Overseas US Naval Bases
Naval Advance Base Espiritu Santo docks, now part of the City of Luganville US Naval Advance Bases were built globally by the United States Navy during World War II to support and project U.S. naval operations worldwide. A few were built on Allied soil , but most were captured enemy facilities or completely new. Advance bases provided the fleet with support to keep ships tactically available with repair and supply depots of facilities, rather than return them to the continental United States .[1] Before Japan declared war on the United States the U.S. Navy had a single fleet-sized advanced base in the Territory of Hawaii at Naval Station Pearl Harbor . During the war the U.S. Navy Seabees built over 400 advance bases categorized by size. Naval bases were either Lions or Cubs while airfields were either Oaks or Acorns. Lions and Oaks were major facilities while Cubs and Acorns were minor. PT Boats typically would get a Cub and airfields with single runways were Acorns. The larger bases could provide refueling and overhaul ; loading of troopship and cargo ships ; and preparing amphibious assault ships . Some became major repair depots. The Seabees developed auxiliary floating drydocks were able to repair battle damage and do regular maintenance in the field saving ships trans-pacific trips for repair. A few bases also were developed to be R and R for all U.S. personnel. Most Advance Bases were built by the US Navy's Seabees in Naval Construction Battalions (CBs). At the start of the war civilian contractors were employed in construction. The Seabees in World War II built most of the airfields used by the United States Army Air Forces and United States Marine Corps , as they had the ships and cranes needed to transport the vast amount of equipment needed at the advance bases. The US Army and United States Coast Guard also operated out of many of these facilities. Seabees could build new or repair damaged runways , and with advancements in heavy bomber technology lengthen runways as needed. A few Naval Advance Bases were built for the Korean War and Vietnam War .[2] [3] [4]
Advance bases Built at the bases were personnel housing, piers , roads, shops, power plants, water plants. Large storage depots with fuel, ammunition, food, and other consumable supplies. Fuel for ships, airplanes and vehicles was in much demand, 25,000,000 barrels of fuel was shipped to Pacific bases in just June 1945. During World War 2, in Guam alone one million gallons of aviation gasoline were needed each day. Over 325,000 Seabees troops built bases. The many bases were needed for the logistics needs of the troops around the world.[5] [6] On the home front many new ships and boats were built the West coast and East coast , Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico . Under the Emergency Shipbuilding Program and War Shipping Administration contracts went out to shipyards and Ironwork works companies across the country. Ports were needed for many new cargo ships to dock, like the: 2,710 Liberty ships and 531 Victory ships built, plus the many new tankers and new warships. In the South Pacific, Seabees operated coral pit mines , as crushed coral was used for runways, roads, sidewalks, and more. Many runways were built using steel Marston Mats . At some bases Seabees built sawmills , to produce local timber. Floating pile drivers were used to built piers, docks, and wharves . If pile driving was not suitable, a floating wharf was built. To protect ships and the ports, they needed to built and repaired quickly and runways. Sometimes Seabees set up electric generator lighting and worked around the clock to complete runways. For housing, offices, mess halls, and depots a vast amount of quonset huts of different sizes were built. The Pacific island hopping campaigns , gave new work to be done each day.[7] [8] [9] [10]
At the end of World War 2, almost all of the bases were closed, many were abandoned. A vast amount of vehicles, supplies and equipment at the bases was deemed not needed and too costly to ship to the U.S. Bring the gear home also would have hurt home front industries, as there was already a vast amount of military surplus . Much the equipment was destroyed. Some was given to the local governments as a thank you for the land use. Some of the abandoned bases were used for local military, some turned into towns and ports, like Naval Advance Base Espiritu Santo. Some of the abandoned airfields turned into local and international airports, a post-war Seabees legacy .
The need for advance bases during World War II was so great, that in some cases some Pacific Ocean islands were too small for the demand. So in 1943, the US Navy created Service Squadrons . A Service Squadron was a small fleet of ships that acted as an advance base. A service squadron would have: tankers , Fleet oilers , Troopship-barracks ships, refrigerator ships, ammunition ships , supply ships , floating docks , different kinds of barges and repair ships . They provided diesel , ordnance, aviation fuel , food stuffs, and all other supplies.
Active bases Naval Base Guam , (Battle of Guam ), opened 1944[13] Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Detachment AUTEC , Bahamas, opened 1958Naval Support Activity Bahrain , opened 1941Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia , British Indian Ocean Territory, opened 1971Guantanamo Bay Naval Base , Cuba, opened 1898Camp Lemonnier , Djibouti, opened 2002Naval Support Activity Souda Bay , Souda Bay , Crete , opened 1951Naval Air Station Sigonella , Italy, 1957Naval Support Activity Naples , Italy, 1951Naval Air Facility Atsugi , Japan, opened 1938Naval Forces Japan, Okinawa , Japan, 1945 (Naval Facility Okinawa `)United States Fleet Activities Yokosuka , Japan, opened 1870United States Fleet Activities Sasebo , Japan, opened 1883Misawa Air Base , Japan, opened 1945Camp Patriot at the Kuwait Naval Base (Gulf War ), opened 2003 Port of Duqm , Masirah , and Port of Salalah Oman, opened 1980Naval Medical Research Unit Six , Peru, opened 1983Commander Fleet Activities Chinhae , South Korea, opened 1946Naval Station Rota Spain , opened 1953Fujairah Naval Base, Port of Fujairah , Base at Fujairah International Airport , United Arab Emirates (Operation Earnest Will ), opened 1987 Jebel Ali Port Facility in United Arab Emirates Port, port use, no base, opened 1979.US Navy operates out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni , Japan opened 1950
Closed bases
Major advance bases Artisan with USS Antelope (IX-109) and LST-120 in the dock at Espiritu Santo in January 1945[14]
Naval Advance Base Espiritu Santo at Espiritu Santo was the first large advance base built in the Pacific. Closed 1946[15] [16] Majuro Submarine Base at Majuro Atoll - Harbor, Sub base, Fleet recreational center, two airfields (1940-1945)Manus Naval Base in the Admiralty Islands - Lombrum Naval Base - Seeadler Harbor (1943-1947)Naval Advance Base Saipan , included East Field (Saipan) , Aslito Field and Marpi Point Field , seaplane base, hospital, depot (Battle of Saipan )Naval Base Perth Naval Base Trinidad , operated off and on shore, part became Carlsen Air Force Base Naval Base Brisbane , AustraliaTinian Naval Base , on Tinian including North Field , West Field , closed in 1947 (Battle of Tinian )Naval Air Station Bermuda closed 1995U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay (Olongapo Naval Station) closed 1992, now Subic Special Economic and Freeport Zone Leyte-Samar Naval Base (1944-1947)Naval Base Fiji (1942-1945)Naval Base Noumea at Nouméa , New Caledonia , major staging base (1942-1956)Naval Base Eniwetok at Enewetak Atoll base, including Eniwetok Airfield , seaplane base Parry Island , recreational centerNaval Base Ulithi , Western Carolines, Major anchoring, 3,500-foot runway, seaplane base, recreational center, Hospital on Sorlen Island. Closed in 1945Naval Base Peleliu , at Peleliu Naval Base Iwo Jima at Iwo Jima Naval Base Okinawa , PT Boat base, seaplane base, hospital, depot, repair depot airfieldsNaval Station Sangley Point in the Philippine closed 1971Naval Base Milne Bay at Milne Bay - seaplane base, PT Boats, depot - ship repair - hospital - amphibious training centerNaval Air Facility Midway Island (Battle of Midway )Wake Island Airfield (Battle of Wake Island )Naval Air Station Keflavik , IcelandNaval Station Argentia in Newfoundland, closed 1994Naval Air Station Bermuda Annex Mulberry harbour , Normandy Operation Overlord , Navy built harbour
Rear Pacific area Naval Base Panama Canal Zone United States Naval Station Tutuila , Samoa - depot, repair (1921-1951)Naval Base Upolu at Upolu Island , Samoa - Advanced Base (1942-1944)Palmyra Island Palmyra Island Naval Air Station - Advanced Base (1939-1947)Naval Base Funafuti , Funafuti , Ellice Islands - Advanced base - Air Base, anchorage and small hospitalNanumea - Nanumea Airfield closed 1945Nukufetau - Nukufetau Airfield closed 1945Canton Island port and Airfield closed 1945Naval Base Johnston Atoll on Johnston Atoll , refueling station support of airbase Naval Base Baker Island on Baker Island to support Baker Island Airfield Howland Island seaplane baseNaval base Kingman Reef Christmas Island , Kiribati, refuelling and weather station, Cassidy AirfieldNaval Base Hawaii Naval Air Station Barbers Point and Submarine base Barbers PointMarine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay US Navy base 1939 to 1949Amphibious Training Base Kamaole , Maui
Philippines [17]
Leyte-Samar Naval Base Calicoan , Samar, port, depot, motor pool, recreational centerManicani Island , Samar Large Advanced Base, PT boats, depot, sawmill, ship repair, large floating docks ABSD, hospital.Naval Base Cavite , Luzon - Main Base, hospital, submarine base, Closed 1971Naval Station Sangley Point , Sangley Point, seaplane base, 5,000-foot runwayNaval Base Manila in Manila , hospital, seaplane base, Depot, HQ 7th Fleet, sub baseLiloan, Panaon Island - Advanced Base Ormoc, Leyte - Advanced BaseNaval Base Lingayen - Advanced Base 6 PT Boat, anchorageBobon Point, Samar - 5,000-foot and 7,000-foot runway, Port HQ, PT Boat base[18] NAS Guiuan at Guiuan , Samar, 7,000-foot runway, bombers, (now Guiuan Airport )[19] Botic Island, PT boat base Salcedo, PT boat base Naval Base Puerto Princesa , Palawan - Advanced Base - fleet air wing, carrier aircraft service units, bomber squadrons, seaplane baseZamboanga City , Basilan Island , Mindanao - Advanced Base, Airfield, PT Boats, repair Zamboanga Peninsula Mangarin Bay , Mindoro - Advance Base, Airfield, PT BoatsBasilan Island , Mindanao, PT BoatsIloilo City , Panay - Advanced Base, PT Boat, depot, repairMalamaui Island - Advanced Base Polloc Harbor - Advanced BaseSarangani Bay - Advanced BaseMalalag Bay - Advanced BaseSantiago Cove - Fueling StopCebu, PT Boat base (Battle for Cebu City Mactan , depot, repair, seaplane base, airfieldKabayana Naval Base Naval Air Station Cubi Point in the Philippines, used to support the Korean War, (1951-1992)
Solomon Islands [20] [21]
Tulagi - Bases, PT boat (Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu–Tanambogo ) (1943-1946)Rendova Island - Base, PT boatLever Harbor, New Georgia - Advanced Base, PT boat (1935-1944) Vella Lavella - Advanced Base, PT boat at Lambu Lambu Cove (Battle of Vella Lavella (naval) ) Support Barakoma Airfield Naval Base Treasury Islands , Treasury Islands - Base, PT boatCape Torokina , Bougainville Island - Base, runway built, PT boat (1943-1945)Green Islands - Base, PT boatNaval Base Emirau Homestead Lagoon, Emirau Island , Hamburg Bay - Base, PT Boats, minor repair base, depots, 3 hospitals, sawmill, two 7,000 foot runways: Inshore and North Cape (1944-1945)Henderson Field (Guadalcanal) , - Base (Guadalcanal campaign )Savo Island - Base (Battle of Savo Island )Munda Point Airfield , Naval AirbaseSegi Point Airfield , Naval AirbaseMunda Point Airfield , Naval AirbaseOndonga Airfield Seaplane base, Naval AirbaseNaval Base Banika Island Advance Base (1943-1945)Guadalcanal Advance Base (1943-1946)Roi Island Advance Base (1946)Kukum Field , for USAAF and RNZAGraciosa Bay Seaplane Base Santa Cruz Islands VP-23
Central Pacific South Pacific islands in 1945 [22]
Naval Base Tarawa , Tarawa , in the Gilbert Islands , runway, depot, Marine camp, hospitalApamama Gilberts, airbase, 6,000-foot runway, naval harbor, closed 1944 (Battle of Abemama )Makin Island Gilbert IslandsEnewetak Atoll basePeleliu Naval Base on Palau Islands, Caroline Islands , captured Japanese base, three runways, depot, hospital (Battle of Peleliu )Naval Base Kwajalein , Kwajalein Atoll , Marshall Islands , 5,000-foot runway, hospital, 4,300-foot runway, 100-ton dry dock, Roi Islands, Ebadon Island, Namur Island, Ebeye Island (1943-1952) (Battle of Kwajalein )Majuro Submarine Base , Marshall Islands- Advanced Base, Harbor, Sub base, Fleet recreational center, (1940-1945)Naval Base at Jaluit Atoll , FPO#3000 Minami-Tori-shima , Surrendered baseChuuk Lagoon (Truk Atoll), Naval port (1945-1947) (Operation Hailstone )Weno (Moen) Airfield, port, Naval Air Facilities (1943-1947) Orote, Guam , Mariana Islands, Naval Air Station, (1945-1949)Naval Air Station Agana , Agana Guam, Naval Air Station, (1944-1995)Kagman Point, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, Naval Air Station (1944-1947)Canton Island , Phoenix Islands, Naval Air Station (1943-1946)Tanapag , Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, Naval Air Station (1946-1950)Naval Base Fiji at Suva, Fiji Islands, Major Advance Base (1942-1944)Bikini Atoll , Seaport (Battle of Kwajalein ), then Operation Crossroads test
Caroline Islands Naval Base Ulithi on Ulithi Atoll , FPO# 3011Naval base Angaur Island , on Palau Islands, base to support Angaur Airstrip [23] Naval Base at Uman Island , Truk Lagoon, FPO#3048, 4th Fleet anchorage, PT Boat Base.[24] Naval Base Kossol Roads , FPO#3027, Fleet anchorage, staging area to support operations in the Philippines.[25] Naval Base at Puluwat Island , Truk Lagoon, FPO#3044 Naval Base at Fefan Island , Truk Lagoon, FPO#3045, captured seaport [26] Naval Base at Yap Island , FPO#3014, captured base[27] Naval Base at Param Island , Truk Lagoon, FPO#3050, post war taken Airfield[28] Naval Base at Tol Island , Truk, FPO#3105, post war taken base[29] Naval Base at Sorol Island, FPO#3012, post war small base [30] Naval Base at Namonuito Atoll , FPO#3037 Naval Base at Minto Reef , FPO#3038 Naval Base at Pulap Island, FPO#3039 Naval Base at Pakin Island, Senyavin Islands , FPO#3064 Naval Base at Ant Island, Senyavin Islands, FPO#3067 Naval Base at Oroluk Atoll , FPO#3075, Oroluk Island had a lookout tower and Oroluk Lagoon for anchorage.[31] Naval Base at Ngulu Atoll , FPO#3079 Naval Base at Namolus Island, FPO#3081 Naval Base at Tonelik Island, FPO#3082, post war small base [32] Naval Base at Woleai Island, FPO#3246, post war, Woleai airfield.[33] Naval Base at Hall Islands , FPO#3061, located to the north of Truk Lagoon.
[34] [35] [36]
Australia :
Naval Base Brisbane , Australia, Sub Base, repair depot, Camp Seabee Naval Base Sydney in Sydney, Australia hospital, repair and depotNaval Base Melbourne at Port of Melbourne Australia, depot, HQ till July 1942Naval Air Station Palm Island , AustraliaTownsville Naval Section Base , AustraliaHorn Island Seaplane Base , AustraliaNaval Base Cairns at Cairns, Australia - Base - Hospital, PT Boats, Depot, 40-ton floating drydockNaval Base Darwin , Darwin, Australia - Base -mine depot and PT BoatsExmouth Submarine Base , Exmouth , Australia called PotshotRoebuck Bay Seaplane Base , Western AustraliaNaval Base Adelaide , AustraliaAuxiliary Albany Submarine Base , Port of Albany, Western Australia Fleet Radio Unit, Melbourne , Australia - intelligence unitFremantle submarine base at Perth , AustraliaNaval Base Perth , AustraliaThursday Island PT Boat Base on Thursday Island , Australia - Base, PT boat basePalm Island, Queensland , Australia, Naval Air StationNew Guinea :
Naval Base Milne Bay , New Guinea, Major BaseKana Kopa PT Boat Base , Milne Bay , New Guinea - PT Boat BaseNaval Base Port Moresby , Port Moresby , New Guinea, HQ Seventh FleetLadava Navy Base , Ladava, Milne Bay - BaseTufi, New Guinea - Advanced Base, PT boat base Naval Base Lae , Morobe River, Morobe Province , New Guinea - Advanced Base, airfields, PT boat base - Landing at Nadzab Naval Base Woodlark Island , Woodlark Island , New Guinea - Advanced Base - 6,500 feet runwayFergusson Island , New Guinea - Advanced Base, PT boat baseBuna, Papua New Guinea - Advanced Base, airfield, PT boat base (Battle of Buna–Gona )Rabaul , New Guinea - Bases around city, not in the townKiriwina Airfield , Kiriwina Island, New Guinea - Advanced Base - 6,000 runwayDreger Harbor , New Guinea - Advanced Base, PT boat baseSaidor , New Guinea - Advanced Base, PT boat base, Airfiled Saidor Airport Rein Bay, New Britain - Advanced Base, PT boat base [37] Talasea , New Britain - Advanced Base (Battle of Talasea )Aitape , New Guinea - Advanced base, PT boat baseNaval Base Hollandia , New Guinea - Advanced Base, depot, repair base, depot, hospital and HQ Seventh Fleet, In Humboldt Bay and Tanahmerah Bay, Closed 1946.Naval Base Mios Woendi at Mios Woendi , New Guinea - PT boat baseWakde , New Guinea - Advanced Base, PT boat baseAmsterdam Island , New Guinea - Advanced base - PT boat baseNaval Base Morotai , New Guinea - Advanced Base - PT Boats, seaplane base, depot, repair, sawmill, (Army airstrips), (1944-1946)Soemsoem Island, New Guinea, PT-boat base, closed 1946 Naval Base Merauke in Merauke , New Guinea PT Boats and 6,000 feet runwayNaval Base Finschhafen New Guinea - PT boats and amphibious craft base, Dreger Airfield - hospital (1944-1945)Naval Base Cape Gloucester at Cape Gloucester , New Guinea, port and two runwaysBiak, Mios Woendi and Padaido Lagoon, New Guinea, including Owi Airfield and 2nd runway, during over to Dutch Navy. Seaplane and PT boat base, ship repair and hospital. (1944-1946) Naval Base Alexishafen -Madang, New Guinea, Advance Base, PT Boat, repair, closed 1945Naval Base Noemfoor , New GuineaNaval Base Cape Sansapor , New Guinea
Borneo (some bases shared with Australian)
Indian Ocean Naval Base Kandy at Kandy in Ceylon , shared with Briton and India (South East Asia Command ) Naval Base Calcutta at Calcutta shared with British and India FPO#918 Naval Base Madras, at Madras India FPO# 918, Box M Naval Base Rangoon, at Rangoon Burma FPO#918, Box R Naval Base Durban , South Africa FPO# 911, Box E Naval Base Mombasa , Kenya Colony, Africa FPO# 911, Box F Naval Base Capetown , South Africa FPO#911, Box G Naval Observer Freetown, Sierra Leone, Africa FPO# 62 NY
North Africa Casablanca , French Morocco, Africa FPO# 142, port, depotAgadir , French Morocco, Africa FPO# 522Port Lyautey , French Morocco, Africa FPO# 214, Advanced Amphibious Training Base, Operation Goalpost Fedala , French Morocco, Africa FPO# 215, (Operation Brushwood , portSafi, French Morocco, Africa FPO# 217, (Operation Blackstone ), port Algiers , Algeria, Africa FPO# 922Algiers, Algieria, Africa FPO# 728, Box 25 Arzeu , Algeria, Africa FPO# 232, Naval Station and Naval Air FacilityOran, Algeria, Africa FPO# 147 Mers El Kebir , Algeria, Africa FPO# 233Nemours, Ghazaouet , Algeria, Africa, FPO# 235, Advanced Amphibious Training Base Beni Saf , Algeria, Africa FPO# 236, Advanced Amphibious Training BaseMostaganem , Alferia, Africa FPO# 238, Advanced Amphibious Training BaseTénès , Algeria, Africa FPO# 239, Advanced Amphibious Training BaseCherchel , Algeria, Africa FPO# 240Tipaza , Algeria, Africa FPO# 241Bone, Algeria - Advanced Base, PT Boat base (Battle of Algiers )Bizerte, Tunisia - Base, PT Boat base, Advanced Amphibious Training Base, Tunisia Campaign , port, depotTunis , Tunisia - Advanced Amphibious Training BaseDakar , French West Africa FPO# 241Naval Observer, Freetown , Sierra Leone, Africa FPO# 62
Japan and Marianas [38] [39] [40] [41]
Naval Base Okinawa , PT Boat base, seaplane base, hospital, depot, repair depot airfields[42] Naval Base Iwo Jima on Iwo Jima , 3 captured runways (Naval improved them), hospital Central Field , South Field (Battle of Iwo Jima )*Chichi Jima Naval Base - Chichijima Airfield (1945-1968) Ōmura, Nagasaki , Depot, Port HQ, airfieldKure, Hiroshima , Naval Base, after war turned over to Ishikawajima Shipbuilding & Engineering Company, US Navy used part of the base.Nagasaki , port for inspectionHiroshima , port for inspectionYokosuka Naval Base, now JMSDF Yokosuka Naval Base Sasebo Naval Base, was Sasebo Naval Arsenal now United States Fleet Activities Sasebo Naval Base Tateyama, post-war now JMSDF Tateyama Air Base
New Zealand Auckland , New Zealand, Naval Base (1944-1945)US Navy Magazines, Motutapu Island US Navy Magazines, Kauri Point Armament Depot Fuel Tank Farm, Northcote , Auckland Avondale Naval Hospital, Avondale , Auckland Sylvia Park Stores, Mount Wellington , Auckland Mangere Crossing Stores, Māngere , Auckland Halsey Street Store, Wynyard Quarter , Auckland Hilldene, Papakura , Auckland Little Riverina, Wilsons Road, Warkworth Tamaki Stores, Glen Innes , Auckland Silverstream Naval Hospital, Upper Hutt Trentham Racecourse Hospital, Trentham , Upper Hutt Kaiwharawhara Park, Kaiwharawhara , Wellington Hutt Park, Lower Hutt Judgeford Valley, Haywards Road, Paremata Pākiri Beach Camp [43] Whangateau Hall & ReservePaekākāriki , Camp Paekakariki, Camp Russell, Camp McKay campAuckland outlining campsWellington outlining camps
China
Mediterranean [44]
Palermo, Sicily - Advanced Base, PT Boat baseCapri, Italy - Advanced Base, PT Boat baseGela, Italy - Advanced Base Salerno , Italy, portAnzio , Italy, portNettuno , Italy, portGolfe-Juan , France - Advanced Base, PT Boat baseLeghorn, Italy - Advanced Base, PT Boat baseLa Maddalena , Sardinia - Advanced Base, PT Boat baseBastia, Corsica , - Advanced Base, PT Boat baseCalvi, Corsica - Advanced Base, PT Boat baseSainte-Maxime , France - Advanced Base, PT Boat baseCôte d'Azur , France, portMarathon, Greece base, (1962-?)Cephalonia , Greece earthquake relief base (1953)
Atlantic [45]
Port of Antwerp , Belgium, Port shared with Britain, 1944-1946Cherbourg, France - Advanced Base, PT Boat baseNaval Base La Havre France - Advanced Base Port of Le Havre , France - Advanced BaseOstend, Belgium , portHengelo , Holland portVreden , Germany, portFrankfurt-am-Main , Germany, portBremerhaven , Germany, portRosneath naval base , ScotlandLondonderry Port , Northern Ireland, Naval Base, hospital[46] Milford Haven and other ports, Wales, Normandy staging ports, hospitalPenarth , Wales, amphibious portBluie West One , Greenland, seaplane base.Naval Air Station Keflavik , IcelandSeaplane Base Reykjavik , Iceland Naval Operating Base Iceland Holy Loch Missile base, (1961-?)
England [47]
East Anglia Normandy staging portsExeter , Devon , Naval Base, HQ, large depot, closed 1944Cornwall , Naval BaseDartmouth, England - Advanced Base, PT Boat baseIsle of Portland - Main Base, PT Boat baseHeathfield, Devon , large depotNetley Large hospitalLough Erne , portLoch Ryan , portFalmouth, Cornwall , amphibious port, hospitalFowey , England amphibious portPlymouth , amphibious port, housing campsSalcombe , amphibious portDartmouth, Devon , amphibious portTeignmouth , amphibious portSt. Mawes , small amphibious portSaltash , small amphibious portCalstock , small amphibious portWeymouth, Dorset , small amphibious portPoole , small amphibious portSouthampton , small amphibious portInstow , small amphibious portScapa Flow large naval base (British shared)Naval Advanced Amphibious Base Southhampton (May 1944 – 1945) Naval Advance Amphibious Base Deptford Advanced Amphibious Training Base Appledore ,
Caribbean and South America Panama Canal [48] Coco Solo , Naval air station for patrol planes and a submarine baseBalboa, Panama , Balboa Naval station, depot, submarines, destroyers and patrol boatsTaboga Island , Panama Canal - Advance base, PT Boats, Training Base, closed in 1946Mandinga, Panama, lighter-than-air base, three 3,000-foot runwaysLa Chorrera, Panama , Panama, emergency fighter-plane base, lighter-than-air padMandiga, Panama, base Gatún , Panama, radio stationArraijan , Panama, tank farmCristóbal, Colón , Panama, dry dock, repair depot Isla Grande in Port of San Juan , Puerto Rico, Naval air station, repair depot, 5400-foot runway and 2300-foot runwaySan Juan, Puerto Rico , Air Station on Isla Grande, hospital, seaplane base, depot, San Patricio, Catano.Roosevelt Roads Naval Station , at Ensenada Honda, Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, drydock, 3 6,000-foot runways, depot, a major port.Culebra Island , Puerto Rico, one 2,400-foot runwaySt. Lucia, Gros Islet Bay, Puerto Rico, Advance base, airbase, seaplane base Antigua , Puerto Rico, baseNaval Air Station Crabbs at Crabbs Peninsula , Antigua Naval seaplane base Exuma , on Exuma Island at George Town, Bahamas United States Naval Facility, Barbados (closed 1979)Great Exuma , naval air station, seaplane baseCorinto, Nicaragua , Naval Base and Naval Auxiliary Air FacilitySalinas, Ecuador, base St. Thomas, Virgin Islands , Bourne Field , Lindbergh Bay for seaplanes and submarine base Gregerie Channel, seaplane baseNaval Station Argentia Morgan and Tucker Islands, in Great Sound , Bermuda, support carrier and patrol aircraft, seaplanes, cruiser, destroyer, and submarine base, depot, anti-aircraft training school (Plus Hamilton Island at Kings Point,) Naval Air Station Bermuda Annex Great Exuma , Little Goat Island , Port Royal , Jamaica , seaplane baseAntigua , Jamaica, airbase, seaplane baseGalapagos Islands , Ecuador, Seaplane Base at Aeolian Cove, Airfield, hospital.Salinas, Ecuador , patrol plane, seaplane and patrol boat base, closed 1946Puerto Castillo, Honduras Barranquilla, Colombia , naval air base, and lighter-than-air base, repair shop, also used Soledad International Airport , closed 1945.Gulf of Paria , Trinidad, (Carenage Bay, Chaguaramus Bay, Teteron Bay, and Scotland Bay. Chaguaramus Valley and Tucker Valley) Air Station, training and Advance base, fleet base, hospital, depot, ship repairBritish Guiana , Advance base, seaplane base, Lighter-than-air base, (Atkinson Field )Paramaribo , Dutch Guiana, now Suriname, FPO#404Amapá , Brazil, naval air base, lighter-than-air base, closed 1945Maceió , Brazil, lighter-than-air base, closed 1945Belém , Brazil, seaplane base, naval air base, closed 1945Igarape Assu, Brazil, lighter-than-air base, naval air base, closed 1945 São Luís, Maranhão , Brazil, lighter-than-air base, naval air base, closed 1945Camocim , Brazil, seaplane base, closed 1945Santo Amaro do Ipitanga Airport Brazil, lighter-than-air base, naval air base, closed 1945Fortaleza , Brazil, lighter-than-air base, naval air base, closed 1945Fernando de Noronha , Brazil, naval air base, closed 1945Natal, Rio Grande do Norte , Brazil, Parnamirim Field , naval air base, closed 1945Recife , Brazil, Ibura Field, Knox Hospital, depotMaceio , Brazil, lighter-than-air base, naval air base, closed 1945Santo Amaro do Ipitanga Airport , Brazil, lighter-than-air base, naval air base, closed 1945Bahia , Brazil, Aratu seaplane base, ship-repair base, closed 1945Caravellas , Brazil, lighter-than-air base, naval air base, closed 1945Vitória, Espírito Santo , Brazil, Victoria Airport, closed 1945Santa Cruz, Rio de Janeiro , Brazil, naval air base, closed 1945Laguna del Sauce , Uruguay, seaplane base, closed 1945Salinas, Ecuador , naval air base, hospital.Barranquilla, Colombia, lighter-than-air base, naval air base, closed 1945 Curaçao, Netherlands West Indies, Camp Parera, Hato Field closed 1945 Puerto Castilla, Honduras , seaplane base, depotGulf of Fonseca , Nicaragua, Advance base moved to Corinto 1943Corinto, Nicaragua , Advance base, Seaplanes and PT boat base, naval auxiliary air patrol bombers, fleet depot. Closed in 1946Aruba Small naval force to defended oil field, closed in 1945Paramaribo , Suriname , lighter-than-air station (Also Zandry Field)Suriname , lighter-than-air base, naval air base, closed 1945Naval Base Grand Cayman , British West Indies Lima, Peru FPO#121, Box LSantiago , Chile FPO#121, Box S FPO# 153, Box FValparaiso , Chile FPO#121, Box S
Aleutian Islands [49]
Naval Air Facility Adak Naval Base Dutch Harbor , Unalaska , Naval Base, submarine base, PT boat base (Battle of Dutch Harbor )Finger Bay, Adak Island - Base, airfield, PT boat base, hospital, seaplane base Andrew Lagoon, port at Sweeper Cove, recreational center Naval Air Station Kodiak Amchitka - Advanced Base, Three airstrips, PT boat baseNaval Air Station Attu Casco Cove, Attu - Base, airfield, PT boat baseKiska , Recreational facilities, seaplanes base, depotMassacre Bay , airfield, Seaplane base, depotSitka Naval Operating Base and U.S. Army Coastal Defenses , Sitka , seaplane base, hospitalAnnette Island Chichagof Island Port AlthorpShemya , auxiliary air facilityPort Armstrong on Baranof Island , closed 1943 Yakutat Bay airfield, Seaplane baseCordova, Alaska Cordova Bay , naval section base, Naval gun emplacementKodiak Island Submarine BaseTongass Narrows , naval section baseTongatapu Advanced Base, (1942-1945)Womens Bay , seaplane base, depot, repair, Submarine services, hospitalWoody Island , Submarine baseChernabura , Naval outlying stationSand Point , Naval outlying station, auxiliary air facility, depotCold Bay , Naval outlying station, naval auxiliary air facility King Cove , Naval outlying station, dry dock, depotChirikof Island , Naval outlying stationChiniak , Naval outlying stationEntrance Point, Naval outlying station, on Sandy Cove on Little Koniuji Island of the Shumagin Islands Cape Greville, Naval outlying station on Kodiak Island Sanak Island , Naval outlying stationAfognak , Naval outlying stationAtka Island , airfieldTanaga Island , airfieldPoint Barrow , airfield, depot, dog sleds(Ogliuga Island Ogliuga Island Army Airfield built by Navy) (Fort Greely and Fort Randall Army bases, built by Navy) Borabora Island, Society Islands, French Polynesia, - Advanced Base (1942-1946)Wallis Island , - Advanced Base (1944-1945)Alaska earthquake relief base (1964)Naval Base Ketchikan now Coast Guard Base Ketchikan
Korea For Korean War built:
Antarctica
Vietnam For Vietnam War :
World War I During World War I the Navy had overseas bases, they were not called Advance Bases.
U.S. Naval Air Station Wexford Ireland U.S. Naval Air Station Queenstown Ireland Bordeaux , France Seabase[60] Brest, France , SeabaseBerehaven , Ireland, SeabaseBantry Bay , Ireland, SeabaseAzores , Portugal, sub base[61] Leith , Scotland, Hospital[62]
Gallery Aerial view of Seeadler Harbor in 1945
Aviation Supply Annex under construction
Pallikulo Bay Pontoon Wharf with USS Tangier unloading supplies
Naval Air Transport Service Facilities
Aviation Overhaul Area
F6F-3 Hellcats of VF-40 in 1944
base boat repair dock
AFDB-1 with
USS West Virginia in for repairs off Aessi Island on 13 November 1944
Sea bees depot with earthmovers, used to built runways, ramps, roads and foundations.
SBD Dauntless being moved small bulldozer and two plywood
Landing Craft (LCVPs) PBY Catalinas at the Luganville Seaplane Base February 1942
U.S. ships and aircraft in Little Placentia Sound, Argentia in 1942
Naval Operating Base Dutch Harbor hut design
Seabee Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery
See also Wikimedia Commons has media related to Seabee Memorial .
Wikimedia Commons has media related to United States Navy Seabees .
References ^ Instances of Use of United States Armed Forces Abroad, 1798-2020[failed verification ] ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 5]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ US Navy Logistics of Advance Bases ^ US Navy, Building the Navy's Bases in World War II, Volume I (Part I) ^ seabeesmuseum.com, History ^ US Navy Building the Infrastructure for War, Establishment of Navy Construction Battalions ^ US Navy, Building the Navy's Bases in World War II, Volume II (Part III, Chapter 26), Chapter XXVI, Bases in the Southwest Pacific ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 6]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 7]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 10]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ Seabees Memorial George Washington Memorial Parkway ^ "Seabees Memorial, (sculpture) | Collections Search Center, Smithsonian Institution". collections.si.edu . Retrieved 2019-04-09 . ^ defense.gov, US Post War Naval Advance Base ^ "Guide to Archival Holdings (RG 310-Donated Materials)". National Archives . August 15, 2016. ^ Seabees report on Naval Advance Base Espiritu Santo ^ US Navy, Naval Construction Battalion Detachment 1007 - Naval History ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 29]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ US Navy Bobon Point ^ pacificwrecks Guiuan Airfiled ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 25]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ "Solomon Islands Airfields". ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 27]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ Angaur Island, Palaus GroupUS Navy ^ Uman Island'pacificwrecks.com ^ Kossol Roads pacificwrecks.com ^ Fefan Island pacificwrecks.com ^ Yap Island pacificwrecks.com ^ Param Island pacificwrecks.com ^ ol Island pacificwrecks.com ^ Sorol pacificwrecks.com ^ Orluk Atollpacificwrecks.com ^ Tonelik pacificwrecks.com ^ Woleai pacificwrecks.com ^ US Navy Securing New Guinea ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 24]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 26]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ /pacificwrecks.com Rein Bay ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 28]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 30]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 31]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ seabeemagazine United States naval forces at Hiroshima, Kabayana, Yokosuka, Omura ^ US Navy, Seabees report, 125th ^ nzhistory.govt.nz WW2 Camps ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 20]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 21]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ "Big U.S. naval base in Ulster built by American and British workers. Londonderry is now America's premier naval base in Europe". Library of Congress . ^ US Navy Seabees report 81th ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 18]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ "HyperWar: Building the Navy's Bases in World War II [Chapter 23]". www.ibiblio.org . ^ US Navy Korean War ^ Seabees report Inchon ^ "Wonsan Key Seaport Before War Started; Badly Crippled by U.N. Air and Sea Attacks". The New York Times . June 30, 1951. Retrieved 2009-02-17 . ^ Halliday, Jon; Cumings, Bruce (1988). Korea, the Unknown War . New York: Pantheon Books. p. 157. ^ US Navy Korean War ^ Christine Elliott (May 2005). "Antarctica, Scott Base and its environs". New Zealand Geographer . 61 (1): 68–76. doi:10.1111/j.1745-7939.2005.00005.x. ^ "Maritime Professional - McMurdo Sound". March 14, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2014 . ^ Coram, Robert (November 2010). Brute: The Life of Victor Krulak, U.S. Marine (1st ed.). Little, Brown & Co, Hachette Book Group. p. 295. ISBN 978-0-316-75846-8 . ^ Shulimson, Jack (1978). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: The Landing and the Buildup . History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. pp. 29–35. ISBN 978-1494287559 . ^ Navy-seabees, 6 ^ US Navy WW1 ^ Navt History WW1 ^ Leith, Scotland, Hospital
External links WWII BATTLEGROUND The Fighting Navy Seabees video U.S. NAVY WWII COLOR FILM ADVANCE BASE SEABEES Construction Batallions video NAVAL ADVANCE BASE SUPPLY ACTIVITIES, MARSHALL ISLAND video Pearl Harbor Official website Guam Official website seabeesmuseum.com