US Marine Corps - The Black Vault

Tongb Toezuils Paring 539
jr~ Echelon Western bnding Force
24th Construction Battalion (Designated units )
9th Marine Defense Battalion (Designated units)
(f) 4tb Echelon Movement We.rtem Gro#p TU 31.1.7 Captain J. S.
Crenshaw
LST Unit Lieutenant W. O. Talley
LST-343 (F) Lieutenant H. H. Rightmeyer, USN
LST-472 Lieutenant W. O. Talky, USN
LCI Unit Lieutenant H. L. Kelly
LCI-61 Lieutenant J. P. Moore, USNR
LCI-62 Lieutenant ( jg) W. C. Lyons, USNR
LCI-64 Lieutenant H. L. Kelly, USNR
LCI-65 Lieutenant (jg) C. R. Tompkins, USNR
LCI-66 Lieutenant C. F. Houston, Jr., USNR
LCI-222 Ensign C. M. Freese, USNR
(g) 17e~erveMTB Group TG 31.4 Commander Allen P. Calvert
12 MTBs
(h) Service Unit TU 31.1.8 Lieutenant (jg) C. H. Stedman
Vireo (AT-144) Lieutenant ( jg) C. H. Stedman
Rail (AT-1 39) Ensign L. C. Oaks
PAB 4, PAB 8 (A PAB was a Pontoon Assembled Barge or
lighter, a bit smaller than the “Rhino Barge” of the Normandy
landings. )
Several differences will be noted between the amphibious ships and craft
listed above and on later pages for the various tasks and echelons and those
listed in Samuel E. Morison’s account of the invasion of New Georgia.
Morison’s listings appear to have been taken from the basic operation orders,
while the listings herein were made up from the issued revisions to the
basic orders, war diaries, action reports, and dispatches, and are believed
far more accurate since last minute changes were made.’
TASKS
The major task of the amphibians of the Western Force was to get the
6,3oo troops in the 1st Echelon ashore at Rendova Island on D-Day.
The minor task was to put ashore two companies of troops to seize the
small islands guarding the most direct approach from Rendova Harbor to
Zanana Beach on New Georgia Island. Zanana Beach was the spot where
7Morison,Brea~irzgtbe Bisrnarcks Barrier (Vol. VI), pp. 144–46.