WesWorld

October 4, 1943

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The still morning air was broken by the sound of the USN Pacific Fleet on the move from its main naval base. First to leave were the 6 battleships from Battleship Row, in the lead the mighty USS Montana, pride of the USN Pacific Fleet, under the command of Admiral Chester Nimitz, Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet. Behind her, USS South Dakota, USS Colorado, USS Maryland, USS Washington, and USS West Virginia followed. After the Battleships cleared Ford Island and entered the main channel, the carriers USS Ranger, USS Constellation, USS Enterprise, and USS Hornet left their mooring along with the battlecruisers USS Lexington and USS Saratoga. The cruisers came next, the new USS Wichita in the lead followed by USS New York City, USS Boston, USS Norfolk, USS Charleston, USS Atlanta, USS Northampton, USS Louisville, USS Houston, USS Minneapolis, USS Quincy, USS Brooklyn, USS Rapid City, USS Fargo, and USS Denver. Finally, the destroyers left their moorings, passing Ford Island and then accelerating to join the rest of the Fleet moving up to its cruising speed of 12 knots. All in all, 6 battleships, 4 carriers, 2 battlecruisers, 15 cruisers, and 28 destroyers left Pearl Harbor that Monday morning to act as the advance guard for the escort force bringing reinforcements to Wake Island. An hour or so later, USS California and USS Tennessee left their mooring at Battleship Row followed by transports carrying the 1st Marine Defence Battalion under Major Deveraux along with VMF-211. Accompanying the battleships are USS Helena, USS San DIego, USS Rochester, USS Sault Ste. Marie, USS Truxtun, USS Paulding, USS Drayton, USS Roe, USS Terry, USS Radford, USS Jenkins, and USS Lavallette. TF 4, and TF 5 will sail to Wake Island, where the fleet oilers USS Cimarron, USS Platte, USS Nensho, USS Sabine, USS Salamone will join TF 4 for the remainder of Operation Thunderbolt while TF 5 will refuel from the facilities at Wake Island and return to Pearl Harbor.

In Army news for the month of October, the 4.1in Howitzer Motor Carriage M7 goes into production.

In Naval news this month, two Olympia class cruisers along with a landing craft are laid down.

All in all that seems like a rather hefty task force to sail in support of the deployment of a single defense battalion and air squadron, particularly in time of relative peace. I take it you are trying to make a point.

Merely showing everyone in the Pacific that a) we have a big stick and b) it can reach far.

Sometimes a reminder is needed. ....

October 15th 1943

TF 4 leaves Wake Island after refueling, accompanied by USS Cimarron, USS Platte, USS Nensho, USS Sabine, and USS Salamone. The taskforce sails to the NW, wishing to make for the passage between the Island of Farrallon de Pajaros, and South Iwo Jima to enter the Philippine Sea.

October 16th 1943

TF 5 leaves Wake Island, bound for Pearl Harbor. The Marines on Wake Island busy themselves with the construction of revetments, and a survey of the airfield with the possibility of lengthening it to accommodate B-29 and B-32 bombers.

October 19th 1943

TF 4 enters the Philippine Sea.

October 21st 1943

After crossing the Philippine Sea, TF 4 is spotted by a Philippine patrol plane making for the Luzon Strait.

October 22nd 1943

60 American warships enter the South China Sea from the Strait of Luzon.....then head in a southerly direction.

October 23rd 1943

TF 4 nears EL Fraile Island, with USS Montana leading a long line of US warships, the band aboard the flagship begins playing the Filipino national anthem, the [Lupang Hirirang/i], the Filipino National March.

Manila Bay, Saturday, 23 October 1943

October 30th 1943

TF 4 leaves Manila Bay, and begins a north-westerly bearing across the South China Sea.

November 2nd 1943

TF 4 enters Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, with the ship's band on board the USS Montana playing God Save the King.

November 1943

In naval news this month, the destroyer USS Macomb is launched along with LST-5 and LST-6. The destroyers USS Ellyson and USS Hambleton, along with the submarines USS Cod, USS Ceres, USS Corvina, and the fleet oilers USS Taluga, and USS Elokomin are all completed.

November 9th 1943

TF 4 leaves Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong.

November 12th 1943

TF 4 enters Cam Ranh Bay, Indochina, playing La Marseillaise.

November 19th 1943

TF 4 leaves Cam Ranh Bay, Indochina

November 23rd 1943

TF 4 enters the Port of Singapore, playing once again God Save the King

November 30th 1943

TF 4 leaves Singapore.

December 16th, 1943

TF 4 enters Pearl Harbour, Operation Thunderbolt completed.

December 1943

In aviation news this month the Bell XP-59A takes its first flight, becoming the first American jet aircraft to fly, powered by two General Electric J31 engines producing 2,000 lb-ft of thrust. The USAAF is said to be dissatisfied with its performance and hopes for better from Lockheed's design. Also in aviation news, the North American P-51D begins production on USAAF orders.

In army news, Studebaker completes its two prototypes of its multi-terrain cargo carrier. Testing begins on what is named the M28 Weasel. Also in army news, the Rocket Launcher, M1A1 begins production.