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Ref. AARUGHA!
FMFFRP 12-21

Early reconnaissance activities were generally confined to surveys of various ports, uncharted islands and contagious waters preformed by officers qualified in survey technique. Amphibious reconnaissance operations developed as a function of the Fleet Marine Force in 1933.

Major Dion Willaims, USMC wrote the first American doctrine for amphibious reconnaissance in 1906. In it he wrote only specially talented and experienced men should be assigned to this work, listing among the requisite qualities a through technical knowledge, a quick and energetic nature to ensure the work is accomplished without unnecessary delay, a sufficient resourcefulness to overcome unexpected obstacles, a reticence to ensure results are kept confidential, and above all, exactitude of work.

After WW I three significant capabilities were added, the need for observation from airplanes, submarines and an emphasis on information acquisition for long term planning purposes.  

WW II amphibious reconnaissance doctrine discusses the possibility of using amphibious reconnaissance units to conduct advanced preliminary operations, to determine enemy strength and disposition. Patrols were to land clandestinely, silently, and swiftly preferably in fog or darkness.

By 1940 the Marine Corps had developed a comprehensive amphibious reconnaissance doctrine that had been tested and was found to be valid for planning purposes to include aerial, submarine and amphibious reconnaissance conducted via insertion by rubber raft.

The next step was to develop a unit sized organization of men specializing in reconnoitering shore lines. In 1942 a small group of Marines were selected from various intelligence sections of the First Marine Division and were lead by Captain James Logan Jones (originally part of the Army Reserve accepted a commission in the Marine Corps Reserve) the group was officially designated as a "Observer Group".

Observer Groups experimented with many different types of small landing craft including rubber boats, folding canvas boat and kayaks.

Since the capabilities and limitations of amphibious reconnaissance had not been determined by actual combat experience it was difficult to perceive specifically what missions would and would not come within the scope of amphibious reconnaissance.  It was decided that patrols, properly trained, could accomplish a variety of reconnaissance missions. Thus range from hydro-graphic reconnaissance of the sea floor near the shore line to an inland reconnaissance to determine practicability of the terrain for air landings. Incidental missions of a non-intelligence nature could include night raids and disruptions of enemy communications.

In order to successfully accomplish the mission specialized training was considered essential, not anybody could, in a short period of time satisfactorily accomplish what was required. Training involved the whole person, not simply facility as a cunning scout or dexterity in manipulating a rubber boat.

World War II, Navajos at Amphibious Scout School, Southwest Pacific, 1943

These specialized personnel Amphibious Scouts needed to possess keen perception, ingenuity and confidence in a variety of settings. 

On January 7^th 1943 the Commanding General Amphibious Corps extended Jones' group to the Amphibious Reconnaissance Company anticipating future operations for which certain types of information could be obtained no other way. Company headquarters consisted of two officers, sixteen enlisted men and a reconnaissance platoon consisting of one platoon headquarters of one officer and seven enlisted men and two reconnaissance squads of six enlisted Marines each. The total company consisted of six officers and 92 enlisted Marines.

En route to Guam on board the command ship USS Appalachian (AGC 1), Marine III Amphibious Corps commander, MajGen Roy S. Geiger; his chief of staff, Col Merwin H. Silverthorn; and the Corps Artillery commander, BGen Pedro A. del Valle, all longtime Marines and World War I veterans, review their copy of the Guam relief map to assist in their estimates and plans for the operation. Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 87140

One of the officers to join the company on February 1943 was the assistant G2 of ACPF, second lieutenant Merwin H Silverthorn Jr.(latter Lt.Gen.). On 3 July, VAC's Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, commanded by Captain James L. Jones, was put on alert for reconnaissance of these potential landing sites. On 9 July, the day Saipan officially was declared secured; Jones got his operation order from Marine Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith, commander of Expeditionary Troops. His men were to scout out the Tinian beaches and their fortifications and determine their capacity to handle the landing force and keep it supplied. Accompanying naval underwater demolition teams would do the hydrographic work and locate underwater obstacles, natural or man-made.

Captain Jones picked for the job Company A under the command of Captain Merwin H. Silverthorn, Jr., the son of a Marine general and World War I veteran, and Company B, commanded by First Lieutenant Leo B. Shinn. The Navy assigned to the mission Underwater (UDT) Team 5, led by Lieutenant Commander Draper L. Kauffman, and UDT Team 7 under Lieutenant Richard F. Burke. They rehearsed the operation on the night of 9-10 July off the beaches of Saipan's Magicienne Bay. On the evening of the 10th, the Marine and Navy units boarded the destroyer transports USS Gilmer and USS Stringham for the short trip into the channels separating the two islands.

The teams debarked in rubber boats at 2030, paddled to within 500 yards of the beach and swam to their destinations. Fortunately, it was a black night and although the moon rose at 2230, it was largely obscured by clouds.

YELLOW Beach was assigned to Silverthorn's Company A. He led 20 Marines and eight UDT swimmers ashore. They found a beach near Tinian Town flanked on each side by formidable cliffs. There were many floating mines and underwater boulders in the approaches. On the beach itself, double-apron barbed wire had been strung. Second Lieutenant Donald F. Neff worked his way 30 yards inland to locate exit routes for vehicles. Nearby, talkative Japanese work crews were building pillboxes and trenching with blasting charges. Neff spotted three Japanese sentries on a cliff overlooking the beach; now and then searchlights scanned the beach approaches.

Photograph of White Beach 1 taken before naval gunfire, artillery, air bombardment, and bulldozers altered its appearance. This 60-yard beach later became the port of entry for most of V Amphibious Corps' heavy equipment. Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 151969

To the north, at the White Beaches assigned to Company B, things had not gone well. Strong currents pushed the rubber boats off course. The team headed for White 1 was swept 800 yards north of its destination and never got ashore. The party headed for White 2 wound up on White 1 and reconnoitered the area. Both parties were picked up by the Gilmer. The next night 10 swimmers from Company A were sent back to reconnoiter White 2 and had a successful trip.

The reports on the White beaches were encouraging. Although the landing areas were very restricted, it was concluded that amphibian tractors (LVTs) and other vehicles could negotiate the reefs and get ashore, and that troops with little difficulty could clamber over the low cliffs flanking the beaches. Marines forced to disembark from boats at the reef could safely wade ashore through the shallow surf. Members of Kauffman's UDT party confirmed the Marine findings and reported that "no mines or manmade underwater obstructions were found."

A few hours after the reconnaissance team returned from White 2, Admiral Turner's objections were withdrawn and a command decision to use the northern beaches was made. On 20 July, a time and date for the landing were fixed: 0730 on 24 July.

On August 25, 1943 was the official data that Captain Jones' Company was redesignated Amphibious Reconnaissance Company. A Scout unit of the Army's 7^th Division had been trained by Jones' Company was commended with a Presidential Unit Citation for being the first Americans to land on territory held by Japanese prior to Pearl Harbor, the Marines of Jones Company were really the first at Majuro but this was not disclosed until 1945 when it was deemed no longer news worthy.

1943 Photograph of USS Nautilus

From the 16^th September 1943 to the 16^th of October Jones along with Captain D. L. Nuwman of the Army served aboard the USS Nautilus during her sixth war patrol. The Commanding Officer of the Nautilus purchased Submarine Combat Insignia for them. As the Nautilus conducted photographic reconnaissance of Tarawa, Kuma, Butaritari and Apamama and Makin.

The Commanding Officer of the USS Nautilus, William D. Irvin, wrote to Captain Jones: "It is regretted that this award can not be made to you as it is felt that you gave of your fund of knowledge of the military aspects of the mission and participated in its successful competition." 

From Company to Battalion

In March, 1944, the Company reported an onboard strength of 7 officers, and 101 enlisted Marines and two Navy pharmacists. The Company had sustained the loss of 14 men during the Marshall Island campaign an extensive training program was anticipated to bring replacements up to speed as quickly as possible.

Lt. General Holland Smith: Commendation to V Amphibious Recon Corps FMF 1944

It was felt that a company encountered difficulties in preparing itself for the next operation, casualties among personnel and equipment occurred in combat and through normal attrition. Also, time was required to train replacements and absorb lessons learned in recent combat. The Amphibious Reconnaissance Company, ACPF, was expanded into an Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, activated in Hawaii on April 14, 1944.

The billet for the formation of an Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion on the East Coast happened in 1949. The Battalion was officially activated 01 December 1950 at a tent camp area of LeJeune and later moved to Stone Bay Camp. The Battalion was commanded by Major Regan Fuller who surrounded himself with WWII reconnaissance combat experienced Marines.