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THE NEUTRALITY PATROL - NEUTRALITY PATROL

2)THE SHIPS INVOLVED

THE SHIPS INVOLVED The Neutrality Patrol extended far south in the Atlantic to Cape San Roque, Saint Paul Rocks and the islands of Trindade and Martim Vaz off the coast of Espirito Santo southeast of Brazil.

View of Cape San Roque and the Lighthouse

The uninhabited desolated Saint Paul Rocks

View of Trindade and Martim Vaz, the southernmost point in the south Atlantic scanned by the ships of US Navy on the Neutrality Patrol. In fact these islands where garrisoned by a small Brazilian Navy detachment to serve as an advanced outpost in the South Atlantic.

These are the ships of US Navy which firstly patrolled the waters of the south Atlantic prior of the entry of the United States in the War. Actually they were the spearhead of the Fourth Fleet established in Recife in 1942.

On Apr 26 1941 Neutrality Patrol is ordered extended southward to 20°S, and east to 26°W. Accordingly, carrier task group patrols are inaugurated this date when carrier Wasp (CV-7) (embarked squadrons: VF 72, VS 71, and VS 72) departs Hampton Roads accompanied by heavy cruiser Quincy (CA-39) and destroyers Livermore (DD-429) and Kearny (DD-432). TG 2, as the force is designated, will steam 5,292 miles before it arrives at Bermuda on 12 May.

On May 9, TG 1, comprising carrier Ranger (CV-4) (VF 41, VS 41 and VS 42), heavy cruiser Vincennes (CA-44), and destroyers Sampson (DD-394) and Eberle (DD-430), sets out from Bermuda to begin a 4,675-mile neutrality patrol that will conclude at Bermuda on 23 May.

TG 3, comprising carrier Ranger (CV-4) (VB 5, VF 5, and VS 5), heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA-37), and destroyers McDougal (DD-358) and Eberle (DD-430), departs Bermuda for a 4,355-mile neutrality patrol that will conclude there on 8 June.

Neutrality Patrol was ordered extended southward to 20°S. Accordingly, carrier task group patrols are inaugurated this date when carrier Wasp (CV-7) (embarked squadrons: VF 72, VS 71, and VS 72) departs Hampton Roads accompanied by heavy cruiser Quincy(CA-39) and destroyers Livermore (DD-429) and Kearny (DD-432). TG 2, as the force is designated, will steam 5,292 miles before it arrives at Bermuda on 12 May 1941.

TG 1 (Rear Admiral Arthur B. Cook), comprising Yorktown (CV-5) (VF 41, VS 41, VS 42, and VT 5), heavy cruiser Vincennes (CA-44), and destroyers Sampson (DD-394) and Gwin (DD-433), departs Bermuda for 4,550-mile neutrality patrol that will conclude at Hampton Roads, Virginia, on 12 June.

TG 2.6, comprising carrier Wasp (CV-7) (VF 71, VS 72, and VMB 1), heavy cruiser Tuscaloosa (CA-37), and destroyers Anderson(DD-411) and Rowan (DD-405), departs Hampton Roads for a 4,320-mile neutrality patrol that will conclude at Bermuda on 4 July 1941.

TG 2.7, comprising light cruisers Philadelphia (CL-41) and Savannah (CL-42) and destroyers Lang (DD-399) and Wilson (DD-408), depart Hampton Roads for a 4,762-mile neutrality patrol that will conclude on 8 July 1941 at Bermuda.

Jun 29, Sun. TG 2.8, comprising carrier Yorktown (CV-5) (VF 42, VS 42, VMO 1, and half of VMS 1), heavy cruisers Quincy (CA-39) and Vincennes (CA-44), and destroyers Wainwright (DD-419), Hammann (DD-412), Mustin (DD-413), and Stack (DD-406), departs Hampton Roads for neutrality patrol. Yorktown, accompanied by Wainwright and Stack, depart the patrol on 10 July, returning to Hampton Roads on the 12th; Quincy, Vincennes, Hammann, and Mustin continue the cruise, putting in to Bermuda on 15 July.