"MacArthur’s small ships: Improvising Water Transport" Topic

… in the Southwest Pacific Area

"Water transportation was crucial to the United States Army's success against Japan in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) during the Second World War. Here, the U.S. Army faced some of the most complicated sustainment problems encountered during the war. Transport distances were long and resources scarce throughout the region. On the front lines, Allied forces faced an enemy entrenched throughout a complex region of rugged islands and atolls. Further complicating matters, strategic planners estimated that there were not enough available resources from the United States to support offensive operations in the SWPA until the middle of 1943.

Despite these challenges, General Douglas MacArthur was not content to remain in a defensive posture for long when he assumed command of the General Headquarters (GHQ), SWPA on 18 April 1942. He and his logisticians operated in a military environment that stressed urgency and economy of force over other considerations. Innovation and improvisation in transportation and supply operations were crucial to MacArthur's early transition to of fensive operations. In fact, historian Martin Van Creveld argues that the Allies in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) achieved their victory partially due to "their disregard for the preconceived logistics plans as to their implementation."1 In this regard, the SWPA was no different. The formation and employment of the U.S. Army Small Ships and deployment of the U.S. Army's 2d Engineer Special Brigade (ESB) illustrates the benefits of innovation and improvisation during MacArthur's New Guinea Campaign and beyond…"

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Armand