Army Ships -- Background, References & Today

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Update in "Today" on 12 January 2005

Army Ships -- The Ghost Fleet

Background

While the Army at sea was apparently treated somewhat as a curiosity by the press during the war years the public did have reminders. The very famous and emotional story of the Four Chaplains was from an Army transport, the USAT Dorchester, torpedoed in the North Atlantic on February 3, 1943. Anyone unfamiliar with this story can visit The Chapel of Four Chaplains page and read the story. I remember it best from advertising use -- not in the sense of today, but the interesting type during the war where the company or product pitch was subdued and wrapped in a patriotic or inspirational theme. That in itself is an interesting line of research into the period.

References

U.S. Army ships and Watercraft of World War II by David H. Grover; Published: Annapolis, Md. by the Naval Institute Press, 1987 (ISBN: 0870217666).

Army "Green Books" dealing extensively with transport ships in their general discussion:

United States Army In World War II, The War Department, Global Logistics and Strategy 1940-1943; Robert W. Coakley and Richard M. Leighton; Center of Military History, United States Army, Washington, D.C.

The Transportation Corps: Responsibilities, Organization, and Operations, by Chester Wardlow. (1951, 1980; 454 pp., tables, charts, illustrations, appendixes, bibliographical note, glossaries, index). CMH Pub 10-19, GPO S/N 008-029-00050-4, $21.00. A discussion of the transportation task, the functions and organization of the Corps, and its operating problems in the zone of interior. This volume is out of print according to GPO 8/99.

The Transportation Corps: Movements, Training, and Supply, by Chester Wardlow. (1956, 1978, 1990; 564 pp., tables, charts, illustrations, bibliographical note, glossaries, index). CMH Pub 10-20, GPO S/N 008-029-00051-2, $22.00. Troop and supply movements within the zone of interior and to overseas commands, the organization and training of personnel, and the development, procurement, and distribution of Corps materiel.

Unfortunately these titles are not common. I have access to the Washington metropolitan area library resources. I've not found them in the public libraries. Grover's book and full sets of the "Green Books" appear to be available only in the libraries of the military historical centers:

Naval Historical Center (NHC)

Center for Military History (CMH) responsible for the "The Green Books."

Mark H. Goldberg: Author of a series, based on ship types, will include information on many ships taken over for war service. These books are the American Merchant Marine History Series published by The American Merchant Marine Museum, Kings Point, N.Y.

On 20 April 2001 Mr. Goldberg wrote:

I am now working on a book about the P2 and C4 type troopships...of which many worked directly as USATs... Would it be possible for you to make note of my project on your page and ask anyone with experience with these vessels to share them with me?

If you have such experience please contact him by clicking here.

Charles Dana Gibson: The Army's Navy series deals with the long history of the Army's involvement with extensive coverage of the Civil War. Gibson is perhaps the expert on operations and is actively writing on the subject. One is worth reading for a view on problems of a land based service sending essentially coastal and harbor craft into oceanic operations:

The ordeal of Convoy NY 119 : a detailed accounting of one of the strangest World War II convoys ever to cross the North Atlantic; Ensign Press, Camden, ME, 1992. An earlier edition, 1973, was published by South Street Seaport Museum, New York.

Today

There are still Army transport vessels. They are little known, but apparently that was the case back when the world was at war and the great Army fleet got little notice. They plug along doing those necessary jobs without a great deal of publicity and recognition. They carried cargo, troops and fought in Vietnam. They are prepared to support rapid deployment today. I suspect even other soldiers are often surprised to find exactly what an 88K does. I wonder if they are still the only troops with authorized footgear of "tennis shoes" or today's equivalent. Today's fleet is limited in scope, but still interesting.

In 1999 I spent a dampish October morning looking at traffic leaving the Chesapeake for the Atlantic from my motel balcony in Virginia Beach. I saw a line of small Navy vessels that looked a bit odd. When I got my glasses on them I realized they were not Navy. They were some of the newer landing craft that are much more ship like. I then noticed the Army insignia and realized I was seeing Army vessels at sea. They were all flying a brilliant red flag with some sort of gold device that I realized had to be that of the Transportation Corps. These were probably operating out of Fort Eustis.

Office of the Chief of Transportation (OCOT)

The starting point for official information on today's Army transport vessels is the page of the Office of the Chief of Transportation (OCOT). There one can find information on a career as an "Army sailor" and, happily, evidence that the Army is not neglecting history and information about the current ships. Even the LCUs have names. It is possible for a person who likes boats and salt water and a desire to be associated with them to find a career in the Army. I suspect you may still have to be prepared for those, even within Army, amazed to find you are something like a Watercraft Operator, Watercraft Engineer, Marine Deck Officer or a Marine Engineering Officer. For details see OCOT's Marine Qualification Division page. People in the career field operate a variety of vessels.

I mentioned the Army is treating its vessels a bit more like Navy. One comment about why the grand history of the Army's former fleet was so neglected was that the Army in general (not those living with them) treated the vessels as "trucks." One usually does not name and do a history of a truck. Why is a vessel different? I'll start with something a former MSC Captain mentioned in writing about lack of respect among some of the "space" people for the Range ships supporting the space program: "For some reason there's a jealousy on the part of those who don't know ships, and have no feel for them...even those who have trusted their lives with sailing on them." A ship is a home and a community in an often hostile environment. It has characteristic smells and often life like sounds, vibrations and movements. Many could recognize a vessel if put aboard under way even if blindfolded. They do have a kind of "life." There is evidence that the Army is recognizing some of this.

The Army appears to be treating its current vessels with more respect. Self deploying vessels fall under policy explained in the memorandum titled "Letter of Instruction for the US Army Vessel Naming Program" that I hope continues giving these vessels historical place. Army's "Registry of Army Vessel Names" is significant in this respect. It is apparently undergoing revision at this time (1/2003) and Sections II - VI that contain the names and biographical backgrounds are not now available.

Those interested in details of today's watercraft organization can read FM 55-50 on line. Chapter two, Organizations and Equipment, is of particular interest. The organization for the smaller craft probably has a direct tie back to Transportation Corps organization into the Second World War period. What cannot be determined is how well the organization for the Army's current larger, Class A vessels (particularly "A2 - fully ocean capable"), correspond to the operation of the transports, "F" and "Y" type vessels of the 1940s.

Other Resources

There are some strikingly modern craft in today's Army. For example, see Michael Cheek's site dealing with the Joint Venture HSV-X1. He is an engineer aboard this craft that is a militarized version of an Australian high speed passenger craft.

Of course, the Corps of Engineers has its fleet of waterway and harbor maintenance vessels. They are reasonably well known to the public familiar with navigable waters. The Engineers continued this domestic work and also did similar work overseas during the war years. Some of the Engineer's vessels also operated overseas and in combat areas in roles much like those at home and performing other duties unique to war and combat.

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