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US Amphibious Training Base

{{Short description|United States Amphibious Training Bases for the US Navy, US Army and US Marine Corps}}

File:AvilaBeachAmphibiousTrainingBaseMorroBay.jpg on March 7, 1944. An amphibious training exercise, with pontoon bridge attached to Landing Ship, Tank. Army Signal Corps photo.]]

File:IWM-H-19057-Crusader-landing-19420426.jpg landing on a beach from a Tank Landing Craft in a 1942 test]]

Image:Darke APA-159 - LCVP 18.jpg, known as 'Higgins Boats', were the first specialized landing craft for the US Navy. Pictured, {{USS|Darke|APA-159|6}} LCVP 18, possibly with Army troops as reinforcements at Okinawa, 1945.]]

File:Invasion Training in England 02.jpg, during training for D-Day]]

File:LST-742,1950;1016074201.jpg on 13 October 1950 at Wolmi-do island, Incheon Harbor, South Korea, loading supplies for the upcoming Wonsan invasion]]

Amphibious Training Base (ATB)(USNATB) Advance Amphibious Training Base are United States Armed Forces bases used for the training of amphibious warfare.{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/prelude-liberation-genesis-american-amphibious-assault-eto|title=Prelude to Liberation: Genesis of American Amphibious Assault in the ETO|date=November 8, 2022|website=The National WWII Museum | New Orleans}} Starting with World War II, United States Navy began large-scale amphibious assaults of beaches. To train troops in the use of Amphibious warfare ships and Amphibious Combat Vehicles the Navy established training bases both on the US mainland and overseas at US Naval Advance Bases. The Training involved the United States Navy working with The United States Marine Corps, United States Army and in later years sometimes the United States Air Force for air support.Seward W. Livermore, " American Naval Base Policy in the Far East", Pacific Historical Review; 13, pgs/ 113–135.{{cite web|url=https://www.usmcu.edu/Outreach/Marine-Corps-University-Press/MCU-Journal/JAMS-vol-11-no-2/The-Problems-Facing-United-States-Marine-Corps-Amphibious-Assaults/|title=The Problems Facing United States Marine Corps Amphibious Assaults|website=www.usmcu.edu}}[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogv1x_x3NnI Amphibious Training, US War Department, youtube.com]

Background

{{main|United States amphibious operations|Fleet Marine Force}}

The United States amphibious operations dates back to the early dates of the nation. On March 3, 1776, the Continental Marines made their first amphibious landing in the Battle of Nassau on to the beaches of the Bahamas.{{cite book|first=Edward|last=Field|title=Esek Hopkins, commander-in-chief of the continental navy during the American Revolution, 1775 to 1778|year=1898|publisher=Preston & Rounds|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_GEEvAAAAYAAJ_2|location=Providence, Rhode Island|oclc=3430958}}{{cite book|first1=Sandra|last1=Riley|first2=Thelma B.|last2=Peters|title=Homeward Bound: A History of the Bahama Islands to 1850 with a Definitive Study of Abaco in the American Loyalist Plantation Period|year=2000|publisher=Island Research|location=Miami|isbn=978-0966531022|oclc=51540154}}

While amphibious operations took place in the American Civil War, Spanish–American War, and World War I, large-scale amphibious training bases were not established till World War II.

Before World War II the need for Amphibious Training Base was seen. In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt from his experience in the Spanish-American War established a Joint Army-Navy Board in 1903, but no Amphibious Training Base came out of this. One of the first small-scale Amphibious Training took place in Culebra and Vieques, Puerto Rico at the request of the Secretary of the Navy Josephus Daniels in 1913. During World War I, the Gallipoli amphibious operations in Turkey did not go well for the Allies, thus some thought that amphibious warfare was at an end.

After World War I, in which Japan fought on the Allied side, Japan took control of German bases in China and the Pacific. In 1919, the League of Nations approved Japan's mandate over the German islands north of the equator. The United States did not want any mandates and was concerned with Japan's aggressiveness. As such Wilson Administration transferred 200 Atlantic warships to the Pacific Fleet in 1919.Cathal J. Nolan, et al. Turbulence in the Pacific: Japanese-U.S. Relations during World War I (2000)[https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/fac/PH/USN-Hawaii-3.html Development of the Naval Establishment Pearl Harbor]US Navy

With new concerns in the Pacific, in 1921, Marine Commandant Lieutenant General John A. Lejeune asked Major Earl “Pete” Ellis to make up plans for an amphibious war with Japan, as to be prepared. Ellis wrote OpPlan 712: Advance Base Operations in Micronesia, which outlined modern amphibious warfare.{{cite web|url=https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USMC/ref/AdvBaseOps/index.html|title=HyperWar: Advanced Base Operations in Micronesia|website=www.ibiblio.org}} The Fleet Marine Force was founded on December 7, 1933. Fleet Marine Force was a combined Force of both the US Navy and the United States Marine Corps. On December 7, 1941, Japan carried out a surprise military strike on the Naval Base in Pearl Harbor.[https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=71610 Island of Oahu, Attack on Pearl Harbor]hmdb.org[https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/fac/PH/USN-Hawaii-2.html Pearl Harbor: Its Origin and Administrative History Through World War Two]US Navy Japan hoped to eliminate US military force in the Pacific as it soon carried out attacks across the South Pacific.{{cite web|url=https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Admin-Hist/OA/419-7thAmphib/7thAmphibs-2.html|title=HyperWar: 7th Amphibious Force (Part II)|website=www.ibiblio.org}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ozatwar.com/usarmy/atcgangan.htm|title=Amphibious Training Centre Gan Gan, NSW|website=www.ozatwar.com}} The attack led the US to enter World War II. During World War II the United States was fighting on two fronts, the Pacific War and the European theatre. The Pacific War was an amphibious operation of Island-hopping and the European theatre required amphibious operations to get a foothold on the European continent. European theatre saw major amphibious operations at the invasion of North Africa, Southern France, Sicily, Italy and Normandy.

On January 5, 1942 Seabee Navy Construction Battalions officially began operation.{{cite web|title= Seabee History: Formation of the Seabees and World War II|url= https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/h/history-of-seabees/ww2.html|website=NHHC|date= 2017|access-date= 15 March 2017}} In July 1943 Seabee started an Amphibious Construction Battalion, with Amphibious Construction Battalion 1 as the first unit, which operated in the Pacific War. Seabee were given the task of clearing beaches of obstacles and establishing beachhead bases.{{cite book |chapter-url=https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Building_Bases/bases-6.html |chapter=Chapter VI: The Seabees |title=Building the Navy's Bases in World War II: History of the BuDocks and the CEC 1940–1946 |volume= I |publisher=U.S.GPO |location=Washington, DC |date=1947 |via=HyperWar |access-date=18 October 2017}}37th Seabees cruisebook, Seabee Museum Archives website, Port Hueneme, CA, Jan. 2020, p. 12-16 In addition, Seabees built and operated sea ports, airfields and served as elements the United States Marine Corps.[https://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/museums/Seabee/Online%20Reading%20Room/Seabee%20FAQs/SeaBees%20and%20the%20US%20Marine%20Corps%20II.pdf US Navy Seabee, www.history.navy.mil]

This nation's first official naval amphibious training base was established in August 1942 at Solomons, Maryland, USNATB, United States Navy Amphibious Training Base. Other base opened on both coasts of the United States.{{cite web|url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=3435|title=Amphibious Training Base Historical Marker|website=www.hmdb.org}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wilmon.com/usnatbsmd.html|title=U. S. Naval Amphibious Training Base, Solomons, Maryland|website=www.wilmon.com}} Due to the demand for Amphibious Training, overseas bases were founded in North Africa and the South Pacific.{{cite web|url=https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Building_Bases/bases-20.html|title=HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 20]|website=www.ibiblio.org}}{{cite web|url=https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/80-g/80-G-250000/80-G-250062.html|title=80-G-250062 Rear Admiral Don P. Moon, USN|website=US Navy}}[https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA954909.pdf US Army Amphibious Training Command]

The United States Navy needed to train with the US Army and US Marine Corps, as amphibious landing require complex operations:

  • Strategic planning
  • Amphibious vessels need to arrive and be loaded with all the supplies and troops needed for the operation.
  • Must be reconnaissance of the landing site
  • Landing site may need obstacles removed, and the water depth checked.
  • Landing must be timed to the tide.
  • Air cover must be timed to landing.
  • Beach checked for landmines and other obstacles.
  • After troops and vehicles debark, support supplies are unloaded the beachhead supply depot.

Underwater Demolition Teams

{{main|Underwater Demolition Team}}

The US Navy's Underwater Demolition Teams are the forerunner to today's United States Navy SEALs, they were founded in December 1943 in Hawaii. The first of 30 World War II teams, was Underwater Demolition Team One, UDT-1 established with UDT-2 in December 1943. The Underwater Demolition Team trained at Amphibious Training Base Kamaole on Maui and Amphibious Training Base Waimanalo at Waimanalo on Oahu.[http://pentagonus.ru/_ld/17/1715_Osprey-Elite_20.pdf World War II US Navy, Special Warfare Units]{{cite web|url=https://www.navysealmuseum.org/nakedwarrior/hawaii|title=Hawaii|website=National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum}}

Ships and vehicles

See also Category:Amphibious warfare vessel classes

Starting in World War II common amphibious ships used were Landing Ship, Tank (LST), Landing Craft Infantry (LCI).[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTSqhCdgwrI Landing Ship, Tank - (LST, youtube.com] Common boats starting in World War II were LCP boats, Landing craft tank and Landing Craft Mechanized boats.{{cite web|url=https://seabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil/News/Article/2836762/this-week-in-seabee-history-november-7-14/http%3A%2F%2Fseabeemagazine.navylive.dodlive.mil%2FNews%2FArticle%2F2836762%2Fthis-week-in-seabee-history-november-7-14%2F|title=This Week in Seabee History: November 7–14|website=Seabee Magazine}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20100920200457/http://www.history.army.mil/books/agf/agf22/amphib-ch1.htm US Army, HISTORY OF THE AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING CENTER][https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USCG/IX-NorthAfrica/USCG-IX-1.html Operation Torch, United States Coast Guard ] Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVT), known as Gators and Buffalos were widely used in the Pacific War from 1942 to 1945.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe13fCJoNdI Landing Vehicle Tracked, youtube.com]{{cite journal |last=Seese |first=Robert J. |year=1983 |title=The Roebling Alligator |journal=Proceedings |volume=109 |issue=12 |page=27 |publisher=United States Naval Institute }} The DUKW, an amphibious truck, was used in all fronts in World War II.{{cite magazine |last=Allen |first=Thomas B. |date=August 2002 |title=Odd DUKW: On land and in the water, World War II's amphibian workhorse showed the skeptics a thing or two — now it shows tourists the sights |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/odd-dukw-66979423/ |magazine=Smithsonian |location= |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |access-date=7 March 2021}} An Amphibious jeep was built, but was not as successful as the DUKW.{{cite web|url=http://www.m201.com/GPA.htm|title=Ford GPA amphibious jeep story|website=www.m201.com}} DD tank, a variant of the M4 Sherman was used at Normandy landings with mix results.{{cite web|url=https://www.dday-overlord.com/en/material/tank/duplex-drive|title=History of the Duplex Drive tank – Hobbart's funnies in 1944 – D-Day Overlord|date=19 February 2016 }} Post war the US LCU was used for beach landings. The Cadillac Gage Commando saw service in Vietnam War. Current vehicles include the Assault Amphibious Vehicle in service starting 1971 and LAV-25 in service starting in 1983. Landing Craft Air Cushion launched from Amphibious assault ship in service starting 1986. Amphibious assault ships included Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ships, San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks, and Wasp-class amphibious assault ships.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVu3u6-sLXE Amphibious Combat Vehicles Training with USS Anchorage (LPD 23), youtube.com][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX5wgR5FxNE Thousands of U.S. Marines are taking part in amphibious training exercises in Virginia, youtube.com]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6TinuEYajw Marines Amphibious Assault Vehicle Training, youtube.com]

Current Amphibious Training Bases

Closed Amphibious Training Bases

=In the United States=

=In Africa=

US Naval Bases North Africa:

=In the Pacific=

US Naval Advance Bases:

=In the United Kingdom=

Combined Operations Amphibious Training Base with Royal Navy in west of Scotland and the south of England (1943-1944):[https://www.combinedops.com/Training%20EST%20UK.htm Combined Operations Amphibious Training Bases]

  • Amphibious Training Base Crow Point in Devon, England pre D-Day 1943-44[https://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675058867_United-States-troops_amphibious-training_Landing-Craft-Mechanized_embarking-on-a-craft Amphibious Training Base at Crow Point 1943]
  • Amphibious Training Base Woolacombe Beach Devon, England pre D-Day 1943 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMGxsfHeuMQ Amphibious Training Base Woolacombe Beach, youtube.com]
  • HMS Dundonald Troon Scotland
  • Dundonald Air Station in South Ayrshire, Scotland, also used for amphibious landing training
  • HMS Dinosaur I, HQ for tank landing craft training, Troon, Ayrshire Scotland
  • HMS Stopford at West Lothian Scotland, landing craft base
  • Port Glasgow Scotland, Landing Craft Maintenance base
  • HMS Mylodon at Lowestoft England, Landing Craft base
  • HMS Woolverstone at Ipswich England, Landing Craft base
  • HMS Helder at Brightlingsea England, Landing Craft training base
  • HMS Westcliff at Southend England, Landing Craft training base
  • HMS Lizard at Shoreham, England, Landing Craft training base
  • HMS Mastodon, England, Combined Ops base for landing craft
  • HMS Northney, England, Base I, II, III & IV Training establishment for landing craft and Combined Ops camp
  • Dartmouth III at Dartmouth, England, Combined Operations Boat Training
  • HMS St Clement at Coalhouse Fort, Tilbury, Essex, England, Combined Operations base

Photo gallery

File:Amphibian engineers land 45th Division troops at Cape Cod.jpg|Amphibian engineers land 45th Division troops at Cape Cod in 1942

File:Unloading_an_LST_Pontoon_Causeway_at_Safta_Beach.jpg|1006th Seabees in the Salerno Invasion,Operation Avalanche, unloading an LST ship over a Pontoon Causeway at Safta Beach in September 1943. The ship had trained and loaded with the Pontoon Causeway at an US Naval Bases North Africa Amphibious Training Bases

File:1006th_Seabees_using_a_Three-Section_Pontoon_Causeway_at_Safta_Beach.jpg|1006th Seabees using a Three-Section Pontoon Causeway at Safta Beach in September 1943.

File:LVT-4 1.jpg|LVT-4 unloading a Jeep

File:Tracked landing vehicles (LVTs) approach Iwo Jima;fig14.jpg|Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVTs) approach Iwo Jima

File:Near Algiers, "Torch" troops hit the beaches behind a large American flag "Left" hoping for the French Army not fire... - NARA - 195516.jpg|American troops land on an Algerian beach during Operation Torch

HMAS Assault (304848).jpg|Troops and landing craft crews training at HMAS Assault during World War II

File:American troops landing on the beach at Arzeu.jpg|American troops unload stores from LCA 26 at Beach Z, near Arzeu

US Navy 120109-N-GF386-064 Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 1654, assigned to Assault Craft Unit 2, departs the well deck of the amphibious assault ship.jpg

| US NavyLanding Craft Utility (LCU) 1654, assigned to Assault Craft Unit 2, departs the well deck of the amphibious assault ship

Defense.gov photo essay 091012-M-8583E-011.jpg| A light-armored vehicle assaults the beach from a landing craft utility from Assault Craft Unit 2 during an amphibious assault demonstration conducted as part of Bright Star 2009, Egypt, Oct. 12, 2009.

LCAC-55 maneuvers to enter the well deck.jpg| A US Navy LCAC maneuvers to enter the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge

USMC LCAC offloading.jpg|USMC LAV-25s and HMMWVs are offloaded from a USN LCAC craft at Samesan RTMB, Thailand

Bright Star 2009 DVIDS214767.jpg|Three LCACs conduct an amphibious assault exercise during Bright Star '09

File:Defense.gov photo essay 100813-D-7203C-038.jpg|US Navy SEALs training at Naval Special Warfare Center, Naval Amphibious Base Coronado

File:MāhiaPeninsula andingbeachtraining.jpg|Māhia Peninsula Amphibious Training beach in New Zealand

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{USWWII}}

{{WWII history by nation}}

{{US Navy navbox}}

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Category:Closed installations of the United States Navy