re 3M herein are not the visios of, or endorsed THE 3M OFFICER by the U.S. government, the Department A: of Defense, the Department of the Navy a family! We work together even though we’re in all different or the Commanding Officer of USS George Washington. All news releases, photos or information for publication in The G’s, we still come together as a whole.” Washington Surveyor must be submitted Q: What is a class “C” mishap? to the Public Affairs Officer (7726). SAFETY A: $50,000 OR MORE BUT LESS THAN $500,000. NONFATAL INJURY *For comments and concerns regarding The RESULTING IN LOSS OF TIME FROM WORK BEYOND DAY/SHIFT Washington Surveyor, email the editor at [email protected]* WHEN THE INJURY OCCURRED. and artillery attacks on the island. unsuccessful attempt to attack Rabaul equipment began appearing in message Its cryptanalysts and equipment on 20 February, had demonstrated to traffic to and from the Marshall Islands were in the process of evacuation to Commander in Chief, Fourth Fleet and the Mandates. On 4 March, the Melbourne. These facilities intercepted (Admiral Shigeyoshi Inouye), that designator “AF” began appearing in BATTLE OF MIDWAY Japanese radio communications Japanese were not assured of air partially decoded messages. Then, on and, through traffic analysis and superiority in the region. It was not 5 March, Japanese seaplanes, refueled codebreaking, uncovered the location until early May, when Admiral Inouye from a submarine at French Frigate A BRIEF BACKGROUND of major fleet units and shore based had three carriers for operations, that Shoals, Territory of Hawaii, conduct By Naval History and Heritage Command air forces. More importantly, by the invasion could begin. On 7-8 May, a small armed reconnaissance mission translating messages and studying the first carrier battle of the war took over Oahu. Finally, on 13 March, operational patterns, Melbourne place in the Coral Sea. Each side had American cryptanalysts both broke and Hypo predicted future Japanese a carrier damaged, while the American the Japanese Navy’s General-Purpose he Battle of Midway, fought Allies took the offensive in the Pacific. this plan envisioned the seizure of operations. The intelligence centers lost the carrier USS Lexington and Code (JN 25) and identified “AF” as near the Central Pacific island Background to the Battle of Midway bases in Papua/New Guinea and the provided their analysis, through the Japanese lost the light carrier Midway Island. of Midway, is considered the Following the outbreak of the Pacific Solomon Islands, which would be used T daily communications intelligence Shoho. More important the Japanese On 16 April, after several months decisive battle of the war in the Pacific. War in December 1941, the Japanese to support future operations against (COMINT) briefings and warning broke off their invasion attempt. It was of discussion, Commander in Chief, Before this battle the Japanese were armed forces conducted military New Caledonia, Fiji, and Samoa. By reports, to senior American the first time the Japanese had been Combined Fleet (Admiral Isoruku on the offensive, capturing territory operations against U.S., British early March, with the seizure of Lae commanders, including Commander stopped in the Pacific. Significantly, Yamamoto), convinced the Imperial throughout Asia and the Pacific. Commonwealth, and Dutch possessions and Salamaua, the entire north coast in Chief, U.S. Fleet (Admiral Ernest American cryptanalysts had provided General Staff to agree to his Midway By their attack, the Japanese had in the Pacific and Southeast Asia. of Papua/New Guinea had fallen to J. King), and Commander in Chief, crucial order of battle and operational and Aleutians strategy for the summer. planned to capture Midway to use as The first phase of these operations, Japanese forces who were planning Pacific Fleet (Admiral Chester W. communications intelligence to the In Admiral Yamamoto’s view, the an advance base, as well as to entrap which was the seizure of Malaysia, for an amphibious invasion of Port Nimitz). Allied commanders in the South capture of Midway Island would allow and destroy the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Singapore, the Dutch East Indies, the Moresby. In early March, the Japanese Pacific. Japan to pursue its Asian policies Because of communication intelligence Philippines, and various island groups By this time, two secure American postponed their planned seizure of In addition to this advance toward behind an impregnable eastern shield successes, the U.S. Pacific Fleet in the central and western Pacific, was naval intelligence centers were Port Moresby because of previous Port Moresby, evidence that Japan of defenses in the Central Pacific. surprised the Japanese forces, sinking virtually complete by March 1942. The in operation in the Pacific: one in events. An American carrier raid on was intent on expanding east of the The centerpiece of this plan was a the four Japanese carriers, that had second phase, initiated by Japanese Melbourne, Australia, and another Japanese shipping at Lae and Salamaua Marshall Islands appeared in COMINT feint toward Alaska followed by an attacked Pearl Harbor only six months Imperial Headquarters on 23 January, at Pearl Harbor (“Hypo”). A third, on the 10th, along with a previously in early 1942. Land-based air units and invasion of Midway. When the U.S. before, while only losing of one carrier. was designed to isolate and neutralize at Corregidor (“Cast”), was rapidly After Midway, the Americans and their Australia and India. In the Pacific, disintegrating under Japanese air USS Heywood (APA-6) hoists out LCVPs, off Attu on the first day of the invasion, 11 May 1943. Note binnacle mounted in front of the ship’s open bridge, in the lower left. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Officers aboard USS SALT LAKE CITY (CA-25) plotting C. I. C. records of the action, after the ship’s return to Dutch Harbor. Pacific Fleet responded to the landings called by Commander in Chief, 1st countermeasures. the 28th, the Japanese First Fleet, Main by 110 fighters, bombers, and patrol Force because of Yamamoto’s strict on Midway, Japanese carrier and Air Fleet (Vice Admiral Nagumo), On 26 May, since COMINT Body (Admiral Yamamoto in battleship planes at Midway. As part of pre-battle radio silence restrictions. battleship task forces, waiting unseen scheduled for 16 May. The conference suggested the Japanese intended Yamato) sortied from home waters. disposition, 25 fleet submarines under On 3 June, in the preliminary to the west of the Midway strike concerned tactics to be employed in to approach from that direction, The Second Fleet, Escort Force (Rear the command of Rear Admiral Robert moves of the Battle of Midway, Force, would fall upon and destroy the obtaining air superiority over a target, submarine USS Gudgeon (SS-211) Admiral Tanaka Raizo), including 15 H. English were deployed around American land-based aircraft from unsuspecting Americans. If successful, assisting in amphibious landings, sailed for a surface patrol northwest transports, sailed from Saipan; Second Midway. Midway located and attacked Japanese the plan would effectively eliminate the and bombing and strafing attacks to of Midway. Also on the 26th, aircraft Fleet, Occupation Support Force (Rear Meanwhile, on 29 May, seaplane transports about 600 miles west of U.S. Pacific Fleet for at least a year and wipe out local resistance. On 9 May, ferry USS Kitty Hawk (AKV-1) arrived Admiral Kurita Takeo) sortied from tender (destroyer) USS Thornton Midway Island. U.S. Army Air Force provide a forward outpost from which Melbourne intercepted and translated at Midway with reinforcements for Guam. These forces were supported by (AVD-11) arrived at French Frigate Boeing B-17 (“Flying Fortress”) ample warning of any future threat by “1st Air Fleet Striking Force Order Marine Air Group (MAG) 22, a light 17 patrol seaplanes. Shoals to relieve light minelayer USS bombers inflicted no damage, the U.S. would come. No. 6,” which confirmed the creation tank platoon earmarked for a mobile TF 16 (Rear Admiral Raymond A. Preble (DM-20) on patrol station however, and four Consolidated Two days later, Lieutenant Colonel of a new carrier strike force and that a reserve, and the 3d Defense Battalion, Spruance), formed around Enterprise there.