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

2. Enabling Objectives
EXPLAIN the principal points of the Treaty of Versailles and the main shortcomings of the League of Nations.
EXPLAIN the treaties resulting from the Washington Naval conference and subsequent changes in naval technology and strategy.
EXPLAIN the relationship between international affairs and national defense goals in the context of sea.
EXPLAIN ways in which changes in American society affected foreign policy and the development and employment of the U.S. Navy during this period.

3. Post WWI - U.S. Navy, 1919-1941 U.S. Navy stronger after WW I
Focused on Mahanian principles of fleet annihilation
Major naval building program begins
Naval Act of 1916 continued and expanded-35 capital ships
Emphasis on capital ships
Need for a large fleet to protect both coasts
Construction planned to rival and eclipse the Royal Navy

4. A “Return to Normalcy”
1920: American people need a “Return to Normalcy”
President Warren G. Harding
Does not support a Navy “second to none”
Republican Congress supports disarmament
Determined to cut military spending after WW I
(Stress the relation between foreign policy and naval policy.)
When Brit rejects freedom of the seas, Wilson asks for a large bldg. Program
holds larger Am fleet over Brits to get them to support the League of Nations
but - bldg program rejected by congress and League rejected by Senate 4

5. Washington Naval Conference (1921-22)
5 Power Naval Limitations Treaty
Immediate 10-year “Holiday” on construction of new capital ships
U.S. would scrap 26 battleships totaling 693,520 tons!
U.S., Britain, Japan, France, Italy
Capital ship tonnage ratio of
No capital ship over 35K tons
Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes 5

6. Effects of the Five Power Treaty

7. The Navy Suffers 1924 - Congress authorizes eight cruisers
President Coolidge suspends funds for all but two of the cruisers
President Hoover builds zero combatants
USS Lexington (CV-2)
Cascading economic problems leading to Great Depression

8. Navy Hopes For Change 1933 - Roosevelt becomes President
Recognized deteriorating international situation
Favored naval buildup
Earmarked $238M for Navy.
Yorktown and Enterprise keels laid
: Naval funding increases to 1 billion
New naval bases and air stations are built. 8

9. USS Ranger (CV 4)
USS Ranger becomes the 4th U.S. air craft carrier and the first U.S. air craft carrier built from the keel up to be an actual air craft carrier.

10. U.S. Fleet Status - 1937 Submarines: 40% below wartime strength.
Battleships - Capital ships of the fleet
Manning
Navy officers and enlisted: 113,617
Marine officers and enlisted: 18,223 = 1/3 of desired strength
Submarines: 40% below wartime strength.
Fleet Status:
Battleships: Aircraft Carriers: 3
Heavy cruisers: Light cruisers: 10
Destroyers: 196 (162 overage) Subs: 81 ( over-aged)
Evaluation of the Navy’s ability to carry out its mission in terms of strategic plans (1939)
1. Enough capital ships for an offensive in the Atlantic and a defensive in the Pacific
2. Insufficient number of aircraft carriers
3. Barely sufficient cruisers to screen the battle fleet and scouting force
4. Sufficient number of destroyers for screening combat forces only. Insufficient number of destroyers for convoy and ASW. Many destroyers were overage.
5. Submarines 40 percent below war strength
6. Aircraft
a. Shortage of long-range patrol bombers
b. Lack of modern carrier aircraft
7. Landing craft: Woeful inadequacy in number
8. Manpower: Enlisted personnel afloat (78 percent of prescribed manning)
9. Bases -- Critical deficiencies
a. Patrol plane bases needed at Oahu, Midway, Johnston, Palmyra, Wake, and Puerto Rico
b. Advance fleet bases required in Trinidad, Brazil, West Africa, Guam, Wake, and the East Indies
c. Facilities already available were not adequately defended
10. Marine Corps: One third of desired strength
11. Conclusion: “Not now fully prepared” 10

11. Battle History Video 1919-1941 Chapter 2 “Fire and Water”
04: :50

12. Enabling Objectives
EXPLAIN the principal points of the Treaty of Versailles and the main shortcomings of the League of Nations.
EXPLAIN the treaties resulting from the Washington Naval conference and subsequent changes in naval technology and strategy.
EXPLAIN the relationship between international affairs and national defense goals in the context of sea.
EXPLAIN ways in which changes in American society affected foreign policy and the development and employment of the U.S. Navy during this period.

13. Questions?
Next time: World War II: The US Navy in North Africa, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic,