Posted on 11/12/2015 6:12:27 PM PST by artichokegrower
In March 1945, 15 battleships, 29 carriers, 23 cruisers, 106 destroyers, and a train of oilers and supply ships sailed from "a Pacific base." What was this base? The mightiest force of naval Power ever assembled must have required a tremendous supporting establishment. Ulithi, the biggest and most active naval base in the world was indeed tremendous but it was unknown. Few civilians had heard of it at all. By the time security released the name, the remarkable base of Ulithi was a ghost. The war had moved on to the Japanese homeland, and the press was not printing ancient history about Ulithi.
(Excerpt) Read more at warbirdinformationexchange.org ...
I love the photos of Murderers’ Row. The mightiest fleet the world will ever see.
Lots of good photos indeed.
Thanks for posting, very interesting.
Incredible. Thanks for posting.
Good post. Thanks
That anchorage chart gives me nightmares. So does that fact that Ensign Schmedlap with the ink on his commissioning papers still wet was going to have to drive a smallboy through that obstacle course without killing anyone. I’m guessing a lot of CO’s did a lot of bridge time when sea and anchor detail went down.
I do too, and the Third Fleet from December 1944, nothing but ships as far as the horizon.
Stock Footage - World War II: Ulithi, Anchorage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEgsA07E9Ok
Thanks for sharing—fascinating indeed. I learned much!
Latitude: 10.088633° Longitude: 139.708694°
The latest imagery is Dec 7, 2004.
Where the rec areas were, there is now a sizeable native settlement. But, the landings shown in the article are still visible,
From there, you can zoom out to see the eastern part of the atoll at high resolution, but the resolution on the western half is lousy.
If you zoom in on Falalop, you can still see where the US pushed surplus gear into the ocean off the east end of the runway. I bet that would be some interesting diving!
A freaking mazing
We still are and could defeat any nation on earth on our terms.
In fact, could probably take on China and Russia at the same time and prevail.
We are still a world power to be reckoned with...in spite of our lack of leadership.
Thanks for posting. Ulithi was the largest naval station in the world for a short period of time — wow. Nice seeing the Hornet stationed there. It had a remarkable history. My son and I overnighted on the ship with his Cub Scout troop a few years after it was opened to the public in Alameda. I just sent him the article link and asked him to find his personal connection to Ulithi (it’s a fun way to teach him history).
Thanks for posting...
Especially for me personally, the pic of “Mog-Mog Liberty”...Sailors enjoying a beer...
Standing, in the rear, 3rd from left is my Dad...19 yo PO2 Fred Brickman from Iowa...Now gone from us...
Had seen this pic years ago, but lost it...Found again...Thanks...
Thanks, great pics!
THIS is the America I miss
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