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US Amphibious Training Base

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Avila Beach's Amphibious Training Base Morro Bay on March 7, 1944. An amphibious training exercise, with pontoon bridge attached to Landing Ship, Tank. Army Signal Corps photo.
A Crusader tank landing on a beach from a Tank Landing Craft in a 1942 test
LCVPs, known as 'Higgins Boats', were the first specialized landing craft for the US Navy. Pictured, USS Darke LCVP 18, possibly with Army troops as reinforcements at Okinawa, 1945.
USS LCI-326, a Landing Craft Infantry, during training for D-Day
USS LST-742 on 13 October 1950 at Wolmi-do island, Incheon Harbor, South Korea, loading supplies for the upcoming Wonsan invasion

Amphibious Training Base (ATB)(USNATB) Advance Amphibious Training Base are United States Armed Forces bases used for the training of amphibious warfare.[1] Starting with World War II, United States Navy began large-scale amphibious assaults of beaches. To train troops in the use of Amphibious warfare ships and Amphibious Combat Vehicles the Navy established training bases both on the US mainland and overseas at US Naval Advance Bases. The Training involved the United States Navy working with The United States Marine Corps, United States Army and in later years sometimes the United States Air Force for air support.[2][3][4]

Background

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Main articles: United States amphibious operations and Fleet Marine Force

The United States amphibious operations dates back to the early dates of the nation. On March 3, 1776, the Continental Marines made their first amphibious landing in the Battle of Nassau on to the beaches of the Bahamas.[5][6] While amphibious operations took place in the American Civil War, Spanish–American War, and World War I, large-scale amphibious training bases were not established till World War II.[1]

Before World War II the need for Amphibious Training Base was seen. In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt from his experience in the Spanish-American War established a Joint Army-Navy Board in 1903, but no Amphibious Training Base came out of this. One of the first small-scale Amphibious Training took place in Culebra and Vieques, Puerto Rico at the request of the Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels in 1913. During World War I, the Gallipoli amphibious operations in Turkey did not go well for the Allies, thus some thought that amphibious warfare was at an end.[1]

After World War I, in which Japan fought on the Allied side, Japan took control of German bases in China and the Pacific. In 1919, the League of Nations approved Japan's mandate over the German islands north of the equator. The United States did not want any mandates and was concerned with Japan's aggressiveness. As such Wilson Administration transferred 200 Atlantic warships to the Pacific Fleet in 1919.[7][8][1]

With new concerns in the Pacific, in 1921, Marine Commandant Lieutenant General John A. Lejeune asked Major Earl “Pete” Ellis to make up plans for an amphibious war with Japan, as to be prepared. Ellis wrote OpPlan 712: Advance Base Operations in Micronesia, which outlined modern amphibious warfare.[9] The Fleet Marine Force was founded on December 7, 1933. Fleet Marine Force was a combined Force of both the US Navy and the United States Marine Corps. On December 7, 1941, Japan carried out a surprise military strike on the Naval Base in Pearl Harbor.[10][11] Japan hoped to eliminate US military force in the Pacific as it soon carried out attacks across the South Pacific.[12][13] The attack led the US to enter World War II. During World War II the United States was fighting on two fronts, the Pacific War and the European theatre. The Pacific War was an amphibious operation of Island-hopping and the European theatre required amphibious operations to get a foothold on the European continent. European theatre saw major amphibious operations at the invasion of North Africa, Southern France, Sicily, Italy and Normandy.[1]

On January 5, 1942 Seabee Navy Construction Battalions officially began operation.[14] In July 1943 Seabee started an Amphibious Construction Battalion, with Amphibious Construction Battalion 1 as the first unit, which operated in the Pacific War. Seabee were given the task of clearing beaches of obstacles and establishing beachhead bases.[15][16] In addition, Seabees built and operated sea ports, airfields and served as elements the United States Marine Corps.[17]

This nation's first official naval amphibious training base was established in August 1942 at Solomons, Maryland, USNATB, United States Navy Amphibious Training Base. Other base opened on both coasts of the United States.[18][19] Due to the demand for Amphibious Training, overseas bases were founded in North Africa and the South Pacific.[20][21][1][22]

The United States Navy needed to train with the US Army and US Marine Corps, as amphibious landing require complex operations:[3]

  • Strategic planning
  • Amphibious vessels need to arrive and be loaded with all the supplies and troops needed for the operation.
  • Must be reconnaissance of the landing site
  • Landing site may need obstacles removed, and the water depth checked.
  • Landing must be timed to the tide.
  • Air cover must be timed to landing.
  • Beach checked for landmines and other obstacles.
  • After troops and vehicles debark, support supplies are unloaded the beachhead supply depot.

Underwater Demolition Teams

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Main article: Underwater Demolition Team

The US Navy's Underwater Demolition Teams are the forerunner to today's United States Navy SEALs, they were founded in December 1943 in Hawaii. The first of 30 World War II teams, was Underwater Demolition Team One, UDT-1 established with UDT-2 in December 1943. The Underwater Demolition Team trained at Amphibious Training Base Kamaole on Maui and Amphibious Training Base Waimanalo at Waimanalo on Oahu.[23][24]

Ships and vehicles

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See also Category:Amphibious warfare vessel classes
Starting in World War II common amphibious ships used were Landing Ship, Tank (LST), Landing Craft Infantry (LCI).[25] Common boats starting in World War II were LCP boats, Landing craft tank and Landing Craft Mechanized boats.[20][26][27][28] Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT), known as Gators and Buffalos were widely used in the Pacific War from 1942 to 1945.[29][30] The DUKW, an amphibious truck, was used in all fronts in World War II.[31] An Amphibious jeep was built, but was not as successful as the DUKW.[32] DD tank, a variant of the M4 Sherman was used at Normandy landings with mix results.[33] Post war the US LCU was used for beach landings. The Cadillac Gage Commando saw service in Vietnam War. Current vehicles include the Assault Amphibious Vehicle in service starting 1971 and LAV-25 in service starting in 1983. Landing Craft Air Cushion launched from Amphibious assault ship in service starting 1986. Amphibious assault ships included Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ships, San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks, and Wasp-class amphibious assault ships.[34][35] [36]

Current Amphibious Training Bases

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Closed Amphibious Training Bases

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In the United States

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In Africa

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US Naval Bases North Africa:

In the Pacific

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US Naval Advance Bases:

In the United Kingdom

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Combined Operations Amphibious Training Base with Royal Navy in west of Scotland and the south of England (1943-1944):[49]

  • Amphibious Training Base Crow Point in Devon, England pre D-Day 1943-44[50]
  • Amphibious Training Base Woolacombe Beach Devon, England pre D-Day 1943 [51]
  • HMS Dundonald Troon Scotland
  • Dundonald Air Station in South Ayrshire, Scotland, also used for amphibious landing training
  • HMS Dinosaur I, HQ for tank landing craft training, Troon, Ayrshire Scotland
  • HMS Stopford at West Lothian Scotland, landing craft base
  • Port Glasgow Scotland, Landing Craft Maintenance base
  • HMS Mylodon at Lowestoft England, Landing Craft base
  • HMS Woolverstone at Ipswich England, Landing Craft base
  • HMS Helder at Brightlingsea England, Landing Craft training base
  • HMS Westcliff at Southend England, Landing Craft training base
  • HMS Lizard at Shoreham, England, Landing Craft training base
  • HMS Mastodon, England, Combined Ops base for landing craft
  • HMS Northney, England, Base I, II, III & IV Training establishment for landing craft and Combined Ops camp
  • Dartmouth III at Dartmouth, England, Combined Operations Boat Training
  • HMS St Clement at Coalhouse Fort, Tilbury, Essex, England, Combined Operations base
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  • Amphibian engineers land 45th Division troops at Cape Cod in 1942
    Amphibian engineers land 45th Division troops at Cape Cod in 1942
  • 1006th Seabees in the Salerno Invasion,Operation Avalanche, unloading an LST ship over a Pontoon Causeway at Safta Beach in September 1943. The ship had trained and loaded with the Pontoon Causeway at an US Naval Bases North Africa Amphibious Training Bases
    1006th Seabees in the Salerno Invasion,Operation Avalanche, unloading an LST ship over a Pontoon Causeway at Safta Beach in September 1943. The ship had trained and loaded with the Pontoon Causeway at an US Naval Bases North Africa Amphibious Training Bases
  • 1006th Seabees using a Three-Section Pontoon Causeway at Safta Beach in September 1943.
    1006th Seabees using a Three-Section Pontoon Causeway at Safta Beach in September 1943.
  • LVT-4 unloading a Jeep
    LVT-4 unloading a Jeep
  • Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVTs) approach Iwo Jima
    Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVTs) approach Iwo Jima
  • American troops land on an Algerian beach during Operation Torch
    American troops land on an Algerian beach during Operation Torch
  • Troops and landing craft crews training at HMAS Assault during World War II
    Troops and landing craft crews training at HMAS Assault during World War II
  • American troops unload stores from LCA 26 at Beach Z, near Arzeu
    American troops unload stores from LCA 26 at Beach Z, near Arzeu
  • A light-armored vehicle assaults the beach from a landing craft utility from Assault Craft Unit 2 during an amphibious assault demonstration conducted as part of Bright Star 2009, Egypt, Oct. 12, 2009.
    A light-armored vehicle assaults the beach from a landing craft utility from Assault Craft Unit 2 during an amphibious assault demonstration conducted as part of Bright Star 2009, Egypt, Oct. 12, 2009.
  • A US Navy LCAC maneuvers to enter the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge
    A US Navy LCAC maneuvers to enter the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge
  • USMC LAV-25s and HMMWVs are offloaded from a USN LCAC craft at Samesan RTMB, Thailand
    USMC LAV-25s and HMMWVs are offloaded from a USN LCAC craft at Samesan RTMB, Thailand
  • Three LCACs conduct an amphibious assault exercise during Bright Star '09
    Three LCACs conduct an amphibious assault exercise during Bright Star '09
  • US Navy SEALs training at Naval Special Warfare Center, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado
    US Navy SEALs training at Naval Special Warfare Center, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado
  • Māhia Peninsula Amphibious Training beach in New Zealand
    Māhia Peninsula Amphibious Training beach in New Zealand

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Prelude to Liberation: Genesis of American Amphibious Assault in the ETO". The National WWII Museum | New Orleans. November 8, 2022.
  2. ^ Seward W. Livermore, " American Naval Base Policy in the Far East", Pacific Historical Review; 13, pgs/ 113–135.
  3. ^ a b "The Problems Facing United States Marine Corps Amphibious Assaults". www.usmcu.edu.
  4. ^ Amphibious Training, US War Department, youtube.com
  5. ^ Field, Edward (1898). Esek Hopkins, commander-in-chief of the continental navy during the American Revolution, 1775 to 1778. Providence, Rhode Island: Preston & Rounds. OCLC 3430958.
  6. ^ Riley, Sandra; Peters, Thelma B. (2000). Homeward Bound: A History of the Bahama Islands to 1850 with a Definitive Study of Abaco in the American Loyalist Plantation Period. Miami: Island Research. ISBN 978-0966531022. OCLC 51540154.
  7. ^ Cathal J. Nolan, et al. Turbulence in the Pacific: Japanese-U.S. Relations during World War I (2000)
  8. ^ Development of the Naval Establishment Pearl HarborUS Navy
  9. ^ "HyperWar: Advanced Base Operations in Micronesia". www.ibiblio.org.
  10. ^ Island of Oahu, Attack on Pearl Harborhmdb.org
  11. ^ Pearl Harbor: Its Origin and Administrative History Through World War TwoUS Navy
  12. ^ "HyperWar: 7th Amphibious Force (Part II)". www.ibiblio.org.
  13. ^ "Amphibious Training Centre Gan Gan, NSW". www.ozatwar.com.
  14. ^ "Seabee History: Formation of the Seabees and World War II". NHHC. 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  15. ^ "Chapter VI: The Seabees". Building the Navy's Bases in World War II: History of the BuDocks and the CEC 1940–1946. Vol. I. Washington, DC: U.S.GPO. 1947. Retrieved 18 October 2017 – via HyperWar.
  16. ^ 37th Seabees cruisebook, Seabee Museum Archives website, Port Hueneme, CA, Jan. 2020, p. 12-16
  17. ^ US Navy Seabee, www.history.navy.mil
  18. ^ "Amphibious Training Base Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org.
  19. ^ "U. S. Naval Amphibious Training Base, Solomons, Maryland". www.wilmon.com.
  20. ^ a b "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 20]". www.ibiblio.org.
  21. ^ "80-G-250062 Rear Admiral Don P. Moon, USN". US Navy.
  22. ^ US Army Amphibious Training Command
  23. ^ World War II US Navy, Special Warfare Units
  24. ^ "Hawaii". National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum.
  25. ^ Landing Ship, Tank - (LST, youtube.com
  26. ^ "This Week in Seabee History: November 7–14". Seabee Magazine.
  27. ^ US Army, HISTORY OF THE AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING CENTER
  28. ^ Operation Torch, United States Coast Guard
  29. ^ Landing Vehicle Tracked, youtube.com
  30. ^ Seese, Robert J. (1983). "The Roebling Alligator". Proceedings. 109 (12). United States Naval Institute: 27.
  31. ^ Allen, Thomas B. (August 2002). "Odd DUKW: On land and in the water, World War II's amphibian workhorse showed the skeptics a thing or two — now it shows tourists the sights". Smithsonian. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  32. ^ "Ford GPA amphibious jeep story". www.m201.com.
  33. ^ "History of the Duplex Drive tank – Hobbart's funnies in 1944 – D-Day Overlord". 19 February 2016.
  34. ^ Amphibious Combat Vehicles Training with USS Anchorage (LPD 23), youtube.com
  35. ^ Thousands of U.S. Marines are taking part in amphibious training exercises in Virginia, youtube.com
  36. ^ Marines Amphibious Assault Vehicle Training, youtube.com
  37. ^ Amphibious Training Event Begins Off Djibouti’s Coast, April 4, 2018, By Navy Lt. Cmdr. Sandra Arnold, defense.gov
  38. ^ Saudi, U.S. Forces Conclude Amphibious Training in Tabuk, July 2, 2021, By Capt. Kelton Cochran centcom.mil
  39. ^ US, South Korean marines resume amphibious training after five-year lull, By David Choi, Stars and Stripes • March 29, 2023, stripes.com
  40. ^ "WW II Training Area, a War Memorial". www.hmdb.org.
  41. ^ "St. Lucie County Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org.
  42. ^ "U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers - Amphibious Forces, U.S. Navy Monument Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org.
  43. ^ "Camp Gordon Johnston Training Area Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org.
  44. ^ "World War II D-Day Training Site Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org.
  45. ^ "Franklin County, a War Memorial". www.hmdb.org.
  46. ^ "Place". 30 June 2014.
  47. ^ Professional-Journal-of-the-Royal-New-Zealand-Navy, December -2020nzdf.mil.nz
  48. ^ US forces in New Zealand, Th camps, nzhistory.govt.nz
  49. ^ Combined Operations Amphibious Training Bases
  50. ^ Amphibious Training Base at Crow Point 1943
  51. ^ Amphibious Training Base Woolacombe Beach, youtube.com


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