US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

CACTUS Bound
ORGANIZATION OF PERMANENT FORCES OF
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[ PHI BFORSOPAC I
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1
PHIBFORSOPAC
MARINE
TRANSPORT
PROVISIONAL CORPS DIVISIONS
Vandegrift
I
Reifsnider
281
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As given in establishment letter of July 18, 1942
South Pacific Marine Provisional Corps, Major General Alexander A. Vande-
grift, USMC; Commander Transport Divisions, South Pacific Force, Captain
Lawrence F. Reifsnider, U. S. Navy (Class of 1910) ; and Commander
Minesweeper Group, Commander William H. Hartt, U. S. Navy (Class of
1918). Commander Naval Bases, South Pacific, a direct subordinate of
COMSOPAC, had not been named. This command not yet fully activated
was to administer and train th~ Amphibious Force Boat Pool, initially to
be located “at Wellington. Commander Service Squadron, SOPACFOR,
Captain Mark C. Bowman, U. S. Navy (Class of 1909) another direct
subordinate of COMSOPAC was responsible for logistic support of the
Amphibious Force, South Pacific.’
Transport Division Eight and Transport Division Ten were regularly
assigned to Transport Divisions South Pacific Force. Transport Divisions
Two and Twelve were temporarily assigned. The individual transport divi-
sions were organized as follows:
TRANSPORT D1VIS1ONS, SOUTH PACIFIC FORCE
Captain L. F. Reifsnider, U. S. Navy, Commanding (1910)
TRANSPORT DIVISION TWO
Captain Pat Buchanan, U.S. Navy, Division Commander (191 1)
AP- 9 USS Zeifin (Flagship) Captain Pat Buchanan (191 1)
AP-40 USS Crescent City Captain I. N. Kiland ( 1917)
o (a) COMPHIBFORSOPAC, letter, no Ser of 18 Jul. 1942, sub: Establishment of PHIBFOR,
SOPAC; (b) The Alckibti (AK–23 ) (Commander James S. Freeman), which participated in
the WATCHTOWER Operation was assigned administratively to Transport Division Six.