|
Hi all --
Recently I have been researching the Battle Group assignments for USN cruisers, destroyers, and frigates in the 1980s. I understand that in the 1980s the Pacific Fleet began using phonetic alphabet designators for the carrier battle groups (e.g., Battle Group Bravo or Battle Group Delta). However finding the surface escorts assigned to each battle group at certain periods is sketchy at best and usually I need to 'luck out' by finding a carrier cruise book or "year in review" PDF that actually mentions the escorts. A lot of times the escorts are not mentioned at all except for the CruDesGru accompanying the battle group at the time.
I guess my questions are as follows:
1. Is there a straightforward listing of the ships assigned to each CruDesGru (or DesRon) -- using this I could back into what escorts would be present based on the CruDesGru or DesRon listed in the carrier cruise book or history -- I understand that ships would rotate out occasionally, but in my experience, this type of detailed assignment log exists for ships in the 1940s already,
2. Is it possible that escorts would be quickly rotated out of each battle group, so that a firm listing actually isn't possible, and
3. Is there even just a document somewhere at NARA that shows the assignments of all ships across the navy for each year that just has not been digitized?
As always, any and all assistance is appreciated. References I have already consulted are the Norman Polmar "Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet (14th Edition)", Jane's fighting ships 1985 edition, and the cruise books for each carrier on NavySite.de. These have all been very helpful, but Polmar's work just shows the fleet (Atlantic vs Pacific), Janes shows an overall laydown with no real assignments by squadron, and the cruise books focus entirely on the carrier so a ton of great info on the carrier and airwing but no real info on the escorts, beyond the CruDesGru assigned.
Thanks all!
|
Login
Register
FAQ
