USF 74 Tact&Doct Acft V1 CV Acft 194103 (PDF)

AND DOCTRINE
U. S. FLEET AIRCRAFT
VOLUME ONE
USF-74 (REVISED)
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PREPARED BY
COMMANDER AIRCRAFT BATTLE FORCE
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M A R C H --1941

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Date ..... ............................. ....... .......................

From :

...............„ .................................................
(Title of holder, name of command)

To

The Chief of Naval Operations. (Registered Publication Section).

:

Subject
1.

.

USF-74, (revised), register number..... ...........___________ ,
The register numbered copy o f the subject publication received has been checked against

the List of Effective Pages contained therein by _________________________ _________________ _____
(Signature and rank)
and (a) found to agree therewith
or

(b)

found to agree therewith, except as follows:

(“ X ” out (a) or (b) as appropriate; — list exceptions if any.)

This copy may be retained in book if desired.

Date

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From :
(Title of holder, name of command)
To

:

Subject
1.

The Chief of Naval Operations. (Registered PubRa&tih?1 Section).
USF-74, (revised), register num ber........................------- ----,
The register numbered copy of the subject publication received has been checked against

the List of Effective Pages contained therein by _______________________________ _______ ______.__
(Signature and rank)
and (a) found to agree therewith
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found to agree therewith, except as follow s:

(“ X " out (a) or (b) as appropriate; — list exceptions if any.)

Signature of Commanding O fficer

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Execute and mail this copy to OPNAV.

CONFI DENTIAL

USF-74

UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET
AIRCRAFT, BATTLE FORCE

Fleet A ir Detachment,
Naval A ir Station,
Pearl Harbor, T. H.,
20 Ajpril, 1941.
From:
To
:

Commander Aircraft, BATTLE FORCE.
HOLDERS OF USF-74, (REVISED).

Subject:

Current Tactical Orders and Doctrine, U. S. Fleet Aircraft — Volume I, Carrier
Aircraft, USF-74 (Revised).

1.
This publication, Current Tactical Orders and Doctrine, U. S. Fleet A ircraft — Volume
I, Carrier Aircraft, USF-74 (revised) is one of three volumes o f Current Tactical Orders and Doc­
trine, U. S. Fleet Aircraft, prepared under the supervision of Commander Aircraft, BATTLE
F O R C E , in a ccord a n ce with directives from the Gommander-in-Chief, U. S. Fleet, fo r the use and
guidance of the Fleet. The short and long titles for these publications are listed below:
(a) USF-74 (revised). Current Tactical Orders and Doctrine, U. S. Fleet Aircraft,
Volume I, Carrier Aircraft (Parts 1 to 5 inclusive).
(b) USF-75 (revised). Current Tactical Orders and Doctrine, U. S. Fleet Aircraft,
Volume II, Battleship and Cruiser Aircraft (Parts 6 and 7).
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(c) USF-76.
Patrol Aircraft (Part 8).

Current Tactical Orders and Doctrine, U. S. Fleet Aircraft, Volume III,

2.
All recommended changes to this publication shall be forwarded to Commander Airer~f.ti; fiafeaie Forcevfoy approval.
rV-ecCj
3.
Part I of this Volume (USF-74 revised) is applicable to all Fleet Aircraft. The parts of
these three volumes have been numbered consecutively throughout the three volumes for continuity.
4.
Current Tactical Orders and Doctrine, U. S. Fleet Aircraft, USF-74 (revised), is a con­
fidential publication and shall be handled and accounted for as prescribed in the Navy Regulations
and the current edition of the Registered Publication Manual. All reports of loss, transfer, destruc­
tion, or compromise shall be made to the Chief of Naval Operations. (Registered Publication Sec­
tion) .
5.
When not in actual use USF-74 (revised) shall be given Class “ C” stowage, as defined
in the Registered Publication Manual.

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6.
IT IS FORBIDDEN TO MAKE EXTRACTS FROM OR TO COPY THIS PUBLICA­
TION WITHOUT SPECIFIC AUTHORITY FROM THE CHIEF OF N AV AL OPERATIONS, EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH INSTRUCTIONS IN THE CURRENT EDITION OF THE REGISTERED PUBLICATION MANUAL.
7.
It is not intended that USF-74 (revised) be carried in aircraft for use therein. The
methods of transportation authorized for USF-74 (revised) are prescribed in the Navy Regulations
and the Registered Publication Manual.
A-

CO N FIDEN TIAL

S.

USF-74

This publication becomes effective upon receipt and supersedes the following publica­

tions:
(a) USF-74, register numbers 1-3200. All copies bearing register numbers below
3200 shall be destroyed by burning and report made to the Chief of Naval Operations (Registered
Publication S ection);
(b) Experimental Carrier Type Tactics 1-39 and Aircraft Tactical Bulletin (BTI)
2-40, all copies o f which shall be destroyed by burning and report made to Commander Aircraft,
Battle Force.

W. F. HALSEY
Vice Admiral, U. S. Navy.

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USF-74

CONFIDENTIAL

CONTENTS
PART I
Tactical Instructions applicable to all Types o f Aircraft
o f Aircraft, Battle Force.

CHAPTER 1.

Page
1
5
15

Simple formations.
Section I. 3 - plane sections.
Section II. 2 - plane sections,
ship units).

16
26

Compound formations.
Section I. Divisions of 3 - plane sections.
Section II. Divisions of 2 - plane sections, (Additional for cruiser
and battleship units).

49

Squadron maneuvers.

CHAPTER 2.

CHAPTER 3.

CHAPTER 4.

General, definitions, signals.

CHAPTER 5.
49
^ 2
58
60
60

(Additional fo r cruiser and battle-

Scouting.
Section I. General.
Section II. Sector search.
Section III. Scouting line.
Section IV. Contact scouting.
Section V. Patrol.

68
70
74

Tactical Doctrines.
Section I. Cruising doctrine.
Section II. Contact doctrine.
Section III. Attack doctrine.
Section IV. Defense doctrine.

CHAPTER 7.

75

Communication Doctrine.

CHAPTER 8.

76

Forced Landing Procedure.

79
85
96

Smoke screens.
Section I. General.
Section II. Types of smoke screens.
Section III. Smoke-laying tactics.

CHAPTER 6.
66

CHAPTER 9.

PART II
CHAPTER 1.

97
100

CHAPTER 2.

100
101
105

A ir cra ft Tactical Instructions for
Carrier VS Type Squadrons
Section I. General.
Section XL Other forms o f scouting.

Aircraft taeiieeS instructions fo r VB type squadrons.
Section I. General.
Section II. Tactics.
Section III. Fire distribution.
D

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CONFIDENTIAL

USF-74
PART II (Continued)
Page

CHAPTER 3.

106

Tactical Instructions and doctrine for fighting- squadrons.

122
133
136
140

Aircraft Tactical Instruction for VTB type squadrons.
Section I. General.
Section II-A. Bombing Doctrine.
Section II-B. Night Horizontal Bombing—Target immobile.
Section III. Aircraft and Surface Craft Coordination.

CH APTE ,. 4.

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PART III
CHAPTER 1.

141

Attack Operations.

CHAPTER 2.

157

Wing Tactics.
PART IV
EXPEDITIONARY OPERATIONS
PART V

CARRIER SQUADRON PROCEDURE, GROUP ORDERS
AND INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDING PLANE GUARDS
AND OTHER SUPPORTING VESSELS
CHAPTERS 1— 7

160

Chapter titles and reference to other USF publications appear on
page 160.

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CONFIDENTIAL

USF-74

■•a

I
LIST OF EFFECTIVE PAGES
TITLE

Page No,

Promulgating Letter

A, B

Correction Page
Contents ------------ .------

D, E

List of Effective Pages

F

Index, Part I ..

G, H

Index, Part II

I, J

Index, Part

m

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in,

K

P a rti

1-96

Part II

97-140

Part 111

141-158

Part IV

159

Part V ..

180

V

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