Allied Carrier count, Pacific, August 1945?

Pictures for both sides of the argument.
Tokushima was at this stage a Kamikaze base.
Regards Mike

Good stuff. US numbers?

When we say Pacific…do we mean the Pacific Ocean or just against the Japanese (often called the “Pacific war”, even though a lot of the fighting was not done in the Pacific Ocean).

Good question. I meant the whole of the allied forces arrayed against the Japanese and their Asia-based allies.

I’ve read a bit about Firefly attacks on the Japanese home islands, but not much else about the UK carrier war in the Pacific Ocean. I’m guessing they must have done something in the area north of Australia…but I’ve never heard about it.

Start here, referred to in part, earlier, but a good read. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Pacific_Fleet

McArthur’s sidelining of non-US contributions is well enough documented I think, not to need the usual trans-Atlantic argument.

Also, and slightly off topic… did any Lancasters ever bomb the Japanese homes islands? I know the Tiger Force was cancelled, but did the RAF do any trial operations?
Or were they waiting for the long range Lancs (and eventually Lincolns) with the saddle tanks?

The bombs dropped before Tiger Force seriously entered the working up stage, though the plans were well advanced, and thus no Lancasters were available (excluding the couple that flew to Australia and NZ for War Bonds tours, and weren’t intended for combat).

The development of Tiger Force is an interesting story, often overlooked. It would have had Canadian built Lancasters and probably Lincolns, and, in due course, Australian built Lincolns. The Lincolns would’ve replaced the RAAF’s Liberator force. Flight Refuelling’s probe and drogue system was ordered in large numbers to provide range.

But they’re other questions…

Regards,

(I seem to recall reading somewhere that the US high command wanted every important event to be undertaken by their military as revenge for Pearl Harbour, and that nothing of any significance was sunk by the RN – whether by surface vessel, submarine or aircraft – for the same reason)[/QUOTE]

Not entirely true. In May 1945 the 26th Destroyer flotilla sank the Japanese heavy cruiser Haguro (8″ guns Vs 4.7″) in the last major British Destroyer action of the war, partly in revenge for the sinking of HMS Exeter 2 years before. “Sink the Haguro” by John Winton. A great read!
But I suspect we are in “Thread Drift” land here.
Bill

(I seem to recall reading somewhere that the US high command wanted every important event to be undertaken by their military as revenge for Pearl Harbour, and that nothing of any significance was sunk by the RN – whether by surface vessel, submarine or aircraft – for the same reason)

You mean that RN pilots didn’t do a screaming power dive on IJN ships yelling “Remember the Repluse..and Prince of Wales”? 🙂

And yet what did the Royal Navy succeed in doing in the war on Japan?
Some raids on oil refineries, patrols, task force protection, surviving kamikaze attacks, etc, but what was the most important contribution of the RN and/or the Fleet Air Arm?

(I seem to recall reading somewhere that the US high command wanted every important event to be undertaken by their military as revenge for Pearl Harbour, and that nothing of any significance was sunk by the RN – whether by surface vessel, submarine or aircraft – for the same reason)

There was a sizable British fleet operating in the Indian ocean including the Andaman sea and the Malaccan Straits. By 1945 this fleet included the Battleships Warspite & Richelieu (French) and the British Escort Carriers Ameer, Empress, Emperor, & Shah operating Avengers, Hellcats & Seafires. Although technically not part of the BPF. it was part of the war against Japan.
Bill

When we say Pacific…do we mean the Pacific Ocean or just against the Japanese (often called the “Pacific war”, even though a lot of the fighting was not done in the Pacific Ocean).
So, how many of the RN carriers were in the India and Burma regions and South East Asia: Hong Kong, Singapore, East Indies, Indochina, etc. areas….as opposed to the US carriers area supporting the “Island hopping” campaign to put forces closer to Japan itself?

I’ve read a bit about Firefly attacks on the Japanese home islands, but not much else about the UK carrier war in the Pacific Ocean. I’m guessing they must have done something in the area north of Australia…but I’ve never heard about it.

Also, and slightly off topic… did any Lancasters ever bomb the Japanese homes islands? I know the Tiger Force was cancelled, but did the RAF do any trial operations?
Or were they waiting for the long range Lancs (and eventually Lincolns) with the saddle tanks?

Back in 2013 the following weblinks were referenced in a thread about these parts connected to ‘Highball’ they may provide you with some other research routes.

http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/FENCER.htm

http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ESCORT/STRIKER.htm

And for what it is worth Wiki gives this order of battle (helpfully undated)

Aircraft carriers

Colossus: 24 Corsairs, 18 Barracudas
Formidable: approximate airgroup 36 Corsairs, 15 Avengers
Glory: 21 Corsairs, 18 Barracudas
Illustrious: approximate airgroup 36 Corsairs, 15 Avengers
Implacable: 48 Seafire, 21 Avenger, 12 Firefly
Indefatigable: 40 Seafire, 18 Avenger, 12 Firefly
Indomitable: 39 Hellcats, 21 Avengers
Venerable: 21 Corsairs, 18 Barracudas
Vengeance: 24 Corsairs, 18 Barracudas
Victorious: 36 Corsairs, 15 Avengers, plus Walrus amphibian

Pioneer maintenance carrier for aircraft repair
Unicorn maintenance carrier for aircraft repair

Escort Carriers

Arbiter
Chaser
Fencer
Ruler
Reaper
Slinger
Speaker
Striker
Vindex

Source: Smith, Task Force 57, pp. 178–184

Which agrees with

One of the largest fleets ever assembled by the Royal Navy, by VJ Day it had four battleships and six fleet aircraft carriers, fifteen smaller aircraft carriers,

Moggy

Will this do for a start?

DECEMBER 1944
Vice-Adm Sir Arthur Power appointed C-in-C of the newly formed East lndies Fleet. He took over some of the ships of the old Eastern Fleet from Adm Fraser including capital ships “Queen Elizabeth” and “Renown”, four escort carriers and nine cruisers.
By the end of the year, fleet carriers “Illustrious”, “Indefatigable”, “Indomitable” and “Victorious”, battleships “Howe” and “King George V”, and seven cruisers had been allocated to BPF.
APRIL 1945
Operating off the Sakishimas, “Indefatigable” was hit by a suicide aircraft but saved from serious damage by the armoured flight deck.
On the 6th, British carrier “Illustrious” was hit. Damage was slight and she continued in service, but this much-battered ship (first seriously damaged in the Mediterranean in January 1941) was shortly relieved by “Formidable”.
MAY 1945
4th – “Formidable” and “Indomitable” were hit by one aircraft each. 9th – “Victorious” was damaged and “Formidable” hit again by a suicide aircraft. In all cases the carriers’ armoured deck allowed them to resume flight operations in a remarkably fast time.
JUNE 1945
The newly arrived fleet carrier “Implacable” with an escort carrier and cruisers in support, launched raids on the by-passed island of Truk in the Carolines on the 14th and 15th.
SEPTEMBER 1945
6th – On board light carrier “Glory” Australian Gen Sturdee took the surrender of the Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

http://www.naval-history.net/WW2CampaignsPacific2.htm

Moggy

Mmm. It’s a bit rubbish. How many allied carriers were there active in the Pacific in August 1945? Specifically, how many British, and how many US?

James, I’m having great trouble trying to parse that first paragraph.

Any chance you could revisit it?

Moggy