United States Army in World War II: The Technical Services
The Transportation Corps: Responsibilities, Organization, and Operations
by Chester Wardlow
Center of Military History
United States Army
Washington, D.C.
1951
. . . To Those Who Served
This document is in the public domain, being the work of an employee of the U.S. Federal Government, as part of that person’s official duties.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Transportation Implications of Global Warfare
Transportation as a Factor in Strategy—Magnitude of the Army’s Transportation Task—The Role of Long-Range Planning—Relative Advantages of the Contending Powers
Chapter 2: Antecedents of the Transportation Corps
Army Transportation in World War I—Developments Preceding Pearl Harbor—The Early Months of the War—Transportation Service Established—Transportation Corps Created
Chapter 3: The Office of the Chief of Transportation
Initial Responsibilities—Delegation of Authority to the Army Air Forces—Additional Responsibilities—The Headquarters Organization—The Chief of Transportation and His Policies—Relations with Other Elements of the Army Service Forces—Relations with the Overseas Commands
Chapter 4: The Field Establishment
Ports of Embarkation—Transportation Zones—Other Field Agencies—Supervision by Headquarters—Demobilization Planning and Adjustments
Chapter 5: The Critical Role of Shipping
Early Military Requirements—Preparations for Amphibious Operations—The Submarine Threat—The Shipbuilding Achievement—Central Control of Ship Employment—Coordination of Port Utilization—Coordination of Ship Repair and Conversion
Chapter 6: Relations with Other Ship-Operating Agencies
Relations with the War Shipping Administration—Relations with the Navy—Naval Convoy and Routing Arrangements—Relations with the British Ministry of War Transport
Chapter 7: Operation of the Army’s Large and Small Vessels
Civilian Crews on Ocean-Going Vessels—Maintenance and Voyage Repairs—Supplies for Vessels—Food Service on Transports and Hospital Ships—Armament and Gun Crews—Radio Service and Radar—Assignment and Operation of Small Boats—Manning of Small Boats—Proposals Regarding Marine Personnel
Chapter 8: Other Marine Operations and Problems
Pier Operation and Stevedoring—Efficient Utilization of Vessels—Control of Ship Utilization in the Theaters—Ship Conversions
Chapter 9: Utilization of Domestic Commercial Carriers
Distribution and Control of Inland Traffic—Basic Relations with the Railroads—Wartime Expansion of Railroad Traffic—Limited Capacity of the Western Railroads—Procurement of New Railroad Equipment—Railroad Manpower—Efficient Utilization of Railroad Equipment—Temporary Government Control of the Railroads—The Highway Carriers—Inland Waterways and Airways—Relations with Federal Regulating Agencies
Chapter 10: The Army’s Railway and Highway Operations
Utility Railroads—Army Tank Cars—Army Hospital Cars—Railroad Repair Shops—Motor Buses for Local Transportation—Administrative Vehicles
Chapter 11: Observations and Conclusions
Appendix A. Functions of Supervisory Officers and Divisions, Oct, 1 July 1945
Appendix B. Wartime Commanders, Ports of Embarkation, Zone of Interior
Appendix C. Transportation Zone Territories and Officers
Appendix D. Installations Subordinate to Zone Transportation Offices, August 1945
Tables
1. Distribution of Personnel of the Office of the Chief of Transportation: Designated Dates in 1945
2. Personnel Employed at Port Installations: 31 December 1944
3. Distribution of Personnel Among Transportation Zones: 31 March 1945
4. Employment of Ocean-Going Passenger and Dry-Cargo Shipping Under U.S. Control on Selected Dates: 1943–1945
5. Average Tons of General Cargo Loaded per Net Gang-Hour at U.S. Ports on Vessels Loaded for the Army by Contracting Stevedores: July 1943–March 1945
6. Average Cost per Ton of Loading Army Cargo by Contracting Stevedores at Principal U.S. Ports: 1944
7. Analysis of Cost of Loading Army Cargo by Contracting Stevedores at U.S. Ports: 1944
8. Time Spent at U.S. Loading Ports by Dry-Cargo Vessels Loaded at Army Ports of Embarkation and Sailed During the Period February–December 1944
9. Percent Distribution of Intercity Passenger and Freight Traffic in the United States, by Type of Carrier: 1940–1945
10. Indexes of Passenger and Freight Traffic in the United States: 1940–1945
11. Equipment Requirements of the American Railroads (All Classes) as Stated by the Office of Defense Transportation, and Actual Production: 1942–1944
12. Production of Nonmilitary Trucks, Trailers, and Buses in the United States: 1936–1944
Charts
1. Organization of the Office of the Chief of Transportation: 30 June 1942
2. Organization of the Office of the Chief of Transportation: 1 July 1945
3. Typical Organization for Ports of Embarkation, Approved by the Chief of Transportation: 1 July 1945
4. Typical Organization for Zone Transportation Offices, Approved by the Chief of Transportation: November 1943
5. Utilization of Deadweight and Bale Cubic Capacities of Ships Loaded by the Army at U.S. Ports: December 1941–August 1945
6. U.S. Dry-Cargo Ships Employed in Transoceanic Service for the Army Held in Overseas Ports More than Ten Days: February 1943–July 1944 286
7. Status of Dry-Cargo Vessels Loaded by the U.S. Army at U.S. Ports for Discharge in Northern Continental Europe: 1 September 1944–31 March 1945
Illustrations
Maj. Gen. Charles P. Gross, Chief of Transportation—Amphibious Operations—Normandy and Leyte—Overseas Ports—Khorramshahr and Naha—Battered Railroad Yards in France and Italy—Peacetime Ports of Embarkation—Troop Entrainment—December 1941—Military Railway Service Equipment—Hard Going on Overseas Highways—Wartime Army Ports of Embarkation – Oakland and Newport News—Reactivated Army Bases – Boston and New Orleans—Transportation Corps Field Installations—Prewar Army Transports—Convoy Forming off a U.S. Atlantic Port—War-Built Cargo Ships—Troopships in the U.S. Pool—Troopships Operated by the Navy—Largest Troopships Afloat—Instruction in Navigation and Marine Engines—Boats Built for Theater Service—Tight Stowage of Packaged Freight—Crated and Uncrated Equipment Stowed on Deck—Army Hospital Ships—Flatcars Moving Bulky Equipment—The Bracing and Lashing of Large Equipment—Motor Transport for Short Hauls 360—Locomotives for Utility Railroads—Army Hospital Car—Army Buses for Local Transportation