Exercise Longstep
Encyclopedia
Exercise Longstep was a ten-day NATO naval exercise held in the Mediterranean Sea
during November 1952 under the overall command of Admiral Robert B. Carney, USN, the Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCAFSOUTH). This exercise involved over 170 warships and 700 aircraft, and it featured a large-scale amphibious assault along the western coast of Turkey
.
Exercise Longstep featured combined training in the coordination of radio and wire communications between ships, aircraft, and ground forces of the six-nation, five-language combined force. With Exercise Grand Slam, this exercise served as the prototype for future NATO maritime exercises in the Mediterranean Sea during the Cold War. Exercise Longstep was also an early test of the combined military command structure for NATO's Southern Region
.
approved NATO's military strategic concept of deterring Soviet aggression
. NATO military planning took on a renewed urgency following the outbreak of the Korean War
, prompting NATO to establish Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
(SHAPE) under the command of General of the Army
Dwight D. Eisenhower
, U.S. Army, on 2 April 1951. Exercise Longstep was an early naval exercise for SHAPE's southern regional command, Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH).
Blue naval forces were centered around the U.S. Sixth Fleet, under the command of Vice Admiral
John H. Cassady, USN, and its two aircraft carriers, the and . Air sorties were flown by American and Italian aircraft attacking Blue naval forces, and Blue carrier-based aircraft counter-attacking Green military targets in northern Italy. Operation Longstep concluded with an amphibious landing at Lebidos Bay south of İzmir, Turkey
, involving 3000 French, Italian, and Greek troops, including the Third Battalion, Second Marines, under the overall command of General
Robert E. Hogaboom
, USMC.
In the actual landing at Lebidos Bay
, the Italians went ashore at H-Hour minus six in a diversionary attack
on nearby Doganbey Island. This was followed by the main landing force led U.S. Marines along with the French and Greek troops. After securing the beach-head
and setting up a defensive perimeter, the landing force was re-embarked onto the amphibious shippping off-shore, concluding Exercise Longstep.
embarked on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42):
Carrier Air Group Eighteen (CVG-18) embarked on USS Wasp (CV-18):
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
during November 1952 under the overall command of Admiral Robert B. Carney, USN, the Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCAFSOUTH). This exercise involved over 170 warships and 700 aircraft, and it featured a large-scale amphibious assault along the western coast of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
Exercise Longstep featured combined training in the coordination of radio and wire communications between ships, aircraft, and ground forces of the six-nation, five-language combined force. With Exercise Grand Slam, this exercise served as the prototype for future NATO maritime exercises in the Mediterranean Sea during the Cold War. Exercise Longstep was also an early test of the combined military command structure for NATO's Southern Region
Allied Joint Force Command Naples
Allied Joint Force Command Naples is a NATO military command. It was activated on 15 March 2004, after what was effectively a redesignation of its predecessor command, Allied Forces Southern Europe , originally formed in 1951...
.
Background
In January 1950, the North Atlantic CouncilNorth Atlantic Council
North Atlantic Council is the most senior political governing body of NATO established by Article 9 of the North Atlantic Treaty. The NAC can be held at the Permanent Representative Level , or can be composed of member states' Ministers of State, Defense, or Heads of Government. The NAC has the...
approved NATO's military strategic concept of deterring Soviet aggression
Containment
Containment was a United States policy using military, economic, and diplomatic strategies to stall the spread of communism, enhance America’s security and influence abroad, and prevent a "domino effect". A component of the Cold War, this policy was a response to a series of moves by the Soviet...
. NATO military planning took on a renewed urgency following the outbreak of the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, prompting NATO to establish Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
(SHAPE) under the command of General of the Army
General of the Army (United States)
General of the Army is a five-star general officer and is the second highest possible rank in the United States Army. A special rank of General of the Armies, which ranks above General of the Army, does exist but has only been conferred twice in the history of the Army...
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
, U.S. Army, on 2 April 1951. Exercise Longstep was an early naval exercise for SHAPE's southern regional command, Allied Forces Southern Europe (AFSOUTH).
Command structure
The overall exercise commander for Grand Slam was Admiral Robert B. Carney USN, NATO's Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces Southern Europe (CINCSOUTH). AFSOUTH component commanders during Longstep were:- Allied Air Force South (AIRSOUTH) - Major General David M. Schlatter, USAF
- Allied Land Forces South (LANDSOUTH) - Lieutenant General Maurizio Lazzaro De Castiglioni, Italian Army
- Allied Naval Forces South (NAVSOUTH) - Vice Admiral John H. Cassady, USN
Operation history
The objective of the Allied ("Blue") forces was to dislodge enemy ("Green") invasion forces from their occupying positions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Green forces consisted of the Italian 56th Tactical Air Force and submarines of the United States, Great Britain, France, Greece, and Turkey lying in wait to ambush the Blue amphibious convoy departing from Italian embarkation ports. Over 170 warships and 700 aircraft were involved in Operation Longstep.Blue naval forces were centered around the U.S. Sixth Fleet, under the command of Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
John H. Cassady, USN, and its two aircraft carriers, the and . Air sorties were flown by American and Italian aircraft attacking Blue naval forces, and Blue carrier-based aircraft counter-attacking Green military targets in northern Italy. Operation Longstep concluded with an amphibious landing at Lebidos Bay south of İzmir, Turkey
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
, involving 3000 French, Italian, and Greek troops, including the Third Battalion, Second Marines, under the overall command of General
General (United States)
In the United States Army, United States Air Force, and United States Marine Corps, general is a four-star general officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. General ranks above lieutenant general and below General of the Army or General of the Air Force; the Marine Corps does not have an...
Robert E. Hogaboom
Robert E. Hogaboom
Robert Edward Hogaboom was a United States Marine Corps four star general who served as Chief of Staff, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. Hogaboom was promoted to four-star rank upon retirement as a "tombstone general".-Biography:Robert Edward Hogaboom was born on November 13, 1902 in Meridian,...
, USMC.
In the actual landing at Lebidos Bay
Lebedus
Lebedus or Lebedos was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League, located south of Smyrna, Klazomenai and neighboring Teos and before Ephesus, which is further south...
, the Italians went ashore at H-Hour minus six in a diversionary attack
Feint
Feint is a French term that entered English from the discipline of fencing. Feints are maneuvers designed to distract or mislead, done by giving the impression that a certain maneuver will take place, while in fact another, or even none, will...
on nearby Doganbey Island. This was followed by the main landing force led U.S. Marines along with the French and Greek troops. After securing the beach-head
Beach-Head
Beach-Head is a video game developed and published in 1983 by Access Software for the Atari 8-bit and Commodore 64 home computers in the US. Versions for the C16, ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro and Acorn Electron were published in Europe by U.S...
and setting up a defensive perimeter, the landing force was re-embarked onto the amphibious shippping off-shore, concluding Exercise Longstep.
Carrier aviation units
Carrier Air Group Seventeen (CVG-17)Carrier Air Wing Seventeen
Carrier Air Wing Seventeen , is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson.-Mission:...
embarked on USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42):
|
|
Carrier Air Group Eighteen (CVG-18) embarked on USS Wasp (CV-18):
|
|
Legacy
Longstep was an early attempt to integrate the vavious naval forces into a more combined force under NATO command. Another important aspect of Longstep was combined training in the coordination of radio and wire communications between ships, aircraft, and ground forces of the six-nation, five-language combined force.External links
- Operation Longstep - British Pathe