US Navy Task Force 58 Ship Formations

February 21, 2024 | Glenn | , ,

Readers familiar with the US Pacific Fleet in World War II know that the US carriers would sail into harm’s way surrounded by battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. These escorts were there to protect against anti-aircraft, surface, and submarine attacks. I knew enough about the US Navy to know that there had to be set formations. But the authors I read would write, “The carriers were at the center of a circle of battleships and cruisers. Farther out would be another circle of destroyers.”

Then, while researching my book about USS Franklin,  I ran across a report in the National Archives. Titled Action Report 10 February to 4 March 1945, it was from Admiral J.J. “Jocko” Clark.  He commanded Task Group  58.1, one of four task groups in Task Force 58.

The report gave prominent attention to the formations used to provide maximum protection against air and submarine attacks. It also included diagrams, shown below.

Admiral Clark’s report discussed three different formations. (These are not zigzagging plans.)

5-VD

Ship formation used during daylight of Task Force 58. In a round circle the carrier flag ship is at the center. To its port and starboard are two other carriers, with a light carrier behind it. Surrounding them are battleships, cruisers and destroyers. This formation, called 5-VD, is used when the probability of air attack is high and that of submarine attack is low.
Cruising formation 5-VD. The Task Group’s flagship is at the center, two other carriers flank it with a light carrier to stern. Battleships, cruisers, and destroyers complete the formation. (Author’s photo from National Archives.)

Task Force 58 formed Formation 5-VD during the daytime. It was used when the probability of air attack was high and attack by submarine was low. The flagship of the task group is in the center. Fleet carriers are denoted by CV and light carriers by CVL.  Surrounding them were battleships (BB) light cruisers (CL), heavy cruisers (CA), and destroyers (DD).

5-VN

Ship formation used during limited visibility and at night by Task Force 58. In a round circle the carrier flag ship is at the center. To its port and starboard are two other carriers, with a light carrier behind it. Surrounding them are battleships, cruisers and destroyers. This formation, called 5-VD, is used when the probability of air attack is high and that of submarine attack is low.
Formation 5-VN was used during low visibility and at night. (Author’s photo of National Archives document.)

At night or in times of low visibility Formation 5-VN was used. It provided the best protection when the probability of air attack was high and submarine attack low. (USS Franklin was in 5-VN when she was attacked on 19 March 1945.)

5-R

Task Force 58 ship formation 5-R used when probability of any attack is low.
Task Force 58 ship formation 5-R was used when steaming toward a destination and the probability of any attack was low.

Task Force 58 used Formation 5-R for normal cruising. DDs sailed in “Circle Six,” six thousand yards from the flagship, or in Circle Nine, nine thousand yards from the flagship. Circle Six was better for formation maneuvering, but Circle Nine, according to the report, provided better anti-submarine protection. (Additional DDs performed“picket duty,” to provide early warning of attacks.)

I am still learning about the overall tactics of Task Force 58. I found these diagrams and explanations helpful in gaining more understanding of the tactics used by the Task Force 38/58 commanders, Admiral Marc Mitscher and Admiral John S. McCain.

If you have any knowledge of fast carrier strategies and tactics used in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO), leave a comment below. I’d love to talk with you about them.

Did you arrive here via a search engine? I am the author of the forthcoming book, Heroes By The Hundreds: The Story of the USS Franklin (CV-13). In addition to writing about the bravery of the crews that saved her, I will be writing about the lessons we can learn in leadership and decision-making. I’ll also write about the changes the US Navy made because of those lessons learned.

Feel free to follow me on Facebook. There, I am M. Glenn Ross, Author. I also send out a monthly newsletter, Glenn’s After-Action Report, writing about subjects I find interesting in my research. You can sign up for it below. Feel free to leave a comment or ask a question. Thanks for reading.-Glenn

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