TF 8 (Vice Admiral William F. Halsey
Jr.), formed around carrier Enterprise (CV-6) and TF 17 (Rear
Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher), formed around carrier Yorktown (CV-5),
raid the Marshall and Gilbert Islands; TF 8 concentrates on Kwajalein
and Wotje, with heavy cruiser Chester (CA-27) bombarding Maleolap
atoll; TF 17 targets enemy installations on Jaluit, Makin, and
Mili. TF 11 (Vice Admiral Wilson Brown Jr.), formed around carrier
Lexington (CV-2) supports the operations from the vicinity of
Christmas Island.
At Kwajalein, SBDs (VB 6 and VS
6) and TBDs (VT 6) from Enterprise sink transport Bordeaux Maru
and damage light cruiser Katori, submarine I-23, minelayer Tokiwa,
auxiliary netlayer Kashima Maru, auxiliary submarine chaser No.2
Shonan Maru, submarine depot ship Yasukuni Maru, oiler Toa Maru,
tanker Hoyo Maru, and army cargo ship Shinhei Maru; in the bombing
of shore installations, Rear Admiral Yatsushiro Sukeyoshi (Commander
Sixth Base Force) becomes the first Imperial Navy flag officer
to die in combat when an SBD scores a direct hit on his headquarters.
Off Wotje, gunfire from heavy cruisers Northampton (CA-26) and
Salt Lake City (CA-25) sink gunboat Toyotsu Maru; destroyer Dunlap
(DD-384) shells and sinks auxiliary submarine chaser No.10 Shonan
Maru.
On 6 June 1944,
the "Big E" and her companions of TG 58.3 sortied from
Majuro to strike with the rest of TF 58, the Mariana Islands.
Blasting Saipan, Rota, and Guam between 11 and 14 June, Enterprise
pilots gave direct support to the landings on Saipan on 15 June,
and covered the troops ashore for the next 2 days. Aware of a
major Japanese attempt to break up the invasion of Saipan, Admiral
Raymond A. Spruance, Commander 6th Fleet, positioned TF 58 to
meet the thrust. On 19 June 1944 took place the greatest carrier
aircraft battle in history. For over 8 hours airmen of the United
States and Imperial Japanese navies fought in the skies over TF
58 and the Marianas. By the end of the day, a United States victory
was apparent, and at the conclusion of the strikes against the
Japanese fleet on 20 Tune, the triumph became complete. Six American
ships had been damaged, and 130 planes and a total of 76 pilots
and aircrewmen had been lost. But with a major assist from U.S.
submarines, 3 Japanese carriers were sunk, and 426 ship-based
aircraft were destroyed. Japanese naval aviation never recovered
from this blow.
The Battle of
the Philippine Sea over, Enterprise and her companions continued
to support the Saipan campaign through 5 July. Enterprise then
sailed for Pearl Harbor and a month of rest and overhaul. Back
in action waters on 24 August, the carrier sailed with TF 38 in
that force's aerial assault on the Volcano and Bonin Islands from
31 August to 2 September, and Yap, Ulithi, and the Palaus from
6 to 8 September. After operating west of the Palau Islands, the
"Big E" joined other units of TF 38 on 7 October, and
shaped course to the northward. From 10 to 20 October her aviators
roared over Okinawa, Formosa, and the Philippines, blasting enemy
airfields, shore installations, and shipping in preparation for
the assault on Leyte. After supporting the Leyte landings on 20
October, Enterprise headed for Ulithi to replenish but the approach
of the Japanese fleet on 23 October, brought her racing back into
action. In the Battle for Leyte Gulf (23-26 October), Enterprise
planes struck all three groups of enemy forces, battering battleships
and destroyers before the action ended. The carrier remained on
patrol east of Samar and Leyte until the end of October, then
retired to Ulithi for supplies. During November, her aircraft
struck targets in the Manila area, and the island of Yap. The
"Big E" returned to Pearl Harbor on 6 December 1944.
Sailing 24 December
for the Philippine area, Enterprise carried on board an air group
specially trained in night carrier operations. She joined TG 38.5
and swept the waters north of Luzon and of the China Sea during
January of 1945, striking shore targets and shipping from Formosa
to Indo-China. After a brief visit to Ulithi, the "Big E"
joined TG 58.5 on 10 February 1945 and provided day and night
combat air patrol for TF 58 as it struck Tokyo on 16 and 17 February.
She then supported the marines on Iwo Jima from the day of the
landings, 19 February, until 9 March when she sailed for Ulithi.
During one part of that period, Enterprise kept aircraft aloft
continuously over Iwo Jima for 174 hours. Departing Ulithi 15
March, the carrier continued her night work in raids against Kyushu,
Honshu, and shipping in the Inland Sea of Japan. Damaged slightly
by an enemy bomb on 18 March, Enterprise entered Ulithi 6 days
later for repairs. Back in action on 5 April, she supported the
Okinawa operation until again damaged (11 April), this time by
a suicide plane, and forced back to Ulithi. Off Okinawa once more
on 6 May, Enterprise flew patrols around the clock as the menace
of the kamikaze increased. On 14 May 1945, the "Big E"
suffered her last wound of World War II when a suicide plane destroyed
her forward elevator, killing 14 and wounding 34 men. The carrier
sailed for repairs at the Puget Sound Navy Yard, arriving 7 June
1945.
Restored to peak
condition, Enterprise voyaged to Pearl Harbor, returning to the
States with some 1,100 servicemen due for discharge, then sailed
on to New York, arriving 17 October 1945. Two weeks later she
proceeded to Boston for installation of additional berthing facilities,
then began a series of "Magic Carpet" voyages to Europe,
bringing more than 10,000 veterans home in her final service to
her country. Enterprise entered the New York Naval Shipyard on
18 January 1946 for inactivation, and was decommissioned on 17
February 1947. The "Big E" was sold on 1 July 1958.
In addition to
her Presidential Unit Citation, Enterprise received the Navy Unit
Commendation and 20 battle stars for World War II service.
エンタープライズ.
Down
H.M.S. Emerald class light cruiser Enterprise,
March 1938.
Illustrated by
Kiyochan.
ex-Enterprise
awaiting the breakers, late 1958.
