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Naval Base Trinidad

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Major World War 2 base Place in Trinidad and Tobago
Naval Base Trinidad
NAS Port of Spain
HQ of Naval Base Trinidad at Carenage BayHQ of Naval Base Trinidad at Carenage Bay
Naval Base Trinidad is located in Trinidad and TobagoNaval Base TrinidadNaval Base TrinidadShow map of Trinidad and TobagoNaval Base Trinidad is located in CaribbeanNaval Base TrinidadNaval Base TrinidadShow map of CaribbeanNaval Base Trinidad is located in North AmericaNaval Base TrinidadNaval Base TrinidadShow map of North America
Coordinates: 10°41′01″N 61°35′41″W / 10.683546°N 61.594780°W / 10.683546; -61.594780
Country Trinidad and Tobago
United States NavyNaval Base Trinidad
CommissionedJune 1, 1941
Decommissioned1977
Government
 • Body United States Navy
Population
 • TotalPeak 135,000 Troops on Island
Time zoneUTC-4 (AST)
African American Seabees of the 80th Seabees erecting an Airship Hangar at Carlsen Field Trinidad

Naval Base Trinidad, also called NAS Trinidad, NAS Port-of-Spain, was a large United States Navy Naval base built during World War II to support the many naval ships fighting and patrolling the Battle of the Atlantic. The fighting in the area became known as the Battle of the Caribbean. Naval Base Trinidad was located on the Island of Trinidad in West Indies of the Caribbean Sea.

The base also supported the United States Army Air Forces, United States Coast Guard, US Marine Corps and US Army. Naval Base Trinidad was a US Naval Advance Base built to protect the shipping lanes to and from the Panama Canal from U-boat attacks, by sea and air. The base did fueling, loading and unloading of cargo ships. The base also became a repair depot, with auxiliary floating drydocks that were able to repair boats and ships in the field. Naval Base Trinidad was commissioned on June 1, 1941, and at its peak it had 135,000 troops on the island.

History

After Adolf Hitler’s declaration of war against the United States on December 11, 1941, U-boat operations were extended to East Coast of the United States, Gulf of Mexico, and to the Caribbean. So Naval Base Trinidad became a key to keeping Panama Canal, Venezuela oil and the Caribbean open. The US Navy and US Army landed on Trinidad on September 2, 1940. Much of Naval Base Trinidad was built by private contractors in 1941 and in 1942 expanded by the Seabees of Naval Construction Battalions. Naval Base Trinidad also was a training center for troops preparing for war. Trinidad supported US Navy subbases in St. Lucia and British Guiana. The base also supported emergency advance bases on the northeastern coast of Brazil.

Naval Base Trinidad and seven other bases in the Caribbean became known as Destroyer Bases. This name came from the U.S.-British Destroyers for Bases agreement which exchanged older US destroyers for U.S. rights to operate Advance Bases in the Atlantic. This was done so the US could have tactical bases, patrol aircraft and ships to control the Caribbean Sea. Trinidad, Bermuda, Santo Domingo and Argentia became major bases. The US Navy started construction at Trinidad on January 193, 1941. Over 10,000 Trinidadian workers were hired for the construction projects. Trinidad, off the coast of Venezuela, was key to protecting South American trade routes and the Panama Canal. The Naval Base was built on the northwest tip of the island on 7,940 acres, this included the land on five small islands in the Gulf of Paria. Later 3,800 more acres were added to the base, but only 1,200 acres were built up. Four bays were used for Naval activities: Carenage, Chaguaramus, Teteron, and Scotland. Two major land bases were built at Chaguaramus (Chaguaramas Naval Base) and Tucker (Tucker Naval Base).

The second task after the port was built, was building a naval air station and a seaplane base at Carenage Bay. The Gulf of Paria was used for major fleet anchorage. Carenage Bay was also built up as a major port with the construction of a 500-by-50-foot tender pier. Both bays had major dredging projects done, so the port could support large ships. A 200 men team worked full-time on a malaria reduction project, due to the swamps in the area. Teteron Bay became a major navy depot. Seabees arrived at Trinidad on December 30, 1942. The Seabees of the 30th, 83rd and 11th Construction Battalion took over the operation and maintenance of the base from the civilian contractors. The US Army built two major airfields, Waller Field and Carlson Field. Both were also used by the Navy as bases for aircraft carrier fighter aircraft and transport services. Carlsen Field became a US Navy lighter-than-air base in the fall of 1943 when blimps were added to the patrol dues. The 80th Seabees built a large blimp hangar, a mooring post, and a helium purification plant to support the blimps. By May 1944 all major construction had been completed and the 11th Construction Battalion was released. The Bureau of Yards and Docks departed on June 30, 1943.

Trinidad being a large base and training center did not close after the war, like many other bases. Troops departed in 1967, the base closed in 1977, and the lease of the land was given up by the US in 1988. Today the base headquarters are a hotel and convention center.

During that period, many calypsos made reference to the American presence in Trinidad.

Background

Main article: Destroyers-for-bases deal

The Battle of the Atlantic began on September 3, 1939, and by 1941 the United Kingdom (UK) needed help in protecting shipping from British Overseas Territories. The British Overseas Territories had become a lifeline to the UK during the war. France was defeated by Nazi Germany in June 1940. The United States at this time was neutral. Thus England, the British Commonwealth and British empire was alone in the war against German and Italian Fascism. The 50 destroyers, in the base for destroyers deal of September 2, 1940, were Caldwell, Wickes, and Clemson class. The destroyers were transferred to the Royal Navy from the US Navy. The United States received rent-free 99-year leases of US bases on the British controlled islands of Newfoundland, Bermuda, Trinidad, Great Exuma, Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia, the Bahamas, and one in British Guiana. The deal was done by President Franklin Roosevelt by executive agreement, without congressional approval. West coast of Trinidad with the Gulf of Paria was part of the deal.

Later in the year the United States transferred ten Lake-class Coast Guard cutters to the Royal Navy to be used as anti-submarine convoy escorts. The large refinery at Pointe-à-Pierre on Trinidad a key to winning the war.

Pan American Airways developed airports in Latin America in the fall of 1940. This was with the support of the United States, the program was called the Airport Development Program. The goal was to increase United States presence should the US enter the war. Once the US entered the war the US Army and US Navy did take over these Pan American Airways airports. Naval Base Santo Domingo was the other large Caribbean Naval Base.

Facilities

Barracks at Trinidad Naval Base
Naval Supply Depot at Naval Base Trinidad
Trinidad Naval Hospital
Small Boat Landing Trinidad Naval Base
US Navy K-class blimp, used in good weather long patrols
  • Total of 11,740 acres, with 1,200 acres were developed
  • Most of the base was on the northwest tip of the island on 7,940 acres
  • The Base included five small islands in the Gulf of Paria.
  • Maqueripe Bay
  • Martin PBM Mariner depot
  • Four remote natural bays on the northwest peninsula: Carenage, Chaguaramus, Teteron, and Scotland
  • Two shore valleys: Chaguaramus and Tucker, both developed
  • Carlsen Airfield, 80 paved runways, main "Edinburgh" and "Xerxes" runways (used by Army and Navy), became Carlsen Air Force Base
  • Piarco Airport (Army and some Navy)
  • Crown Point emergency landing strip
  • Waller Army Airfield (Army and some Navy)
  • Chaguanas, Edinburgh Field
  • Power station
  • Water treatment plant
  • Naval harbors for anchoring Carenage Bay
  • Naval Headquarters at Carenage Bay
  • Two Naval pairs at Carenage Bay, 350 feet - 600 feet
  • Naval Hospital in upper Tucker Valley
  • Two wooden floating drydocks, 3,000-ton and 1,000-ton capacity, built on the site
  • Degaussing range on Pelican Island
  • Radio station - Chaguaramus Valley
  • Hangars
  • Ship repair facilities
  • Net Lying base, support by Hopocan (YNT-1) and over Net Tender ships
  • Blimp hangar
  • Air traffic control
  • Chaguaramas training base
  • Tardieus' land at Scotland Bay recreation area and zoo
  • Seven-mile road over jungle mountains to Maracas Bay over Mount Pleasant (North Coast Road)
  • Princess Margaret Highway
  • AFDM-3-class medium auxiliary floating dry dock
  • (Fort Read, mostly US Army)
  • Officers Club
  • Seaplane base at Carenage Bay
  • 500-by-50-foot tender pier at Carenage Bay
  • Motor pool
  • Malaria reduction depot
  • Quarry
  • Naval Supply Depot - fleet warehouses
  • Crash boat base
  • Aviation Overhaul shop
  • Quartermaster Laundry
  • Torpedo assembly center
  • PT Boat base
  • Tank farms for: Fuel oil, aviation fuel, diesel fuel, gasoline
  • Barracks
  • Navy Bank
  • Fleet Post Office FPO# 117 NY Trinidad, British West Indies
  • Mess halls
  • Navy Communication Center
  • Troop store
  • Military supply depot
  • AA gun emplacements
  • Naval Air Transport Service Facilities

Sub-installations

Secondary bases: Naval Base Trinidad headquarters managed and supplied logical support for subsidiary satellite Bases, also called emergency advance bases and NAAF Trinidad.

NAF Ipitanga seaplane base at Port of Aratu, Brazil
Navy blimp K-110 with Patrol Squadron ZP-42, escorting a convoy of merchant ships on Brazilian coast during World War 2

Brazil Emergency advance bases (Naval patrol bases): On the northeastern coast of Brazil 16 bases, from the Brazil-United States Political-Military Agreement, agreed May 23, 1942. FPO# 335.


Ecuador Emergency advance base

  • Santa Elena Bay seaplane base was built next to a new Army air base at Salinas, Ecuador. Ships had to anchor more than a mile off shore and transfer supplies to small boats. The seaplane base was built in January 1942. A pontoon pier was built and a seaplane base ramp. FPO# was 413. The base had 1,000-barrel of storage tanks.

Honduras advance base

  • Naval Base Puerto Castilla at Puerto Castilla, Honduras, on Cape Punta Caxinas, the Navy built a base to tender small craft at route to Cristóbal, Colón Panama and to refuel US Navy seaplanes. The base also was crash boat station. The base opened November 10, 1942 and closed in February 1946. The seaplane base was a naval auxiliary air facility. Some of the work done at the base was by Seabee Naval Construction Battalion Detachment 1012.

Colombia advance base

  • Naval Air Base Barranquilla' at Barranquilla, Colombia was Naval air base, and lighter-than-air base, with a repair shop, the land base patrol bombers also used parts of Soledad International Airport, closed in March 1945. The base was used to protect the Caribbean shipping lanes using the Panama Canal and the Colombian oil ports. Some of the work at the base was done by the Naval Construction Maintenance Unit 555.

Panama

Allied convoys

Naval Base Trinidad and its sub-bases had the role of both hunting for submarines and providing air cover for Allied convoys. Convoys traveling from Key West to Aruba and Trinidad were give the code WAT. Allied convoy code TAW was given for the Trinidad to Aruba and Key West trips. Convoy code for Guantánamo to Aruba and Trinidad was GAT and the return trip TAG. Allies called the shipping lane between Guiana and Trinidad Torpedo Junction as it had many Allies merchant ships. Columbus Channel which separates the southwest corner of Trinidad and Tobago from the coast of Venezuela was given the nickname Serpent’s Mouth.

U-Boat threat

Main article: Operation Neuland

German submarine U-161, as part of Operation Neuland, operated off Trinidad. U-161's second tour was in Caribbean Sea. On February 19, 1942 U-161 damaged the SS British Consul and SS Mokihana off Trinidad. Next she sank the SS Circe Shell, SS Lihue and tanker SS Uniwaleco off St Vincent. At St Lucia she damaged the Lady Nelson and Umtata while in harbor. On March 14, 1942, she sank the SS Sarniadoc a Canadian Steam merchant off Guadeloupe. The USCGC Acacia, a mine planter, March 15, 1942, was sunk of Haiti. U-161 third tour took her to the Brazilian coast. She sank the SS Neuva Altagracia on 16 June 1942. On July 3, 1942, she sank the SS San Pablo in the port of Puerto Limón, Costa Rica. U-161 Fifth tour she sank the SS Angelus off Bermuda on May 19, 1943. On September 20, 1943 U-161 on her sixth tour she sank the SS St. Usk and sank the SS Itapagé on September 26. U-161 was sunk 200 miles of Salvador with loss of all 53 crew menm on September 27, 1943. U-161 was sunk by a PBM Mariner plane from the Salvador Emergency advance bases and the troops of the VP-74.

German submarine U-129 sank the tanker SS Nordvangen off Trinidad on 20 February 10, 1942. On 22 March 1944 U-129 sank the SS Anadyr off Recife, Brazil. U-129 was one of then U-Boats to not be sunk during the war.

German submarine U-156 on June 1, 1942, sank the SS Alegrete of St. Lucia. On June 3, 1942 U-156 sank the SS Lillian south of Barbados. On May 29, 1942 U-156 sank the SS Norman Prince off St. Lucia. On May 21, 1942 U-156 sank the SS Presidente Trujillo off Martinique. On February 20, 1942 U-156 sank the SS Delplata off Martinique. A sea plane sank U-156 on March 8, 1943 off Barbados.

German submarine U-67 U-67 sank the SS Penelope on 14 February 14, 1942 off St. Lucia. U-67 sank six other ships on her next tour off the north coast of South America. On 16 July, U-67 was sunk by a Grumman TBF Avenger with four Mk.7 depth charges.

German submarines U-129, U-502, U-126 also spent time in the Caribbean. Some Italian submarines also patrolled the Caribbean: Luigi Torelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Enrico Tazzoli, Giuseppe Finzi and Morosini.

US Navy crews

US Navy Patrol Bombing Squadron or VPB and VP were stationed at the Naval Base Trinidad and the Trinidad secondary bases. Trinidad VPB and VP were:

See also

External links

References

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  2. "Who built that mountain road to Maracas?". Trinidad Express Newspapers. 17 June 2021.
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  13. Burns, James MacGregor (1956). Roosevelt: The Lion and the Fox. Easton Press. ISBN 978-0-15-678870-0, p. 438
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  40. US Navy Bases, Rio Grande do Sul
  41. US Navy Bases, NOF Florianopolis
  42. Ecuador Emergency advance baseUS Navy
  43. Suriname baseUS Navy
  44. Naval Construction Maintenance Unit 555US Navy
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  54. wrecksite SS Angelus
  55. Kemp, Paul (1999). U-Boats Destroyed – German Submarine Losses in the World Wars. London: Arms & Armour.
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