Quote:
Originally Posted by unkated
That's what prompted the notion of a tanker. Other than aircraft carriers and submarines and a few odd cruisers, everything else needs fuel oil. And neither Korea nor Japan are likely to spare much, as both countries have fuel supply issues of their own.
You cannot fit 15000 troops aboard even half a dozen destroyers. If you want them to get home, you need to use bigger boats. So, few escorts, more freighters. Bunches of guys living in cans (shipping containers) for a 7-20 days.
Much as the navy would like to bring back all their toys with the boys from Korea, one tanker won't do it. But it will allow one lightly escorted convoy.
Uncle Ted
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All depends on the size of the tanker that they get for the trip - and they could be just getting their toys back to Hawaii which is almost 1800 km shorter distance - i.e. escort the freighters till they are past Japan and then take the naval ships to either Alaska, Hawaii or even Guam just so they are back in US territory - that would maximize the fuel and get the USN ships home (but maybe not to CA as to home) and the freighters with the troops and tanks back to CA (or Seattle for that matter)
and that way you could bring the 25th Light survivors back to Hawaii - 600 guys would fit on a couple of destroyers