Ship's Names: M

Name

Ship(s)

Source

Makassar Straight

CVE-91 - Casablanca-class escort carrier

"The passage in the Malay Archipelago between Borneo and Celebes which connects the Celebes Sea with the Java Sea. During the Japanese invasion of the Netherlands East Indies which began in January 1942, outnumbered Allied naval forces engaged the enemy in a series of naval battles which harassed and delayed the Japanese conquest of the East Indies and helped thwart the invasion of Australia. On 24 January the four-piper destroyers of DesRon 29 made a daring and successful night torpedo and gunfire attack on an enemy transport convoy, anchored off Balikpapan, Borneo. This gallant raid into Makassar Strait, which was the first American surface action in the Pacific war, cost the enemy four transports and a patrol ship; and, while it failed to halt the Jap advance across the Malay Barrier, it was a tactical victory which bolstered the morale and determination of hard-pressed American and Allied naval forces in the southwest Pacific."

Makin Island

CVE-93 - Casablanca-class escort carrier

LHD-8 - Wasp-class amphibious assault ship

"A coral atoll in the northern Gilberts, Makin was the scene of two landings by American troops during World War II: a diversionary raid by the 2d Marine Raider Battalion, the famous 'Carlson's Raiders', 16 to 18 August 1942, and an invasion of the atoll by the Northern Attack Force, 5th Fleet, 19 to 29 November 1943."

Manila Bay

CVE-61 - Casablanca-class escort carrier

"A large inlet of the South China Sea along the western coast of Luzon, Philippine Islands, and the scene of a resounding American naval victory during the Spanish-American War."

Marcus Island

CVE-77 - Casablanca-class escort carrier

"A small triangular island in the western Pacific about midway between Wake Island and the Bonins; named Minami Tori Shima by the Japanese; the site of an enemy naval base during World War II; subjected to U.S. naval bombardment beginning in March 1942; bypassed by the Allies during the westward advance across the Pacific; and surrendered by the Japanese 31 August 1945."

Matanikau

CVE-101 - Casablanca-class escort carrier

"A river on the northwest coast of Guadalcanal, Solomons, between Point Cruz and Lunga Point. During the protracted ground war for control of Guadalcanal, U.S. Marines battled Japanese troops along its banks in September and October 1942 while tenaciously defending their defense perimeter around Henderson Field."

Midway

AG-41 - General cargo ship

CVE-63 - Casablanca-class escort carrier

CV-41 - Midway-class heavy carrier

"Between 3 and 6 June 1942, the U.S. Pacific Fleet turned back a Japanese attempt to capture Midway, the westernmost atoll in the Hawaiian chain, in a decisive action which cost the enemy four large aircraft carriers and forced Japan to assume a defensive posture. In Adm. Samuel E. Morison's words, 'Midway was a victory not only of courage, determination and excellent bombing technique, but of intelligence, bravely and wisely applied.' The American Navy's triumph in the Battle of Midway foreshadowed Japan's final surrender. The first Midway was named for the atoll, the second and third for the battle." (The carriers are the "second and third" Midways)

Mindoro

Gunboat

YAG-15 - Miscellaneous auxiliary service craft

CVE-120 - Commencement Bay-class escort carrier

"The seventh largest island in the Philippines, located southwest of Luzon."

Mission Bay

CVE-59 - Casablanca-class escort carrier

"A bay on the southern coast of California, near San Diego."

Monterey

Steam screw tug

BM-6 - Monterey-class monitor

CVL-26 - Independence-class light carrier

"A city in California, south of San Francisco, founded by the Spanish and named for the Count of Monterey in 1598. During the Mexican War, it was captured by a landing force of 250 Marines and bluejackets under Capt. William Mervine, USMC, 7 July 1846."

Munda

CVE-104 - Casablanca-class escort carrier

"A Japanese airfield on New Georgia important as a refueling area for Rabaul based planes raiding Tulagi and Guadalcanal, it was the frequent target for shore bombardment units. Partially neutralized after the occupation of Rendova and the setting up there of shore batteries which joined ships on the bombardment line in pounding the field, it was taken on 5 August 1948 during the Solomons campaign."

Dedication

Ship's Names: M

Name

Ship(s)

Source