were based on optimistic celculations and did not leave a
realistic margin for probable breakdovns of equipment) ;
(2), an additional cable-layin= LSM (to assist LSM 250 in laying of submarine cable and to be available in case of casualty
to LSM 250); and (3), a landing craterepair ship (ARL) (to
assist “COMSTOCK in keeping boat pool boats in runnin; order, to
Moe Pores ‘ised.
repair landing ships and LCI assigned, and to provide needed repair tacilities for forces ashore and afloat).
CNO approved
this request and PASI(AW 3), LSM 378, and ASKARI (ARL 30)
were assigned.
All of these ships proved to be extreme.y
valuable and were used for needed tasks other than their primary missions.
For example, PASIG was used from the latter
part of January tc the middle of March as a shuttle tanker to
bring black oil from Kwajalein to Eniwetok in order to provide
sufficient oil for the destroyer and destroyer escorts on Offshore Patrol.
While on her first trip to Kwajalein, PASIG trans-
ferred two million gallons of potable water to Kwajalein for the
use of personnel ashore on that island.
About 15 November 1947, the Task Force was designated Joint
Task Force 7; the Naval Task Group was designated Task Group 7.3.
Later developments made necessary the augmenting of the Task
Group by assigning two additional LCT and two AVR (63 foot) and
also, because of several submarine contacts, the Off-shore Patrol
Unit was increased by the addition of three destroyer escorts
Section VII