Landing ships built for invasion and occupation

The transport group was organized by function rather than treated as a collection of interchangeable cargo ships. Assault transports carried troops together with landing craft, while the converted tanker Derwentdale used a gantry system to carry numerous small craft. Bachaquero, an early landing ship tank, gave the force a direct means of putting vehicles ashore. Separate troopships and stores vessels supplied the manpower, equipment, and reserves needed after the first wave. Ironclad was equipped to seize Diego Suarez, occupy it, and defend it against a later Japanese attempt to take the port.