Task Force 39

1943/08-10
fleet (combined TF 37, TF 38, TF 39) exercises SW of Esp. Santo 43/10/07-10
Treasure Islands Landing
x Empress Augusta Inlet, Shoestring II - Cape Torokina Landing
Buka-Bonis Bombardement 43/11/23
Green Island Landing 44/02/15
Emirau Landing 1944/03
"JUNEAU" - Okinawa minesweeping operation 1945/07

1943/08 - 10

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43/08/18-19

CTF RAdm Aaron Stanton Merril (ComCruDiv12)

CL	CruDiv12: Montpelier/FF, Cleveland, Columbia, Denver
DD	Charles Ausburne, Converse, Foote, Dyson, Claxton from 43/08/18 2220: Patterson, Selfridge(ComDesRon4), Woodworth

43/08/18	0830 - departed Esp. Santo for training, gunnery exercises 2220 - Patterson, Selfridge and Woodworth joined
43/08/19	gunnery exercises 1150 departed back to Esp. Santo 1230 arrived Esp. Santo

43/08/30-09/??

CTF RAdm Aaron Stanton Merril (ComCruDiv12)

CL	CruDiv12: Montpelier/FF, Cleveland, Columbia, Denver
DD	Converse, Foote, Radford, Jenkins

43/08/30	1200 departed Esp. Santo for training exercises with TF 37 and TF 38
43/08/31	0700 joined with TF 37 1700 left formation for simulated night attack 2100 rejoined formation
43/09/01	1130 - CruDiv12 left formation for battle exericises 1330 - CruDiv12 rejoined formation 1630 - simulated air attacks from Saratoga
43/09/04	0730 - CruDiv12 left formation for Esp. Santo 1800 - CruDiv12 arrived Esp. Santo

43/09/10

CTF RAdm Aaron Stanton Merril (ComCruDiv12)

CL	CruDiv12: Montpelier/FF, Cleveland, Denver
DD	Converse, Radford, Jenkins, McCalla

43/09/10

gunnery exercises out of Esp. Santo:
0800 departed Esp. Santo
1030 commenced gunnery exercises
1400 completed gunnery exercises
1800 arrived back to Esp. Santo

43/09/16-17

CTF RAdm Aaron Stanton Merril (ComCruDiv12)

CL	CruDiv12: Montpelier/FF, Denver
DD	Eaton, Waller, Renshaw

43/09/16	0800 departed Esp. Santo 0900 start AA practice 1200 finished AA practice 1415 commenced surface target practice 1600 finished surface target practice 1930 commenced night target practice
43/09/17	0830 commenced AA firing practice 1100 finished AA firing practice 1230 arrived Esp. Santo

TG 39.1 - "Slot" sweep 43/09/20-28

CTF RAdm Aaron Stanton Merril (ComCruDiv12)

CL	CruDiv12: Montpelier/FF, Denver
DD	Eaton, Waller, Cony, Renshaw

43/09/20	0630 departed Esp. Santo for Tulagi > Bougainville Strait to swept channel with Malo Perle 0900 - 1100 AA firing practice
43/09/21	1000 ordered by Com3rdFlt proceed to vicinity NW Vella Lavella 2000 - cca 150 miles W of Guadalcanal, proceed NNW
43/09/22	0800 - between New Georgia and Santa Isabel 1300 - 1600 Port Purvis, Florida Is. - DDs fueled from cruisers 1600 - departed Tulagi to Point 15 miles S of East Island, New Goergia 2000 - 40 miles WSW of Russell Is. (09-13S, 158-27E)
43/09/23	0800 - 140 miles SW of Rennell Is. (12-52S, 158-47E) 1000-1100 - DDs fueled from cruisers 1600 - 140 miles SSW of Renell Is. (13-13S, 159-19E) 2000 - 80 miles S of New Georgia (09-54S, 157-17E)
43/09/24	0245-0300 fire on believed barges 0800 - New Georgia Strait between New Georgia and Santa Isabel (08-25S, 158-42E) 1200-1630 - Tulagi Harbor - refuel 2000 - New Georgia Strait between New Georgia and Santa Isabel (08-25S, 158-42E)
43/09/25	0800 between New Georgia and Rendova Is. (08-39S, 157-40E) 1500-1700 - Tulagi Harbor 2000 30 miles N of Russell Islands (08-35S, 159-00E) 2345 - passed Kula Gulf 5 miles to port
43/09/26	0015 - corse changed bac to Tulagi 0630 - Cleveland, Columbia with escorting DDs temporarily joined 0800 - 30 miles NNW of Russell Is. (08-34S, 159-01E) 1130-1630 Tulagi - refuel ordered to Esp. Santo 2000 - between Guadalcanal and Malaita 55 miles SE of Tulagi (09-35S, 160-58E)
43/09/27	0800 - 270 miles SE of Tulagi (12-16S, 163-19E) 1200 - 200 miles NW of Esp. Santo (13-02S, 164-02E) 2000 - 100 miles WNW of Esp. Santo (14-41S, 165-16E)
43/09/28	0800 35 miles SE of Esp. Santo (15-20S, 167-17E) 1000 arrived Segond Channel, Esp. Santo

TG 39.1 - "Slot" sweep 43/09/30-10/02

CTF RAdm Aaron Stanton Merril (ComCruDiv12)

CL	CruDiv12: Montpelier/FF, Denver
DD	Eaton, Waller, Cony, Renshaw (till 10/02) from 10/01: Spence, Claxton, Dyson, Selfridge, Charles Ausburne

43/09/30	0800 formed cruising formation (15-38S, 167-22E), departed Esp. Santo for Tulagi, then continue to sweep W end of Bougainville Strait 1200 25 miles W of Remarkable Point, Esp Santo Is. (15-27S, 166-13E) 2000 190 miles NW of Esp. Santo (12-51S, 164-33E)
43/10/01	0800 90 miles ESE of Tulagi, 450 miles NW of Esp. Santo (09-50S, 161-30E) 1200 Seelark Channel, 8 miles S of Tulagi (09-13S, 160-09E) 1300-1500 - Tulagi - Spence, Claxton, Dyson, Selfridge, Charles Ausburne joined 2000 30 miles ESE of Visu Visu Point, New Georgia (08-07S, 158-00E) 2200 - changed course back to Tulagi 2230 - DDs fired on enemy barges
43/10/02	0700 arrived Tulagi Harbor - Spence, Claxton, Dyson, Selfridge, Charles Ausburne disjoined
43/10/04	1600 depreted (less Renshaw) Tulagi for Esp Santo 2000 60 miles SE of Tulagi(09-38S, 160-56E)
43/10/05	en route from Tulagi to Esp. Santo 0800 250 miles SE of Tulagi (12-08S, 163-11E) 1200 320 miles SE of Tulagi, 220 miles NW of Esp. Santo (12-41S, 164-03E) 2000 110 miles NW of Esp. Santo (13-59S, 165-30E)
43/10/06	0700 atrrived Esp. Santo

TG 39.2 43/10/20

CTG Cap Beatty

CL	Columbia/GF, Denver
DD	Foote, Claxton, Dyson

43/10/20

0730 departed Esp. Santo for training operations
0800 (15-37S, 167-20E)
0815-0945 practice firing
1200 (15-39S, 167-24E)
1730 passed Tutuba Is.
1800 arrived back to Segond Channel, Esp. Santo

fleet (combined TF 37/38/39) exercises SW of Esp. Santo 43/10/07-10

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Note:
ships assigned and fleet movements taken from USS Denver Deck Log. From mentioned informations couldn't be specified assignment of individual ships to particular Task Force involved in exercises. So folowing information are described in each of the forces individual site. Author 'll be greteful for every rectifiing informations

Ships Involved:

CV	Saratoga
CVE	Breton
BB	Washington, South Dakota, Alabama, Massachusetts
CL	Montpelier, Denver, Columbia, San Juan, San Diego
DD	Farenholt, Lardner, Wadsworth, Anthony, Hudson, Fullam, Foote, Charles Ausburne, Stack, Wilson, Woodworth, Claxton, Dyson

Evolved composition of Task Forces

TF 37

BB	Washington, South Dakota, Alabama, Massachusetts
DD	Farenholt, Lardner, Wadsworth, Hudson, Fullam

TF 37 43/10/07 1800

CL	Montpelier, Denver, Foote, Charles Ausburne

TG 37.2 43/10/09 1100

CTG RAdm Hanson (ComBatDiv9)

CV	Saratoga
BB	South Dakota/GF, Alabama
CL	Montpelier, Denver, San Juan
DD	??

TG 37.2 43/10/09 1700

CTG RAdm Hanson (ComBatDiv9)

BB	South Dakota/GF, Alabama
CL	Montpelier, Denver
DD	4

TF 38

CTF RAdm Sherman

CV	Saratoga/FF
CVE	Breton
CL	San Juan, San Diego
DD	Stack, Wilson, Woodworth, Anthony

TF 39

CTG RAdm Aaron Stanton Merrill (ComCruDiv12)

CL	Montpelier, Columbia, Denver
DD	Claxton, Charles Ausburne, Dyson, Foote

Fleet movements:

43/10/07	departed Esp. Santo 1800 TF 37 formed for exercises of simulated torpedo attack - Montpelier, Denver, Foote, Charles Ausburne 2000 100 miles SSW of Eps. Santo
43/10/08	simulated air attack excercises 0000 - TG - Montpelier, Denver, Dyson, Claxton, Charles Ausburne, Stanley 0800 160 miles SW of Esp. Santo 1200 180 miles WSW of Esp. Santo 2000 240 miles WSW of Esp. Santo
43/10/09	0715 - TF 39 left fleet to form attack formation 0800 250 miles WSW of Esp. Santo 1100 - TG 37.2 (OTC RAdm Hanson, ComBatDiv9) 1200 240 miles WSW of Esp. Santo 1700 - TG 37.2 (OTC RAdm Hanson, ComBatDiv9) 2000 190 miles SW of Esp. Santo
43/10/10	0800 100 miles SSW of Esp. Santo 1200 60 miles S of Esp. Santo 1600 TF 39 arrived Segond Channel, Esp. Santo

Treasure Islands Landing

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DD	Cony
LST	LST-399, LST-485

TG 39.3

CTG Cap A.G. Shepard

CL	Cleveland/GF, Denver
DD	DesRon23:	DesDiv45 (Cap Arleigh Burke): Charles Ausburne/SF,DF, Dyson, Claxton DesDiv46 (Cdr Bernard Austin): Spence/DF, Foote

43/10/24	0500 39.3 departed Esp. Santo for Tulagi 0800 39.3 50 miles SSE of Esp. Santo (15-37S, 167-29E) 1200 39.3 40 miles NE of Esp. Santo (14-29S, 167-10E) 2000 39.3 160 miles NW of Esp. Santo, 360 miles SE of Tulagi (12-51S, 165-08E)
43/10/25	0800 39.3 between Guadalcanal and Malaita, 70 miles ESE of Tulagi (09-38S, 161-14E) 1200 39.3 arrived Port Purvis, Tulagi
43/10/26	1030 39.3 departed Port Purvis, Tulagi to destroy enemy forces attempting to interfere with landing on Treasury Islands 1200 39.3 between Savo Is. and Guadalcanal (09-12S, 159-40E) 1400 39.3 passed Russell Islands 2000 39.3 130 miles SSE of Treasury Islands (09-19S, 156-22E)
43/10/27	D-Day Mono Is., Starling Is., Treasure Islands Cony damaged by aircraft 15 nm N of Mono Is., Treasure Islands (07-23S, 155-27E) LST-399, LST-485 damaged by mortar fire (07-25S, 155-34E) 0800 39.3 40 miles SSE of Treasury Islands (07-58S, 155-55E) 1200 39.3 90 miles W of Russell Islands (08-57S, 157-40E) 1630 39.3 passed Savo Island 1800 39.3 arrived Port Purvis, Tulagi

x Empress Augusta Inlet, Shoestring II - Cape Torokina Landing

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CTF RAdm Aaron Stanton Merril (ComCruDiv12)

CL	CruDiv12: Montpelier/FF, Cleveland, Columbia, Denver
DD	DesRon23 (Cap Arleigh Burke):	DesDiv45 (Cap Arleigh Burke): Charles Ausburne/DF, Dyson, Stanly, Claxton DesDiv46 (Cdr Bernard Austin): Spence(DF), Thatcher, Converse, Foote

43/10/29	?? sail from Esp Santo for Bougainville ??
43/10/31	0230 departed to shell Buka Is. and islands in Shortland area to cover Empress Augusta Bay landing 0800 35 miles SW of Russell Islands (09-26S, 158-43E) 1200 105 miles W of Russell Islands (09-02S, 157-18E) 1710 30 miles SSW of Treasury Islands 2000 45 miles SSW of Cape Torokina (06-56S, 154-47E)
43/11/01	0020-0040 shell Buka 0621-0700 shell Shortland - Dyson damaged by return fire 0800 50 miles E of Treasury Islands (07-14S, 156-21E) 1200 12 miles W of Treasury Islands, 75 miles SSE of Cape Torokina (07-26S, 155-21E) 2000 40 miles SW of Cape Torokina (06-45S, 154-35E) shell Buka & Bonis
43/11/02	x Empress Augusta Inlet 0245 torpedo attack by DesRon23 0249 commenced fire on IJN ships: sinking Sendai (gunfire), Akacuki, Hacukaze (Ch. Ausburne, Spence, Dyson, Claxton, Stanly) damaging Mjoko, Haguro, Shiracuju (collision), Samidare (collision) disabled Foote (torpedo), damaged Denver (gunfire), Spence (gunfire & collision), Thatcher (collision) 0430 regrouped formation 0800 45 miles SW of Cape Torokina (06-40S, 154-23E) 0800-0815 under air attack - Montpelier damaged (2 bombs) 1200 10 miles W of Treasury Is. (07-22S, 155-23E) 1410 returning to vicinity of Emp. Augusta Bay, 2 DDs detached for refuel and rearm - ? Claxton and Converse ? 2000 50 miles SSW of Cape Torokina (06-57S, 154-38E)
43/11/03	Claxton tow Foote 0000 TF 39 (CruDiv12 + Charles Ausburne, Dyson, Stanly) cover retiring transports back to Tulagi 0800 210 miles SSE of Cape Torokina, 190 miles W of Tulagi (09-03S, 156-59E) 1200 100 miles W of Tulagi, 45 miles WSW of Russell Is. (09-15S, 158-23E) 1830 arrived Tulagi
43/11/04	1800 TF 39 (Montpelier, Columbia, Cleveland, ?Nashville?, Charles Ausburne, Dyson) departed Tulagi
43/11/05	arrived Kula Gulf
43/11/08	arrived back to Tulagi

TG 39.1

CTG RAdm Aaron Stanton Merril (ComCruDiv12)

CL	CruDiv12: Montpelier/GF,DF, Columbia, Denver
DD	Eaton (from 11/11)
	DesRon23 (Cap Arleigh Burke):	DesDiv45 (Cap Arleigh Burke): Charles Ausburne/DF, Stanly, Claxton DesDiv46 (Cdr Bernard Austin): Spence/DF, Converse

43/11/09	2300 departed Port Purvis, Tulagi to cover TG 31.7 - 3rd Empress Augusta Bay Echelon
43/11/10	0800 190 miles SE of Cape Torokina (08-41S, 156-55E) 1200 115 miles SSE of Cape Torokina (08-07S, 155-34E) 2000 45 miles SSW of Cape Torokina (06-56S, 154-47E)
43/11/11	0800 New Georgia Sound, 120 miles SE of Cape Torokina (07-21S, 156-96E) 1200 60 miles S of Cape Torokina (07-11S, 155-00E) 1523 Eaton joined 2000 45 miles SSW of Cape Torokina (06-56S, 154-47E) 2005-? under air attack - no damage, 1 plane shut down
43/11/12	cover TG 31.7 - 3rd Empress Augusta Bay Echelon during landing and retirement from Empress Augusta Bay 0800 50 miles SSE of Treasury Is. (08-08S, 155-48E) 1200 85 miles SSE of Treasury Is. (08-36S, 156-19E) 2000 50 miles SSE of Treasury Is. (08-09S, 155-48E) 2200-2252 under air attack
43/11/13	0430-?? under air attack 0455 Denver hit by aerial torpedo (06-45S, 154-15E) 0510 Stanly and Eaton ordered to assist Denver 0830 Denver under tow by ATF-75 Sioux
43/11/14	arrived Tulagi 0750 Denver group - Dyson joined, Eaton disjoined 0800 Denver group 125 miles SE of Treasury Is. (08-42S, 157-08E) 1037 Denver group - Bennett joined from TU 31.5.1 1200 Denver group 150 miles SE of Treasury Is., 95 miles W of Russell Is. (08-56S, 157-33E) 1315 Denver group - SC-733 joined 2000 Denver group 30 miles WSW of Russell Is., 90 miles W of Tulagi (09-09S, 158-38E)
43/11/15	0900 Denver group arrived Port Purvis, Tulagi

Buka-Bonis Bombardement 43/11/23

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CTF RAdm Aaron Stanton Merril

CL	St. Louis, Columbia, Cleveland
DD	4: Renshaw

Green Island Landing 44/02/15

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CTF RAdm Aaron Stanton Merrill

CL	Cleveland, Columbia, Montpelier
DD	Waller, Saufley, Renshaw, Philip

TG 39.4 (DesRon23)

CTG Cap Arleigh Burke (ComDesRon23)

DD	DesRon23	DesDiv45: Charles Ausburne/SF,DF, Dyson, Stanly DesDiv46: Spence/DF, Converse
	Conway

44/02/13	start patrol betw. Green Islands and Truk
44/02/15	D-Day Green Islands
44/02/18	end patrol betw. Green Islands and Truk 39.4 shell Kavieng
44/02/22	39.4 shell Kavieng: sinking PC Tama Maru #8, AKs Chorju Maru, Tokujama Maru #9 DesDiv45 sinking CM Nacushima off New Ireland (02-40S, 149-40E), AN Kjosei Maru in Isabel Channel, New Hanover DesDiv45 + Conway, Spence sinking AT Nagaura 160 nm NW of Kavieng (00-54S, 148-38E)

Emirau Landing 1944/03

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CTF Commo L.F. Reifsnider (or CTG 39.?)

CL	Cleveland
DD	Wadsworth (from 03/17)
	DesRon23:	DesDiv46: Spence, Thatcher
	Desron47:	(from 03/25) DesDiv93: McCord, Hoel, Trathen(from 03/25), Heermann (from 44/03/18) DesDiv94: Johnston

APD	Dent, Kilty, Dickerson, Crosby
	TransDiv12: Talbot, Waters, Noa

44/03/14	Thatcher joined
44/03/15	Purvis Bay, Florida Is, Solomons
44/03/18	Heermann joined
44/03/20	D-Day Emirau landing
44/03/22	APDs back at Tulagi
44/03/25	Trathen, Johnston joined
44/03/26	Thatcher transferred to TG 58.3
44/04/08	back in Purvis Bay
44/03	supply convoy for Emirau landing forces, hunting enemy ships

"JUNEAU" - Okinawa minesweeping operation 1945/07

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CTF RAdm Alexander Sharp

DM	7: Thomas E. Fraser, Shannon, Henry A. Wiley, Robert H. Smith
DMS	6: Dorsey, Southard, Hambelton, Jeffers, Ellyson MineDiv60: Gherardi
AM	52: Prevail, Sage, Threat, Velocity, Hazard, Rebel, Gladiator, Triumph, Sheldrake
YMS	49
AN	7

45/07/05	start minesweeping operations in East China Sea covered by TF 32
45/07/30	completed minesweeping operations in the East China Sea - sweep approximately 7300 square miles