From 1917 to 1997 the United States Navy had a number of bases in the Panama Canal Zone. They were used during World War II to both protect the Panama Canal and the key shipping lanes around the Panama Canal Zone. Bases were built and operated on the Atlantic Ocean side and the Pacific Ocean side. The main Naval Base at the Panama Canal was the Naval Station Coco Solo that had been in operation since 1918.Panama Canal pacificwrecks.com

From 1918 to 1993 Fort Amador in Balboa was the naval headquarters. From 1940 to 1941, the Fifteenth Naval District Headquarters building was in Bryan Hall. In 1997 Fifteenth Naval District was abolished; naval responsibility for the Panama area shifted to a headquarters at Naval Station Mayport in Florida.

The U.S. Navy worked with the Panama Canal Zone (1917–1979) in operation at the Panama Canal, especially the Port of Balboa (also called Port Ancon), which they shared.

History In 1821 Panama voluntarily became part of Colombia. In 1903, the United States supported the group that wanted to separate from Colombia. After Panama separated from Colombia that same year, Panama and the US signed the Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty. This gave the United States rights to the 553-square-mile, 10-mile-wide Panama Canal Zone, a US Territory with its capital in Balboa.

The Canal opened a waterway from the Atlantic to the Pacific, bypassing the Strait of Magellan. Construction started 4 May 1904 and was completed 15 August 1914.

Due to U-boat operations, the Canal Zone was put under the military authority of the Army's Panama Canal Department in 1939. Japan lost Canal use on 22 July 1941 because of its aggression in China. Canal Zone defenses were increased due to the strategic importance of the waterway. The Navy installed anti-torpedo nets and naval mines. Bases installed smoke generators, anti-aircraft guns, long-range radar systems, searchlights, and aircraft warning stations. Troops were deployed to Colón, Margarita Island, and Toro Point's Fort Sherman. For coast defense, eleven 16-inch Naval guns were installed.

The Panama Canal Department remained as the senior Army headquarters in the region until activation of the Caribbean Defense Command (CDC) on 10 February 1941. Both commands were located at the relatively new headquarters at Quarry Heights. The CDC was commanded by Lieutenant General Daniel Van Voorhis, who continued to command the Panama Canal Department.

The 15th Naval District was in charge of Navy activities in the Canal Zone. Two airfields operated 30 fighter aircraft with Curtiss P-36 Hawks and Curtiss P-40 Warhawks for protection. A seaplane base had regular submarine patrols. Due to these defenses, U-boats and Imperial Japanese Navy submarines did not attack or approach the Canal Zone.

With the loss of the Dutch East Indies oil fields, the vast Canal Zone tank farms became the supply line for fuel needed to fight the Pacific War. Many tankers and cargo ships were lost in the early part of the Battle of the Atlantic. To aid the war effort, fuel oil pipelines were built along the Canal, resulting in a decreased number of tankers traversing the waterway. The first pipeline opened 18 April 1943 and the second pipeline opened at the end of 1943. A diesel and separate gasoline pipeline were opened the following year.

By April 1943, the US believed the threat to the Canal had diminished, the Canal's defense status was downgraded, and there was a reduction in troop bases. Naval bases at the Canal Zone were supported during World War II and afterwards by the larger Naval Base Trinidad.Forging the Defenses of the CanalUS Army However, Axis powers did plan to bomb the Canal. Nazi Germany had Operation Pelikan, but the plan was aborted. In August 1943, Japan planned to bomb the Canal with planes launched from Submarine aircraft carriers, such as the I-400-class submarines with three Seiran aircraft each. Japanese military trained for the Panama Canal attack, but the plan was canceled in June 1945 because the war was taking a toll on the country. Japan then planned to attack a closer major base, Naval Base Ulithi, but Japan surrendered before the base was attacked.

With Japan's surrender, the submarine aircraft carriers were instructed to destroy the planes, which were sunk. The three I-400-class submarines were captured by the US Navy.Paine, Thomas O., I Was A Yank on a Japanese Sub, U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, Volume 112, Number 9, Issue 1003 (September 1986), p. 73-78

To manage the Canal Zone, the US founded the Panama Canal Company, a government-owned corporation that operated the Canal and other Canal Zone enterprises such as the Panama Railroad and the Port of Balboa. The Company was run by a board of directors appointed by the President of the United States. The Torrijos–Carter Treaties of 1979 ended the Panama Canal Company. That year, the Canal Zone was renamed the Reverted Areas, as this was the start of the process of turning over the Canal. The Canal Zone was returned to the Republic of Panama on 1 October 1979 per the Torrijos–Carter Treaties.

Naval Bases Panama Canal Zone

Base used to protect the Panama Canal Zone in World War II:Building Bases Chap 18US Navy

Naval Station Coco Solo, Fleet Post Office, FPO# 1955 (1918–1999) Atlantic side US Submarine Base Coco Solo NAS Upham, at NAS Coco Solo, Seaplane Base, FPO# 720 Coco Solo ammunition depot Coco Solo Naval Hospital on , from the Coco Solo air station, In 1954 transferred to Canal Zone Government Naval Section base Cristobal at Cristóbal, Colón, site of the original 1918 base, WW2 troop housing Cristobal Repair Depot two marine railways Cristobal Dry Dock built in 1907Cristobal Dry Dock 1915moma.org Cristobal administrative HQ for Atlantic side Cristobal tank farm (Fort De Lesseps) Mount Hope tank farm, Atlantic side, Colón Naval Base Taboga Island, PT Boat Base, FPO# 40 David Field, Naval Air Land Base, at David, Chiriquí FPO# 19, now Enrique Malek International Airport, Pacific sideDavid Fieldpacificwrecks.com Rodman Naval Station now PSA Panama International Terminal (1932–1999 on ) Arraijan tank farm, for Rodman, Pacific side Arraijan Ammo depot for Rodman, Pacific side Port of Balboa Naval Base, Pacific side (Panama City) (1915–1999) Balboa 15th Naval District headquarters Balboa Naval Depot, at Balboa, Panama, Naval Supply Depot and Hospital, FPO# 121 Balboa Dry docks for repair Balboa ammunition depot and Marine Barracks Panama Canal (1939–1999) Balboa tank farm Balboa Naval Hospital Balboa Fort Amador, Navy Sector at Fort Amador was (1914–1995) (Fort Clayton) Gatun tank farm, at Gatun Lake,

Gatun Lake floating nuclear power plant model MH-1A (1968–1976) Camp Rousseau, Rousseau Naval Hospital on 50-acre during WW2, Atlantic side Almirante Fuel depot, small base at Almirante, Atlantic side. Trans-Panama pipeline built and used in World War 2, four pipes and pumping stations. Camp Elliott US Marines, (1904–1927) Culebra, renamed Camp Gaillard Atlantic side Camp Otis US Marines, east of Camp Gaillard, Atlantic side

Canal Zone Naval Radio Stations Farfan, at Rodman Naval Station, FPO# 63 and FPO# 121, Farfan Radio Station () Pacific side Toro Point, at Fort Sherman, on Bahía Limón radio compass station FPO# 35 and FPO# 122, Box 30 Atlantic side Cape Mala, FPO# 17, Radio Compass Station on Punta Mala just south of Pedasí, Los Santos Summit, FPO# 39 and FPO# 121, Box 20, in Soberanía National Park Naval Communications Summit Transmitter Sitesczimages.com Gatun, at Fort Davis at Gatun Lake, radio station FPO# 122, Box 60 (Fort Gulick) Post World War II: Naval Small Craft Instruction and Technical Training School (NAVSCIATTS) (1969–1999)) Galeta Island (1965–1999) Cocoli Navy housing opened in 1952, near Cocoli Locks

Naval Station Coco Solo

Naval Station Coco Solo and Submarine Base Coco Solo was founded in 1917, near Fort Randolph, as a submarine base to protect the Canal Zone on the Atlantic Ocean side. Starting in 1914 with five United States C-class submarines that were stationed at the base. In 1919 the C-class submarines were retired. In 1920 USS O-12, USS O-13, USS O-15, and USS O-16 arrived at the base and were retired in 1924.USS O-12 (SS-73) US Navy The USS O-5 sank after being hit by the SS Abangarez on 28 October 1923.The Navy Book of Distinguished Service. 1921. pg. 128. In 1914 USS S-44 and other S-class submarines were stationed at Coco Solo till 1931.Lenton, H. T. American Submarines (Doubleday, 1973), pp. 17, 19, & 23. USS S-48 was stationed at the base from 1931 to 1935. USS S-43 for two-year at the base. USS S-45 at the base from 1935 to 1940. In 1940 three V-boat submarines, USS Barracuda, USS Bass and USS Bonita were stationed at Coco Solo though most of the war. Coco Solo Naval Hospital operated at the base during the war. The Navy had a major ship and submarine repair base built at Coco Solo. Submarine Base Coco Solo was also used as a training ground for new crews before being moved to more forward war action. New crews would patrol the water protecting the Canal Zone. The base was very busy during World War II: with patrols, training, refueling and repairing vessels. By 1969, Naval shipyard activity had ended. By the 1980s all Navy work was moved to The Naval Station on Galeta Island. The base closed in 1999, the site is now the Manzanillo International Terminal. US Senator John McCain was born in 1936 at the small Navy hospital at Coco Solo Naval Air Station. Military Railroads on the Panama Canal Zone by Charles S. Small, Railroad monographs 1982Fort Randolphczimages.com

NAS Coco Solo

NAS Coco Solo had a small runway, three plane hangars, one blimp hangar, three seaplane ramps and tank farm. During the war the base added an engine test depot, a large aircraft assembly depot and a large repair depot. A new runway was built next to the Army runway. Seaplane unit VP-1 was transferred to NAS Coco Solo on 10 October 1943 operating under FAW-3.NAS Coco SoloUS Navy

NAS Upham NAS Upham also called NAS Coco Solo was a seaplane base of the US Navy. Named after Admiral Frank B. Upham. NAS Upham seaplanes did U-boat patrols over the Antilles, the Caribbean, and coasts of South America. The base flew Glenn L. Martin PM-2 seaplane founded on 1 September 1931 as VP-5S. The Naval unit based at NAS Upham was FAW-3. The PM-2 seaplane was an older design from the 1930s Naval Aircraft Factory PN. The PM-2 seaplanes were replaced by Consolidated P2Ys retired in 1941. The P2Y was replaced by the Consolidated PBY Catalinas used till the end of the war. While the US did not enter World War II until 1941, On 8 September 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued a proclamation of a limited" national emergency. Part of the proclamation stated "neutrality patrols". The "neutrality patrols" were flown out of NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, San Juan, Puerto Rico and NAS Coco Solo in Panama. Naval Seaplane Unit VP-33, known as Wings over Panama, was trained and sent to base for patrols. In 1941 anti submarine bombing was added to the training and the unit was designated VP-32. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor the VP-32 at NAS Upham started patrolling the Pacific Ocean around the Panama Canal for Empire of Japan vessels also. In early 1942 NAS Upham had 28 PBY seaplanes with planes added from VP-52 and VP-81. NAS Upham had convoy escort duty added to its anti-submarine patrols. Later in the war the larger and newer Martin PBM Mariner seaplanes were added to NAS Upham. Martin PBM had a bombing rack and in July 1943 three German U-boats were sunk after being found with the newer ASG radar. The U-boats sunk were: U-159 south of Haiti; U-759 east of Jamaica; and U-359 south of Puerto Rico. VPB-32 transferred to NAS Norfolk on 8 July 1944 and patrolled the Atlantic seaboard.

PT Boat Base Taboga Island