Philippine Sea Frontier
Encyclopedia
The Philippine Sea Frontier
(PHILSEAFRON) was a United States Navy
Sea Frontier active in 1941, and reformed in 1944.
On 8 December 1941 it was part of the 16th Naval District, a component of the United States Asiatic Fleet
.
(Naval Coastal Frontier until 6 February 1942)
Inactive from 6 May 1942 to 13 November 1944)
Rear Admiral Francis W. Rockwell: 7 December 1941--18 March 1942
Captain Kenneth M. Hoeffel: 18 March 1942--6 May 1942
The Philippine Sea Frontier (Rear Admiral J. L. Kauffman, Commander) was reestablished as a separate command under Commander Seventh Fleet (Southwest Pacific Area) on 13 November 1944. Rear Admiral J. L. Kauffman embarked in the amphibious force command ship USS Wasatch
to establish his temporary headquarters aboard while the ship was berthed at San Pedro Bay, Leyte
as Commander, Philippine Sea Frontier, from 29 November to 2 December 1944. Kauffman was later promoted to Vice Admiral. He was charged with the mission of safeguarding and protecting shipping in the area under his cognizance.
He maintained an Operations Board at his headquarters at Tolosa
, Leyte
, on which was kept a running record of the scheduled and actual arrival and departure of vessels of all categories in the area under his cognizance. His Headquarters was given intelligence of all submarine
activity in the Philippine Sea
.
During the period of the loss of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
, Commander, Philippine Sea Frontier, Vice Admiral Kauffman was absent from his command since July 1, 1945, on temporary duty status in the United States
; Commodore N. C. Gillette, USN., was in temporary command; and the Operations Officer of the Headquarters Staff, Captain A. M. Granum, was intensively occupied in diversion of shipping in typhoon areas and operations.
Vice Admiral Kauffman handed over command on 2 September 1945.
USS Bumper (SS-333)
served as a unit of Submarines, Philippine Sea Frontier, from September 1945 to April 1946.
Rear Admiral Howard Good was serving as Commander of the Sea Frontier in September 1946.
Sea Frontier
Sea Frontiers were established by the United States Navy from 1 July 1941 during World War II as areas of defense against enemy vessels, especially submarines, along the American coasts...
(PHILSEAFRON) was a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Sea Frontier active in 1941, and reformed in 1944.
On 8 December 1941 it was part of the 16th Naval District, a component of the United States Asiatic Fleet
United States Asiatic Fleet
The United States Asiatic Fleet was part of the U.S. Navy. Preceding the World War II era, until 1942, the fleet protected the Philippines.Originally the Asiatic Squadron, it was upgraded to fleet status in 1902. In 1907, the fleet became the First Squadron of the Pacific Fleet. However, on 28...
.
(Naval Coastal Frontier until 6 February 1942)
Inactive from 6 May 1942 to 13 November 1944)
Rear Admiral Francis W. Rockwell: 7 December 1941--18 March 1942
Captain Kenneth M. Hoeffel: 18 March 1942--6 May 1942
The Philippine Sea Frontier (Rear Admiral J. L. Kauffman, Commander) was reestablished as a separate command under Commander Seventh Fleet (Southwest Pacific Area) on 13 November 1944. Rear Admiral J. L. Kauffman embarked in the amphibious force command ship USS Wasatch
USS Wasatch (AGC-9)
USS Wasatch was a Mount McKinley-class amphibious force command ship, named after a mountain chain in central Utah. She was designed as an amphibious force flagship, a floating command post with advanced communications equipment and extensive combat information spaces to be used by the amphibious...
to establish his temporary headquarters aboard while the ship was berthed at San Pedro Bay, Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
as Commander, Philippine Sea Frontier, from 29 November to 2 December 1944. Kauffman was later promoted to Vice Admiral. He was charged with the mission of safeguarding and protecting shipping in the area under his cognizance.
He maintained an Operations Board at his headquarters at Tolosa
Tolosa, Leyte
Tolosa is a 5th class municipality in the province of Leyte, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 14,539 people in 2,963 households....
, Leyte
Leyte
Leyte is a province of the Philippines located in the Eastern Visayas region. Its capital is Tacloban City and occupies the northern three-quarters of the Leyte Island. Leyte is located west of Samar Island, north of Southern Leyte and south of Biliran...
, on which was kept a running record of the scheduled and actual arrival and departure of vessels of all categories in the area under his cognizance. His Headquarters was given intelligence of all submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
activity in the Philippine Sea
Philippine Sea
The Philippine Sea is a marginal sea east and north of the Philippines occupying an estimated surface area of 2 million mi² on the western part of the North Pacific Ocean...
.
During the period of the loss of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
USS Indianapolis was a of the United States Navy. She holds a place in history due to the circumstances of her sinking, which led to the greatest single loss of life at sea in the history of the U.S. Navy...
, Commander, Philippine Sea Frontier, Vice Admiral Kauffman was absent from his command since July 1, 1945, on temporary duty status in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; Commodore N. C. Gillette, USN., was in temporary command; and the Operations Officer of the Headquarters Staff, Captain A. M. Granum, was intensively occupied in diversion of shipping in typhoon areas and operations.
Vice Admiral Kauffman handed over command on 2 September 1945.
USS Bumper (SS-333)
USS Bumper (SS-333)
USS Bumper , a Balao-class submarine, was a ship of the United States Navy named for the bumper, a fish of the West Indian Ocean....
served as a unit of Submarines, Philippine Sea Frontier, from September 1945 to April 1946.
Rear Admiral Howard Good was serving as Commander of the Sea Frontier in September 1946.