Sea Power and Maritime Affairs Lesson 5.9: U.S. Naval Strategy and National Policy, 1919-1941.

Sea Power and MaritimeSea Power and Maritime Affairs Affairs

Lesson 5.9: U.S. Naval Strategy Lesson 5.9: U.S. Naval Strategy and National Policy, 1919-1941and National Policy, 1919-1941

Enabling ObjectivesEnabling Objectives• EXPLAIN the principal points of the Treaty of EXPLAIN the principal points of the Treaty of

Versailles and the main shortcomings of the Versailles and the main shortcomings of the League of Nations.League of Nations.

• EXPLAIN the treaties resulting from the EXPLAIN the treaties resulting from the Washington Naval conference and subsequent Washington Naval conference and subsequent changes in naval technology and strategy.changes in naval technology and strategy.

• EXPLAIN the relationship between international EXPLAIN the relationship between international affairs and national defense goals in the context of affairs and national defense goals in the context of sea.sea.

• EXPLAIN ways in which changes in American EXPLAIN ways in which changes in American society affected foreign policy and the development society affected foreign policy and the development and employment of the U.S. Navy during this and employment of the U.S. Navy during this period.period.

Post WWI - U.S. Navy, 1919-Post WWI - U.S. Navy, 1919-19411941

• U.S. Navy stronger after WW IU.S. Navy stronger after WW I• Focused on Mahanian principles of fleet Focused on Mahanian principles of fleet

annihilationannihilation• Major naval building program begins - 1919Major naval building program begins - 1919

– Naval Act of 1916 continued and expanded-35 Naval Act of 1916 continued and expanded-35 capital shipscapital ships

– Emphasis on capital shipsEmphasis on capital ships– Need for a large fleet to protect both coastsNeed for a large fleet to protect both coasts– Construction planned to rival and eclipse the Construction planned to rival and eclipse the

Royal NavyRoyal Navy

A “Return to Normalcy”A “Return to Normalcy”

• 19201920: American people : American people need a “Return to Normalcy”need a “Return to Normalcy”– President Warren G. HardingPresident Warren G. Harding– Does not support a Navy Does not support a Navy

“second to none”“second to none”– Republican Congress Republican Congress

supports disarmamentsupports disarmament– Determined to cut military Determined to cut military

spending after WW Ispending after WW I

• 5 Power Naval Limitations Treaty5 Power Naval Limitations Treaty– Immediate 10-year “Holiday” on Immediate 10-year “Holiday” on

construction of new capital shipsconstruction of new capital ships– U.S. would scrap 26 battleships U.S. would scrap 26 battleships

totaling 693,520 tons!totaling 693,520 tons!– U.S., Britain, Japan, France, ItalyU.S., Britain, Japan, France, Italy– Capital ship tonnage ratio of 5-5- Capital ship tonnage ratio of 5-5-

3-1.7-1.73-1.7-1.7– No capital ship over 35K tonsNo capital ship over 35K tons

Washington Naval Conference Washington Naval Conference (1921-22)(1921-22)

Secretary of State Secretary of State Charles Evans HughesCharles Evans Hughes

Effects of the Five Power TreatyEffects of the Five Power Treaty

The Navy SuffersThe Navy Suffers• 1924 - Congress 1924 - Congress

authorizes eight cruisersauthorizes eight cruisers– President Coolidge President Coolidge

suspends funds for all suspends funds for all but two of the cruisersbut two of the cruisers

• 1928 - President Hoover 1928 - President Hoover builds zero combatantsbuilds zero combatants– USS Lexington (CV-2)USS Lexington (CV-2)

• 1929 - Cascading 1929 - Cascading economic problems economic problems leading to Great leading to Great DepressionDepression

Navy Hopes For ChangeNavy Hopes For Change• 1933 1933 - Roosevelt - Roosevelt

becomes Presidentbecomes President– Recognized deteriorating Recognized deteriorating

international situationinternational situation– Favored naval buildupFavored naval buildup

• Earmarked $238M for Earmarked $238M for Navy.Navy.– Yorktown and Enterprise Yorktown and Enterprise

keels laidkeels laid– 1933-1940: Naval funding 1933-1940: Naval funding

increases to 1 billionincreases to 1 billion– New naval bases and air New naval bases and air

stations are built.stations are built.

USS USS RangerRanger (CV 4) - 1934 (CV 4) - 1934

U.S. Fleet Status - 1937U.S. Fleet Status - 1937• Battleships - Capital ships of the fleetBattleships - Capital ships of the fleet• ManningManning

– Navy officers and enlisted: 113,617Navy officers and enlisted: 113,617– Marine officers and enlisted: 18,223 = 1/3 of desired Marine officers and enlisted: 18,223 = 1/3 of desired

strengthstrength

• Submarines: 40% below wartime strength.Submarines: 40% below wartime strength.• Fleet Status:Fleet Status:

• BattleshipsBattleships: 15 : 15 Aircraft CarriersAircraft Carriers: 3: 3• Heavy cruisersHeavy cruisers: 17 : 17 Light cruisers:Light cruisers: 10 10• DestroyersDestroyers: 196 (162 overage) : 196 (162 overage) SubsSubs: 81 (50 : 81 (50

over-aged)over-aged)

Battle History VideoBattle History Video

1919-19411919-1941- Chapter 2 “Fire and Chapter 2 “Fire and

Water”Water”- 04:00 - 12:5004:00 - 12:50

Enabling ObjectivesEnabling Objectives• EXPLAIN the principal points of the Treaty of EXPLAIN the principal points of the Treaty of

Versailles and the main shortcomings of the Versailles and the main shortcomings of the League of Nations.League of Nations.

• EXPLAIN the treaties resulting from the EXPLAIN the treaties resulting from the Washington Naval conference and subsequent Washington Naval conference and subsequent changes in naval technology and strategy.changes in naval technology and strategy.

• EXPLAIN the relationship between international EXPLAIN the relationship between international affairs and national defense goals in the context of affairs and national defense goals in the context of sea.sea.

• EXPLAIN ways in which changes in American EXPLAIN ways in which changes in American society affected foreign policy and the development society affected foreign policy and the development and employment of the U.S. Navy during this and employment of the U.S. Navy during this period.period.

Questions?Questions?

Next time: World War II: The US Navy in North Next time: World War II: The US Navy in North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, 1941-Africa, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, 1941-

19451945