US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

306 Amphibians Came To Conquer
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three islands initially suggested as suitable by CINCPAC, and turned out
on the days of the rehearsal to be quite unsuitable.”
The uncertainties involved in this rehearsal related not only to those always
present when bringing together a large number of ships, aircraft, and men
inexperienced in battle, but
at the time the basic order was made out [for the rehearsal], there was some
uncertainty as to the identity of all ships in Squadrons X-RAY and YOKE
specifically {Transport Divisions Two and Twelve] and also uncertainty as to
the identity of the squadron commanders, ~~
On 24 July, Rear Admiral Turner sent a personal letter to Rear Admiral
V. A. C. Crutchley of the Royal Navy, then in the Australian cruiser
AaJtrulia enroute to Koro Island. He commanded the Screening Group of
four heavy and one light cruisers and nine destroyers. The letter reveals that
at this late date, Rear Admiral Turner still did not know whether he would
have any minesweepers for use in the operation or any tankers to provide
“ (a) CINCPAC to COMSOPAC, 041844 Jul. 1942; (b) RKT to Deputy CNO Admin, letter,
27 Sep. 19~0.
w RKT to Rear Admiral Norman Scott, prospective Commander Gunfire Support, 25 Jul. 1942.