Project HULA: Soviet-American Cooperation in the War Against Japan

JCFalkenbergIII · #1 (**permalink**) January 26th, 2008, 03:02 AM

Does anyone else have more information about this project? How many ships were we going to give or lend to the Soviets? IIRC It was going to be over 137 ships. And what else were we going to supply them with?

Project HULA: Soviet-American Cooperation in the War Against Japan, by Richard A. Russell. No. 4 in The U.S. Navy in the Modern World series. 1997.

This work describes the little known subject of Soviet and American naval cooperation in the North Pacific during the final months of World War II. Until 1945, Soviet reluctance to fight a two-front war and Japanese acquiescence to the movement of vital lend-lease supplies to the Soviet Far East ensured Soviet neutrality in the Pacific War. A frustrated U.S. government, which had sought basing rights for heavy bombers in Siberia, finally secured Soviet agreement at the Yalta Conference, in February 1945, to enter the war by pledging U.S. military support and territorial concessions to the Soviet Union. In Project HULA, from April to September, a special U.S. Navy detachment trained Russian officers and men in handling the naval vessels scheduled for transfer to the Soviet Pacific Ocean Fleet. This top-secret operation brought Russian and American sailors together in the largest and most ambitious lend-lease program of World War II. Its unique purpose was to equip and train Soviet amphibious forces for the climactic fight against Japan.

JCFalkenbergIII · #2 (**permalink**) February 6th, 2008, 12:24 AM

LEND LEASE SHIPS for USSR
List provided by Alexander A. Tarnavsky

Pacific War, the early years

Za Rodinu · #3 (**permalink**) February 6th, 2008, 05:55 PM

You do have the ability to dig up the craziest stuff!

JCFalkenbergIII · #4 (**permalink**) February 6th, 2008, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Za Rodinu

You do have the ability to dig up the craziest stuff!

Yep LOL

. Like I have said I do like the lesser known facts and information from the war.

JCFalkenbergIII · #5 (**permalink**) February 7th, 2008, 08:09 PM

After looking at the list I was surprised at how much small craft was sent to the Soviets.

Za Rodinu · #6 (**permalink**) February 8th, 2008, 02:41 PM

To be quite frank I wouldn't have much trust in the Soviet ability to mount such a large undertaking. They did a few successful landings, in Crimea and in the Baltic, but nothing the size and so large a distance as an invasion of Japan.

travelinbabs · #7 (**permalink**) February 14th, 2008, 03:37 AM

The disputes between Japan and Russia over land pre-date WWII by quite a while -- back to 1905 and 1875, IIRC -- and FDR got on quite well with Uncle Joe, so a lend-lease deal wouldn't surprise me in the least.

JCFalkenbergIII · #8 (**permalink**) February 17th, 2008, 07:08 AM

Well everyone knows that we supplied them for use against the Germans. But not many really know that we were supplying then for use against the Japanese.

Za Rodinu · #9 (**permalink**) February 17th, 2008, 08:39 AM

Which is rather strange, as the SU was at peace with Japan and in fact a large amount of Lend-Lease traffic passed between the USA East Coast and Vladivostok on US ships with Soviet crews under the Red flag in order to comply with the Soviet-Japan neutrality pact.

It would seem strange if this traffic was directed against Japan, but munitions are munitions and their final use can be difficult to ascertain.