COMINCH TO CINCPAC 051555 FEBRUARY:
 
CONTINUOUS STUDY OF GENERAL PACIFIC SITUATION IMPELS ME TO THE
CONVICTION (WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY DEMANDS FROM AUSTRALIA AND
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC) THAT WE MUST USE MAXIMUM FORCES AVAILABLE IN
AGRESSIVE OPERATIONS TO RELIEVE PRESSURE IN SOUTHWEST PACIFIC.  THIS
RELIEF CAN BE EFFECTED EITHER INDIRECTLY BY SUITABLE OPERATIONS IN
YOUR AREA OR DIRECTLY BY SENDING REINFORCEMENTS TO ANZAC AND/OR
ABDA AREA.  IT IS OBVIOUS THAT SUCH AGRESSIVE OPERATIONS SHOULD MARK
EDLY REDUCE NEED FOR ESCORT OPERATIONS IN EASTERN PACIFIC.  LET ME
HAVE YOUR VIEWS ON THIS MATTER INCLUDING GENERAL PROPOSALS FOR
APPROPRIATE ACTION IN YOUR AREA IN WHICH CONSIDERATIONS OF ORIGINAL
TASK INVOLVING USE OF BATTLESHIPS SHOULD APPEAR.
 
COMINCH TO CINCPAC (AND OTHERS) 061513 FEBRUARY.
 
GIVE THIS DISPATCH IMMEDIATELY TO ADDRESSEES I N PERSON.  THERE ARE
DEFINITE SIGNS OF A WIDESPREAD AND COORDINATED JAPANESE OFFENSIVE IN
ABDA AND ANZAC AREA WITHIN NEXT FEW DAYS WHICH MAY WELL BE
ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG RAIDS AGAINST MIDWAY OAHU NEEW HEBRIDES NE
AUSTRALIA OR POSSIBLY WEST COAST OR CANAL.  EXPEDITE DISPOSITIONS
AND OPERATIONS OF YOUR FORCES TO SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR MAKING
DETACHED ENEMY VENTURES COSTLY FOR HIM.  COMTAKS FOR 11 PACFLT
CONTINUE TOWARD ANZAC AREA FOR COOPERATION WITH COMANZACFOR. 
INFORM ARMY AND AUSTRALIANS.  MORE WILL FOLLOW.
 
COMINCH TO CINCPAC (AND OTHERS) 062352 FEBRUARY:
 
SITUATION IN NORTHERN ANZAC AREA REQUIRES PROMPT ACTION TO CHECK
ENEMY ADVANCE AND OCCUPATION.  ESTIMATE ENEMY GARRISON AND
STRONG SHORE BASED AIR WILL BE ESTABLISHED RABAUL NEXT FEW DAYS
AND THEN ENEMY STRIKING FORCE OF AT LEAST TWO CARRIERS SEVERAL
CRUISERS DESTROYERS POSSIBLY BATTLESHIPS AND AMPHIOUS TROOPS WILL
BECOME AVAILABLE TO STRIKE NEW CALEDONIA AND HEBRIDES OR OTHER
POSITIONS ON OUR LINE OF COMMUINCATIONS.  COMANZAC FORCE EXPEDITE
CONCENTRATION NAVAL FORCES FIJI-NEW CALEDONIA AREA ALSO PRESS AND
ARRANGE FOR FULL COOPERATION AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE INCLUDING ONE
GROUP AUGMENTED BY SAN FRANCISCO TWO DD AND ALL PRACTICABLE NAVY
PATROL AND ARMY BOMBER PLANES FROM HAWAII TO PROCEED AT ONCE
TOWARD ANZAC AREA AND COOPERATE WITH COMANZAC FORCE UNDER
SIRECTION OF LATTER.  EXPEDITE PENSACOLA AND TWO DD JOINING UP BUT DO
NOT DELAY OPERATIONS AWAITING THEIR ARRIVAL.  THIS ACTION CONSIDERED
GOOD PROTECTION CONVOYS 2030 AND BT200 WHICH SHOULD BE COMBINED
NEAR BORABORA THENCE PROCEDD AUSTRALIA UNDER REDUCED ESCORT
HONOLULU AND TWO DD SUGGESTED.  CINCPAC PROVIDE THESE FORCES WITH
ALL POSSIBE INFORMATION OF ENEMY.
 
CINCPAC TO COMINCH 080239
PACIFIC FLEET MARKEDLY INFERIOR IN ALL TYPES TO ENEMY.  CANNOT
CONDUCT AGRESSIVE ACTION PACIFIC EXCEPT RAIDS OF HIT AND RUN
CHARACTER WHICH ARE ULIKELY TO RELIEVE PRESSURE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC. 
LOGISTIC PROBLEMS FAR SURPASS PEACETIME CONCEPTION AND ALWAYS
PRECARIOUS DUE TO FEULING AT SEA AND DEPENDENCE UPON WEATHER. 
YOUR 051555 061523 062532.  OFFENSIVE EMPLOYMENT BATLESHIPS DOES NOT
FIT IN WITH HIT AND RUN OPERATIONS AND THEIR INDEPENDENT OR
SUPPORTING USE PRECLUDED BY LACK AIR COVERAGE AND ANTISUBMARINE
PROTECTION.  SUCH EMPOLYMENT CONSIDERED INADVISABLE AT PRESENT. 
CONTINUED OPERATION OF ONE OR MORE PACIFIC FLEET TASK FORCES IN
ANZAC AREA WILL INVOLVE DEPENDENCE UPON LOGISTIC SUPPORT FROM
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND WHICH SUPPORT APPEAR LIMITED.  SITUATION
OUTLINED OPNAV 160115 DECEMBER AND COMINCH DERECTIVE 301740 DEC
INHIBIT UNDUE WEAKENING THIS FLEET WITHOUT SERIOUS HAZARD TO OUR
POSITION IN CENTRAL PACIFIC; UNLESS THIS FLEET IS STRENGTHENED BY
STRONG ADDITIONS PARTICULARLY IN AIRCRAFT LIGHT FORCES CARRIERS AND
FAST FLEET TANKERS ITS EFFECTIVENESS FOR OFFENSIVE ACTION IS LIMITED. 
TASK FORCE 11 PROCEEDING AND WILL BE AUGMENTED BY SURFACE FORCES
AS DIRECTED.  SIX PATROL PLANES AND CURTISS PROCEEDING SUVA. 
SITUATION HAWAII STILL SUBSTANTIALLY AS OUTLINED OPNAV 170115
DECEMBER HENCE CONSIDER RETENTION ARMY BOMBERS HERE VITAL
NECESSITY.  TASK FORCES 8 AND 17 REFEULING REPAIRING PREPARATORY FOR
SEA IN ABOUT 5 DAYS.  TASKS TENTATIVELY ONE FORCE PROJECTED TOWARD
SUVA OTHER IN RESERVE PEARL.