United States Army In World War II: The Technical Services

The Transportation Corps: Movements, Training, and Supply

by Chester Wardlow

Center of Military History

United States Army

Washington, D. C.

1956

CMH Pub 10-20

. . . to Those Who Served

Contents

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1: Army Passenger Traffic in the United States

Nature and Volume of the Traffic—Working Arrangements With the Carriers—Army Policies and Procedures—Mobilization and Conservation of Railroad Equipment—Special Troop Trains—Official and Furlough Travel on Regular Trains—Movement of Patients—Prisoners of War and Enemy Aliens—A Job Well Done

Chapter 2: Troop Movements to the Overseas Commands

Categories of Troops Moved—Troopships and Sailing Schedules—The Ports of Embarkation—Movement to the Ports—Troop Staging at the Ports—Embarkation Procedures—Troopship Administration—The Liberty Ship as a Troop Carrier—Movement of Organizational Equipment—Joint Use of Troopships by the Armed Services—A Test of Method and Efficiency

Chapter 3: Redeployment and Repatriation

Return Traffic Before V-E Day—Preparations for Redeployment—Redeployment Between V-E Day and V-J Day—Repatriation After the Surrender of Japan—Evacuation of Patients From Overseas Theaters—Transportation of Soldiers’ Dependents—Repatriation of the War Dead—Results Under Pressure

Chapter 4: Freight Movements in the United States

Characteristics of Army Freight Traffic—Distribution of Freight Among the Carriers—Routing and Related Practices—Control of Traffic Flow—Transit Storage Operations—Mobilization and Conservation of Freight Cars—Consolidated Car Service—Freight Rates and Classifications—The Measure of Accomplishment

Chapter 5: Overseas Freight Movements

Analysis of Outbound Freight Traffic—Regulation of Overseas Supply Movements—Transshipment of Cargo at the Ports—Shipment of Ammunition and Explosives—Packing, Marking, Documentation, and Security—Adjustments at the End of Hostilities—The Return Cargo Movement—International Aid Shipments—Theater Requirements Met

Chapter 6: Military and Technical Training

Distribution of Training Responsibilities—Schooling for Officers and Officer Candidates—Troop Units for the Operation of Overseas Ports—Troop Units for Military Railways—Crews for Small Boats and Amphibious Trucks—Other Types of Units—Cadres, Fillers, and Replacements—Civilian Schooling for Specialists—Final Inspection of Units—Review of Training Problems

Chapter 7: The Supply Program and Its Execution

Scope of the Responsibility—The Headquarters and Field Organizations—Setting Up the Supply Program—Contracting Procedures and Aid to Contractors—Production Schedules and Controls—Maintenance and Spare Parts—Progress in Technical Matters—Summary of Successes and Failures

Chapter 8: Observations and Conclusions

Bibliographical Note

Guide to Footnotes

Glossary of Technical Terms

List of Abbreviations

Index

Tables

1. Army Passengers Moved by Commercial Rail and Bus in Organized Groups on Routings Provided by the Central Routing Authority in Washington: December 1941–December 1945

2. Analysis of Army Passenger Traffic Moved by Rail in Organized Groups on Routings Provided by Central Routing Authority in Washington: December 1941–December 1945

3. Railroad Cars Used by the Army in Moving Organized Groups and Their Impedimenta Routed by the Central Routing Authority in Washington: December 1941–December 1945

4. Passenger Train Cars Owned or Leased by the Carriers at the End of Each Year: 1940–1945

5. Army Reservation Bureau Activity: April 1943–December 1945

6. Operations of Army Hospital Cars and Medical Kitchen Cars: 1944–1946

7. Classification of Troops Embarked at U.S. Ports of Embarkation for Overseas Commands: May 1944–December 1945

8. Percentage of Troops Embarked From U.S. Ports in Vessels Under British and U.S. Control: May 1944–December 1945

9. Passengers Embarked by the Principal Army Ports: December 1941–December 1945

10. Passengers Embarked by the Army for the Several Overseas Areas: December 1941–December 1945

11. Time Spent at the Staging Areas by Troops Embarked at New York During 1944

12. Capacities of Troop Staging Areas and Intransit Troops Staged: 1–28 January 1945

13. Army Hospital Ships Entering Service During World War II

14. Patients Evacuated From Overseas by Water and Debarked at Army Ports in the United States: 1943–1945

15. Percentage of Patients Debarked by the Army From Troopships, Hospital Ships, and Aircraft: 1943–1945

16. Freight Shipped on War Department Bills of Lading by Army Procuring Services and Commanders of Troop Organizations: December 1941–December 1945

17. Means of Transport Used for Freight Moved on War Department Bills of Lading in the Zone of Interior: December 1941–December 1945

18. Carloads of Freight Released by Traffic Control Division for Shipment to Ports: July 1943–June 1945

19. Carloads of Export Freight Unloaded by the Railroads at U.S. Ports: 1939–1945

20. Warehouse, Shed, and Open Storage Space at Holding and Reconsignment Points: 31 May 1945

21. Percentage of Filled, Booked, and Free Space at Holding and Reconsignment Points on Designated Dates

22. Short Tons of Freight Handled In and Out of the Holding and Reconsignment Points: 1942–1945

23. Average Tons Per Car Shipped on War Department Bills of Lading by the Several Shipping Agencies: December 1941–December 1945

24. Tons of Less-Than-Carload Freight Consolidated by the Army-Navy Consolidating Stations: July 1942–December 1945

25. Annual Savings Through Rate Adjustment and Classification Activities of the Traffic Control Division

26. Tons of Cargo Shipped by the Army by Water From the Zone of Interior to the Several Overseas Areas: December 1941–December 1945

27. Tons of Cargo Shipped to Overseas Destinations by the Principal Army Ports: December 1941–December 1945

28. Tons of Cargo Shipped by Water to Overseas Destinations by the Respective Procuring Services: December 1941–December 1945

29. Aircraft Dispatched to the Army Air Forces Overseas, by Sea and by Air, Crated and Uncrated: January 1942–July 1945

30. Army Aircraft Transported Overseas Under the Cognizance of the Committee on Aircraft Transportation: March 1943–April 1945

31. Motor Vehicles Transported to the Overseas Commands: January 1943–June 1945

32. Special Army Piers and Backup Storage Facilities for Export Ammunition and Explosives

33. Army-Procured Ammunition and High Explosives Shipped Overseas From Army-Controlled Piers at U.S. Ports: December 1941–August 1945

34. Cargo Returned From Overseas and Discharged at Army Ports in the United States: 1942–1946

35. Port Units in Overseas Areas: 31 March 1945

36. Transportation Corps Troop Units Activated During World War II

37. Troops of Other Services Trained at Transportation Corps Installations: 1 August 1942–1 September 1945

38. Estimated Value of Transportation Corps Equipment and Supplies Accepted: Calendar Years 1942–1945

39. Budget Estimates for Transportation Corps Equipment and Supplies: Fiscal Years 1942–1946

40. Quantities of Major Items of Transportation Equipment Constructed and Accepted in the Zone of Interior

Charts

1. Army Passengers Moved Monthly by Rail and Bus in Organized Groups on Routings Provided by the Central Routing Authority in Washington: December 1941–December 1945

2. Revenue Passenger-Miles Accomplished in Pullman-Operated Sleeping Cars and Parlor Cars: 1939–1945

3. Passengers Embarked Monthly by the Army at U.S. Ports for Overseas Destinations: December 1941–December 1945

4. Passengers Embarked by the Army at U.S. Ports for the Several Overseas Areas: December 1941–December 1945

5. Forecast of Troop Redeployment, Prepared by the Chief of Transportation, as of 11 July 1945

6. Passengers Debarked Monthly by the Army at U.S. Ports From Overseas Commands: 1943–1946

7. Passengers Debarked by the Army at the Respective U.S. Ports: 1945–1946

8. Freight Moved Monthly by Rail and Other Domestic Carriers on War Department Bills of Lading: December 1941–December 1945

9. Monthly Tonnage of Less-Than-Carload Freight Consolidated by the Army-Navy Consolidating Stations: July 1942–December 1945

10. Army Cargo Shipped Monthly From the Zone of Interior to Overseas Destination: December 1941–December 1945

11. Basic Plan for Filling Requisitions From Overseas Commands for Army Service Forces Supplies

12. Army-Procured Ammunition and High Explosives Loaded at Army-Controlled Piers for Delivery Overseas: December 1941–August 1945

Illustrations

Specially Designed Government-Owned Troop Sleepers—80th Division Troops Arriving at Camp Forrest—Planning Routings and Assignments of Rail Equipment .—Preparing Food in a Converted Baggage-Kitchen Car—New Troop Kitchen Car Equipped With Modern Facilities—Special Reservation Bureau for Military Personnel—New Self-Contained Army Hospital Car—Three Types of Troop Transports—Training Facilities at Camp Stoneman—Staging Area Recreational Facilities—Individual Equipment Ready To Be Carried—Army Nurses Entraining at Camp Kilmer—Troops Leaving Camp Myles Standish—Night Embarkation—Red Cross Workers Waving to Troops—Crowded Accommodations Aboard a Troop Transport—Impromptu Entertainment Aboard Ship—Processing Troop Equipment—German Prisoners of War Debarking at a U.S. Port—USS Wakefield Landing Troops—USS West Point Embarking Troops at Naples—86th Division Troops Arriving at New York—The Queen Mary Arriving at New York—U.S. Army Hospital Ship St. Mihiel—USS Comfort Off Los Angeles Harbor—Ward Room on the Army Troopship Monterey—Dispensary on the Monterey—Litters Ready To Receive Patients—Engineer Pontons Loaded on Flatcars—76-mm. Gun Motor Carriages—Locomotives Shipped as Railway Freight—Holding and Reconsignment Point—Outdoor Storage Space—Two 2½-Ton Trucks Loaded on Each Flatcar—Sixteen ¼-Ton Trucks Loaded on a Flatcar—The Consolidated Car Service—Maj. Gen. Homer M. Groninger and Maj. Gen. William M. Goodman—Crated Freight Loaded on the SS William S. Clark—Ten Railroad Tank Cars on the Forward Deck—Transporting Aircraft on Deck—Mail on Trucks at the San Francisco Port of Embarkation—Sorting Mail at the New York Port of Embarkation—Special Explosives Loading Pier—Barricaded Storage Track—U.S.-Built Broad-Gauge Locomotives for the USSR—Maj. Gen. Frederick Gilbreath—Training Transportation Officers—Port Companies in Training—Training Troops for the Military Railway Service—Amphibian Truck Company Troops in Training—Port Company Troops—Troops Practice Going Over the Side—U.S.-Built Locomotives for Service Overseas—Vessels Procured by the Transportation Corps—Boats for Harbor and Inshore Work—Seagoing Steel Barge Under Construction—Revolving Floating Crane—Processing and Crating Shop—Marine Rope in Storage

Illustrations are from the files of the Department of Defense except for the following:

Southern Pacific Railroad: page 23.

Santa Fe Railroad: pages 52, 53.

U.S. Maritime Commission: page 92 (middle).

Association of American Railroads: page 270.

Life Photo, Peter Stackpole: page 300.

American Locomotive Company: page 464.