Naval Base Panama Canal Zone

Naval Base Panama Canal Zone refers to a number of United States Navy bases used during World War II to both protect the Panama Canal and the key shipping lanes around the Panama Canal Zone. Bases were built and operated on the Atlantic Ocean side and the Pacific Ocean side. The main Naval Base at the Panama Canal was the Naval Station Coco Solo that had been in operation since 1918.[1][2]

Naval Base Panama Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
Aerial view of the Naval Station Coco Solo in 1941
TypeNaval base
Site information
Controlled by United States Navy
Site history
In use1918–1999
Panama Canal Zone map
O-class submarines at Coco Solo in 1923.
Rodman Naval Station in 1989 with USS Briscoe (DD-977), USS Richard E. Byrd (DDG-23), Jesse L. Brown , Manitowoc, and the Colombian ARC USS Independiente (54) and ARC Antioquia (FM-53)
A schematic of the Panama Canal, illustrating the sequence of locks and passages
Location of Panama between the Pacific Ocean (bottom) and the Caribbean Sea (top), with the canal at top center

History

In 1821 Panama voluntarily became part of Colombia. In 1903, the United States supported the group that wanted to separate from Colombia. After Panama separated from Colombia 1903, Panama and the United States signed a treaty, the Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty. The treaty gave the United States right to the 553 square-mile, 10 miles wide, Panama Canal Zone, a US Territory with capital in Balboa. Construction started on 4 May 1904 and was completed on 15 August 1914. The canal opened waterway from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean, bypassing the Strait of Magellan. In 1939 the Panama Canal Zone was put under the Caribbean Defense Command, due to U-boat operations. Due to Japan's aggression in China, Japan lost canal use on 22 July 1941. The Canal Zone defends were increased due to the strategic importance of the waterway. The Navy and Army grew base and built. The Navy installed anti-torpedo nets and naval mines. Bases installed smoke generators, anti-aircraft guns, long-range radar systems, searchlights, and aircraft warning stations. Troops were deployed to Colón's, Margarita Island, and Toro Point's Fort Sherman. For coast defense eleven 16-inch Naval guns were installed. The 15th Naval District was in command of the Panama Canal Zone. Two airfields operate 30 fighter aircraft, with Curtiss P-36 Hawks, and Curtiss P-40 Warhawk for protection. A seaplane base had regular submarine patrols. With all the patrols and defenses, U-boats and Imperial Japanese Navy submarines did not attack or come near the Panama Canal Zone.[3] With the loss of the Dutch East Indies oil fields, the vast Panama Canal Zone tank farms became the fuel line for the fuel needed to fight the Pacific War. Many tankers and cargo ships were lost in the early part of the Battle of the Atlantic. To help fuel oil pipelines were built along the Panama Canal, the decreased the number of tankers needed to go through the Panama Canal. The first pipeline opened on 18 April 1943 and second pipeline opened at the end of 1943. In 1944 a diesel and separate gasoline pipeline were opened. By April 1943 the US believed the threat to the Canal had diminished, the Canal defense status was downgraded, and there was a reduction in troop bases in Panama. The Naval Bases at the Panama Canal Zone were supported during World War II and after the war by the larger Naval Base Trinidad.[4]

Axis powers did have plans to bomb the Panama Canal. Nazi Germany had Operation Pelikan, but the plan was aborted. Japan started a plan in August 1943 to bomb the Panama Canal with plans from Submarine aircraft carriers, like the I-400-class submarines with three Seiran aircraft each. Japan trained for the Panama Canal attack. Japan canceled the plan to attack the Panama Canal in June 1945, as the war was taking a toll on Japan. The plans change to attack a closer major base, Naval Base Ulithi. Japan surrendered before Naval Base Ulithi was attacked. With the surrender, the submarine aircraft carriers were told to destroy the planes, which they sank. The three I-400-class submarines were captured by the US Navy.[5][6][7] In 1951 to manage the Panama Canal Zone the US government start the government-owned corporation, Panama Canal Company. The Panama Canal Company operated the Panama Canal and other Canal Zone enterprises, like the Panama Railroad and the Port of Balboa until 1979. Panama Canal Company was run by a board of directors appointed by the US president. The Torrijos–Carter Treaties of 1979 ended the Panama Canal Company. The Panama Canal Zone was renamed in 1979, to the Reverted Areas as this was the start of the process of turning over the Canal Panama. The Panama Canal Zone was returned to the Republic of Panama on 1 October 1979 per the Torrijos–Carter Treaties.[3][8]

Further information: List of former United States military installations in Panama and Panama during World War II

Base used to protect the Panama Canal Zone in World War II:[9]

9.31035°N 79.88425°W / 9.31035; -79.88425 (Gatun Tank Farm)

  • Camp Rousseau, Rousseau Naval Hospital on 50-acre during WW2, Atlantic side
  • Almirante Fuel depot, small base at Almirante, Atlantic side.
  • Trans-Panama pipeline built and used in World War 2, four pipes and pumping stations.
  • Camp Elliott US Marines, (1904–1927) Culebra, renamed Camp Gaillard Atlantic side
  • Camp Otis US Marines, east of Camp Gaillard, Atlantic side

Canal Zone Naval Radio Stations

Post World War II:

Main article: Naval Station Coco Solo

Naval Station Coco Solo and Submarine Base Coco Solo was founded in 1917, near Fort Randolph, as a submarine base to protect the Canal Zone on the Atlantic Ocean side. Starting in 1914 with five United States C-class submarines that were stationed at the base. In 1919 the C-class submarines were retired.[14] In 1920 USS O-12, USS O-13, USS O-15, and USS O-16 arrived at the base and were retired in 1924.[15] The USS O-5 sank after being hit by the SS Abangarez on 28 October 1923.[16][17] In 1914 USS S-44 and other S-class submarines were stationed at Coco Solo till 1931.[18] USS S-48 was stationed at the base from 1931 to 1935.[19] USS S-43 for two-year at the base. USS S-45 at the base from 1935 to 1940. In 1940 three V-boat submarines, USS Barracuda, USS Bass and USS Bonita were stationed at Coco Solo though most of the war. Coco Solo Naval Hospital operated at the base during the war. The Navy had a major ship and submarine repair base built at Coco Solo. Submarine Base Coco Solo was also used as a training ground for new crews before being moved to more forward war action. New crews would patrol the water protecting the Canal Zone. The base was very busy during World War II: with patrols, training, refueling and repairing vessels. By 1969, Naval shipyard activity had ended. By the 1980s all Navy work was moved to The Naval Station on Galeta Island. The base closed in 1999, the site is now the Manzanillo International Terminal. US Senator John McCain was born in 1936 at the small Navy hospital at Coco Solo Naval Air Station. 9.37262°N 79.8812°W / 9.37262; -79.8812[20][21][22]

NAS Coco Solo
NAS Coco Solo in 1937

NAS Coco Solo had a small runway, three plane hangars, one blimp hangar, three seaplane ramps and tank farm. During the war the base added an engine test depot, a large aircraft assembly depot and a large repair depot. A new runway was built next to the Army runway. Seaplane unit VP-1 was transferred to NAS Coco Solo on 10 October 1943 operating under FAW-3.[23] 9.372287°N 79.882746°W / 9.372287; -79.882746

NAS Upham

NAS Upham also called NAS Coco Solo was a seaplane base of the US Navy. Named after Admiral Frank B. Upham. NAS Upham seaplanes did U-boat patrols over the Antilles, the Caribbean, and coasts of South America. The base flew Glenn L. Martin PM-2 seaplane founded on 1 September 1931 as VP-5S.[24] The Naval unit based at NAS Upham was FAW-3. The PM-2 seaplane was an older design from the 1930s Naval Aircraft Factory PN. The PM-2 seaplanes were replaced by Consolidated P2Ys retired in 1941. The P2Y was replaced by the Consolidated PBY Catalinas used till the end of the war. While the US did not enter World War II until 1941, On 8 September 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation of a limited" national emergency. Part of the proclamation stated "neutrality patrols". The "neutrality patrols" were flown out of NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, San Juan, Puerto Rico and NAS Coco Solo in Panama. Naval Seaplane Unit VP-33, known as Wings over Panama, was trained and sent to base for patrols. In 1941 anti submarine bombing was add to the training and the unit was designated VP-32. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor the VP-32 at NAS Upham started patrolling the Pacific Ocean around the Panama Canal for Empire of Japan vessels also. In early 1942 NAS Upham had 28 PBY seaplanes with planes added from VP-52 and VP-81. NAS Upham had convoy escort duty added to its anti-submarine patrols. Later in the war the larger and newer Martin PBM Mariner seaplanes were added to NAS Upham. Martin PBM had a bombing rack and in July 1943 three German U Boats were sunk after being found with the newer ASG radar. The U Boats sunk were: U-159 south of Haiti; U-759 east of Jamaica; and U-359 south of Puerto Rico. VPB-32 transferred to NAS Norfolk on 8 July 1944 and patrolled the Atlantic seaboard.[25] 9.372287°N 79.882746°W / 9.372287; -79.882746

PT Boat Base Taboga Island on 1 August 1942

PT Boat Base Taboga Island

PT Boat Base Taboga Island on Taboga Island in the Gulf of Panama was opened in 1942 at Pacific Canal entrance, under Panama Sea Frontier. An Advance base and PT boat base were built in 1942 and completed in 1944. The Navy built a PT Boat overhaul depot at Taboga Island with two small marine railways and a PT Boat training base. The base had a torpedo workshop, and munitions storage depot. At its peak the base had 47 PT boats and 1,200 troops. After the crew was trained and the PT Boat completed sea trails, they would be sent to other US Naval Advance Bases. Seebees Detachment 1012 worked at the base. The base had a recreation camp was on nearby Morro Island. The PT Boat base was supported from Balboa Naval Supply Depot. The base was 20 km (12.4 miles) from Panama City, closed in March 1946. Taboga Island was included in the original 1903 treaty, Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty. The current Taboga Hotel was the PT-boat base barracks[26] 8.7982°N 79.5549°W / 8.7982; -79.5549[27][28]

Rodman Naval Station
The Big House, headquarters at Rodman Naval Station in 1994.
Main article: Rodman Naval Station

Rodman Naval Station was founded in 1932 and construction was completed in 1937. Rodman Naval Station was across from Port of Balboa on the west side of the Canal, on the Pacific side near Panama City. (Rodman Naval Station is named after Commander-in-Chief of the US Pacific Fleet from 1919 to 1921, Admiral Hugh Rodman ( 6 January 1859 – 7 June 1940). Rodman was also the Marine Superintendent of the Panama Canal Zone in 1914. The east bank of the canal, Port of Balboa had become crowded, so the new base was built across the other side.. The Commander in Chief (Commander-in-Chief) of the United States Atlantic Fleet, Southern Detachment (CINCLANTFLT Detachment South) had its headquarters seat at Rodman Naval Base.[29] For World War II a large fuel depot was built and started operation in 1943, fueling ships in the Panama Canal. A ship repair depot was built at the base with 3 dry docks. The base was turned over to Panama on March 11, 1999. Rodman Naval Station included the Ordnance Department, Marine Barracks, the Lacona housing, Camp Rousseau and the Cocoli housing. The base is now called Vasco Nuñez de Balboa Naval Base. 8.9522°N 79.573°W / 8.9522; -79.573[30]

Balboa Naval Yard and Base
Panama Canal Zone headquarters on the hill at Baloboa Naval Depot 1941
Balboa terminals and dry dock No. 1 being built

At the Port of Balboa, Balboa Terminal, Panama Canal Zone, the Navy had three dry docks for ship repair, Balboa Naval Depot, Balboa Naval Hospital, Balboa ammunition depot, 820-acre tank farm, refueling docks, net depot-weaving, large refrigerator storehouse and the Marine Barracks Panama Canal. The 15th Naval District headquarters was based Balboa on 65 acres. Before 1914, the Balboa was a marsh, before the US Navy took over the port, the site was developed by the Army Corps of Engineers during the Panama Canal construction. The 1914 Panama Canal Administration Building at Balboa seats on a hill overlooking the port, called Balboa Heights. Administration Building as extensive Canal art displays and the Goethals Monument. The Canal Zone Library and Museum opened in 1914 to showcase the Panama Canal construction. The largest Dry Dock, No. 1, completed in 1916, was able to repair battleships. The dry docks were used to repair some of the ships damaged in the Attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Port of Balboa was opened as the French Port La Boca, (the mouth) the US Navy renamed the port Port Ancon, after Ancon Hill, at the start of the Panama Canal construction, opening the port in 1909.[31] In 1915, a US Navy VLF transmission station opened that radioed commands to US submarines based at Port of Balboa. The Navy also docked ships at Flamenco Island about 4 miles south of Port of Balboa. Flamenco Island is connected to the mainland by the Amador Causeway. The Amador Causeway was made from rock from the Canal construction. The Balboa drydocks became part of Astilleros Braswell International and now MEC Balboa Dry Docks Panama. Dry dock construction started in 1915. Work on drydock No. 2 was stopped in 1915, and not started again till January 1942. Once completed Drydock No. 2 could drydock two destroyers or two submarines at the same time. By the end of 1943, the Balboa Naval Yard was about the same size and capacity as Navy Yard Pearl Harbor at the end of 1941. For part of the dry Dock's history, since it opened in 1917, the dry dock was available for commercial ship repair.[32] A 1921 rate card quotes a fee of 15 cents ($2.50 in 2022 dollars) per ton for dry docking and undocking, with a minimum charge. In 1920 the rate was 25 cents per ton ($3.59 in 2022). Six vessels were drydocked in 1920, of these two were subs USS R-25 and USS R-24, the other cargo ship, like the SS Katrina Luckenbach, also the yacht Carnegie.[33] One of the first ship built at Balboa was the United States Navy patrol vesse, USS Pequeni in 1917.[34][35][36][37]

Fort Amador

  • At Balboa was Fort Amador, Navy Sector at Fort Amador was 137 acres. The Fifteenth Naval district headquartered was stationed at Fort Amador. At the fort was the Balboa Naval Radio Station built in 1914.[38]

Naval Communications Station Balboa

  • Naval Communications Station Balboa (NAVCOMMSTA BALBOA) opened in 1908. The Communications Station headquarters was next to the Fifteenth Naval District headquarters, the Naval part of Fort Amador. At the communications station, the Navy had a control center, a Naval cryptographic center and a fleet radio broadcast station. The Navy had a large receiver station at Farfan on the Atlantic side. A large Naval transmitter station was built at Summit, the high point on the Trans-Isthmian Highway. Summit had six 600-foot antennas. At Gatun was the VLF transmitter for submarines Communications. The bases were part of the Inter-American Naval Telecommunications Network. The Communications Station Balboa closed in 1999.[39][40][41][42]

Farfan Housing Community near the 820-acre Farfan radio station, built in 1942, the Navy built a housing community in 1947 and 1948. Farfan Housing Community was built to support the growing base. At the Community 78 houses were built, called the Farfan reservation property.[43]

Seabees
YFD-6 center section floated through the Panama Canal on its side. Towed by USS Alarka (YTB-229) (center) and USS Umpqua (ATA-209)(left) in 1945. Navy SeaBees designed and turned it on its side with many pontoons to fit through the canal
Further information: Seabees in World War II

US Navy Seabees started working in the Canal Zone on 9 September 1942. Seabee Maintenance Unit 555 arrived in December 1943 and relieved the 1942 group. Seabee both did construction and operated power plants, shore batteries, tank farm, did maintenance work and more.[44]

Command
    • Canal Command:
  • 1916 – Temporary Headquarters in an Isthmian Canal Commission building (Panama Canal Department 1917 to 1947)
  • 1920 to 1941 – Panama Canal Department at Quarry Heights at Ancon Hill
  • 1941– to 1947 – Caribbean Defense Command
  • 1947 to 1963 – US Caribbean Command (and Latin America)
  • 1963-1997– US Southern Command (COMUSNAVSO)
  • 1997 closed and moved to Naval Station Mayport in Miami, Florida on September 27, 1997.
  • Bases transferred to Panama 11 January 1998.
Theodore Roosevelt traveled to Panama in 1906 on the US Navy battleship, the USS Louisiana
Theodore Roosevelt in Panama in 1906 on a Marion Steam Shovel built by the Marion Power Shovel Company
President Taft oversees the construction of the Panama Canal in November 1910.
    • Naval Command
  • 1918 to 1993 Balboa Fort Amador Naval Headquarters
    • 1940 to 1941, the Fifteenth Naval District Headquarters building in Bryan Hall.
  • 1997 closed and moved to Naval Station Mayport

The US Navy worked with the Panama Canal Zone (1917–1979) in operation at the Panama Canal, especially the Port of Balboa (also called Port Ancon), which they shared.
Fleet support
The Naval Base Panama Canal Zone baes are the only bases that supported all the Fleets of the US Navy. Panama Canal is the bridge linking the Fleets:

Past Fleets:

Commander in Chief
On November 6, 1906, Theodore Roosevelt was the first president to depart the continental United States on an official diplomatic trip. Roosevelt made a 17-day trip to Panama and Puerto Rico. Roosevelt checked on the progress of the Canal's construction and talked to workers about the importance of the project. In Puerto Rico, he recommends that Puerto Ricans should become U.S. citizens. Roosevelt traveled to Panama on the US Navy ship the USS Louisiana. Theodore Roosevelt on May 6, 1904, had appointed John Findley Wallace, formerly chief engineer and finally general manager of the Illinois Central Railroad, as chief engineer of the Panama Canal Project. The project was completed by General George Washington Goethals on August 15, 1914.[45][46]

Following Roosevelt, President Taft visited the Panama Canal a few times in 1907, 1909, 1910 and 1912. Taft traveled to the Canal on the US Navy USS Tennessee (ACR-10) and the battleship USS Arkansas (BB-33).[47][48]

Airbases
US fleet off the coast of Panama, March 1, 1923

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Panama Canal Zone.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Naval Base Vasco Núñez de Balboa.

References
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  8. "An American Legacy in Panama : A Brief History of the Department of Defense Installations and Properties, the Former Panama Canal Zone, Republic of Panama" (PDF). United States Army South.
  9. Building Bases Chap 18US Navy
  10. Cristobal Dry Dock 1915moma.org
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  12. Naval Communications Summit Transmitter Sitesczimages.com
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  14. "PigBoats.COM – C-Class Submarines". pigboats.com.
  15. USS O-12 (SS-73) US Navy
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  17. Submarine Casualties Booklet (Report). U.S. Naval Submarine School. 1966. Archived from the original on September 11, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-08.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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  19. The Day the Boston & Maine Joined the Navy, retrieved 2022-06-18
  20. "WHO". members.tripod.com.
  21. Military Railroads on the Panama Canal Zone by Charles S. Small, Railroad monographs 1982
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  23. NAS Coco SoloUS Navy
  24. Elliott, John M. (2000). "Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons — Volume 2 Appendix 1-Aircraft Data-Technical Information and Drawings" (PDF). Naval Historical Center. Retrieved 2007-10-01.
  25. "VPNAVY – VP-32 History Summary Page – VP Patrol Squadron". www.vpnavy.com.
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  27. Taboga, Islet of Legends, By IRENE JERISON, May 31, 1987 LA Times
  28. Mystery Elco PT Boatspt-king.gdinc.com
  29. Hugh Rodmandestroyerhistory.org
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  32. THE PANAMA CANAL RECORD, AUGUST 23, 1916, TO AUGUST 15, 1917archive.org
  33. THE PANAMA CANAL RECORD, Volume XV. page 9, Balboa Heights, August 24, 1921.
  34. USS Pequeni (1917) navsource.org
  35. Construction of the Balboa Dry Dock, November 11, 1916scientificamerican.com
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  37. "MEC Balboa Dry Docks Panama". Shipyards Directory worldwide.
  38. "A History of Fort Amador and Fort Grant". Archived from the original on 2002-07-04.
  39. US Naval Communications Station Balboa – Panama – NBA navy-radio.com
  40. "Inter-American Naval Telecommunications Network Secretariat Celebrates 50th Anniversary". DVIDS.
  41. "Inter-American Naval Telecommunications NetworkUS Navy
  42. The Naval Radio Stations of the Panama Canal Zone, By Lieutenant R. S. Crenshaw, U. S. Navy, July 1916
  43. Transfer of base, Farfan Housing
  44. 105th NCB, BuDocks, Dept. of the Navy 1946, Seabee Museum, Port Hueneme, CA.
  45. November 6, 1906 Teddy Roosevelt travels to Panamahistory.com
  46. USS Louisiana (BB-19) US Navy
  47. Taft visited the Panama Canal loc.gov
  48. Taft visited the Panama Canalufl.edu
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