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the oncoming aircraft to limit attack angles. Other than this measure, the carriers in the task group would not take evasive action from their attackers. This was in marked contrast with the
Imperial Japanese Navy, but the choice made for more stable platforms for the anti-aircraft fire of all the ships in the task group and allowed the ships in the group to sail more closely together. The primary defense of the group against air attack was the group's own fighter cover.
605:
315:
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The ships of each task group sailed in a circle formation centered on the carriers. The supporting ships sailed relatively close by, and added their anti-aircraft fire to that of the carriers to help ward off attacking aircraft. When under attack by torpedo aircraft, the task group would turn toward
305:
and its designation was Task Force (TF) 38. Planning for upcoming operations was completed when each admiral and his staff rotated out of active command. This allowed the Navy to perform at a higher operational tempo, while giving the
Japanese the general impression of naval assets greater than what
628:
At the end of the war, Admiral Nimitz said the following of
Mitscher: "He is the most experienced and most able officer in the handling of fast carrier task forces who has yet been developed. It is doubtful if any officer has made more important contributions than he toward extinction of the enemy
331:
of hundreds of support vessels which resupplied and maintained the fleet. The fleet and task group designation changed when the command of the fleet changed hands. When under the umbrella of Fifth Fleet, the invasion force was called the Fifth
Amphibious Force. When Halsey had command of the fleet,
322:
The Fast
Carrier Task Force took part in all the US Navy's battles in the Pacific during the last two years of the war. The task groups could operate independently or combine with the others as needs dictated. Raids against island strong points such as Iwo Jima or Chichi Jima might be undertaken by
251:
Said
Mitscher: "The ideal composition of a fast-carrier task force is four carriers, six to eight support vessels and not less than 18 destroyers, preferably 24. More than four carriers in a task group cannot be advantageously used due to the amount of air room required. Less than four carriers
487:
aircraft. As the
Okinawa campaign dragged into its second month, the presence of the carriers was still required to provide close air support to the soldiers on the island as the Army and its Air Corps were not as adept as the Marine Corps at quickly establishing airfields over newly occupied
409:
With command change from
Spruance to Halsey on 26 August 1944, all units changed designations again. Mitscher, who was an aviator from early training and had a masterful command of the airgroups, requested that he retain command of the Fast Carrier Task Force until his replacement, Admiral
323:
one or two task groups, but when a major operation was underway the task force would concentrate all four groups together. Each group would remain distinct but operate in close proximity to the other groups to provide the task force with maximum protection and maximum striking power.
248:. Mitscher determined that the best defense for a carrier was its own air groups, and that carriers were more easily defended if they operated together in groups, with supporting ships along with them to aid in air defense, anti-submarine defense, and rescue of downed airmen.
363:. TF 58 was created on 6 January 1944 with Rear Admiral Marc Mitscher commanding, serving under the fleet command of Admiral Spruance in the Fifth Fleet. TF 38 continued to exist, but as a command structure only. TF 58 proved the success of the Fast Carrier TF concept with
240:
With the arrival of the fleet carriers the primary striking power of the navy was no longer in its battleship force, but with the aircraft that could be brought to battle by the carriers. The means by which the US Navy operated these carriers was developed principally by
488:
territory. At the end of April, Admiral Nimitz came out to review the situation. After two months operating off the coast of
Okinawa in support of Army forces engaged in battle on the island, the command staff was exhausted from the continuous pressure of fending off
553:, his new flagship, whereupon he relieved Spruance, while McCain relieved Mitscher. Spruance and Mitscher returned to Pearl Harbor. Fifth Fleet once again became Third Fleet, and Task Force 58 became Task Force 38. Halsey remained in command until the
283:. Spruance was calculating and cautious, while Halsey was more aggressive and known for taking risks. Most higher-ranking officers preferred to serve under Spruance; most common sailors were proud to serve under Halsey. Their commander was Admiral
1037:
472:
On 26 January 1945, Halsey and McCain went on shore leave and planning duty, while
Spruance and Mitscher returned to their previous commands. Third Fleet became Fifth Fleet, and TF 38 became TF 58. They led the fleet through the battles of
532:, which killed three of Mitscher's staff officers and eleven of his enlisted staff members and also destroyed his flag cabin along with all of his uniforms, personal papers, and possessions. Just three days later Mitscher's new flagship,
326:
The Fast Carrier Task Force worked in conjunction with the other two major components of the Pacific Fleet: the Amphibious Force, which was much larger overall and which carried and provided direct support to the Marine forces, and the
414:, could have proper time to become more familiar with the handling of a carrier task force. King and Nimitz concurred. Admiral Halsey, like Spruance before him, sailed with the Fast Carrier Task Force. The force grew to nine
275:
The individual primarily responsible for the development and operations of the task force was Admiral Mitscher. The overall command of the task force alternated between two very different admirals:
406:. TF 58 and escort carriers in Task Force 78 supported the landings. TF 58 only stayed for four days but contributed much crucial air support to one of the greatest successes in the Pacific War.
453:, Mitscher went on shore leave and planning duty, and Vice Admiral McCain took over as commanding officer of TF 38, which continued under Halsey and the Third Fleet. In January 1945 TF 38
41:
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attacks. On his return to Pearl Harbor, he notified Halsey that he would have to take over command from Spruance in thirty days, whether or not the mission was completed.
264:
216:
from January 1944 through the end of the war in September 1945. The task force was made up of several separate task groups, each typically built around three to four
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828:
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1027:
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929:
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294:, the carrier task force was commanded by Mitscher and bore the designation Task Force (TF) 58. When led by Admiral Halsey as part of the
430:. Task Force 38 was composed of four task groups: Task Group 38.1 was commanded by Admiral McCain, with its previous commander, Admiral
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Nimitz' assessment of the exhaustion and psychological toll on Spruance and Mitscher and their staff due to the
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504:
346:, along with numerous cruisers and destroyers. TF 58 alone commanded more firepower than any navy in history.
816:
526:
403:
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were so relentless at Okinawa that Spruance's flagships were struck two separate times (the heavy cruiser
419:
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in April 1944, hundreds of miles behind Japanese enemy lines and far beyond the range of short-ranged
109:
17 carriers, 6 battleships, 13 cruisers, 58 destroyers, 1,100 aircraft (December 1944); increased for
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Huggins, Mark (May–June 1999). "Setting Sun: Japanese Air Defence of the Philippines 1944–1945".
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was hit on 31 March and had to retire for repairs which forced him to transfer to the battleship
367:, a massive naval air squadrons and surface vessels attack on the Japanese ships and airfield at
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in early 1945, the Task Force included eighteen aircraft carriers, eight battleships and two
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which was also hit on 12 May). On 11 May, Mitscher and his chief of staff Commodore
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357:
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131:
368:
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149:
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17:
434:, remaining on as advisor, Task Group 38.2 was under the command of Admiral
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The only time that any aircraft carriers were used to support operations in
221:
1012:
1007:
817:
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Approach/USA-P-Approach-2.html
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1038:
Military units and formations of the United States Navy in World War II
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225:
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requires an uneconomical use of support ships and screening vessels."
318:
As Task Force 58, moving under the cover of a combat air patrol, 1944
47:
378:
As Task Force 38, maneuvering off the Japanese coast, 17 August 1945
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The original TF 38 came into existence in August 1943, built around
734:
America's Fighting Admirals:Winning the War at Sea in World War II
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and their supporting vessels. The support vessels were screening
332:
Third Amphibious Force was the designation. By the time of the
567:
Battle of the Philippine Sea order of battle: Task Force 58
875:"H-048-1: Kamikaze Attacks on U.S. Flagships off Okinawa"
521:
were merely yards away from getting killed or wounded by
585:
Bombardment of Tokyo and the Main Islands: Task Force 38
543:, forcing him to have to change his flagship yet again.
27:
Primary striking force of the US Navy in the Pacific War
442:, and Task Group 38.4 was under the command of Admiral
457:
and attacked Japanese positions in Formosa and Luzon.
481:, facing sustained attacks from land-based Japanese
287:, who was responsible for all Pacific Ocean assets.
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Battle of Leyte Gulf order of battle: Task Force 38
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155:
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79:
63:
55:
34:
579:Battle of Okinawa order of battle: Task Force 58
708:
706:
290:When the force was part of Admiral Spruance's
653:The Encyclopedia of Codenames of World War II
8:
791:Video: Carriers Hit Tokyo! 1945/03/19 (1945)
877:. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command
642:
621:
464:Ships of Task Group 38.3 operating off
861:
840:
767:
697:
685:
546:On 28 May 1945, Halsey arrived aboard
31:
1033:Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II
438:, Task Group 38.3 was led by Admiral
298:, the carrier force was commanded by
268:Admiral Marc Mitscher aboard the USS
208:) was the main striking force of the
7:
1013:Details of TF 58 ships and campaigns
1008:Details of TF 38 ships and campaigns
557:ended the war on 2 September 1945.
390:was during the double landings at
25:
603:
591:
84:
68:
40:
1028:United States Navy task forces
946:. U.S. Naval Institute Press.
924:. U.S. Naval Institute Press.
1:
499:proved to be justified. The
141:Task Force 38, Task Force 58
831:. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
819:. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
650:Chant, Christopher (2013).
356:, and under the command of
236:Carrier-based naval warfare
122:United States Pacific Fleet
1054:
656:. Routledge. p. 103.
455:raided the South China Sea
965:. Naval Institute Press.
961:Taylor, Theodore (1954).
388:Southwest Pacific theater
306:were actually available.
39:
963:The Magnificent Mitscher
737:. Zenith Press. p.
371:on 17–18 February 1944.
980:Willmott, H.P. (1984).
731:Tuohy, William (2007).
539:, was also struck by a
422:in preparation for the
190:Fast Carrier Task Force
35:Fast Carrier Task Force
469:
379:
319:
272:
228:, and the newly built
922:Admiral Arliegh Burke
610:British Pacific Fleet
463:
377:
317:
281:William "Bull" Halsey
267:
451:Battle of Leyte Gulf
432:Joseph "Jocko" Clark
361:Frederick C. Sherman
986:. Blandford Press.
864:, pp. 257–258.
365:Operation Hailstone
173:John S. McCain, Sr.
796:Universal Newsreel
555:Japanese surrender
470:
380:
334:Battle of Iwo Jima
320:
303:John S. McCain Sr.
273:
210:United States Navy
111:Battle of Iwo Jima
92:United States Navy
944:The Fast Carriers
931:978-1-59114-692-6
748:978-0-7603-2985-6
525:on his flagship,
440:Frederick Sherman
404:Allied Air Forces
329:Service Squadrons
218:aircraft carriers
204:when assigned to
196:when assigned to
183:
182:
46:Task Force 38 at
16:(Redirected from
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277:Raymond Spruance
230:fast battleships
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50:in December 1944
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843:, pp. 183.
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779:Willmott p. 180
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449:Following the
344:large cruisers
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285:Chester Nimitz
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18:Task Force 58
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918:Potter, E.B.
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894:Bibliography
879:. Retrieved
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800:. Retrieved
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581:(April 1945)
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507:Indianapolis
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436:Gerald Bogan
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358:Rear Admiral
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310:World War II
300:Vice Admiral
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269:
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201:
193:
189:
187:
132:Pearl Harbor
118:Part of
29:
862:Potter 2005
841:Potter 2005
802:22 February
768:Potter 2005
721:Reynolds p.
698:Potter 2005
686:Taylor 1954
587:(July 1945)
569:(June 1944)
529:Bunker Hill
412:John McCain
369:Truk Lagoon
296:Third Fleet
292:Fifth Fleet
214:Pacific War
206:Fifth Fleet
198:Third Fleet
150:Pacific War
146:Engagements
138:Nickname(s)
128:Garrison/HQ
1022:Categories
983:June, 1944
637:References
536:Enterprise
514:New Mexico
418:and eight
384:New Guinea
222:destroyers
163:commanders
156:Commanders
910:0143-5450
548:USS
534:USS
527:USS
523:kamikazes
512:USS
505:USS
501:kamikazes
497:kamikazes
392:Hollandia
351:USS
270:Lexington
942:(1968).
920:(2005).
881:10 March
561:See also
550:Missouri
541:kamikaze
490:kamikaze
484:kamikaze
475:Iwo Jima
424:landings
353:Saratoga
260:Admirals
226:cruisers
176:Admiral
171:Admiral
166:Admiral
629:fleet."
479:Okinawa
466:Okinawa
386:in the
243:Admiral
212:in the
161:Notable
64:Country
59:1944–45
990:
969:
950:
928:
908:
798:. 1945
745:
660:
396:Aitape
341:-class
339:Alaska
113:, 1945
89:
80:Branch
73:
56:Active
48:Ulithi
616:Notes
428:Leyte
202:TF 58
194:TF 38
101:Fleet
988:ISBN
967:ISBN
948:ISBN
926:ISBN
906:ISSN
883:2024
804:2012
743:ISBN
658:ISBN
477:and
420:CVLs
400:P-40
394:and
279:and
188:The
106:Size
98:Type
739:323
426:on
416:CVs
1024::
794:.
741:.
705:^
446:.
232:.
224:,
200:,
996:.
975:.
956:.
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912:.
885:.
806:.
751:.
666:.
192:(
20:)
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