Word: hooke
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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...Hook. From Florida's tip to the top of South America the islands of the Caribbean swing in a great hook, its shank extending southeast, its barb curving south and west...
...islands of the hook form a natural line of fine defensive outposts with great stretches of blue water between them and the closest jumping-off places for a European invader: the Azores or the Cape Verde Islands. Thus they are potential operating bases from which the U. S. Fleet and land-based aircraft can range far to sea, spotting and striking at any invader as close to his European base as possible. But while the islands make one of the world's finest strategic assets, they are also great potential liabilities. An enemy with a toe hold...
Keys to Windward Passage. The Caribbean hook consists of three areas which grow progressively more vulnerable from north to south. Northernmost and strongest is the stretch from the Strait of Florida to the Windward Passage between Cuba and Haiti. Florida's Strait is full of shoals, has well-defined channels, is well within the range of aircraft operating from Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami, Pensacola and dozens of inland fields. To the east the 706 islands of the Bahamas protect it, forming a tactical screen, an ideal area for submarines, destroyers, advanced aircraft bases. Except for attack by an overwhelming naval...
Cuba to Leewards. Second section of the hook ranges east to Anegada Passage, between the Virgin Islands and the Leewards. Farther from major U. S. establishments, this defensive sector of the Caribbean is proportionately more vulnerable, but is currently being strengthened. Its strong points are Puerto Rico and St. Thomas. At San Juan a cruiser dock and naval workshop are in construction, and off San Juan Harbor at Isla Grande, a naval air base is being built. Completed, the U. S. defenses at Puerto Rico will also have the eastern striking force of the Army Air Corps, flying fortresses capable...
Leewards to Venezuela. From this eastern outpost the hook swings on south, to the British-owned island of Trinidad off Venezuela's northern coast. Trinidad is an operating base to make an invader's eyes gleam-a bountiful oil and gasoline supply, strategically laid in flank of traffic from South America where he might have a foothold. It would also make an important U. S. outpost, completing the defense set-up of the hook. Its anchorages are deep and wide and its northwest coves would make good seaplane bases. Since it lies well within the U. S. sphere...