Interwar Years

Army in Interwar Years Continuing struggle in period over nature of army –Civilian or professional Budget cutting of 1920’s strips army of forces Air Service and Chemical warfare given equal status

Bonus Expeditionary Force(1932) Use of Army in a Civil Disturbance Chief of Staff Douglas McArthur –Sends out tanks, cavalry and infantry –Show military can go overboard Fear of revolution

Air Power Chief advocate of air power—Billy Mitchell –Expanded on lessons of World War I –Pushed for air development Budget cut following war –Takes case to the public –Agitates for test to prove strength of airpower Says Battleships will be useless Upsets Navy leadership Navy gives into pressure

1 st Provisional Air Brigade Attacks anchored German ships –Mitchell had to develop large bombs and navigational techniques for the attack –Sinks ships –Navy rejects test-flaws in attack Continued public appeals about lack of air preparedness –Court-marshaled –Brought airpower into the public eye

Strategic Airpower Doctrine emerges before technology appears –Precision bombing of enemy industry US is long way from capable –Air Mail contract in 1930’s Can’t do long-distance flying in day or night Development of two planes signal change –B-10-all metal, two engine monoplane –B-17-four engine bomber

B-17

B-10

Navy in Interwar Years Washington Naval Conference of 1921 –Naval Disarmament Restrictions of Battleships and cruisers No restrictions on Aircraft Carriers Sets ratios-makes US vulnerable in the Pacific Cutbacks through the era in 1920’s –Falls behind the Japanese and British in active ships

Growth Aviation is one area that does grow –USS Langley-Converted Coaler –USS Saratoga and Lexington Vision still of scouting and observation In 1930’s, Navy starts to rebuild –Way of helping Depression –Vinson-Trammell Act(1933) –Helps in early stages of World War II

Marines Period of significant doctrinal shift Still continue old mission –Police force in Latin America and Far East Commandant John LeJeune feels new role needed –World War I use was not typical –Pushes to develop amphibious capability –Sees next war with Japan –Earl Ellis--theorist –Marines build prototype landing craft-Higgins Boat Landing Operations Manual-1934