Operation Shuffle
Honorable members of Congress,
For those of you who do not know me, I am William Franklin Knox. I’ve been appointed as the Secretary of the Navy, by President Wilkie. Former Secretary Standley has been recalled for other duties that can better use his particular skills. I’ve asked you here to this briefing to bring you up to date on our Naval forces, and put forth a plan for their future actions. I’m required to inform you that, until this classification is altered by the President of the United States or the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the contents of this briefing are classified Top Secret. Under the Espionage Act of 1917, the transmission of this briefing in any format to unauthorized parties constitutes an act of treason, and will be prosecuted accordingly.
The Navy of the United States of America currently consists of (in decreasing order of advancement):
1 SH Battleship (Montana Class)
13 Battleships (2 Iowa, 2 Colorado, 8 New York, and 1 Arkansas class)
13 Heavy Cruisers (6 New Orleans, and 7 Kent class)
11 Fleet Carriers (6 Midway, 2 yorktown, and 3 Lexington class)
1 Escort Carrier (Saipan Class class)
20 Light Cruisers (11 Worcester, 2 Brooklyn, and 7 Leander class)
35 Destroyers (18 Somers, 3 Faragut, and 14 Clemson class)
33 Transport Flotillas
13 Submarines (2 Barracuda , and 11 R-boat class)
We are constructing 3 transports, 4 Battleships (Battleship IV “South Dakota” class), 4 Fleet Carriers (midway class), and 3 submarines (Perch Class).
The War in Europe is winding down. Soon our armies will be in Berlin, and as more of the European coastline falls under Allied boots, the need for the guns of the United States Navy in Europe are needed less. Because of this fact, over the next few months, units should be cycled from the Atlantic to the Pacific theater of operations. It is on the bows of ships that our military power will be projected against the Empire of Japan. It is true that brave marines won the beaches in Europe, but it was the landing craft, battleships and carriers that ensured those victories. I have yet to meet a marine who was not thankful for the heavy guns providing shore bombardment from the decks of our battleships.
The Empire of Japan is a naval powerhouse. They are dangerous even after the losses they have suffered at the hands of the Chinese. This is not the coastal waters of Europe, where the British fleets have hemmed in Germany since the beginning of the war. This will be a battle over the vast Pacific, where Japanese carrier aircraft could strike from beyond the horizon at a moment’s notice. To prosecute this war we will need more ships, more planes, and more marines. It is of vital import that we remember that while Germany will soon be licked, the war is only half done.
Operation Shuffle
I have come before you today to present an endeavor known as Operation Shuffle. The Operation consists of four major parts:
1. The reduction of the number of ships of the United States Navy that are active in the European Theater of Operations.
2. The reorganization of all Task Groups of the United States Navy in both the European Theater of Operation and the Pacific Theater of Operation, as well as reassigning of commanders of the same, to prepare for the increased activity in the Pacific Theater of Operation.
3. The increase in the number of ships and Task Groups of the United States Navy that are active in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
4. The initiation of maneuvers to determine the size, location, and composition of the Navy of the Empire of Japan, and if opportune, meet it in decisive, favorable battle.
Operation Shuffle will take place over several months, and is largely dependent upon how swiftly land forces capture Axis-held ports in Europe. The Empire of Japan is known to have been pursuing naval technology and to have been building impressive vessels in violation of the Washington Naval Accord prior to the beginning of the war. What they have managed to build since then is unknown. Because of these facts, the newest vessels will take priority for reassignment, with older vessels being utilized for the European Theater of Operations.
The Immediate use of Operation Shuffle will be to reassign the following task groups to PACCOM for the purposes of assisting in Operation Catalyst, as well as future operations in the area.
SAG ‘Oklahoma”
SAG ‘Montana’
Additionally, the following Submarine (SS) groups will be assigned to patrolling the East Norwegian Sea and the English Channel to decimate enemy shipping and provide intelligence for any potential German Naval Sorties.
SSQ ’Coyote’
SSQ ‘Raccoon’
After the conclusion of Operation Catalyst, Operation Shuffle will begin the systematic restructuring of the United States Navy to provide the most effective fighting force to counter the Navy of Empire of Japan.
Respected members of Congress, I thank you for your time today to present this plan. I hope it meets with your approval.
-Admiral William Franklin Knox
Chief of Staff, United States Navy
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