US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

Logistics: August 1942-Febwwy 1943 421
received from this letter that Commander Amphibious Forces SOPAC made
proposals for revision in the Amphibian Bible, FTP 167.3’
When Vice Admiral Halsey made the decision, shortly after assuming
command of SOPAC, to shift the building up of a Main Fleet Base in the
South Pacific from Auckland, New Zealand, to Noumea, New Caledonia,
he accomplished more in cutting the Gordian Knot of the SOPAC logistical
problem, than any of the many of hundreds of other actions taken for this
purpose. His recommendation to this end went forward on 21 October
1942.’0 While negotiations to obtain buildings and area for this purpose
had to be carried out with the Free French via General De Gaulle in London
who controlled New Caledonia, the approval for the move was not too long
in arriving.
On 8 November 1942, SOPAC Headquarters was established ashore, and
Noumea commenced striving to fulfill the logistical mission and functions
previously assigned to Auckland.
Espiritu Santo and Efate in the New Hebrides were rapidly built up as
Advanced Bases and depots of material. An Advance Base Construction
Depot was established at Noumea. By December 1942, Noumea was becom-
ing a Main Fleet Base in the South Pacific in more than name. Support ships
were daily landing the requirements of the Army and Marines at Guadal-
canal, and the troops were eating some refrigerated food. Logistical support
was largely in hand.”
BUILDING UP THE GUADALCANAL BASE
The saga of the building of the Guadalcanal-Tulagi base area has yet to
be written, but this base area played a vital role in the logistic support
furnished by COMPHIBFORSOPAC to the Marines and Army troops on
Guadalcanal and to the later operations in the middle and upper Solomon
Islands. So, because of the importance of bases in connection with amphibi-
ous operations, the story of its early trials and tribulations should be told
in some detail.
Plans for an Advanced Naval Base in the Tulagi-Guadalcanal area to
M (a) CTF 62, letter, FE 25/A 16/Ser 029 of 23 Aug. 1942 and replies thereto from transports
and cargo ships and commands; (b) COMSOPAC, letter, A163/(00 ) Ser 00936 of 4 Dec.
1942; (c) TIJ 66.3 Op Orders J–1, K–1, K–2, H–1, incorporating trial revisions.
w COMSOPAC to CINCPAC, 210517 Oct. 1942.
4’FIRSTMARDIV Final Report on Guadalcanal Operations, Phase V, Annex T, p. 2.