Sustainment of Expeditionary Forces in the Pacific Theater during the Second World War: The Development of the Advanced Base and Mobile Base Programs and Their Relevance Today
Abstract
During the initial months of the Second World War, the US learned difficult lessons, as expeditionary forces were isolated at Guadalcanal, left for weeks without proper supplies and reinforcements. When preparing for the difficult drive across the Central Pacific into the Gilbert and Marshall Islands and eventually on to Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the US succeeded in developing innovative forward-deployed sustainment capabilities in the form of advance and mobile bases. Today, a limited version of that capability exists in the form of Maritime Pre-positioning ships and the concept of the Sea Base. In order to achieve truly self-sufficient entry capability that existed in the Second World War, the US must resolve the technological shortfalls identified in the Joint Integrating Concept or continue to mitigate with other capabilities that inherently place limits on the employment of that Sea Base.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 19, 2013
- Accession Number
- ADA601780
Entities
People
- Jose A. Gonzalez
Organizations
- Marine Corps University