The British Pacific Fleet Experience and Legacy, 1944-50 Jon Robb-Webb The BriTish Pacific fleeT exPerience and legacy, 1944–50 corbett centre for Maritime Policy studies series series editors: Professor greg Kennedy, dr Tim Benbow and dr Jon robb-Webb, defence studies department, Joint services command and staff college, UK The corbett centre for Maritime Policy studies series is the publishing platform of the corbett centre. drawing on the expertise and wider networks of the defence studies department of King’s college london, and based at the Joint services command and staff college in the UK defence academy, the corbett centre is already a leading centre for academic expertise and education in maritime and naval studies. it enjoys close links with several other institutions, both academic and governmental, that have an interest in maritime matters, including the developments, concepts and doctrine centre (dcdc), the naval staff of the Ministry of defence and the naval historical Branch. The centre and its publishing output aims to promote the understanding and analysis of maritime history and policy and to provide a forum for the interaction of academics, policy-makers and practitioners. Books published under the eagis of the Corbett Centre series reflect these aims and provide an opportunity to stimulate research and debate into a broad range of maritime related themes. The core subject matter for the series is maritime strategy and policy, conceived broadly to include theory, history and practice, military and civil, historical and contemporary, British and international aspects. as a result this series offers a unique opportunity to examine key issues such as maritime security, the future of naval power, and the commercial uses of the sea, from an exceptionally broad chronological, geographical and thematic range. Truly interdisciplinary in its approach, the series welcomes books from across the humanities, social sciences and professional worlds, providing an unrivalled opportunity for authors and readers to enhance the national and international visibility of maritime affairs, and provide a forum for policy debate and analysis. The British Pacific Fleet experience and legacy, 1944–50 Jon roBB-WeBB Joint Services Command and Staff College and King’s College London, UK © Jon robb-Webb 2013 all rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the publisher. Jon robb-Webb has asserted his right under the copyright, designs and Patents act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work. Published by ashgate Publishing limited ashgate Publishing company Wey court east 110 cherry street Union road suite 3-1 farnham Burlington surrey, gU9 7PT VT 05401-3818 england Usa www.ashgate.com British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data robb-Webb, Jonathan J. The British Pacific Fleet experience and legacy, 1944–50. – (Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Studies series) 1. Great Britain. Royal Navy. British Pacific Fleet–History. 2. World War, 1939– 1945–Campaigns–Pacific Ocean. 3. World War, 1939–1945–Naval operations, British. 4. World War, 1939-1945–naval operations, american. 5. United states. navy–history–20th century. 6. great Britain–Military relations–United states–history–20th century. 7. United states–Military relations–great Britain–history–20th century. 8. alliances–history– 20th century. i. Title ii. series 359.3’1’0941’09044–dc23 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data robb, Jonathan J. The British Pacific Fleet experience and legacy, 1944–50 / by Jonathan J. Robb. p. cm. — (corbett centre for Maritime Policy studies series) includes bibliographical references and index. isBn 978-0-7546-6851-0 (hbk. : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-1-4094-5383-3 (ebook : alk. paper) 1. Great Britain. Royal Navy. British Pacific fleet—history. 2. great Britain—history, naval—20th century. 3. naval strategy—history— 20th century. 4. World War, 1939–1945—Campaigns—Pacific Ocean. 5. World War, 1939– 1945—naval operations, British. i. Title. da89.r63 2013 359.00941—dc23 isBn 9780754668510 (hbk) isBn 9781409453833 (ebk-pdf) isBn 9781409473336 (ebk-ePUB) IV Printed and bound in great Britain by the MPg Books group, UK. To my mother and my father who encouraged me in everything disclaimer The opinions and views expressed in this work are those of the author, and do not reflect those of the Corbett Centre for Maritime Policy Issues, King’s College london or the United Kingdom Ministry of defence. Contents Glossary and Abbreviations ix Author Biography xiii Series Editor’s Preface xv Acknowledgements xvii Introduction: Experience and Legacy – A Levels of Warfare Analysis 1 Part I the BrItIsh PacIfIc fleet exPerIence 1 No Sooner Offered: The BPF and the Grand Strategic Level of War 23 2 The British are Coming by Sea: Anglo-American Military Strategic Planning 51 3 The Tip of the Iceberg: New Operational-level Concepts 77 4 Sweepers Man Your Brooms: The Tactical-level Experience 105 Part II the BrItIsh PacIfIc fleet legacy 5 An Uncertain New World: Britain, America and Post-war Defence 133 6 An Alliance Sustained: The Royal Navy, US Navy and Military Strategy for the Cold War 169 7 New Tricks for Old Sea Dogs: Operational Ideas After the War 205 8 Making It All Work: The Post-war Royal Navy and the Tactical Level of War 1945–50 233 Conclusion: The British Pacific Fleet Experience and Legacy 259 Bibliography 269 Index 283 This page has been left blank intentionally Glossary and Abbreviations AA Anti-Aircraft ABC American, British, Canadian staff talks on military co- ordination ACNS Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff (RN) ADM Admiralty Papers AIO Action Information Organisation; British precursor to Combat Information Centre ASW Anti-Submarine Warfare BAD British Admiralty Delegation (Washington) Banquet Codename for the bombardment operation on the island of Sabang, Sumatra, August 1944 BPF British Pacific Fleet CAB Cabinet Papers (Britain) CAP Combat Air Patrol Casablanca Codename Symbol – Grand Strategic meeting between Conference Churchill and Roosevelt, January 1943 CCS Combined Chiefs of Staff CinC Commander-in-Chief CINCPAC Commander-in-Chief Pacific Fleet (USN) CINCPOA Commander-in-Chief Pacific Ocean Area (USN) CinC SWPA Commander-in-Chief Southwest Pacific Area (USN) CNO Chief of Naval Operations (USN) CO Commanding Officer Cockpit Codename for the naval air operation against oil facilities on Sabang island off the northern tip of Sumatra, April 1944 COMAIRPAC Commander, Air Force, Pacific Fleet (USN) Combined Military operations involving more than one service. In Operations modern military parlance, this concept is referred to as ‘joint operations’. ‘Combined operations’ now refers to operations involving more than one nationality COMINCH Commander-in-Chief (USN)