Background West Loch disaster
pearl harbor naval base. west loch green-tinted area on left side of image.
in may 1944, west loch area of pearl harbor unusually crowded various vessels being used staging area upcoming operation forager. twenty-nine landing ships, tank (lsts) tied up, beam beam, @ 6 tare piers. many of lsts, in addition carrying own complement of munitions , fuel, loaded munitions, fuel, vehicles, equipment, , other general stores required 2nd , 4th marine divisions invasion of marianas, begin in mid-june. aid quick deployment once ashore, high-octane gasoline stored in barrels on deck.
in weeks leading incident, vessels , crews had been training upcoming invasion. lsts each crewed around 120 navy sailors or coast guardsmen, , manned around 200 marine loaders, drivers , mechanics. rapid expansion of fleet meant many of crews made of inexperienced sailors , marines. on 21 may, many of lsts had half crew aboard because, after week of intensive training, officers , ratings had been given shore leave.
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