Source: Historical Section, COMNAVEU. "Administrative History of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe, 1940-1946." vol. 5. (London, 1946): 301-337 [This manuscript, identified as United States Naval Administrative History of World War II #147-E, is located in the Navy Department Library's Rare Book Room.]

PART IV
READINESS OF THE U.S. NAVAL NEPTUNE FORCES

46. The task of maintaining the vessels of the 11th Amphibious Force (approximately 2500 vessels) was executed by Commander Landing Craft and Bases.¹ During February, the Admiralty set up a combined British-U.S. committee styled COREP (Coordination of Repairs) to coordinate the activities of all agencies, civilian as well as naval, engaged in repair and upkeep of vessels. The agreed policy was that all work on U.S. ships and craft would be performed by U.S. personnel, using U.S. Base facilities, except in cases requiring dry-docking, when work would be performed by the joint efforts of personnel of the U.S.N., R.N., and British private firms.

47. COMLANDCRAB arranged for a detailed inspection of all amphibious vessels upon their arrival in the U.K. Thereafter regular inspections were made and engine repairs were effected at regular intervals. In addition to this, a major program of alterations was completed.¹

48. Engine overhaul for LCI(L), LCT, and LCVP engines was accomplished at the U.S. Army overhaul depot at Tidworth under supervision of a Navy inspection staff. A salvage and recovery depot for spare parts was also set up. To avoid complete loss of repair facilities, in case of bomb damage to Tidworth, small engine overhaul shops were maintained at Falmouth, Plymouth, and Dartmouth. Adequate supplies of fuels and lubricants were made available at all times, in the qauntity and of the quality required, and at the places where it would be needed. Necessary facilities and necessary stocks of lubricants were made available at all points where U.S. craft and ships were loaded. British lubricants and diesel fuels were carefully studied so that satisfactory substitutes for the U.S. standard fuels and lubricants could be determined. A careful check was maintained on the work of the various bases by reports and by frequent inspections and maintenance memoranda.

49. On D-day, 6 June, 1944, all ships and craft of the 2,493 assigned to the command of COMLANCRAB had been fully prepared for operation, with the exception of one destroyer recently damaged in collision, of one LST torpedoed off Dartmouth, and of twelve minor craft damaged during the last day of loading but quickly repaired. All bases were clear of repair work and all had been provided with necessary spare parts and materials. Repair establishments, recently set up, installed at Portland, Weymouth, Poole, Southhampton, Deptford, and Newhaven, had been brought up to full strength and were ready for post action repairs. Organizations for supplying fuel lubricants and emergency repairs were ready at the loading yards.

50. As a result of these efforts, U.S. Naval forces were 99.3% operational on D-day. This compares to 97.6% for home-based British forces. For purposes of planning, ANCXF had estimated that 90% L.S.T.'s and 85% LCI(L)s and LCT's would be operational on D-day.¹

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Footnotes:

p.367 #1 The following table shows the U.S.N. units egaged in the work:

Unit	Arrived	Base	Transferred to:
E6 #1	November	Falmouth	-
E6 #3	November	Plymouth	-
E6 #5	February	Penarth	Mediterrean 4 July 1944
E6 #6	January	Dartmouth	-
*E6 #8	January	Exeter	Le Havre 10 October 1944
E6 #21	April	(Broken up. Personnel and material divided between Falmouth, Plymouth, and Dartmouth, as Build-up).
**E6 #(Murk East)	December	(Broken up. Personnel transferred to Appledore, Falmouth, Fowey, and Salcombe. No equipment received with this Unit.)
***E6 #(Murk West)	December	Base II	Deptford 3 Feb., Base II 10 August for further transfer to France.
E9 # A	August '43	Appledore	Poole, 13 May 1944, Portland 6 June 1944, Southampton 19 June 1944, France 26 June 1944.
E9 #B	October '43	Fowey	Brixham 8 March 1944 Portland-Weymouth for transfer to France 5 October 1944
E9 #6	7 March 1944	Dartmouth	Exeter 4 October 1944 for transfer to France.
E9 #8	December '43	Salcombe	Lymington 10 May 1944, Calshott 6 June 1944, Lymington 17 August.
E9 #15	16 Oct '43	Falmouth	France 6 June 1944
E9 #16	November '43	Milford Haven	Poole 10 May 1944, Exeter 31 July 1944, Deptford 2 August 1944 Southampton 16 August 1944
E9 #17	November '43	Plymouth	France 6 June 1944
E9 #18	November '43	Dartmouth	Newhaven 21 May 1944 Portland-Weymouth 30 August 1944
E9 #31	1 April '44	Exeter	France 6 June 1944
E9 #32	1 April '44	Exeter	France 6 June 1944
E10 #2	October '43	Fowey	Broken up in June by transfer to other units, remaining personnel to Salcombe 5 July 1944
E10 #3	September '43	St. Mawes	Southampton 8 May 1944
E10 #4	December '43	Salcombe	October 1944 packed- waiting assignment to base in France.
E10 #6	November '43	Teignmouth	Weymouth 28 April 1944
E10 #8	November '43	Milford Haven	Penarth 27 March 1944 to France 10 June 1944
E10 Mu31	August '43	Appledore	Portland 28 April 1944

Repair Ships	Arrived	Place	Transferred
USS MELVILLE (Repair Ship)	23 Mar '44	Base II	Portland 18 April 1944
USS ADONIS (ARL)	1 Feb '44	Milford Haven	Plymouth 3 Feb 1944 France 8 June 1944
USS ATLAS (ARL)	29 Mar '44	Falmouth	Plymouth 28 May '44 France 7 June 1944

NOTES:

* E6 #8 - held in reserve for transfer to LeHavre; personnel was transferred in greoups to various bases for temporary duty.

** One of two maintenance units of approximate E6 size that were transferred from Mediterranean in accordance with agreement notes in Para.II (b); equipment was received equal to that for one E6 only.

*** One of two units received from Mediterranean. Held in reserve at Base II unitl Base at Deptford established.

p.369 #1 The principal work accomplished was as follows:

LST	Number of Craft
Rearmament	59
Modification of Welin Davits	60
Installation for Casualty Evacuation	All LST's
Fit Rhino Mooring Pads	All LST's
Install Balloon Winches	All LST's
Modification of Guard Rails	120
Installation of Fair leads for Vehicle Loading	All LST's
Modification of Bow Doors	All LST's
Installation of Radio and Radar	All LST's
LCI(L)
Alteration of steering gear	All LCI(L)
Installation of Radio and Radar	6
Modification of Heating Facilities	All LCI(L)
LCT
Longitudinal strengthening	All LCT(5)
Fitting Bulwark Doors for Side Loading	All LCT(5)
Modification for Fore and Aft Loading	All LCT(6)
Install Mulock Extensions to Ramps	All LCT
Install Radio and Radar	All LCT
Install DD Ramp Extensions	30

p.370 #1 ANCXF Report Vol.1, p.8.