Okinawa naval order of battle

For the April 1945 invasion of Okinawa, the Allies assembled the most powerful naval force in history. Since the few remaining capital ships of the Imperial Japanese Combined Fleet had been sunk or otherwise put out of action at the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the Allies were effectively unopposed in terms of surface vessels; a single mission consisting of the superbattleship Yamato and a few escorts was undertaken, but the task force did not get within 200 nautical miles (370 km; 230 mi) of the invasion area.

Since the Japanese air arm had been equally decimated by this point in the war, the lack of trained and experienced pilots led them to deploy the kamikaze extensively in the waters off Okinawa.

Naval commanders for Operation Iceberg

Adm. Chester W. Nimitz

Adm. Raymond A. Spruance

Vice Adm. Richmond Kelly Turner

The roles of Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas (CINCPOA) and Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC), were both exercised by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz from his headquarters at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Since the "Big Blue Fleet" was at this time under the command of Admiral Raymond Spruance aboard his flagship USS Indianapolis, the force was designated Fifth Fleet. (It had been Third Fleet until Spruance relieved Admiral William Halsey in January, as part of the "alternating command" system).

The ships and troops of Operation Iceberg were under direct operational command of Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner aboard amphibious command ship Eldorado.

US Navy combat ships:
11 fleet carriers, 6 light carriers, 22 escort carriers, 8 fast battleships, 10 old battleships, 2 large cruisers, 12 heavy cruisers, 13 light cruisers, 4 anti-aircraft light cruisers, 132 destroyers, 45 destroyer escorts

Amphibious assault vessels:
84 attack transports, 29 attack cargo ships, LCIs, LSMs, LSTs, LSVs, etc.

Auxiliaries:
52 submarine chasers, 23 fast minesweepers, 69 minesweepers, 11 minelayers, 49 oilers, etc.

Royal Navy combat ships:
5 fleet carriers, 2 battleships, 7 light cruisers, 14 destroyers

Losses:
The smaller ships were least able to withstand damage from kamikaze attacks.

• 12 to kamikaze: Twiggs, Mannert L. Abele, Callaghan, William D. Porter, Pringle, Bush, Dickerson, Emmons, Swallow, Canada Victory, Logan Victory, Hobbs Victory
• 2 to mines: Halligan, Skylark
• 1 to collision: Thornton

Allied order of battle

United States Pacific Fleet
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz at Pearl Harbor

US Fifth Fleet augmented with RN forces
Admiral Raymond A. Spruance in heavy cruiser Indianapolis

Task Force 51 – Joint Expeditionary Force

Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner in amphibious command ship Eldorado

TG 51.1 Western Islands Attack Group

Amphibious command ship Mount McKinley in the early 1950s

File:LaGrange APA-124.jpg

Attack transport LaGrange

Destroyer transport Scribner

Landing craft repair ship Egeria

Rear Admiral I.N. Kiland in amphibious command ship Mount McKinley
Embarking 77th Infantry ("Statue of Liberty") Division and one Marine BLT (Maj. Gen. Andrew D. Bruce, USA)

• Transport Group "Fox” (Commodore T.B. Brittain)
  • Transport Division 49
    • 4 attack transports: Chilton, LaGrange, Tazewell, St. Mary's
    • 2 attack cargos: Oberon, Torrance
  • Transport Division 50
    • 4 attack transports: Henrico, Pitt, Natrona, Drew
    • 1 attack cargo: Tate
    • 1 evacuation transport: Rixey
  • Transport Division 51
    • 5 attack transports: Goodhue, Eastland, Telfair, Mountrail, Montrose
    • 2 attack cargos: Wyandot, Suffolk
  • Reconnaissance section
    • 2 destroyer transports: Scribner, Kinzer
• Western Islands Tractor Flotilla: 18 LSTs
• Western Islands Reserve Tractor Group: 10 LSTs
• Western Islands LSM Group: 11 LSMs
• Western Islands Control Unit: 7 submarine chasers: (3 steel hull, 4 wooden hull)
• Western Islands Support Craft Flotilla
  • Mortar support divisions 6, 7, 8
  • RCM and Rocket Division 3
  • Gunboat Support Divisions 1, 3, 4, 5
  • LSM(R) Group
• Western Islands Hydrographic Survey Group: 4 submarine chasers (steel hull)
• Western Island Service & Salvage Unit
  • 1 salvage vessel: Clamp
  • 1 landing craft repair ship: Egeria
  • 2 fleet tugs: Yuma, Tekesta
  • 2 LCI(L)s
  • 1 LCT

Screen: Captain Frederick Moosbrugger in amphibious command ship Biscayne

• 8 destroyers
  • 8 Fletcher class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Picking, Sproston, Wickes, William D. Porter (sunk by kamikaze 10 June), Isherwood, Kimberly, Luce, Charles J. Badger
• 6 destroyer escorts
  • 3 John C. Butler class (2 x 5-in. main battery): Richard W. Suesens, Abercrombie, Oberrender
  • 3 Cannon class (3 x 3-in. main battery): Riddle, Swearer, Stern
• 3 destroyer transports: Humphreys, Herbert, Dickerson (scuttled 4 April following severe damage from kamikaze on 2 April)

Attack transport Hendry

TG 51.2 Demonstration Group "Charlie"
Rear Admiral Jerauld Wright
Embarking Demonstration Landing Force (2nd Marine Division), Major General Thomas E. Watson, USMC

• Transport Squadron 15
  • 5 attack transports: Bayfield, Mellette, Hendry, Sibley, Berrien
  • 3 attack cargos: Shoshone, Theenim, Southampton
  • 1 evacuation transport: Pinkney

Task Force 52 – Amphibious Support Forces

Rear Adm. William H.P. Blandy

Rear Admiral William H.P. Blandy in amphibious command ship Estes

Marine Corps Corsairs in 1944

Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive bombers

Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber

TG 52.1 Support Carrier Group

Rear Admiral Calvin T. Durgin

Unit One

Rear Admiral Clifton Sprague

• 7 escort carriers
  • Makin Island (Capts. W.B. Whaley and I.E. Hobbs)
    • VC-84 (Lt. D.K. English, USNR)
      • 16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 11 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
  • Fanshaw Bay (Capt. M.E. Arnold)
    • VOC-2 (Lt. Cmdr. R.M. Allison)
      • 24 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 6 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
  • Lunga Point (Capt. G.A.T. Washburn)
    • VC-85 (Lt. Cmdr. F.C. Herriman)
      • 18 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
  • Sangamon (Capts. M.E. Browder and A.I. Malstrom)
    • Air Group 33 (Cmdr. F.B. Gilkeson)
      • 24 F6F Hellcat fighters, 6 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
  • Natoma Bay (Capts. Albert K. Morehouse and B.B. Nichol)
    • VC-81 (Lt. Cmdr. W.B. Morton, USNR)
      • 20 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
  • Savo Island (Capt. W.D. Anderson)
    • VC-91 (Lt. F.M. Blanchard, USNR)
      • 20 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 15 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
  • Anzio (Capt. G.C. Montgomery)
    • VC-13 (Lt. Cmdr. R.P. Williams, USNR)
      • 12 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
• Screen (Commander J.C. Zahm)
  • 6 destroyers
    • 1 Allen M. Sumner class (6 x 5-in. main battery): Ingraham
    • 3 Fletcher class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Boyd, Bradford, Hart
    • 2 Bagley class (4 x 5-in. main battery): Bagley, Patterson
  • 11 destroyer escorts
    • 9 John C. Butler class (2 x 5-in. main battery): Lawrence C. Taylor, Melvin R. Nawman, Oliver Mitchell, Robert F. Keller, Tabberer, Richard M. Rowell, Richard S. Bull, Dennis, O'Flaherty
    • 2 Evarts class (3 x 3-in. main battery): Sederstrom, Fleming

Unit Two

Fletcher-class destroyer underway

Destroyer escort Ulvert M. Moore, commanded by Lt. Cmdr. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr.

Rear Admiral Felix B. Stump

• 7 escort carriers
  • Saginaw Bay (Capts. F.C. Sutton and Robert Goldwaite)
    • VC-88 (Lt. E.L. Kemp, USNR)
      • 20 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
  • Sargent Bay (Capt. R.M. Oliver)
    • VC-83 (Lt. Cmdr. B.V. Gates and Lt. M.S. Worley, USNR)
      • 16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
  • Rudyerd Bay (Capts. C.S. Smiley and J.G. Foster)
    • VC-96 (Lt. Cmdr. W.S. Woollen, USNR)
      • 20 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 11 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
  • Marcus Island (Capt. H.V. Hopkins)
    • VC-87 (Lt. H.N. Heisel)
      • 20 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
  • Petrof Bay (Capt. R. S. Clarke)
    • VC-93 (Lt. Cmdr. C.P. Smith)
      • 16 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
  • Tulagi (Capts. J.C. Cronin & W.V. Davis)
    • VC-92 (Lt. Cmdr. J.B. Wallace)
      • 19 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
  • Wake Island (Capt. A.V. Magly)
    • VOC-1 (Lt. Cmdr. W.F. Bringie)
      • 26 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 6 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
• Screen (Captain G.P. Hunter)
  • 4 destroyers
    • 1 Allen M. Sumner class (6 x 5-in. main battery): Lowry
    • 3 Fletcher class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Capps, Evans, John D. Henley
  • 6 destroyer escorts
    • 4 John C. Butler class (2 x 5-in. main battery): William Seiverling, Ulvert M. Moore (Lt. Cmdr. Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr., USNR), Kendall C. Campbell, Goss
    • 2 Evarts class (3 x 3-in. main battery): Tisdale, Eisele

Unit Three

Escort carrier Suwannee at Kwajalein, 1944

Allen M. Sumner-class destroyer Drexler refueling, February 1945

Rear Admiral William D. Sample

• 4 escort carriers
  • Suwannee (Capt. D.S. Cornwell)
    • Air Group 40 (Lt. Cmdr. R.D. Sampson and Lt. Cmdr. J.C. Longino)
      • 17 F6F Hellcat fighters, 10 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
  • Chenango (Capts. George van Deurs and Harry D. Felt)
    • Air Group 25 (Lt. Cmdr. R.W. Robinson, Lt. B. Phillips and Lt. Cmdr. P.M. Paul)
      • 18 F6F Hellcat fighters, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
  • Santee (Capt. J.V. Peterson)
    • Air Group 24 (Lt. Cmdr. R.J. Ostrom and Lt. P.N. Charbonnet)
      • 18 F6F Hellcat fighters, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
  • Steamer Bay (Capt. J.B. Paschal)
    • VC-90 (Lt. Cmdr. R.A. O'Neill)
      • 19 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
• Screen (Captain Alvin Duke Chandler)
  • 5 destroyers
    • 1 Allen M. Sumner class (6 x 5-in. main battery): Drexler
    • 3 Fletcher class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Metcalf, Fullam, Guest
    • 1 Bagley class (4 x 5-in. main battery): Helm
  • 2 destroyer escorts
    • 2 John C. Butler class (2 x 5-in. main battery): John C. Butler, Edmonds

Special Escort Carrier Group

Gunnery practice aboard escort carrier Hollandia, 1944

Captain C.L. Lee (arriving 4 April)

• 4 escort carriers
  • Hollandia (Capt. Lee)
  • White Plains (Capt. D.J. Sullivan and Frederick Funke)
  • Sitkoh Bay (Capts. R.G. Lockhart and J.P. Walker)
  • Breton (Capt. Frank Obeirne)
    • Marine Air Group 31 (Col. John C. Munn, USMC)
    • Marine Air Group 33 (Col. W. E. Dickey USMC)
      • 192 F4U Corsair and 30 F6F Hellcat fighters to operate from Okinawa airfields
• Screen (Commander R.A. Wilhelm, USNR)
  • 4 destroyer transports: Kilty, Manley, George E. Badger, Greene

TG 52.2 Mine Flotilla

Former destroyer Gherardi in minesweeper configuration

Auk class minesweeper

Admirable class minesweeper

Ailanthus class net laying ship

Rear Admiral Alexander Sharp and Captain R. P. Whitemarsh in Terror
Task Group 52.3 – Destroyer Minesweeper Group (Capt. R.A. Larkin)

• 13 fast minesweepers (ex-destroyers): Forrest, Hobson, Macomb, Dorsey, Hopkins, Ellyson, Hambleton, Rodman, Emmons (sunk by kamikaze 6 April), Butler, Gherardi, Jeffers, Harding
• 3 fast minelayers (ex-destroyers): Gwin, Lindsey, Aaron Ward

Task Group 52.4 – Minesweeper Group One (Captain T.F. Donohue)0

• 18 Auk class minesweepers: Champion, Heed, Defense, Devastator, Ardent, Requisite, Revenge, Pursuit, Sage, Sheldrake, Skylark (struck mine 28 April), Starling, Swallow (sunk by kamikaze 22 April), Gladiator, Impeccable, Spear, Triumph, Vigilance
• 4 fast minelayers (ex-destroyers): Adams, Tolman, Henry A. Wiley, Shea
• 3 submarine chasers (steel hull): PC-1128, PC-1179, PC-1598

Task Group 52.5 – Minesweeper Group Two (Captain L. F. Freiburghouse)

• 18 Admirable class minesweepers: Skirmish, Staunch, Signet, Scurry, Spectacle, Spector, Superior, Serene, Shelter, Strategy, Strength, Success, Ransom, Diploma, Density, Facility, Rebel, Recruit
• 2 fast minelayers (ex-destroyers): Tracy, J. William Ditter
• 3 motor gunboats (steel hull): PGM-9, PGM-10, PGM-11

Task Group 52.7 Reserve Sweep Group (Cmdrs. E.D. McEathron and J.W. Wyckoff)

• 6 Admirable class minesweepers: Buoyant, Gayety, Design, Device, Hazard, Execute
• Reinforced by the following in May:
  • 2 Admirable class minesweepers: Fixity, Dour
  • 8 Auk class minesweepers: Chief, Competent, Token, Zeal, Strive, Oracle, Velocity, Prevail
• 14 motor minesweepers
• 4 destroyer transports with sweep gear-equipped landing craft personnel, ramped (LCP(R)s) embarked: Reeves, Daniel T. Griffin, Waters, Sims
• 2 minelayers: Weehawken, Monadnock
• 1 repair ship: Mona Island

Task Group 52.8 – Net and Buoy Group (Cmdr. G. C. King, USNR)

• 9 Ailanthus class net laying ships: Snowbell, Terebinth, Corkwood, Spicewood, Cliffrose, Stagbush, Abele, Winterberry, Pinon
• 3 Aloe class net laying ships: Mahogany, Aloe, Chinquapin
• 1 mine and net laying ship: Keokuk
• 2 net cargo ships: Sagittarius, Tuscana

Task Force 53 – Northern Attack Force

Maj. Gen. Roy S. Geiger, USMC (III Amph. Corps)

Catskill-class vehicle landing ship at Subic Bay, 1945

Steel-hulled sub chaser

Rear Admiral Lawrence F. Reifsnider in amphibious command ship Panamint
Embarking III Amphibious Corps (Maj. Gen. Roy S. Geiger, USMC)

TG 53.1 Transport Group "Able" (Commodore H.B. Knowles)
Embarking 6th Marine Division (Maj. Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr., USMC)

• Transport Division 34
  • 6 attack transports: Cambria, Marvin H. McIntyre, Adair, Gage, Noble, Gilliam
  • 2 attack cargos: Sheliak, Hydrus
• Transport Division 35
  • 5 attack transports: Clay, Leon, George Clymer, Arthur Middleton, Catron
  • 2 attack cargos: Caswell, Devosa
• Transport Division 36
  • 5 attack transports: Monrovia, Wayne, Sumter, Menifee, Fuller
  • 3 attack cargos: Aquarius, Circe, Casa Grande
  • 1 vehicle landing ship: Catskill

TG 53.2 Transport Group "Baker" (Commodore J. G. Moyer)
Embarking 1st Marine Division (Maj. Gen. Pedro A. del Valle, USMC)

• Transport Division 52
  • 8 attack transports: Burleigh, McCracken, Thomas Jefferson, Charles Carroll, Barnett, Andromeda, Cepheus, Oak Hill
  • 1 vehicle landing ship: Monitor
• Transport Division 53
  • 5 attack transports: Marathon, Rawlins, Renville, New Kent, Burleson
  • 2 attack cargos: Centaurus, Arcturus
• Transport Division 54
  • 5 attack transports: Dade, Magoffin, Navarro, Effingham, Joseph T. Dickman
  • 3 attack cargos: Betelgeuse, Procyon, White Marsh

TG 53.3 Northern Tractor Flotilla (Capt. J. S. Laidlaw)

• Tractor Group "Able": 16 LSTs carrying 6 LCTs, 22 pontoon barges and 6 pontoon causeways; 7 LSMs
• Tractor Group "Baker": 16 LSTs carrying 10 LCTs, 16 pontoon barges and 6 pontoon causeways
• Tractor Group "Charlie": 14 LSTs carrying 20 pontoon barges; 8 LSMs
• Northern Control Group: 18 submarine chasers (4 steel hull, 9 wooden hull, 5 sweeper type), Northern Beach Party

TG 53.6 Northern Attack Force Screen (Captain J. H. Wellings)

Buckley class destroyer escort

File:Porcupine IX-126.jpg

Armadillo-class oil storage ship

• 13 destroyers:
  • 2 Allen M. Sumner class (6 x 5-in. main battery): Massey, Hugh W. Hadley
  • 4 Fletcher class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Pringle (sunk by kamikaze 16 April), Hutchins, Stanly, Howorth
  • 4 Benham class (4 x 5-in. main battery): Lang, Stack, Sterett, Wilson
  • 3 Sims class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Morris, Mustin, Russell
• 5 destroyer escorts:
  • 4 Buckley class (3 x 3-in. main battery): Gendreau, Fieberling, William C. Cole, Paul G. Baker
  • 1 Evarts class (3 x 3-in. main battery): Bebas
• 2 destroyer transports: Charles Lawrence, Roper
• 3 submarine chasers (2 escort type, 1 wooden hull)

TG 53.7 Northern Defense Group (Capt. W. W. Weeden)
Embarking Marine Corps support units and high priority cargo: 21 LSTs carrying LCT and pontoon causeways

• 2 oil storage ships: Elk, Camel
• 1 Evarts class (3 x 3-in. main battery) destroyer escort: Fair
• 2 submarine chasers (wooden hull), 7 motor minesweepers

Task Force 54 – Gunfire and Covering Force

Rear Adm. Morton L. Deyo

Battleship Texas in Hawaiian waters in 1945

Heavy cruiser Wichita firing broadside in 1944

Cannon-class destroyer escort

Rear Admiral Morton L. Deyo in battleship Tennessee

• Unit One (Rear Admiral P.K. Fischler)
  • 2 old battleships: USS Texas, Maryland
  • 1 heavy cruiser: Tuscaloosa
  • 4 Fletcher class destroyers (5 x 5-in. main battery): Laws, Longshaw, Morrison, Prichett
• Unit Two (Rear Admiral C. Turner Joy)
  • 2 old battleships: Arkansas, Colorado
  • 2 heavy cruisers: San Francisco, Minneapolis
  • 4 Fletcher class destroyers (5 x 5-in. main battery): Halligan (struck mine 26 March), Paul Hamilton, Laffey, Twiggs (sunk by kamikaze 16 June)
• Unit Three (Rear Admiral Bertram J. Rodgers)
  • 2 old battleships: Tennessee, Nevada
  • 1 heavy cruiser: Wichita
  • 2 light cruisers: Birmingham, St. Louis
  • 4 Allen M. Sumner class destroyers (6 x 5-in. main battery): Mannert L. Abele (sunk by kamikaze 12 April), Zellars, Barton, O'Brien
  • 1 Fletcher class destroyer (5 x 5-in. main battery): Bryant
• Unit Four (Rear Admiral Lynde D. McCormick)
  • 2 old battleships: Idaho, West Virginia
  • 2 heavy cruisers: Pensacola, Portland
  • 1 light cruiser: Biloxi
  • 5 Fletcher class destroyers (5 x 5-in. main battery): Porterfield, Callaghan (sunk by kamikaze 28 July), Irwin, Cassin Young, Preston
• Unit Five (Rear Admiral Allan E. Smith)
  • 2 old battleships: New Mexico, New York
  • 2 heavy cruisers: Salt Lake City, Indianapolis
  • 5 Fletcher class destroyers (5 x 5-in. main battery): Newcomb, Heywood L. Edwards, Richard P. Leary, Bennion
• Unit Six (Commander W.B. Hinds, USNR)
  • 2 Cannon class destroyer escorts (3 x 3-in. main battery): Samuel S. Miles, Wesson
  • 6 Buckley class destroyer escorts (3 x 3-in. main battery): Foreman, Whitehurst, England, Witter, Bowers, Willmarth
• Reported to TF 54 after L-day
  • 1 heavy cruiser: New Orleans
  • 1 light cruiser: Mobile
  • 1 Fletcher class destroyer (5 x 5-in. main battery): Daly
  • 1 fast minesweeper: Forrest

Task Force 55 – Southern Attack Force

Maj. Gen. John R. Hodge, USA (XXIV Corps)

Gilliam-class attack transport

Attack cargo ship Algorab

Landing ship, tank (LST)

Evarts-class destroyer escort

Landing craft, infantry (LCIs)

Rear Admiral John L. Hall in amphibious command ship Teton
Embarking XXIV Army Corps (Maj. Gen. John R. Hodge)

TG 55.1 Transport Group "Dog" (Commodore M.O. Carlson)
Embarking 7th Infantry ("Bayonet") Division (Maj. Gen. Archibald V. Arnold, USA)

• Transport Division 37
  • 4 attack transports: Harris, Lamar, Sheridan, Pierce
  • 1 attack cargo: Algorab
• Transport Division 38
  • 4 attack transports: Barnstable, Elmore, Alpine, Lycoming
  • 1 attack cargo: Alshain
  • 1 landing ship dock: Epping Forest
• Transport Division 39
  • 4 attack transports: Custer, Freestone, Kittson, Baxter
  • 2 attack cargos: Algol, Arneb
• Transport Division 13
  • 4 attack transports: Appling, Butte, Audrain, Laurens
  • 2 attack cargos: Aurelia, Corvus
  • 1 vehicle landing ship: Ozark
• Tractor Group "Dog"
  • 16 LSTs, 12 LSMs, 2 LCIs
• Tractor Group "Fox"
  • 14 LSTs carrying LCTs and pontoon barges, 10 LSMs

TG 55.2 Transport Group "Easy" (Commodore C.G. Richardson)
Embarking 96th Infantry ("Deadeye") Division (Maj. Gen. James L. Bradley, USA)

• Transport Division 40
  • 4 attack transports: Mendocino, Sarasota, Haskell, Oconto
  • 2 attack cargos: Capricornus, Chara
  • 1 landing ship dock: Lindenwald
• Transport Division 41
  • 4 attack transports: Olmstead, La Porte, Fond du Lac, Banner
  • 2 attack cargos: Diphda, Uvalde
• Transport Division 42
  • 4 attack transports: Neshoba, Oxford, Latimer, Edgecombe
  • 1 attack cargo: Virgo
  • 1 landing ship dock: Gunston Hall
• Transport Division 14
  • 4 attack transports: Allendale, Meriwether, Menard, Kenton
  • 1 attack cargo: Achernar
  • Tractor Group "Easy": 23 LSTs, 5 LSMs
  • Beach Party "Easy", Southern Beach Party
  • 15 submarine chasers: 4 steel hull, 7 wooden hull, 4 sweeper type
  • 17 LCS(L)s, 6 LSM(R)s

TG 55.6 Screen (Captain E.W. Young)

• 13 destroyers
  • 4 Allen M. Sumner class (6 x 5-in. main battery): Hyman, Purdy, Wadsworth, Putnam
  • 9 Fletcher class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Anthony, Bache, Bush (sunk by kamikaze 6 April), Mullany, Bennett, Hudson, Beale, Ammen, Rooks
• 6 destroyer escorts
  • 2 Evarts class (3 x 3-in. main battery): Crouter, Carlson,
  • 2 Buckley class (3 x 3-in. main battery): Damon M. Cummings, Vammen
  • 1 Cannon class (3 x 3-in. main battery): O'Neill
  • 1 John C. Butler class (2 x 5-in. main battery): Walter C. Wann
• 1 destroyer transport
  • Sims

TG 55.7 Southern Defense Group (Commander B.T. Zelenka)

• 1 Evarts class destroyer escort: Manlove
• 1 destroyer transport: Stringham
• 34 LSTs, 14 LSMs, 6 motor minesweepers, 2 LCIs
• 1 oil storage ship: Grumium

Task Force 56 – Expeditionary Troops

Lt. Gen. Simon B. Buckner, USA (US Tenth Army)

Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner, Jr., USA (KIA 18 June)
Consisting of United States Tenth Army
Northern Landing Area:

• III Amphibious Corps (Maj. Gen. Roy S. Geiger, USMC)
  • Left beaches: 6th Marine Division (Maj. Gen. Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr., USMC)
  • Right beaches: 1st Marine Division (Maj. Gen. Pedro A. del Valle, USMC)

Southern Landing Area:

• XXIV Army Corps (Maj. Gen. John R. Hodge, USA)
  • Left beaches: 7th Infantry ("Bayonet") Division (Maj. Gen. Archibald V. Arnold, USA)
  • Right beaches: 96th Infantry ("Deadeye") Division (Maj. Gen. James L. Bradley, USA)
  • Landed L+8: 27th Infantry ("New York") Division (Maj. Gen. George W. Griner, Jr., USA)

Western Islands:

• Landed L+26: 77th Infantry ("Statue of Liberty") Division and one Marine BLT (Maj. Gen. Andrew D. Bruce, USA)

Task Force 57 – British Carrier Force

Vice Adm. Sir Bernard Rawlings, RN

Supermarine Seafire fighter

Supermarine Walrus reconnaissance plane

Vice Admiral Sir Bernard Rawlings, RN

TG 57.2 First Aircraft Carrier Squadron (Rear Admiral Sir Philip L. Vian, RN)

• 5 fleet carriers
  • HMS Indomitable (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN)
    • 29 F6F Hellcat fighters, 15 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
  • HMS Victorious (Capt. M.M. Denny, RN)
    • 37 F4U Corsair fighters, 14 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers, 2 Supermarine Walrus scout planes
  • HMS Illustrious (Capt. C.E. Lambe, RN)
    • 36 F4U Corsair fighters, 16 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers
  • HMS Indefatigable (Capt. Q.D. Graham, RN)
    • 40 Supermarine Seafire fighters, 20 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers, 9 Fairey Firefly fighters
  • HMS Formidable (Capt. P. Ruck-Keene, RN)
    • 28 F4U Corsair fighters, 15 TBF Avenger torpedo bombers

TG 57.1 First Battle Squadron (Vice Admiral Rawlings)

• 2 battleships
  • HMS King George V (10 x 14-in. main battery)
  • HMS Howe (10 x 14-in. main battery)

TG 57.4 Fourth Cruiser Squadron (Rear Admiral E.J.P. Brind)

• 7 light cruisers
  • 2 Crown Colony class (12 x 6-in. main battery): HMCS Uganda, HMNZS Gambia
  • 1 Minotaur class (9 x 6-in. main battery): HMS Swiftsure
  • 1 Leander class (8 x 6-in. main battery): HMNZS Achilles
  • 3 Dido class (10 x 5.25-in. main battery): HMS Black Prince, HMS Euryalus, HMS Argonaut

TG 57.8 Screen (Rear Admiral J.H. Edelston)

•   4th Destroyer Flotilla
• 24th Destroyer Flotilla
• 25th Destroyer Flotilla
• 27th Destroyer Flotilla

Task Force 112 – British Fleet Train (Rear Admiral D.B. Fisher, RN)
70+ auxiliaries including repair ships, oilers, minesweepers, hospital ships, etc.

Task Force 58 – Fast Carrier Force

Vice Adm. Marc A. Mitscher

Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher in fleet carrier Bunker Hill

Task Group 58.1

Rear Adm. Joseph J. Clark

Fleet carrier Bennington October 1944 during shakedown in Caribbean Sea

Anti-aircraft light cruiser San Juan off Norfolk in 1942

Rear Admiral Joseph J. Clark

3 fleet carriers:

• Hornet (Capt. Austin K. Doyle)
  • Air Group 17 (Cmdr. E.G. Konrad)
    • 71 F6F Hellcat fighters, 15 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, 15 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
• Wasp (Capts. O.A. Weller and W.G. Switzer)
  • Air Group 86 (Cmdr. G.R. Luker)
    • 36 F4U Corsair fighters, 34 F6F Hellcat fighters, 15 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, 15 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
• Bennington (Capts. J.B. Sykes and B.L. Braun)
  • Air Group 82 (Cmdr. G.L. Heap)
    • 37 F4U Corsair fighters, 34 F6F Hellcat fighters, 15 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, 15 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

2 light carriers:

• Belleau Wood (Capts. John Perry and W.G. Tomlinson)
  • Air Group 30 (Lt. Cmdr. D.A. Clark)
    • 25 F6F Hellcat fighters, 9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
• San Jacinto (Capt. M.H. Kernodle)
  • Air Group 45 (Cmdr. G.E. Schecter)
    • 34 F6F Hellcat fighters, 9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

Battleship Division 8 (Rear Admiral J.F. Shafroth)

• 2 fast battleships
  • Massachusetts (Capts. W.W. Warlick and J.B. Redman)
  • Indiana (Capts. T.J. Keliher and F.P. Old)

Cruiser Division 10 (Rear Admiral L.J. Wiltsie)

• 2 heavy cruisers
  • Baltimore (Capt. C.K. Fink)
  • Pittsburgh (Capt. John E. Gingrich)

Cruiser Division 14 (Rear Admiral F.E.M. Whiting)

• 3 light cruisers
  • Vincennes (Capt. W.G. Lalor)
  • Miami (Capt. T.H. Binford)
  • Vicksburg (Capt. W.C. Vose)
• 1 anti-aircraft light cruiser
  • San Juan (Capts. J.F. Donovan and G.H. Bahm)

Screen:

• 21 destroyers
  • 9 Allen M. Sumner class (6 x 5-in. main battery): Dehaven, Mansfield, Lyman K. Swenson, Collett, Maddox, Blue, Brush, Taussig, Samuel N. Moore
  • 12 Fletcher class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Wedderburn, Twining, Stockham, John Rodgers, Stevens, Harrison, McKee, Murray, Sigsbee, Ringgold, Schroeder, Dashiell

Task Group 58.2

Rear Adm. Gerald F. Bogan

Damaged fleet carrier Franklin following air attack off coast of Japan in March 1945

Rear Admirals Ralph E. Davison and Gerald F. Bogan

3 fleet carriers:

• Enterprise (Capt. Grover B. H. Hall)
  • Night Air Group 90 (Cmdr. W.I. Martin)
    • 32 F6F Hellcat fighters, 21 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
• Franklin (Capt. Leslie E. Gehres)
  • Air Group 5 (Cmdr. E.B. Parker)
    • 37 F4U Corsair fighters, 34 F6F Hellcat fighters, 15 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, 15 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
• Randolph (Capt. F.L. Baker)
  • Air Group 12 (Cmdrs. C.L. Crommelin – KIA, E.J. Pawka, USNR)
    • 57 F6F Hellcat fighters, 15 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, 15 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

1 light cruiser:

• Santa Fe (Capt. H.C. Fitz)

Screen:

• 8 Fletcher class destroyers (5 x 5-in. main battery): Miller, Owen, Stephen Potter, Hickox, Hunt, Lewis Hancock, Marshall, Tingey

Task Group 58.3

Rear Adm. Forrest P. Sherman

Light carrier Cabot in 1945

Fast battleship North Carolina underway

Heavy cruiser Indianapolis

Rear Admiral Forrest P. Sherman

3 fleet carriers:

• Essex (Capt. C.W. Wheeler)
  • Air Group 83 (Cmdr. H.T. Utter)
    • 36 F4U Corsair fighters, 36 F6F Hellcat fighters, 15 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, 15 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
• Bunker Hill (Capt. E.W. Litch)
  • Air Group 16 (Cmdr. E.M. Snowden)
    • 37 F4U Corsair fighters, 34 F6F Hellcat fighters, 15 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, 15 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
• Hancock (Capt. E.W. Litch)
  • Air Group 16 (Cmdr. E.M. Snowden)
    • 37 F4U Corsair fighters, 34 F6F Hellcat fighters, 15 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, 15 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

2 light carriers:

• Cabot (Capt. W.H. Buracker)
  • Air Group 27 (Lt. Cmdr. E.W. Wood – KIA)
    • 24 F6F Hellcat fighters, 9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
• Bataan (Capt. W.H. Buracker)
  • Air Group 27 (Lt. Cmdr. E.W. Wood – KIA)
    • 24 F6F Hellcat fighters, 9 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

Battleship Division 6 (Capt. Thomas R. Cooley)

• 3 fast battleships
  • North Carolina (Capts. O.S. Colclough and B.H. Hanlon)
  • Washington (Capts. Roscoe F. Good and Francis X. McInerney)
  • South Dakota (Capts. C.F. Stillman and Charles B. Momsen)

Cruiser Division 17 (Rear Admiral J. Cary Jones)

• 1 heavy cruiser
  • Indianapolis (Capt. C.B. McVay)
• 4 light cruisers
  • Pasadena (Capts. R.B. Tuggle and James H. Doyle)
  • Springfield (Capts. F.L. Johnson and T.J. Kelley)
  • Astoria (Capts. G.C. Dyer and W.V. Hamilton)
  • Wilkes-Barre (Capt. R.L. Porter)

Screen:

• 17 destroyers
  • 9 Allen M. Sumner class (6 x 5-in. main battery): Ault, English, Charles S. Sperry, Waldron, Haynsworth, Wallace L. Lind, John W. Weeks, Hank, Borie
  • 8 Fletcher class (5 x 5-in. main battery): Erben, Walker, Hale, Stembel, Black, Bullard, Kidd, Chauncey

Task Group 58.4

Rear Adm. Arthur W. Radford

Fleet carrier Intrepid off Newport News, August 1943

Fast battleship New Jersey underway

Large cruiser Alaska at anchor, 1944

Rear Admiral Arthur W. Radford

2 fleet carriers:

• Yorktown (Capt. Ralph A. Ofstie)
  • Air Group 15 (Cmdr. David McCampbell)
    • 38 F6F Hellcat fighters, 36 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, 15 TBF Avenger, 5 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, 4 F6F-3N Hellcat night fighters
• Intrepid (Capt. Ralph A. Ofstie)
  • Air Group 15 (Cmdr. David McCampbell)
    • 38 F6F Hellcat fighters, 36 SB2C Helldiver dive bombers, 15 TBF Avenger, 5 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers, 4 F6F-3N Hellcat night fighters

2 light carriers:

• Langley (Capt. W.M. Dillon)
  • Air Group 32 (Lt. Cmdr. E.C. Outlaw)
    • 23 F6F Hellcat fighters, 7 TBF Avenger, 2 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers
• Independence (Capt. H.W. Taylor)
  • Air Group 25 (Lt. Cmdr. R.H. Price)
    • 23 F6F Hellcat fighters, 3 TBF Avenger, 6 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers

Battleship Division 9 (Rear Admiral Edward W. Hanson and Louis E. Denfeld)

• 3 fast battleships
  • Wisconsin (Capt. Earl E. Stone and John W. Roper)
  • Missouri (Capts. W.M. Callaghan and Stuart S. Murray)
  • New Jersey (Capt. Edmund T. Wooldridge)

Cruiser Division 16 (Rear Admiral Francis S. Low)

• 2 large cruisers
  • Alaska (Capt. K.H. Noble)
  • Guam (Capt. Leland P. Lovette)
• 1 light cruiser
  • St. Louis (Capt. J.B. Griggs)
• 3 anti-aircraft light cruisers
  • Flint (Capt. C.R. Will)
  • Oakland (Capt. K.S. Reed)
  • San Diego (Capt. W.E.A. Mullan)

Screen:

• 17 Fletcher class destroyers (5 x 5-in. main battery): Remey, Norman Scott, Mertz, Monssen, McGowan, McNair, Melvin, McCord, Trathen, Hazelwood, Heermann, Haggard, Franks, Hailey, Cushing, Colahan, Uhlmann, Benham

Task Force 50 – Support and Service Units

Seaplane tender Chandeleur

Martin PBM Mariner

Oiler Escambia

Ammunition ship Akutan

Hospital ship Mercy

Destroyer tender Cascade

TG 50.5 Search and Reconnaissance Group

Commodore Dixwell Ketcham

• 3 seaplane tenders
  • Hamlin
    • VPB-208 (Lt. Cmdr. A.J. Sintic, USNR)
      • 12 Martin PBM Mariner patrol bomber flying boats
  • St. George
    • VPB-18 (Lt. Cmdr. R.R. Boettcher)
      • 12 Martin PBM Mariner patrol bomber flying boats
  • Chandeleur
    • VPB-21 (Lt. Cmdrs. J.E. Dougherty & J.D. Wright)
      • 12 Martin PBM Mariner patrol bomber flying boats
• 3 small seaplane tenders
  • Yakutat, Onslow, Shelikof
    • VPB-27 (Lt. Cmdr. E.N. Chase)
      • 12 Martin PBM Mariner patrol bomber flying boats
  • Bering Strait
    • VH-3 (Lt. Cmdr. W. D. Bonvillian)
      • 6 Martin PBM Mariner patrol bomber flying boats
• 2 destroyer seaplane tenders: Thornton, Gillis
• 1 Clemson class destroyer: Williamson

TG 50.8 Logistics Support Group Fifth Fleet

Rear Admiral D.B. Beary

• Support escort carriers
  • Shamrock Bay (Capts. F.T. Ward and J.E. Leeper)
    • V-4: 18 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. J.F. Patterson, USNR and Lt. L.E. Terry)
  • Makassar Strait (Capt. H.D. Riley)
    • V-7: 14 FM-2 Wildcat fighters, 12 TBM Avenger torpedo bombers (Lt. Cmdr. M.T. Whittier, USNR)
• CVE Plane Transport Unit (Task Unit 50.8.4)
  • Attu (Capt. H.F. MacComsey)
  • Admiralty Islands (Capt. M.E.A. Gouin)
  • Bougainville (Capt. C.A. Bond)
  • Windham Bay (Capt. G.T. Mundorff)
• 49 oilers: Cuyama, Brazos, Cimarron, Platte, Sabine, Kaskaskia, Guadalupe, Chicopee, Housatonic, Merrimack, Kankakee, Lackawanna, Monongahela, Tappahannock, Patuxent, Neches, Suamico, Tallulah, Ashtabula, Cacapon, Caliente, Chikaskia, Aucilla, Marias, Manatee, Nantahala, Severn, Taluga, Chipola, Tolovana, Pecos, Atascosa, Cache, Enoree, Escalante, Neshanic, Niobrara, Millicoma, Saranac, Cossatot, Cowanesque, Escambia, Cahaba, Mascoma, Ocklawaha, Ponaganset, Sebec, Tomahawk, Anacostia
• 16 ammunition ships: Akutan, Firedrake, Lassen, Mauna Loa, Shasta, Vesuvius, Wrangell, Canada Victory, Bedford Victory, Bucyrus Victory, Manderson Victory, Las Vegas Victory, Logan Victory, Greenburg Victory, Pierre Victory, Hobbs Victory
• 9 cargo ships: Adhara, Alkaid, Alkes, Allegan, Appanoose, Fomalhaut, Matar, Mintaka, Rotanin
• 8 hospital ships: Bountiful, Comfort, Hope, Mercy, Relief, Samaritan, Solace, plus transport Wharton
• 6 reefers (store ships): Adria, Athanasia, Bridge, Latona, Lioba, Merapi
• 2 survey ships: Armistead Rust, Bowditch
• 2 stores-issue ships: Antares, Castor
• 9 gasoline tankers: Wabash, Genesee, Kishwaukee, Nemasket, Escatawpa, Hiwassee, Ontonagon, Yahara, Ponchatoula, Sacandaga
• 6 station tankers: Armadillo, Giraffe, Marmora, Moose, Whippet, LCI(L)-993
• 10 repair ships: Vestal, Aristaeus, Nestor, Oceanus, Anchor, Clamp, Current, Deliver, Gear, Shackle
• 6 floating drydocks: ARD-13, ARD-22, ARD-27, ARD-28, AFD-14, AFDL-32
• 12 fleet tugs: Arikara, Chickasaw, Cree, Lipan, Mataco, Menominee, Munsee, Pakana, Tawakoni, Tekesta, Tenino, Ute
• 4 ocean tugs, 3 ocean tugs (rescue)
• Screen: Screening vessels for the Logistics Group were assigned to TG 50.8 units as needed from a pool of 11 destroyers and 24 destroyer escorts.

TG 50.9 Service Squadron 10

Commodore W.R. Carter at Ulithi

• 9 destroyer tenders: Dixie, Prairie, Cascade, Piedmont, Sierra, Markab, Whitney, Yosemite, Hamul
• 14 floating drydocks (8 mobile); 9 miscellaneous auxiliaries
• 5 repair ships: Prometheus, Ajax, Hector, Briareus, Medusa

Japanese order of battle

Japanese Combined Fleet
Vice Admiral Jisaburo Ozawa

Super battleship Yamato under air attack, 7 April 1945

Surface Special Attack Force

Vice Admiral Seiichi Ito (KIA)

• Super battleship: Yamato
  • Rear Admiral Kosaku Ariga (KIA)
• Destroyer Squadron 2 (Rear Admiral Keizo Komura)
  • Light cruiser: Yahagi (Captain Tameichi Hara)
  • Destroyer Division 41 (Capt. M. Yoshida): Fuyutsuki, Suzutsuki
  • Destroyer Division 17 (Capt. K. Shintani – KIA): Isokaze, Hamakaze, Yukikaze
  • Destroyer Division 21 (Capt. H. Kotaki – KIA): Asashimo, Kasumi, Hatsushimo

Bibliography

• Morison, Samuel Eliot (1960). Victory in the Pacific, 1945: Volume XIV of History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Boston: Little, Brown and Co.. ISBN 0-7858-1315-2. 
• Silverstone, Paul H. (1970). U.S. Warships of World War II. Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Co.. ISBN 0-8702-1773-9. 
• Stille, Mark (2016). US Navy Light Cruisers, 1941–-45. Oxford: Osprey Publishing, Ltd.. ISBN 978-1-4728-1140-0.