Task Force 31

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Task Force 31 (TF 31) was a

US Navy task force active with the United States Third Fleet
during World War II, and still ready to be activated today with today's Third Fleet. Task Force numbers were in constant use, and there were several incarnations of TF 31 during World War II.

In its most known World War II guise, it was formed at the end of

US Marine units to the Miura Peninsula area of Japan, which forms the southwest arm of Tokyo Bay, for occupation duties. The Marines were tasked with securing the military bases at Yokosuka
and demilitarizing the entire peninsula.

History

Background

Anticipating a possible Japanese surrender, plans were underway for the occupation of Japan. General

Task Force 38
was also alerted.

The

4th Regiment was selected. The choice was symbolic as the Old 4th had been captured in the Philippines early in the war. The 4th, and additional support units, made up the 5,400 man Task Force Able.[1]

Beginning

The elements of TF 31 began loading the Marines and their equipment on 1945-08-14. On the 18th, advance command elements of the task force on board the

Zushi on the western side of the peninsula or at Zushi and Yokosuka on the Tokyo Bay side. It was decided not to risk entering the bay until the "threat of Japanese treachery" was dealt with.[1]
At sea, some 3,500 men were transferred between the ships to organize the assault units.

On 1945-08-21 plans were changed to land at Yokosuka, the primary objective. This would reduce the forces' exposure on two narrow roads from Zushi to Yokosuka. General MacArthur's choice of Zushi as his headquarters also was a factor in the decision. L-Day was originally scheduled for 1945-08-26, but was delayed to the 28th by a typhoon developing 300 miles to the southeast that was going to delay

USAAF
operations for 48 hours. L-Day was again delayed until 1945-08-30.

Occupation

On 1945-08-27, Japanese reported on board the Missouri and their

Sagami Wan
, just outside Tokyo Bay.

At 0900 on 1945-08-28, led by

11th Airborne Division
.

On 1945-08-29, Admiral Halsey arrived in Sagami Wan. Two POWs rescued earlier from the beach convinced him to start the POW rescue operations that day.

"That evening, for the first time since Pearl Harbor, the ships of the Third Fleet were illuminated. As General Metzger later remembered: 'Word was passed to illuminate ship, but owing to the long wartime habit of always darkening ship at night, no ship would take the initiative in turning their lights on. Finally, after the order had been repeated a couple of times lights went on. It was a wonderful picture with all the ships flying large battle flags both at the foretruck and the stern. In the background was snowcapped Mount Fuji.' Movies were shown on the weather decks. While the apprehension of some lessened, lookouts were still posted, radars continued to search, and the ships remained on alert."[1]

Before dawn on L-Day, 1945-08-30, three groups of transports and escorts from TF 31 left Sagami Wan for Tokyo Bay. At 0558, Marines landed on Fattsu Saki to secure the forts guarding Tokyo Bay, in coordination with the planned 0600 arrival of planes carrying the 11th Airborne at Atsugi Airfield. Finding the Japanese had followed the instructions on disabling their guns to the letter, the Marines quickly secured the forts and rejoined the task force at 0845. At 0805 a small crew from USS South Dakota boarded the Japanese battleship Nagato and received its surrender from a skeleton crew. 0930 on L-Day saw the Marines of 1st and 3rd Battalion landing at Yokosuka. The Japanese at the Yokosuka base had complied completely by disabling their weapons and removing all non-essential personnel. At 1030 the San Diego docked at Yokosuka. The formal surrender of the Japanese First Naval District by Admiral Totsuka to Rear Admiral Robert Carney, acting for Admiral Halsey, and Rear Admiral Badger took place at 1045.[1]

Dissolution

After the delivery of the Marine occupation forces, TF 31 transport assets departed on 1 September to transport additional occupation troops. After the formal surrender of Japan on 1945-09-02, Task Force 31 had completed its mission. By 6 September all Navy personnel and ships' Marine detachments had returned to their ships from shore duties. On 1945-09-08, Admiral Badger's Task Force 31 was dissolved.[1]

Ships of Task Force 31

See also

United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka

External links

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Smith, Charles R. "SECURING THE SURRENDER: Marines in the Occupation of Japan". National Park Service. Retrieved 6 August 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d CINCPAC. "OPERATIONS in the PACIFIC OCEAN AREAS During the Month of AUGUST 1945". US Navy. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  3. ^ a b c "Task Force 31". Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships – Braxton". US Navy Naval Historical Center. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
  5. ^ "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships – Lanier". US Navy Naval Historical Center. Retrieved 6 August 2006.
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