US Naval Amphibious Training Base (USNATB) - Pic Heavy

The United States Naval Amphibious Training Base (USNATB)

From January of 1943 through February of 1946 (following the attack on Pearl Harbor and the fall of Europe) 140,000 Army, Navy and Coast Guard personnel received training to ready them for the newest innovation in warfare- amphibious operations. This training would prepare them for the coming perilous amphibious landings at Normandy and in the Pacific.

The unfamiliar and complicated invasion techniques these servicemen would be taught at this unique naval base in Fort Pierce, FL would prepare them to fight their way over the open and dangerous enemy-occupied beaches in Europe and the Pacific.

































Sorry about the blur on some of the images- it was the best I could get given the lighting and my camera.

 

Great pictures

 

My grandfather was Naval Beach Battalion in the pacific. I guess they were not numbered and were shore parties according to an author I found who wrote about them. He performed pre landing reconnaisance with a joint navy and marine unit on bougainville. I actually found information on the two recons done in a marine corps archive. Landed by rubber boat from a sub. Took my about two years to track down what the patch was and then the missions he was involved with. I do not know if he went to ft pierce or Little Creek.

 

Depending on when he went in and where he did boot, he may also have been sent to Amphibous Training Base Solomons, Maryland. The USN operated a ATB there from 42-45 my uncle was sent there after he completed Corpsman Training and prior to being assigned to a NBB.

http://www.co.cal.md.us/assets/Planning_Zoning/TownCenters/CradleOfInvasion.pdf

Monument to the Amphibious Training Base in Solomons

War Returns to Solomons

 

Thank you.