Photo of Essex class at Ulithi Atoll

Dear Navy experts,

I would like to do a painting based of this famous shot of Task force 38/58 at Ulithi Atoll.

Can anyone give me some links or info regarding the anchorage? I have looked quite a bit but cannot find the answers to these specific questions:

What direction is this photo looking at? Is it possibly North?

What Part of the Atoll is in the background? Is it the Northern, or Southern anchorage?

Was there any way the ships were organized when here? Were they grouped by carriers, battleships, destroyers, and such? Or was it by task force, task group, and such? Or was it just random?

I am trying to make my painting fairly detailed and accurate, so any information provided would be greatly appeciated!

 

Hi They have one Anchor in the Back Center and Two in the Front.





Google Image Result for http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g290000/g294131.jpg

 

Hi Spaniard, thanks for the post,

but what I was meaning to ask was where the carriers are at in Ulithi Atoll, and what direction the photo was taken, not about the actual "anchors" themselves. But thanks for the pics, they are great to have!

 

Here, maybe this is a better way to ask. Does anyone know where those carrier would be on this map of Ulithi Atoll? I have read that there was a Northern and Southern spot to drop anchor at, and I would like to know if anyone here might know where the spot is that photo in the first post was taken.

 

This atoll in the west Caroline Islands has an inner lagoon area of 112 square miles. From September 1944 to August 1945 Ulithi Atoll was the largest US fleet anchorage in the Pacific. Over 1000 large ships could anchor at one time in the inner lagoon.​

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http://mighty90.com/images/ulithi_atoll_sem_leyte_modified_700x_yuyi.jpg​

Ulithi Atoll was only a speck on maps of the Pacific if it was even present. Officially part of the Caroline Islands, the atoll contained the world's fourth largest lagoon at 209 square miles. In addition to its size, Ulithi was perfectly located as a staging area for the United States against Japan. The Philippines, Formosa, and Okinawa--all of which were targets within U.S. sights--were similar distances from Ulithi.​

At center is the island of Fassarai, featured in the LIFE article, and at top center is Mogmog Island, used as a recreation area for sailors while their ships were at anchorage. The atoll was split into north and south anchorages with Mugai Channel as the divider.

Google Image Result for http://mighty90.com/images/ulithi_atoll_sem_leyte_modified_700x_yuyi.jpg​

The above link gives you the information The Ships are In the Lagoon facing The Entrance. Also Great Pictures on that Link

 

Do you think the photo of the carriers was taken off the Island of Mogmog or somewhere close?

 

Read the Links Parked in the Lagoon and facing the Entrance.

At center is the island of Fassarai, and at top center is Mogmog Island, used as a recreation area for sailors while their ships were at anchorage.
The atoll was split into north and south anchorages with Mugai Channel as the divider.

 

So does this photo, plus your info answer my question?

Here are sailors on leave at Mogmog. Is that part of "murderer row" off the beach? And if so, that is indeed Mogmog in the original photo I posted? And the person taking the picture is faceing North North-East?

 

At Mogmog The ships would have the North Anchorage They could be facing in the Direction of the DAO Channel But in case of Attack that Channel would create a Bottleneck with that many ships Or face in the Direction of Darwarugui Channal.

 

The photo from the OP, usually goes by the name "Murderer's Row"
Here is a google photo search on it
Ulithi atoll, murderer's row, photo - Google Search
and a regular google search
Murderer's row, carriers - Google Search

Happy Hunting!

 

Thank you kindly for your help Spaniard.

I'm going on the assumption that they are facing towards the Darwarugui Channal with Mogmog in the background. The island in the background of the photo seems to curve a bit like Mogmog's crecent like shape.

 

Thank you for the Solute It's always Appreciated

Now your picture shows 5 Flate Tops?? Supposed to be Six Essex-type carriers at anchored at Ulithi, Caroline Islands. AKA "Murderers Row." Left to right are the carriers Wasp, Yorktown, Hornet, Hancock, and Ticonderoga. This I believe does not show on your Picture To the left behind an Independence class carrier is the carrier Lexington. The Picture I believe was taken December 8, 1944?

 

Yeah, I've alway seen this photo with five in a row- Wasp, Yorktown, Hornet, Hancock, and Ticonderoga. Not sure where the other one is. Thanks for identifying the Independence class. Just a note, this shot has another carrier to the left as well. I thought it might be the Enterprise, because it had been painted blue around this time period.

 

If this Urushi Anchorage - FM - Map and Area Photos location of the Northern anchorage is correct, I think what you are seeing in the background is the reef line, and not an island. The camera in the photo in the original post would be facing Northeast toward the reef about midway between Mogmog and Falalop. That would put the carriers maybe 1-3 miles from Mogmog and fit with the photo you posted from the beach.

 

mcoffee,

I think you nailed it!!!! Thank you for the info and the link!!1 I had never heard of the name "Urushi Anchorage" before. But I just googled it and found the carriers in another photo that I have not seen before.

Thanks again!

 

Show us your painting when you are fininshed.
(and thanks for the salute)