The US Army Small Ships Section was an improvised civilian fleet mobilized by Douglas MacArthur to provide logistical support to Allied Operations in the Pacific War.
As the campaign wore on, explorers John ("Sheridan") and Adam ('Bruce") Fahnestock conceived the idea of improvising a civilian fleet to deliver supplies to the entrenched forces, under the codename 'Mission X.
Under the leadership of the Fahnestocks and Arthur R. Wilson, and with the support of Macarthur - the Section assumed a wider role in delivering ammunition, medical supplies and food to positions beyond the reach of conventional deep draft ships.
[4] Recruiting civilians deemed too young, old, or infirm for military service, the fleet grew to commandeer a flotilla of 35 fishing trawlers under Lend-Lease - ultimately expanding to include Dutch freighters and a First World War destroyer.
[2] The Section continued to serve under intensive fire throughout the Papuan and Philippine campaigns - variously collaborating with the 2/7th Australian Battalion, 2nd Engineer Special Brigade, and Sixth United States Army during the Battles of Cape Gloucester, Hollandia, Leyte, Lingayen Gulf and Cebu for the duration of the war.