[烛光生存狂]-美国海军陆战队守备营

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USMC Defense battalions were specialized organizations designed for defense of bases and beaches in the far flung areas of the Pacific. Weighted with artillery, especially coastal defense guns, these units served well.

When the Pacific War broke out, 5 defense battlions (often referred to as "the" Rainbow 5 in relation to the war plan) were the main ground force the Marines had in the Pacific.

Organization 1941

While there was no one table of organization in 1941 that all defense battalions followed, most had the following elements in common:

-Fixed strength approximately 900 men

-Heaquarters battery

-Sound locator and search light battery

-5" seacoast artillery group (3 x 5"/L51 batteries, 2 guns each)

-3" anti-aircraft group ( 3 batteries, 4 guns each)

-.50 caliber anti-aircraft machine gun group

-.30 caliber beach defense machine gun group

-Signal corps radar group (some units, not all)

No infantry component, gun crews doubled in this task

Wartime Improvements to Defense Battalion Organization

-Fixed strength averaged 1372 men, could go as high as 1700 men

-155 mm guns (initially WW II models, later modern types)

-90 mm anti-aircraft guns replaced older 76.2 mm ones

-Radar for all units or most

-Almost no dedicated infantry units, gun crews and others doubled in this task

-Halftracks mounting 75 mm guns, used for anti-tank defense

-37 mm anti-tank guns with jeeps, most units understrength AOW

Table of Organization July 1944

This TOO reflected emphasis of 90 mm and 40 mm anti-aircraft weapons

-Fixed strength 57 officers, 1198 enlisted men (1255 men)

-Headquarters battery

-Service battery

-Heavy anti-aircraft group (90 mm)

-Light anti-aircraft group (40 mm)

-Searchlight battery

Provisional Rifle Companies and Light Tank Platoons

During the war provisional rifle companies served with the 6th, 7th, 51st and 52nd defense battalions. Light tank platoons served with the 9th, 10th, and 11th defense battalions.

Redesignation as Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalions

Eventually surviving defense battalions would be redesignated anti-aircraft units late in the war. Only three battalions remained defense battalions until the end of the war, the 6th, 51st and 52nd.

At Outbreak of War

When the Pacific War began there were 7 defense battalions in existence. Five of them were in the Pacific Theater, and were referred to as the "Rainbow 5", which was a reference to the war plan the United States adopted on 26 May 1941, and was being followed prior to and immediately after initiation of hostilities.

The 5 defense battalions in the Pacific fell under control of the 14th Naval District, and command of Col PICKETT of the Pearl Harbor Marine Barracks. Their primary purpose was to defend Pearl Harbor, Midway, Johnston, Palmyra and Wake.

14th Naval District

-Headquarters at Pearl Harbor, commander Adm BLOCH

-14th Naval District Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, commander Col Harry K. PICKETT

1st Defense Battalion

-Detachment at Pearl Harbor: 20 officers, 241 men

-Detachment at Johnston Island: 7 officers, 155 men

-Detachment at Palmyra Island: 7 officers, 151 men

-Detachment at Wake Island: 16 officers, 406 men

2nd Defense Battalion

-Entire unit at San Diego, California

3rd Defense Battalion

-Entire unit (less 1 enlisted man at Midway) at Pearl Harbor: 40 officers, 823 enlisted men (863)

4th Defense Battalion

-Entire units at Pearl Harbor, 38 officers, 780 enlisted men (818)

5th Defense Battalion

-Main force, unit less 5" seacoast artillery group, at Rekjavik, Iceland

-Detachment, 5" seacoast artillery group, at Parris Island, South Carolina

6th Defense Battalion

-Main force at Midway Island, 33 officers, 810 enlisted men (843)

-Detachment at Pearl Harbor, 4 officers, 17 enlisted men (21)

7th Defense Battalion

-Advance force, unknown size, at Pago Pago, Tutuila, Samoa,

-Main force at San Diego, California, 25 officers, 392 enlisted men (417 less advance force)

-Main force reached Pago Pago in March 1942.

-Pago Pago had a deep water harbor and a small Navy base.

7th Defense Battalion was a composite infantry-artillery unit and used the following alternate table of organization:

-Fixed strength around 400 men

-Heaquarters company

-Infantry company

-Artillery battery

-Training detail

The training detail was a small group of men with the mission of organizing and training a battalion of Samoan reservists. The 1st Samoan Battalion, Marine Corps Reserve was formed in August 1942.

Deployment of Heavy Weapons AOW - In general the garrisons were all understrength and did not have enough men to adequately man all heavy weapons at the same time.

7" Naval Guns

Midway - 3 guns waiting to be mounted for coastal defense purposes, and a fourth gun awaiting shipment from Pearl Harbor.

5" Guns

Midway - 6

Johnston - 2

Palmyra - 4

Wake - 6

3" AA Guns

Midway - 12

Johnston - 4

Palmyra: - 4

Wake - 12

.50 cal AA MGs

Midway - 30

Johnston - 8

Palymyra - 8

Wake - 18

.30 cal MGs

Midway - 30

Johnston - 8

Palmyra - 8

Wake - 30

Defense Battalion Histories

1st Defense Battalion - Formed November 1939 at San Diego, California

Commanders

-Nov 39 - Lt Col Bert A. BONE

-May 42 - Col Curtis W. LEGETTE

-Sep 42 - Lt Col John H. GRIEBEL

-unknown - Col Frank P. HAGER

-1943 - Col Lewis H. HOHN

-7 May 44 - Lt Col Jean H. BUCKNER

Movements

-Nov 39 - Formed San Diego, California

-Mar 41 - Elements of battalion arrive in Hawaii

-Mar 41 - Detachment moves from Hawaii to Johnston Island

-Apr 41 - Detachment moves from Hawaii to Palmyra Island

-Aug 41 - Detachment moves from Hawaii to Wake Island

-Mar 42 - Unit reformed in Hawaii

-Feb 44 - Moved to Kwajelein and Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands

-Mar 44 - Moved to Majuro in the Marshalls

-7 May 44 - Redesignated 1st AA Battalion, moved to Guam

-EOW - No further movements known, probably remained on Guam

Wake

Defended Wake vigorously, driving off first invasion force, succumbing to a 2nd invasion force. This detachment earned the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions at Wake, which earned the battalion the nickname "Wake Island Defenders".

Johnston and Palmyra

Detachments faced occasional hit and run raids, usually submarines performing brief bombardments.

March 42

In March 42 the various detachments of this unit were redesignated garrison forces, and the unit was reconstituted in Hawaii with new recruits. Elements on Johnston Island later used to form core of the 16th Defense Battalion when it was activated.

Mid and Late War Operations

Apparently the reformed battalion remained in Hawaii until February 1944, when it moved to Kwajalein and Eniwetok. In March 44, moved to Majuro. Redesignated 1st Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion on 7 May 44, at which time it moved to Guam and remained there as part of the garrison through 1947.

2nd Defense Battalion - Formed March 1940 at San Diego, California

Commanders

-Mar 40 - Lt Col Bert A BONE

-Jul 40 - Maj Lewis A. HOHN

-Aug 40 - Col Thomas E. BOURKE

-Nov 40 - Lt Col Charles I. MURRAY

-Feb 41 - Lt Col Raymond E. KNAPP (later promoted to Col Jan 42)

-mid 42 - Lt Col Norman E. TRUE

-Oct 42 - Col Raymond E. KNAPP

-Jun 43 - Lt Col Norman E. TRUE

Movements

-Mar 40 - Formed San Diego, California

-Dec 41 - Deployed to Hawaii

-Jan 42 - Moved to Tutuila, Samoa

-Nov 43 - Moved to Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands

-16 Apr 44 - Redesignated 2nd AA Battalion

-unknown - Moved to Hawaii

-unknown - Moved to Guam

-Apr 45 - Landed on Okinawa

-EOW - No further wartime movements known, probably remained on Okinawa

-1946 - Returned to United States and deactivated

3rd Defense Battalion - Formed Oct 1939 at Parris Island, SC

Commanders

-Oct 39 - Lt Col Robert H. PEPPER

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