Naval Base Panama Canal Zone

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Naval Base Panama Canal Zone
Naval Station Coco Solo in 1941
TypeNaval base
Site information
Controlled by United States Navy
Site history
In use1918–1999
Panama Canal Zone map
O-class submarines at Coco Solo in 1923.
Jesse L. Brown , Manitowoc, and the Colombian ARC USS Independiente (54) and ARC Antioquia (FM-53)
A schematic of the Panama Canal, illustrating the sequence of locks and passages
Location of Panama between the Pacific Ocean (bottom) and the Caribbean Sea (top), with the canal at top center

Naval Base Panama Canal Zone refers to a number of

Naval Station Coco Solo that had been in operation since 1918.[1][2]

History

In 1821 Panama voluntarily became part of

15th Naval District was in command of the Panama Canal Zone. Two airfields operate 30 fighter aircraft, with Curtiss P-36 Hawks, and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk for protection. A seaplane base had regular submarine patrols. With all the patrols and defenses, U-boats and Imperial Japanese Navy submarines did not attack or come near the Panama Canal Zone.[3] With the loss of the Dutch East Indies oil fields, the vast Panama Canal Zone tank farms became the fuel line for the fuel needed to fight the Pacific War. Many tankers and cargo ships were lost in the early part of the Battle of the Atlantic. To help fuel oil pipelines were built along the Panama Canal, the decreased the number of tankers needed to go through the Panama Canal. The first pipeline opened on 18 April 1943 and second pipeline opened at the end of 1943. In 1944 a diesel and separate gasoline pipeline were opened. By April 1943 the US believed the threat to the Canal had diminished, the Canal defense status was downgraded, and there was a reduction in troop bases in Panama. The Naval Bases at the Panama Canal Zone were supported during World War II and after the war by the larger Naval Base Trinidad.[4]

Panama Railroad and the Port of Balboa until 1979. Panama Canal Company was run by a board of directors appointed by the US president. The Torrijos–Carter Treaties of 1979 ended the Panama Canal Company. The Panama Canal Zone was renamed in 1979, to the Reverted Areas as this was the start of the process of turning over the Canal Panama. The Panama Canal Zone was returned to the Republic of Panama on 1 October 1979 per the Torrijos–Carter Treaties.[3][8]

Naval Bases Panama Canal Zone

Further information: List of former United States military installations in Panama and Panama during World War II

Base used to protect the Panama Canal Zone in World War II:[9]

9°18′37″N 79°53′03″W / 9.31035°N 79.88425°W / 9.31035; -79.88425 (Gatun Tank Farm)

  • Camp Rousseau, Rousseau Naval Hospital on 50-acre during WW2, Atlantic side
  • Almirante Fuel depot, small base at Almirante, Atlantic side.
  • Trans-Panama pipeline built and used in World War 2, four pipes and pumping stations.
  • Camp Elliott US Marines, (1904–1927) Culebra, renamed Camp Gaillard Atlantic side
  • Camp Otis US Marines, east of Camp Gaillard, Atlantic side

Canal Zone Naval Radio Stations

Post World War II:

Naval Station Coco Solo

Main article:
Naval Station Coco Solo

Naval Station Coco Solo and Submarine Base Coco Solo was founded in 1917, near

USS S-45 at the base from 1935 to 1940. In 1940 three V-boat submarines, USS Barracuda, USS Bass and USS Bonita were stationed at Coco Solo though most of the war. Coco Solo Naval Hospital operated at the base during the war. The Navy had a major ship and submarine repair base built at Coco Solo. Submarine Base Coco Solo was also used as a training ground for new crews before being moved to more forward war action. New crews would patrol the water protecting the Canal Zone. The base was very busy during World War II: with patrols, training, refueling and repairing vessels. By 1969, Naval shipyard activity had ended. By the 1980s all Navy work was moved to The Naval Station on Galeta Island. The base closed in 1999, the site is now the Manzanillo International Terminal. US Senator John McCain was born in 1936 at the small Navy hospital at Coco Solo Naval Air Station. 9°22′21″N 79°52′52″W / 9.37262°N 79.8812°W / 9.37262; -79.8812[20][21][22]

NAS Coco Solo

NAS Coco Solo in 1937

NAS Coco Solo had a small runway, three plane hangars, one blimp hangar, three seaplane ramps and tank farm. During the war the base added an engine test depot, a large aircraft assembly depot and a large repair depot. A new runway was built next to the Army runway. Seaplane unit VP-1 was transferred to NAS Coco Solo on 10 October 1943 operating under FAW-3.[23] 9°22′20″N 79°52′58″W / 9.372287°N 79.882746°W / 9.372287; -79.882746

NAS Upham

NAS Upham also called NAS Coco Solo was a

NAS Norfolk on 8 July 1944 and patrolled the Atlantic seaboard.[25] 9°22′20″N 79°52′58″W / 9.372287°N 79.882746°W / 9.372287; -79.882746

PT Boat Base Taboga Island on 1 August 1942

PT Boat Base Taboga Island

PT Boat Base Taboga Island on Taboga Island in the Gulf of Panama was opened in 1942 at Pacific Canal entrance, under Panama Sea Frontier. An Advance base and PT boat base were built in 1942 and completed in 1944. The Navy built a PT Boat overhaul depot at Taboga Island with two small marine railways and a PT Boat training base. The base had a torpedo workshop, and munitions storage depot. At its peak the base had 47 PT boats and 1,200 troops. After the crew was trained and the PT Boat completed sea trails, they would be sent to other US Naval Advance Bases. Seebees Detachment 1012 worked at the base. The base had a recreation camp was on nearby Morro Island. The PT Boat base was supported from Balboa Naval Supply Depot. The base was 20 km (12.4 miles) from Panama City, closed in March 1946. Taboga Island was included in the original 1903 treaty, Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty. The current Taboga Hotel was the PT-boat base barracks[26] 8°47′54″N 79°33′18″W / 8.7982°N 79.5549°W / 8.7982; -79.5549[27][28]

Rodman Naval Station

The Big House, headquarters at Rodman Naval Station in 1994.
Main article:
Rodman Naval Station

Rodman Naval Station was founded in 1932 and construction was completed in 1937. Rodman Naval Station was across from Port of Balboa on the west side of the Canal, on the Pacific side near Panama City. (Rodman Naval Station is named after Commander-in-Chief of the US Pacific Fleet from 1919 to 1921, Admiral Hugh Rodman ( 6 January 1859 – 7 June 1940). Rodman was also the Marine Superintendent of the Panama Canal Zone in 1914. The east bank of the canal, Port of Balboa had become crowded, so the new base was built across the other side.. The Commander in Chief (Commander-in-Chief) of the United States Atlantic Fleet, Southern Detachment (CINCLANTFLT Detachment South) had its headquarters seat at Rodman Naval Base.[29] For World War II a large fuel depot was built and started operation in 1943, fueling ships in the Panama Canal. A ship repair depot was built at the base with 3 dry docks. The base was turned over to Panama on March 11, 1999. Rodman Naval Station included the Ordnance Department, Marine Barracks, the Lacona housing, Camp Rousseau and the Cocoli housing. The base is now called Vasco Nuñez de Balboa Naval Base. 8°57′08″N 79°34′23″W / 8.9522°N 79.573°W / 8.9522; -79.573[30]

Balboa Naval Yard and Base

Panama Canal Zone headquarters on the hill at Baloboa Naval Depot 1941
Balboa terminals and dry dock No. 1 being built

At the

dry docks for ship repair, Balboa Naval Depot, Balboa Naval Hospital, Balboa ammunition depot, 820-acre tank farm, refueling docks, net
depot-weaving, large refrigerator storehouse and the Marine Barracks Panama Canal. The 15th Naval District headquarters was based Balboa on 65 acres. Before 1914, the Balboa was a
USS Pequeni in 1917.[34][35][36][37]

Fort Amador

  • At Balboa was
    Fifteenth Naval district headquartered was stationed at Fort Amador. At the fort was the Balboa Naval Radio Station built in 1914.[38]

Naval Communications Station Balboa

Farfan Housing Community near the 820-acre Farfan radio station, built in 1942, the Navy built a housing community in 1947 and 1948. Farfan Housing Community was built to support the growing base. At the Community 78 houses were built, called the Farfan reservation property.[43]

Seabees

USS Alarka (YTB-229) (center) and USS Umpqua (ATA-209)(left) in 1945. Navy SeaBees
designed and turned it on its side with many pontoons to fit through the canal
Further information: Seabees in World War II

US Navy

power plants, shore batteries, tank farm, did maintenance work and more.[44]

Command
Theodore Roosevelt traveled to Panama in 1906 on the US Navy battleship, the USS Louisiana
Theodore Roosevelt in Panama in 1906 on a Marion Steam Shovel built by the Marion Power Shovel Company
President Taft oversees the construction of the Panama Canal in November 1910.
    • Naval Command
  • 1918 to 1993 Balboa Fort Amador Naval Headquarters
    • 1940 to 1941, the Fifteenth Naval District Headquarters building in Bryan Hall.
  • 1997 closed and moved to Naval Station Mayport

The US Navy worked with the Panama Canal Zone (1917–1979) in operation at the Panama Canal, especially the Port of Balboa (also called Port Ancon), which they shared.
Fleet support
The Naval Base Panama Canal Zone baes are the only bases that supported all the Fleets of the US Navy. Panama Canal is the bridge linking the Fleets:

Past Fleets:

Commander in Chief
On November 6, 1906, Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to depart the continental United States on an official diplomatic trip. Roosevelt made a 17-day trip to Panama and Puerto Rico. Roosevelt checked on the progress of the Canal's construction and talked to workers about the importance of the project. In Puerto Rico, he recommends that Puerto Ricans should become U.S. citizens. Roosevelt traveled to Panama on the US Navy ship the USS Louisiana. Theodore Roosevelt on May 6, 1904, had appointed John Findley Wallace, formerly chief engineer and finally general manager of the Illinois Central Railroad, as chief engineer of the Panama Canal Project. The project was completed by General George Washington Goethals on August 15, 1914.[45][46]

Following Roosevelt, President Taft visited the Panama Canal a few times in 1907, 1909, 1910 and 1912. Taft traveled to the Canal on the US Navy USS Tennessee (ACR-10) and the battleship USS Arkansas (BB-33).[47][48]

Airbases

Gallery

  • Housing and Panama Canal Zone headquarters on the hill at Baloboa Naval Depot 1941
    Housing and Panama Canal Zone headquarters on the hill at Baloboa Naval Depot 1941
  • Balboa, Panama oil tanks, Panama Canal Zone 1943
    Balboa, Panama oil tanks, Panama Canal Zone 1943
  • Map of Rodman Naval Station
    Map of Rodman Naval Station
  • United States. Bureau of Naval Personnel 72 pages
    United States. Bureau of Naval Personnel 72 pages
  • Western Atlantic and Canal Zone Defense Area, US Navy Base map
    Western Atlantic and Canal Zone Defense Area, US Navy Base map
  • Group of Felixstowe F5L seaplanes moored in Balboa harbor with a submarine chaser at Balboa Naval Depot, Panama Canal Zone in 1923
    Group of Felixstowe F5L seaplanes moored in Balboa harbor with a submarine chaser at Balboa Naval Depot, Panama Canal Zone in 1923
  • Map of Rodman Naval Station, Port of Balboa and surrounding at Panama Canal Zone
    Map of Rodman Naval Station, Port of Balboa and surrounding at Panama Canal Zone
  • Balboa harbor on 25 October 1934. Fleet moored include two battleships at dock, three cruisers, tenders Whitney and Dobbin, with more than 40 destroyers, noted are McFarland, Goff, and Long
    Balboa harbor on 25 October 1934. Fleet moored include two battleships at dock, three cruisers, tenders
    Long
  • Balboa Dry Docks in Panama Canal Zone 1941
    Balboa Dry Docks in Panama Canal Zone 1941
  • Baloboa Docks, Panama Canal Zone 1941
    Baloboa Docks, Panama Canal Zone 1941
  • Entertainers Bob Hope and Frances Langford entertaining patients at the Coco Solo Hospital on March 9, 1944. Entertainers present include (left to right): Frances Langford, Vera Vague, Jerry Colonna, Bob Hope, and Tony Romano. Also present is Wendell Niles.
    Entertainers
    Vera Vague, Jerry Colonna, Bob Hope, and Tony Romano. Also present is Wendell Niles
    .
  • A 16-inch Coastal Defense Gun and crew at Naval Base Panama Canal Zone in 1939.
    A
    16-inch Coastal Defense Gun
    and crew at Naval Base Panama Canal Zone in 1939.
  • Panama Canal Zone - Atlantic Ocean, main base Naval Station Coco Solo
    Panama Canal Zone - Atlantic Ocean, main base Naval Station Coco Solo
  • Consolidated PB2Y Coronado seaplane with VP-1
    Consolidated PB2Y Coronado seaplane with VP-1
  • A Consolidated PBY Catalina seaplane crew
    A Consolidated PBY Catalina seaplane crew
  • Martin PBM-5 Mariner seaplane in flight
    Martin PBM-5 Mariner seaplane in flight
  • The light cruiser USS Concord off Balboa, Panama, on January 6, 1943
    The light cruiser USS Concord off Balboa, Panama, on January 6, 1943
  • Howard Field
    Howard Field
  • France Field 1920
    France Field
    1920
  • Rio Hato Field in 1940 at Río Hato
    Rio Hato Field in 1940 at Río Hato
  • Balboa and Albrook Field in 1942
    Balboa and
    Albrook Field
    in 1942
  • Abandoned theatre in Fort Davis
    Abandoned theatre in Fort Davis
  • Marine Barracks, Panama Canal Balboa
    Marine Barracks, Panama Canal Balboa
  • 20th Transport Squadron aircraft at Howard Field in 1943
    20th Transport Squadron aircraft at Howard Field in 1943
  • Boeing XC-105 in 1943 at Albrook Field
    Albrook Field
  • Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk at Rodman Naval Station pick up Marine in 1988
    Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk at Rodman Naval Station pick up Marine in 1988
  • Aerial view of Gatun Locks, Panama Canal. On top, several vessels waiting at Gatun Lake to cross the locks. At the bottom is exit canal to the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean Sea)
    Aerial view of Gatun Locks, Panama Canal. On top, several vessels waiting at Gatun Lake to cross the locks. At the bottom is exit canal to the Atlantic Ocean (Caribbean Sea)
  • Administration Building and Goethals Monument at Balboa
    Administration Building and Goethals Monument at Balboa
  • MH-1A (1968–1976), a floating nuclear power station, at the Panama Canal
    MH-1A (1968–1976), a floating nuclear power station, at the Panama Canal
US fleet off the coast of Panama, March 1, 1923

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Panama Canal Zone.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Naval Base Vasco Núñez de Balboa.

External links

References

  1. ^ William H. Ormsbee Jr. "Panama Canal Treaty Transition – Military: Summary of Military Property Transfers and Military Forces Drawdown". WHOs scroll. Retrieved 2012-12-09.
  2. ^ Panama Canal pacificwrecks.com
  3. ^ a b "Panama Canal Zone in World War II". WW2DB.
  4. ^ Forging the Defenses of the CanalUS Army
  5. OCLC 13085151
    .
  6. OCLC 48507806
    .
  7. ^ Paine, Thomas O., I Was A Yank on a Japanese Sub, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, Volume 112, Number 9, Issue 1003 (September 1986), p. 73-78
  8. ^ "An American Legacy in Panama : A Brief History of the Department of Defense Installations and Properties, the Former Panama Canal Zone, Republic of Panama" (PDF). United States Army South.
  9. ^ Building Bases Chap 18US Navy
  10. ^ Cristobal Dry Dock 1915moma.org
  11. ^ David Fieldpacificwrecks.com
  12. ^ Naval Communications Summit Transmitter Sitesczimages.com
  13. ^ "WHO". william_h_ormsbee.tripod.com.
  14. ^ "PigBoats.COM – C-Class Submarines". pigboats.com.
  15. ^ USS O-12 (SS-73) US Navy
  16. ^ The Navy Book of Distinguished Service. 1921. pg. 128.
  17. ^ Submarine Casualties Booklet (Report). U.S. Naval Submarine School. 1966. Archived from the original on September 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-08.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ^ Lenton, H. T. American Submarines (Doubleday, 1973), pp. 17, 19, & 23.
  19. ^ The Day the Boston & Maine Joined the Navy, retrieved 2022-06-18
  20. ^ "WHO". members.tripod.com.
  21. ^ Military Railroads on the Panama Canal Zone by Charles S. Small, Railroad monographs 1982
  22. ^ Fort Randolphczimages.com
  23. ^ NAS Coco SoloUS Navy
  24. ^ Elliott, John M. (2000). "Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons — Volume 2 Appendix 1-Aircraft Data-Technical Information and Drawings" (PDF). Naval Historical Center. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  25. ^ "VPNAVY – VP-32 History Summary Page – VP Patrol Squadron". www.vpnavy.com.
  26. ^ "Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, American Republics, Volume V – Office of the Historian". history.state.gov.
  27. ^ Taboga, Islet of Legends, By IRENE JERISON, May 31, 1987 LA Times
  28. ^ Mystery Elco PT Boatspt-king.gdinc.com
  29. ^ Hugh Rodmandestroyerhistory.org
  30. ^ "American legacy in Panama: a brief history of the Department of Defense installations and properties". Fort Clayton, Panama: Directorate of Engineering and Housing – via Internet Archive.
  31. ^ HMS Orionaxfordsabode.org.uk
  32. ^ THE PANAMA CANAL RECORD, AUGUST 23, 1916, TO AUGUST 15, 1917archive.org
  33. ^ THE PANAMA CANAL RECORD, Volume XV. page 9, Balboa Heights, August 24, 1921.
  34. ^ USS Pequeni (1917) navsource.org
  35. ^ Construction of the Balboa Dry Dock, November 11, 1916scientificamerican.com
  36. ^ Balboa terminals and dry dock No. 1 loc.gov
  37. ^ "MEC Balboa Dry Docks Panama". Shipyards Directory worldwide.
  38. ^ "A History of Fort Amador and Fort Grant". Archived from the original on 2002-07-04.
  39. ^ US Naval Communications Station Balboa – Panama – NBA navy-radio.com
  40. ^ "Inter-American Naval Telecommunications Network Secretariat Celebrates 50th Anniversary". DVIDS.
  41. ^ "Inter-American Naval Telecommunications NetworkUS Navy
  42. ^ The Naval Radio Stations of the Panama Canal Zone, By Lieutenant R. S. Crenshaw, U. S. Navy, July 1916
  43. ^ Transfer of base, Farfan Housing
  44. ^ 105th NCB, BuDocks, Dept. of the Navy 1946, Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme, CA.
  45. ^ November 6, 1906 Teddy Roosevelt travels to Panamahistory.com
  46. ^ USS Louisiana (BB-19) US Navy
  47. ^ Taft visited the Panama Canal loc.gov
  48. ^ Taft visited the Panama Canalufl.edu
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