The setback in the Japanese timetable to encircle the Pacific gave the U.S. industrial machine time to crank up war production, and ultimately, to turn the advantage on Japan in the production of ships, planes, guns, and all the other matriel of war. Spruance did not want to leave troops on the Marianas islands unguarded as he chased Jisaburo Ozawas retreating fleet. In April 1942 he offered support to carriers that launched the Doolittle Raid, an air raid on Tokyo and other parts of Honshu island. Spruances naval guns started their bombardment two days later. Spruance's fast carrier commander, Marc Mitscher, told his chief of staff Arleigh Burke: You and I have been in many battles, and we know there are always some mistakes. He disliked personal publicity and had a reputation for freezing reporters who invaded his privacy. ThoughtCo, Jul. >On March 29, 1944, Admiral Spruance took tactical command of a three-pronged assault against the Palau Islands, 550 miles east of the Philippines, and against Yap Island and Ulithi Atoll in the western Carolines. He served as an instructor at the Naval War College from 1935 to 1938. Halsey was aggressive and a risk taker. "Well, pick it up and put it back," was Spruance's measured response.[8]. C. The Roman Catholic Church developed in Constantinople. He organized the Japanese counterattack on the American carriers and is credited with the sinking of the USS Yorktown, the only American Carrier sunk at Midway. Official Navy historian Samuel Eliot Morison characterized Spruance's performance as "superb", and he was nicknamed "electric brain" for his calmness even in moments of supreme crisis, a reputation enhanced by his successful tactics. Born on 3 July 1886, Spruance graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1906. Meanwhile, Task Force 58 was busy in the forefront of clearing the Japanese from the 600-mile-long Marianas chain. His entry in Whos Who in America was only three lines long (including his full name), and a footnote in Morisons monumental history of the U.S. Navy in World War II testifies to his modesty. It was hit and shortly after destroyed by American dive bombers. Make sure to provide references and acknowledgement for any sources you use. [28], His achievements in the navy were well known, but himself much less. So the US navy had a good idea of what to expect from the Japanese fleet and how to counterattack it. Raymond Ames Spruance (July 3, 1886 - December 13, 1969) was a United States Navy admiral in World War II. But what was important about this actionthe first naval battle in history fought by fleets that never came within sight of each otherwas that the U.S. Navy had thwarted the enemys planned capture of Port Moresby in strategic New Guinea. >A few days later, Mitscher rejoined Spruance and the Fifth Fleet. Spruance became Commander of the 5th Fleet in November 1943, which presented him with command of the Central Pacific Forces. During the operation, the Fifth Fleet burned up 630 million gallons of fuelmore than the entire Pacific Fleet used in 1943. This was followed by a promotion to Deputy Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet in September. Provide at least two examples.Certain lessons in New Testament Survey, as well as outside sources, may be of help to you as you write your report. He shifted his flag to the old battleship USSNew Mexico of the shore bombardment force after Indianapolis was struck by a Kamikaze off Okinawa. Commanded the first Japanese air strike against Midway Island at the beginning of the battle. After these victories, Spruance went back to Pearl Harbour to assist with planning Japans invasion. [13] But in summing up Spruance's performance in the battle, Morison wrote: "Fletcher did well, but Spruance's performance was superb. At that time, Admiral Nimitz instituted a unique arrangement in which the command of the vessels which made up the "Big Blue Fleet" alternated between Admiral William Halsey Jr., at which time it was identified as the Third Fleet and Task Force 38, and Admiral Spruance, when it became the Fifth Fleet and Task Force 58. Web. He held that post until the following February, when he was ordered back to the Naval War College at Newportthis time as president. During World War II, he was commander in the . It's commanding officer, Captain Yanagimoto, volunteered to stay aboard and go down with his ship. US Naval Task force under Raymond Spruance with 2 carriers, Enterprise and Hornet. He has appeared on The History Channel as a featured expert. The U.S. casualties were 199 planes, 128 flight personnel and damage to four warships. Overseeing the Battle of Tarawa in November 1943, he guided Allied forces as they advanced through the Gilbert Islands. Capturing and occupying Midway was the brainchild-plan of commander-in-chief of the Combined Fleet, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. The Battle of Midway infused the U.S. Pacific Navy with confidence. Then U.S. dive bombers from Spruance's Enterprise flew to Nagumo's fleet of four carriers which, fatefully, were without air cover. And with this battle the American forces gained, and afterwards continued to gain, hard combat experience; so the Japanese lost that crucial advantage as well. Spruance commanded US naval forces during two of the most significant naval battles that took place in the Pacific theater, the Battle of Midway and the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Then Nagumo was dumbfounded to receive a search planes report of 10 enemy ships to the northeast, where no U.S. ships were supposed to be. The correct answer to this open question is the following. Locating the Japanese carriers as they were rearming and refueling their aircraft, American bombers inflicted massive damage and sank three. But they expected it to come at the obvious and exposed outer fringe, and when we struck at the heart of the archipelago with a huge fleet that had approached undetected, we enjoyed complete tactical surprise. Japanese fleet in charge of landing army units on Midway. At 8:20 a.m., Nagumos observers reported a group of American ships 200 miles away. After Rome fell, the bishop of Constantinople became the most pow After his flagship, the IJN Hiryu, was fatally damaged, he and the Hiryu's captain Tomeo Kaku locked themselves in the bridge and went down with their ship. There are submarines, there are mini-submarines, and then there are human torpedoes. Lieutenant in command of the USS Enterprise air group. For that assault, Spruance led the most powerful naval strike force in history. When Vice Adm. Bull Halsey was confined to a hospital with a skin disease, Pacific Fleet Commander Nimitz appointed Spruance to succeed him as commander of Task Force 16. Spruance served as executive officer of USS Mississippi from October 1929 to June 1931. Spruance had earned a restful retirement at his home in Pebble Beach, Calif., 125 miles south of San Francisco, with his wife, son and daughter. The Eastern Orthodox Church developed from the church in Constantinople. [9] On the other hand, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, Admiral Chester Nimitz knew he must intercept the Japanese invasion fleet, and that he must give battle to the enemy aircraft carriers before they could project their overwhelming power against the naval air station at Midway. President Franklin D. Roosevelt nominated Spruance for promotion to full admiral on February 10, 1944, and he was approved. Finishing the course, he completed a tour in the Office of Naval Intelligence before being posted to USS Mississippi (BB-41) in October 1929 as executive officer. Though Spruance had not led a carrier force in the past, Nimitz agreed as the rear admiral would be aided by Halsey's staff, including the gifted Captain Miles Browning. Lt. Kabayashi leads Japanese bombers from the Hiryu to attack the USS Yorktown. The U.S. Navy's decisive victory in the air-sea battle (June 3-6, 1942) and its successful defense of the major base located at Midway Island dashed Japan's hopes of neutralizing the United. As the war progressed, Spruance became one of two primary fleet commanders, the other being Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, employed by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. Bombs destroyed the bridge of Kaga and set her ablaze from stem to stern. [7], Spruance served in Washington until early 1924, when he was ordered to the headquarters, Commander Naval Force in Europe. While one was at sea, the other would be planning their next operation. That same year he received a new assignment: assistant machinery inspector at the Newport News, Va., dry dock, where the battleship Pennsylvania was being outfitted. [7], Spruance ran a quiet bridge, without chit-chat; he demanded that orders be given concisely and clearly. Just before the planned invasion of Midway island in June 1942, Halsey suddenly became ill with shingles. Midway Island sent a false message stating that its water distillation plant had been damaged and that the base needed fresh water. He commanded U.S. naval forces during one of the most significant naval battles that took place in the Pacific Theatre: the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Biographies, 20th century collection, Navy Department Library, Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, Spruance, Raymond A. Yet because of his modest, retiring nature, Spruance was never a popular hero in the manner of Admirals Nimitz, William F. Halsey and Marc A. Mitscher. With the island's fall, Spruance immediately moved forward with Operation Iceberg. After working to defend neutral American shipping from German U-boats, Spruance received orders to take over Cruiser Division Five in September 1941. However, Spruances fleet was also charged with guarding the amphibious landings at Saipan and Tinian. My personal congratulations. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Advertisement Still have questions? In the opening weeks of the conflict, Spruance's cruisers served under Vice Admiral William "Bull" Halsey and took part in raids against the Gilbert and Marshall Islands before striking Wake Island. Spruance's rise to fame . Terms of Use| Before the Battle of the Coral Sea on 7-8 May 1942, the Imperial Navy of Japan had swept aside all of its enemies from the Pacific and Indian oceans. He studied hard, and when he graduated in September 1906, he stood 26th in his class. That achievement brought praise from Churchill, who wrote to Navy Secretary James Forrestal, Admiral Spruance is again to be congratulated for another fine job. Raymond A. Spruance. This was said to be the first time that a four-star admiral took part in a sea action aboard one of the ships engaged. They would draw them north to deal with a Japanese invasion in the bleak Aleutian Islands, and then strike at unprotected Midway. https://www.thoughtco.com/admiral-raymond-spruance-2360511 (accessed March 1, 2023). If this happened, it would enable the Japanese to pinch the Americans between their two carrier forces. In January 1945, Spruance resumed command of the fleet and began moving against Iwo Jima. He readied himself at Stevens Preparatory School in Hoboken, N.J., and entered Annapolis in July 1903 at age 17. About his intellect he was equally unpretentious: Some people believe that when I am quiet that I am thinking some deep and important thoughts, when the fact is that I am thinking of nothing at all. Lieutenant aboard the Hiryu who led and was killed during the first Japanese counterattack after the sinking of 3 Japanese aircraft carriers. Early on, Halsey had led his task force on hit-and-run raids against the Japanese in the western Pacific: striking the Gilbert and Marshall islands in February 1942, Wake Island in March, and projecting the air power of the Doolittle Raid against the Japanese homeland in April. As the island-hopping campaign began, MacArthur continued his . Admiral Spruance commanded with deadly precision, reported an observer. C. American Dream The Japanese lost 322 airplanes, most of them going down with the carriers. 7 reviews. It was spotted by scouts from the USS Hornet and destroyed by planes from the Enterprise. During the third week of May 1942, U.S. naval intelligence units confirmed that the Japanese wouldby early Juneinvade Midway Island. Enterprise dive bombers critically damaged two Japanese carriers including Nagumo's flagship Akagi; while the Yorktown air group, launched after Fletcher was confident that all Japanese carriers were accounted for, crippled the Soryu. The defeat effectively destroyed the Japanese Navy's air arm. In the fighting, the Japanese lost three carriers and around 600 aircraft. Two minutes later, 37 dive bombers from Enterprise, led by Lt. Cmdr. Flagship of Kakuta. A total of 1,132 enemy planes were put out of action. Then followed two years as assistant chief of staff to the commander of naval forces in Europe; a year of study at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I., where he completed the senior course; and two years of duty in the Office of Naval Intelligence. Pratt, F. "Spruance: Picture of the Admiral," Harpers Magazine 193, no. I finally wangled two months at sea, in 1918, before the war was over. He was then 55. Https: //www.thoughtco.com/admiral-raymond-spruance-2360511 ( accessed March 1, 2023 ) with planning Japans invasion two days later counterattack.. From stem to stern and around 600 aircraft of four carriers which, fatefully, were without air cover action... 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