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Rockwell was commander of 16 Naval District, based at Cavite in the Philippine Islands, at the outbreak of war. He was among the officers who accompanied MacArthur in his famous escape to Australia. He was subsequently placed in command of the Eastern Australia submarine force.
Rockwell later became Commander Amphibious
Force,
Pacific Fleet, and commanded the assault
forces at Attu
in the Aleutians. It was
during this campaign that he uttered the not-quite-immortal words
"Screw the shoals, slow speed ahead!" Kinkaid advised him that
(Tuohy
2006)
The gun power you have available in the battleships and destroyers should be ample to blow the hell out of the Jap installations if the ships can get in close enough to hit their targets.
Kinkaid's advice was ignored.
King was critical of Rockwell for allowing the Japanese to escape from Kiska, and saw to it that Rockwell was reassigned to command the amphibious training command of the Atlantic Fleet.
| 1886
|
Born at South Woodstock,
Connecticut |
|
| 1908 |
Midshipman |
Graduates from Naval Academy |
| 1912 |
DD Jarvis |
|
| 1914 |
Instructor, Naval Academy |
|
| 1918 |
Commander, DD Winslow |
|
| 1919 |
Commander, DD Thatcher |
|
| 1920 |
Instructor, Naval Academy |
|
| 1923 |
BB Tennessee |
|
| 1926 |
Instructor, Naval Academy |
|
| 1940-11-1 |
Captain |
Commander, BB Nevada |
| 1941-11-5
|
Rear
admiral |
Commander, 16 Naval District |
| 1942-3-18 |
Commander, Submarines,
Eastern Australia (TF42) |
|
| 1942-8-23
|
Commander, Amphibious
Force,
Pacific Fleet |
|
| 1943-2 |
Commander, Amphibious
Force, North Pacific Area |
|
| 1944-12 |
Commander, Fleet Operational
Training
Command, Atlantic Fleet |
|
| 1948 |
Vice admiral |
Retires |
| 1979 |
Dies |
References
Morison
(1951)
Pettibone (2006)
Tuohy (2007)
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2007-2009 by Kent G. Budge. Index
