Operation Grand Slam (NATO)
Encyclopedia
Exercise Grand Slam was an early major naval exercise of the newly formed North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This 1952 combined naval exercise took place in the Mediterranean Sea, and it included a naval force that was described as being "the largest armada to be assembled in that area since the end of World War II."
Exercise Grand Slam was an early test for the combined military command structure of NATO's Southern Region
. With Exercise Longstep
, this exercise served as the prototype for future NATO maritime exercises in the Mediterranean Sea during the Cold War.
approved NATO's military strategy of deterring Soviet aggression
. NATO military planning took on a renewed urgency following the outbreak of the Korean War
in mid-1950, prompting NATO to establish a "force under a centralised command, adequate to deter aggression and to ensure the defence of Western Europe". The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
(SHAPE) was established under General of the Army
Dwight D. Eisenhower
, U.S. Army, on 2 April 1951. The Western Union Defence Organization
had previously carried out Exercise Verity
, a 1949 multilateral exercise involving naval air strikes and submarine attacks. Exercise Grand Slam was an early naval exercise for SHAPE's southern regional command, Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH).
The exercise took place in the Mediterranean Sea between 25 February and 16 March 1952. Over 200 warships from the U.S. Sixth Fleet, British Mediterranean Fleet, French Mediterranean forces, and the Italian Navy
deployed from bases in the British Isles, Southern France, Italy, Gibraltar, Malta, and North Africa for Exercise Grand Slam.
The main force was centered around the aircraft carriers , , , and La Fayette
. Also, the U.S. Marine Corps Battalion Landing Team 3/8 (Reinforced)
was the Landing Force (Task Force 62) for the U.S. Sixth Fleet following its deployment from Morehead City, North Carolina
, on 8 January 1952, returning to Camp Lejeune on 20 May. Marine Detachment, Headquarters Support Activities of CINCSOUTH was activated at Naples, Italy, on 8 March 1952 under the command of Captain Raymond B. Spicer, USMC. Land-based aircraft from all four nations, as well as American, British, and French submarines, rounded out the allied forces involved in this exercise.
Allied warships escorted three convoys of supply ships which were subjected to repeated simulated air and submarine attacks. One convoy that departed Malta
experienced air attacks every four hours and submarine attacks every five hours during its entire six days at sea. Opposition forces against this particular convoy included the French naval task force, land-based strike aircraft, and carrier-based aircraft from the Midway. All three convoys arrived at their respective destinations although with numerous ships declared damaged or sunk by the simulated enemy attacks.
Anti-submarine warfare
(ASW) operations were also executed by the allied navies during Operation Grand Slam. However, a French submarine successfully penetrated the destroyer screen protecting the American-French carrier task force and successfully sank a target within that formation. That French submarine was subsequently declared to be heavily crippled by ASW forces. Finally, a surface force consisting of eight cruisers and ten destroyers carried out a shore bombardment off the Sardinia
n coast.
embarked on USS Midway (CVB-41):
Carrier Air Group Eight
embarked on USS Tarawa (CV-40):
14th Carrier Air Group embarked on HMS Theseus (R64):
magazine noted that Grand Slam was "an exercise which will probably prove typical of future NATO naval exercises."
Exercise Grand Slam was an early test for the combined military command structure of NATO's Southern Region
Allied Joint Force Command Naples
Allied Joint Force Command Naples is a NATO military command. It was activated on 15 March 2004, after what was effectively a redesignation of its predecessor command, Allied Forces Southern Europe , originally formed in 1951...
. With Exercise Longstep
Exercise Longstep
Exercise Longstep was a ten-day NATO naval exercise held in the Mediterranean Sea during November 1952 under the overall command of Admiral Robert B. Carney, USN, the Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe...
, this exercise served as the prototype for future NATO maritime exercises in the Mediterranean Sea during the Cold War.
Background
In January 1950, the North Atlantic CouncilNorth Atlantic Council
North Atlantic Council is the most senior political governing body of NATO established by Article 9 of the North Atlantic Treaty. The NAC can be held at the Permanent Representative Level , or can be composed of member states' Ministers of State, Defense, or Heads of Government. The NAC has the...
approved NATO's military strategy of deterring Soviet aggression
Containment
Containment was a United States policy using military, economic, and diplomatic strategies to stall the spread of communism, enhance America’s security and influence abroad, and prevent a "domino effect". A component of the Cold War, this policy was a response to a series of moves by the Soviet...
. NATO military planning took on a renewed urgency following the outbreak of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
in mid-1950, prompting NATO to establish a "force under a centralised command, adequate to deter aggression and to ensure the defence of Western Europe". The Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
(SHAPE) was established under General of the Army
General of the Army (United States)
General of the Army is a five-star general officer and is the second highest possible rank in the United States Army. A special rank of General of the Armies, which ranks above General of the Army, does exist but has only been conferred twice in the history of the Army...
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
, U.S. Army, on 2 April 1951. The Western Union Defence Organization
Western Union Defence Organization
The Western Union Defence Organization was the defence arm of the Western Union, the precursor to the Western European Union . The WUDO was also a precursor to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization , and its headquarters, personnel, and plans provided the nucleus for NATO's military command...
had previously carried out Exercise Verity
Exercise Verity
Exercise Verity was a 1949 multilateral naval training exercise involving 60 warships from the British, French, and Dutch navies for the newly formed Western Union, the precursor to the Western European Union...
, a 1949 multilateral exercise involving naval air strikes and submarine attacks. Exercise Grand Slam was an early naval exercise for SHAPE's southern regional command, Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH).
Command structure
The overall exercise commander for Grand Slam was Admiral Robert B. Carney USN, NATO's Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH). AFSOUTH component commanders during Grand Slam were:- Allied Air Force South (AIRSOUTH) - Major General David M. Schlatter, USAF
- Allied Land Forces South (LANDSOUTH) - Lieutenant General Maurizio Lazzaro De Castiglioni, Italian ArmyItalian ArmyThe Italian Army is the ground defence force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel, numbering 108,355 in 2010. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft...
- Allied Naval Forces South (NAVSOUTH) - Vice Admiral John H. Cassady, USN
Operational history
Italian Navy
Italian Navy may refer to:* Pre-unitarian navies of the Italian states* Regia Marina, the Royal Navy of the Kingdom of Italy * Italian Navy , the navy of the Italian Republic...
deployed from bases in the British Isles, Southern France, Italy, Gibraltar, Malta, and North Africa for Exercise Grand Slam.
The main force was centered around the aircraft carriers , , , and La Fayette
La Fayette (R96)
The La Fayette was an 11,000-ton that served French Navy as the from 1951 to 1963. She was the first French vessel named after the 18th century general Marquis de Lafayette...
. Also, the U.S. Marine Corps Battalion Landing Team 3/8 (Reinforced)
3rd Battalion 8th Marines
3rd Battalion 8th Marines is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina consisting of approximately 1,100 Marines and Sailors...
was the Landing Force (Task Force 62) for the U.S. Sixth Fleet following its deployment from Morehead City, North Carolina
Morehead City, North Carolina
Morehead City is a port city in Carteret County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 8,661 at the 2010 census. Morehead City celebrated the 150th anniversary of its founding on May 5, 2007...
, on 8 January 1952, returning to Camp Lejeune on 20 May. Marine Detachment, Headquarters Support Activities of CINCSOUTH was activated at Naples, Italy, on 8 March 1952 under the command of Captain Raymond B. Spicer, USMC. Land-based aircraft from all four nations, as well as American, British, and French submarines, rounded out the allied forces involved in this exercise.
Allied warships escorted three convoys of supply ships which were subjected to repeated simulated air and submarine attacks. One convoy that departed Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
experienced air attacks every four hours and submarine attacks every five hours during its entire six days at sea. Opposition forces against this particular convoy included the French naval task force, land-based strike aircraft, and carrier-based aircraft from the Midway. All three convoys arrived at their respective destinations although with numerous ships declared damaged or sunk by the simulated enemy attacks.
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
(ASW) operations were also executed by the allied navies during Operation Grand Slam. However, a French submarine successfully penetrated the destroyer screen protecting the American-French carrier task force and successfully sank a target within that formation. That French submarine was subsequently declared to be heavily crippled by ASW forces. Finally, a surface force consisting of eight cruisers and ten destroyers carried out a shore bombardment off the Sardinia
Sardinia
Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
n coast.
Carrier aviation units
Carrier Air Group SixCarrier Air Wing Six
Carrier Air Wing Six was a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing whose operational history spans from the years prior to World War II to the end of the Cold War, including participating in the Battle of Midway, the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, and the Vietnam War...
embarked on USS Midway (CVB-41):
|
VFP-62 Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron 62 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy in service from 1949 to 1968. The squadron provided a detachment of reconnaissance planes for each of the Carrier Air Wings of the U.S... : Douglas AD-1 Skyraider Sikorsky H-5 The Sikorsky H-5, is a helicopter built by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, formerly used by the United States Air Force, and its predecessor, the United States Army Air Forces, as well as the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard The Sikorsky H-5, (aka R-5, S-51, HO3S-1, or Horse) (R-5... |
Carrier Air Group Eight
Carrier Air Wing Eight
Carrier Air Wing Eight , is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS George H.W...
embarked on USS Tarawa (CV-40):
|
|
14th Carrier Air Group embarked on HMS Theseus (R64):
- 810 Naval Air Squadron810 Naval Air Squadron810 Naval Air Squadron was a Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm carrier based squadron formed on 3 April 1933 with the amalgamation of the 12 Blackburn Dart aircraft from 463 and 44 Flight Flights Royal Air Force to the Fleet Air Arm...
: Fairey FireflyFairey FireflyThe Fairey Firefly was a British Second World War-era carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm .... - 807 Naval Air Squadron807 Naval Air Squadron807 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy.-Second World War:807 Squadron was formed at Worthy Down in September 1940, equipped with Fairey Fulmar Is. Three were embarked on HMS Pegasus, where they remained until February 1941, when the entire squadron embarked on for...
: Hawker Sea FuryHawker Sea FuryThe Hawker Sea Fury was a British fighter aircraft developed for the Royal Navy by Hawker during the Second World War. The last propeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy, it was also one of the fastest production single piston-engined aircraft ever built.-Origins:The Hawker Fury was an...
Conclusion
The overall exercise commander, Admiral Carney summarized the accomplishments of Exercise Grand Slam by stating: "We have demonstrated that the senior commanders of all four powers can successfully take charge of a mixed task force and handle it effectively as a working unit." Exercise Grand Slam did receive comparatively little contemporary media coverage. The U.S. Navy's All HandsAll Hands
All Hands Magazine of the U.S. Navy is the title of a monthly published magazine of the United States Navy for its sailors . It is published since August 1922 under different names; the current title was established in 1945....
magazine noted that Grand Slam was "an exercise which will probably prove typical of future NATO naval exercises."
External links
- N.A.T.O. FLEET MANOEUVRES video newsreel film - Pathé Films onlinePathéPathé or Pathé Frères is the name of various French businesses founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France.-History:...