Arthur S. Carpender
Encyclopedia
Arthur Schuyler Carpender (October 24, 1884 – January 10, 1960), nicknamed "Chips", was an American vice admiral
during World War II
commanding US naval forces in the Southwest Pacific
.
, he was born to John Neilson Carpender and Anna Neilson Kemp on October 24, 1884.
in 1908.
In 1913, Ensign Carpender served aboard the battleship
USS Utah
(BB-31). During World War I
, Lieutenant Carpender commanded the destroyer
USS Fanning
(DD-37). On November 17, 1917, Fanning and Nicholson
(DD-52) sank the German
U-boat
SM U-58
, taking the crew prisoner.
's Southwest Pacific Force on September 11, 1942 succeeding Admiral Herbert F. Leary. Although disagreeing on the deployment of the small naval force, particularly on sending Allied destroyers and submarines to support Australia
n forces near Buna
during the Lilliput Plan, Carpender worked with MacArthur to resolve the severe supply shortages hindering "MacArthur’s Navy" (later reorganized as the US 7th Fleet on February 19, 1943). Observing the capabilities of PT boat
s during his evacuation from the Philippines, MacArthur encouraged their use, and Carpender effectively made use of the torpedo boats during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea
on March 25, 1943. Along with Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey
, Carpender would oversee the fleet’s operations during Operation Cartwheel
.
Replaced by Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid
on November 26, Carpender commanded the Ninth Naval District from January 3, 1944 until September 2, 1945, during which time the construction of the USS Macabi
(SS-375) would be sponsored by Carpender’s wife, before his retirement in 1946.
on January 10, 1960.
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
commanding US naval forces in the Southwest Pacific
South West Pacific theatre of World War II
The South West Pacific Theatre, technically the South West Pacific Area, between 1942 and 1945, was one of two designated area commands and war theatres enumerated by the Combined Chiefs of Staff of World War II in the Pacific region....
.
Family
A direct descendant of Wolphert Gerretse Van KouwenhovenWolphert Gerretse
Wolphert Gerretse , also known as Wolphert Gerretse Van Kouwenhoven and Wolfert Gerritsen Van Couwenhoven, was an original patentee, director of bouweries, and a founder of the New Netherlands colony; founder of the first European settlement on Long Island, New Amersfoort, and a Schepen of New...
, he was born to John Neilson Carpender and Anna Neilson Kemp on October 24, 1884.
Early career
Carpender graduated from the United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1908.
In 1913, Ensign Carpender served aboard the battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
USS Utah
USS Utah (BB-31)
USS Utah was a battleship that was attacked and sunk in Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. A Florida-class battleship, she was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for the U.S. state of Utah...
(BB-31). During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Lieutenant Carpender commanded the destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
USS Fanning
USS Fanning (DD-37)
The first USS Fanning was a modified in the United States Navy during World War I and later in the United States Coast Guard, designated as CG-11. She was named for Nathaniel Fanning....
(DD-37). On November 17, 1917, Fanning and Nicholson
USS Nicholson (DD-52)
USS Nicholson was an built for the United States Navy before the American entry into World War I. The ship was the second U.S...
(DD-52) sank the German
Kaiserliche Marine
The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...
U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
SM U-58
SM U-58
|SM U-58 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Imperial German Navy in World War I.U-58 was engaged in the naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic. The boat was sunk with the loss of two men and the capture of the rest of the crew in the Action of 17 November...
, taking the crew prisoner.
Later career
Carpender was Commander, Destroyers Atlantic Fleet from December 1941 to June 1942. He was assigned to General Douglas MacArthurDouglas MacArthur
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur was an American general and field marshal of the Philippine Army. He was a Chief of Staff of the United States Army during the 1930s and played a prominent role in the Pacific theater during World War II. He received the Medal of Honor for his service in the...
's Southwest Pacific Force on September 11, 1942 succeeding Admiral Herbert F. Leary. Although disagreeing on the deployment of the small naval force, particularly on sending Allied destroyers and submarines to support Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n forces near Buna
Buna, Papua New Guinea
Buna is a village in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. It was the site in part, of the Battle of Buna-Gona during World War II, when it constituted a variety of native huts and a handful of houses with a airstrip...
during the Lilliput Plan, Carpender worked with MacArthur to resolve the severe supply shortages hindering "MacArthur’s Navy" (later reorganized as the US 7th Fleet on February 19, 1943). Observing the capabilities of PT boat
PT boat
PT Boats were a variety of motor torpedo boat , a small, fast vessel used by the United States Navy in World War II to attack larger surface ships. The PT boat squadrons were nicknamed "the mosquito fleet". The Japanese called them "Devil Boats".The original pre–World War I torpedo boats were...
s during his evacuation from the Philippines, MacArthur encouraged their use, and Carpender effectively made use of the torpedo boats during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Battle of the Bismarck Sea
The Battle of the Bismarck Sea took place in the South West Pacific Area during World War II. During the course of the battle, aircraft of the U.S. 5th Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force attacked a Japanese convoy that was carrying troops to Lae, New Guinea...
on March 25, 1943. Along with Rear Admiral Daniel E. Barbey
Daniel E. Barbey
Vice Admiral Daniel Edward Barbey was an officer in the United States Navy who served in World War I and World War II. A graduate of the Naval Academy, he participated in the 1912 United States occupation of Nicaragua and the 1915 United States occupation of Veracruz. While serving with the War...
, Carpender would oversee the fleet’s operations during Operation Cartwheel
Operation Cartwheel
Operation Cartwheel was a major military strategy for the Allies in the Pacific theater of World War II. Cartwheel was a twin-axis of advance operation, aimed at militarily neutralizing the major Japanese base at Rabaul...
.
Replaced by Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid
Thomas C. Kinkaid
Thomas Cassin Kinkaid was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. He built a reputation as a "fighting admiral" in the aircraft carrier battles of 1942 and commanded the Allied forces in the Aleutian Islands Campaign...
on November 26, Carpender commanded the Ninth Naval District from January 3, 1944 until September 2, 1945, during which time the construction of the USS Macabi
USS Macabi (SS-375)
USS Macabi was a Balao-class submarine of the United States Navy, named for the macabi, a fish living in tropical seas and off the American coasts as far north as San Diego and Long Island and reaching a length of ....
(SS-375) would be sponsored by Carpender’s wife, before his retirement in 1946.
Death
Carpender would continue to live in retirement with his wife Helena until his death in the Georgetown area of Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on January 10, 1960.
See also
- Ralph W. ChristieRalph Waldo ChristieRalph Waldo Christie was an admiral in the United States Navy who played a pivotal role in the development of torpedo technologies...
- Stuart S. MurrayStuart S. MurrayStuart Shadrick Murray was a Vice Admiral of the United States Navy who served during World War II. Born in Delia, Texas he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1919...
- South West Pacific Area
- James Fife, Jr.James Fife, Jr.Admiral James Fife, Jr. was a United States Navy admiral who was promoted to four star rank after retirement as a "tombstone admiral".-Biography:...
- Frank Horton BerrymanFrank Horton BerrymanLieutenant General Sir Frank Horton Berryman, KCVO, CB, CBE, DSO was an Australian Army officer who rose to the rank of lieutenant general during the Second World War. The son of an engine driver, he entered Duntroon in 1913. Graduating early due to the First World War, he served on the Western...