NZ Invasion By The US Great White Fleet:

Since the end of WWII the US forces are said to have intervened militarily or mounted an armed attack in around some seventy nations .. Indeed one story claims that there are only 3 nations that they haven't attacked .. named as  Andorra, Bhutan, and Liechtenstein:
 https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/these-are-the-only-3-countries-america-hasnt-invaded

- But some years before both World Wars, on August 9th 1908 the US Navy "Great White Fleet" of 16 warships lead by USS Connecticut entered the Waitemata Harbor at Auckland to "show the flag".

USS CONNECTICUT.

Little old New Zealand welcomed the US Forces with open arms and the best display of hospitality we could afford .. a large fern-clad Arch of Welcome plus parades welcomed the crews into Auckland's Queen Street.

- Few in that cheering crowd would have guessed that the Americans were here planning an invasion of New Zealand.

Both nations were concerned about the growing military strength and intent of the Japanese and sought answers to deal with Emperor Hirohito (aka Emperor Showa). - Kiwis hoped that the USA might use it's growing strength under Teddy Roosevelt to discourage Japans ambitions ..

 But because of The Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902) US believed that 'Great Britain' and it's Empire would side with Japan - so planned a rapid surprise attack on our sheep inhabited green hills.

The U.S. fleet was actually in town to plan an invasion of New Zealand. 

Fortresses along the North shore were analyzed for tactical value, size, and armaments. U.S. military officials wrote back to Washington, "Any of them could probably be occupied with little or no opposition provided the attack was sudden." - Newly-conquered Auckland would make a fine U.S. base of operations in the region.

US Military Transport Planes At Their Base

 Harewood Airport Christchurch NZ.

The 1908 plan developed by the 14,000 strong naval force named the Manukau Harbour as the best invasion point "in case the defenses of Auckland Harbor proper prove too strong for a direct frontal attack" - It includes loading guns onto Rangitoto island to shell forts on the North Shore.

The US document Naval War Plan for the Attack of Auckland, New Zealand, details the strength of Auckland forts and describes the size and number of guns.

Referring to the harbors in the North Island, the report says: "Any of them could probably be occupied with little or no opposition provided the attack was sudden."

- They were almost certainly correct .. Not many people know that eh. - It might have been the making of the place 110 years ago.

Camo C-5 Galaxy At Christchurch 1992

Marty K.
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