Seaplane tenders and Seabees for a Pacific island war

A Pacific campaign required more than combat ships. Fast seaplane tenders and larger numbers of patrol aircraft would extend reconnaissance across the ocean's great distances. Organized naval construction battalions could build and repair forward bases under wartime conditions rather than improvising that capability after hostilities began. Marine defense forces also needed portable artillery, anti-aircraft weapons, and engineering support to turn remote islands into durable positions. Together, reconnaissance, construction, and shore defense create the infrastructure that allows a fleet to operate forward.