Second Report

to the
Secretary of the Navy

Covering combat operations 1 March 1944
to 1 March 1945

by
Admiral Ernest J. King
Commander in Chief, United States Fleet,
and Chief of Naval Operations

(Issued 27 March 1945)

UNITED STATES FLEET

Headquarters of the Commander in Chief
Navy Department
Washington 25, D.C.

12 March 1945

Dear Mr. Secretary:

Twelve months ago I presented to the late Secretary Knox az report of theh progbress of our naval operations and the expansion of our naval establishment since the beginning of the war.

Long before the war Frank Knox saw cleary and supported strongly the necessity for arming the United States against her enemies. he knew that a powerful Navy is essential to the welfare of our country, and fought with all his energies to build a Navy that could carry the attack to the enemy. How well he succeeded is now a matter of history.

The manner in which the Navy has carried the attack to the enemy during the twelve months from 1 March 1944 to 1 March 1945 is the subject of the report which I present to you at this time.

In reading the report, atteniton is especially invited to the signifant role of amphiibous operations during the entire period. In fact, amphibious oeprations have initiated practically all of the Allied usccesses during the past three years.

Ernest J. King
Admiral, U.S. Navy,
Commander in Chief, United States Fleet
and Chief of Naval Operations

The Honorable James Forrestal
Secretary of the Navy
Washington, D.C.

Chapter I
Introduction

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Footnotes

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