This 1938 film "With the Yangtze Patrol" takes a look at the U.S. Navy's riverine operation along the Yangtze River. From 1854 to 1949 enacted to protect the Navy patrolled the coastal waters of China in a bid to extend U.S. economic interests including those of the Standard Oil Co. The Naval forces, including destroyers of the Asiatic fleet, were anchored in Shanghai near the mouth of the Yangtze River (:22).This includes the USS Simpson,(DD-221/APD-27/AG-97), a Clemson-class destroyer detached to the Asiatic Fleet in 1925, as well as the USS Augusta (CL/CA-31) which was deployed in 1933. USS Borie (DD-215) is seen at 1:08. Portions of the thousands of miles of the Yangtze River were considered dangerous and riddled with bandits and pirates (1:25). A view of the river is seen as it cut along the rigid country side slopes (1:38). A traditional Chinese pagoda stands atop a hill (1:43). Young native men are seen walking along a ridge of a mountain side (1:59). The river is viewed cutting through mountains (2:22). Chinese boat men are seen navigating the river’s rapids (2:45). A point of view shot is seen from aboard the vessel (2:51). Natives are seen standing as they row the long oars (3:04). The ship is pulled ashore by an army of native trackers with long ropes cast over their shoulders (4:47). 1,400 miles from Shanghai is Chongqing which had been used as a base by light draft US gunboats in order to protect commerce along the river (5:52). Vessels move forward along the river’s waters (6:18). US sailors are seen walking up concrete stairs among natives (6:48). Natives carry covered litters on their shoulders with single passengers aboard as they walk up the stairs (7:03). A point of view shot shows the back of one of the native’s necks as the camera man is transported up (7:33) and another shot pointed down the stairs shows Navy sailors aboard some of these covered litters (7:47). Shots of a river action drill aboard a U.S. Navy gunboat, either USS Panay or one of its sister ships, shows sailors navigating the vessel (8:17) and sailors running up a ladder as they head to man their stations (8:23). Guns are moved to take aim (8:35) and a large shell is shoved into one of the guns (9:01). The film concludes on the American flag (9:19).
The Yangtze Patrol, also known as the Yangtze River Patrol Force, Yangtze River Patrol, YangPat and ComYangPat, was a prolonged naval operation from 1854–1949 to protect American interests in the Yangtze River's treaty ports. The Yangtze Patrol also patrolled the coastal waters of China where they protected U.S. citizens, their property, and Christian missionaries.
Initially, the Yangtze Patrol was formed from ships of the United States Navy and assigned to the East India Squadron. In 1868, patrol duties were carried out by the Asiatic Squadron of the United States Navy. Under the unequal treaties, the United States, Japan, and various European powers, especially the United Kingdom, which had been on the Yangtze since 1897, were allowed to cruise China's rivers.
For riverine operations, six gunboats were designed and built in 1928 in Shanghai, of three differing sizes. USS Guam and Tutuilla, 380 tons and a crew of 60, were able to ply the entire river year round. USS Panay and Oahu, 450 tons and a complement of 65; and Luzon, 560 tons and 82 men, were "May–September" gunboats, able to patrol completely upriver only during high water months. (Luzon's sister ship, USS Mindanao served on the China coast but not in the river patrol.) Except for Panay, sunk by Japanese aircraft in December 1937, the newer ships served in China until late 1941.
In 1942, at the beginning of World War II, the Yangtze Patrol effectively ceased operations in China because of the limited resources of the United States Navy, which needed the patrol crews and their ships elsewhere in fighting Japanese forces throughout the Pacific.
Following the end of World War II, the Yangtze Patrol resumed its duties in 1945, but on a more limited basis with fewer ships during the Chinese Civil War. When the Chinese Communist forces eventually occupied the Yangtze River valley in 1949, the United States Navy permanently ceased operations and disbanded the Yangtze Patrol.
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