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Naval Forces in the Philippines 1937 - 1940
Naval Forces in the Philippines 1937 – 1940
The Asiatic Fleet
The US Navy Asiatic Fleet between 1937 – 1940 continues it's mission of showing the flag, acting as a trip wire force and continuing to maintain an American presence in China. It suffers it's first combat loss with the sinking of the USS Panay in 1937 (and the first deaths it would suffer from the Japanese attack). Until the end of 1939 Admiral Yarnell, a man with considerable diplomatic skills as well as a fine commander, is in command, and he and General Parsons get along very well, in contrast to the relationship Yarnell (or lack of one) he had with previous Philippine Department Commanders or with MacArthur.
Yarnell is supportive of the idea of the Philippine Coast Guard and he directs the commander of the 16th Naval District to provide training to Filipino junior officers and persuades Washington to allow Filipino mess attendants in the US Navy, who have damage control training just like all US sailors, to transfer without prejudice to the Philippines Coast Guard.
Asiatic Fleet composition and deployment November 1940
http://www.fleetorganization.com/1940asiatic.html
USS Houston, flagship of the Asiatic Fleet
The Creation of the Philippine Coast Guard
The official beginning of the Commonwealth naval force is January 1, 1939. A large number of Filipino fishermen, coastal sailors and shipyard workers all apply, and the initial force of 500 men is easily recruited. Training is at Subic Bay and Cavite, and aboard the USS Bittern (an elderly minesweeper). Late in the year, a 55 foot and a 65 foot torpedo boat arrive from Britain built by Thorneycroft, and engines needed for the construction of 4 more also arrive (all of which are under construction and should be ready for action in 1940). The Commonwealth government also acquires 6 fishing boats with diesel engines, 2 old tugboats, 4 motor yachts (varying from 30-50 feet) and 4 interisland steamers (all under 1,000 tons) for use by the naval force, and equips them with machine guns and in the case of the larger steamers, a pair of 3 inch guns.
In 1940, the motor torpedo boats are formed into a squadron and along with an armed tug and 2 fishing boats are sent to a naval station that has been constructed at Aliminos on the shores of Lingayen Gulf. The station is only a few dozen men including the crews, but a small stock of naval mines is acquired and the tug and the fishing boats are equipped as minelayers. The small force is periodically serviced by trips to Cavite. A small sea plane ramp is added in 1940, and permanent detachment of a MP company from the Philippine Army is also assigned as well as a battery of coast defense troops equipped with pre World War I era 8 inch guns released from US Navy stocks in the US.
Filipino motor torpedo boats 1940
The remainder of the little fleet is at Cavite and Subic Bay training as of the end of 1940 and personnel have expanded to 1,500 men total.
In 1940, Admiral Hart takes command of the Asiatic Fleet and is persuaded to continue the cooperation that the US Navy has provided so far. He is not able to provide any ships at present, but as a plan is already underway to move the gunboats and other vessels out of China, he begins considering a plan to transfer them to the Filipino's as they will be of little use in the war plan he is developing and the trained crews on those ships, particularly the heavily experienced petty officers, would be valuable aboard his fighting ships. He sends a letter to Admiral Stark recommending that and receives an affirmative response late in the year but only if China is evacuated, which is not yet politically possible.
USS Mindanao of the Yangtze Patrol, US Asiatic Fleet
The Asiatic Fleet
The US Navy Asiatic Fleet between 1937 – 1940 continues it's mission of showing the flag, acting as a trip wire force and continuing to maintain an American presence in China. It suffers it's first combat loss with the sinking of the USS Panay in 1937 (and the first deaths it would suffer from the Japanese attack). Until the end of 1939 Admiral Yarnell, a man with considerable diplomatic skills as well as a fine commander, is in command, and he and General Parsons get along very well, in contrast to the relationship Yarnell (or lack of one) he had with previous Philippine Department Commanders or with MacArthur.
Yarnell is supportive of the idea of the Philippine Coast Guard and he directs the commander of the 16th Naval District to provide training to Filipino junior officers and persuades Washington to allow Filipino mess attendants in the US Navy, who have damage control training just like all US sailors, to transfer without prejudice to the Philippines Coast Guard.
Asiatic Fleet composition and deployment November 1940
http://www.fleetorganization.com/1940asiatic.html
USS Houston, flagship of the Asiatic Fleet
The Creation of the Philippine Coast Guard
The official beginning of the Commonwealth naval force is January 1, 1939. A large number of Filipino fishermen, coastal sailors and shipyard workers all apply, and the initial force of 500 men is easily recruited. Training is at Subic Bay and Cavite, and aboard the USS Bittern (an elderly minesweeper). Late in the year, a 55 foot and a 65 foot torpedo boat arrive from Britain built by Thorneycroft, and engines needed for the construction of 4 more also arrive (all of which are under construction and should be ready for action in 1940). The Commonwealth government also acquires 6 fishing boats with diesel engines, 2 old tugboats, 4 motor yachts (varying from 30-50 feet) and 4 interisland steamers (all under 1,000 tons) for use by the naval force, and equips them with machine guns and in the case of the larger steamers, a pair of 3 inch guns.
In 1940, the motor torpedo boats are formed into a squadron and along with an armed tug and 2 fishing boats are sent to a naval station that has been constructed at Aliminos on the shores of Lingayen Gulf. The station is only a few dozen men including the crews, but a small stock of naval mines is acquired and the tug and the fishing boats are equipped as minelayers. The small force is periodically serviced by trips to Cavite. A small sea plane ramp is added in 1940, and permanent detachment of a MP company from the Philippine Army is also assigned as well as a battery of coast defense troops equipped with pre World War I era 8 inch guns released from US Navy stocks in the US.
Filipino motor torpedo boats 1940
The remainder of the little fleet is at Cavite and Subic Bay training as of the end of 1940 and personnel have expanded to 1,500 men total.
In 1940, Admiral Hart takes command of the Asiatic Fleet and is persuaded to continue the cooperation that the US Navy has provided so far. He is not able to provide any ships at present, but as a plan is already underway to move the gunboats and other vessels out of China, he begins considering a plan to transfer them to the Filipino's as they will be of little use in the war plan he is developing and the trained crews on those ships, particularly the heavily experienced petty officers, would be valuable aboard his fighting ships. He sends a letter to Admiral Stark recommending that and receives an affirmative response late in the year but only if China is evacuated, which is not yet politically possible.
USS Mindanao of the Yangtze Patrol, US Asiatic Fleet
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