Lesson 5.12: The U.S. Navy in the Early Lesson 5.12: The U.S. Navy in the Early Cold War, 1945-1953Cold War, 1945-1953

Sea Power and Maritime Sea Power and Maritime AffairsAffairs

Enabling ObjectivesEnabling Objectives• Know the reasons for the post WWII decline Know the reasons for the post WWII decline

of the U.S. Navy.of the U.S. Navy.• Comprehend the impact of the defense Comprehend the impact of the defense

reorganizations in 1947 and 1949 on the role reorganizations in 1947 and 1949 on the role of the U.S. naval service.of the U.S. naval service.

• Know the impact of the balanced force Know the impact of the balanced force strategy on the role of the U.S. naval service.strategy on the role of the U.S. naval service.

• Know the major contributions of the U.S. Know the major contributions of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps during the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War.Korean War.

The Aftermath of The Aftermath of World War IIWorld War II

• United Nations established, Oct 1945United Nations established, Oct 1945– Security Council - Veto power for permanent members.Security Council - Veto power for permanent members.– General Assembly.General Assembly.

• MacArthur commands U.S. occupation in Japan.MacArthur commands U.S. occupation in Japan.• U.S. enjoys atomic bomb monopoly…U.S. enjoys atomic bomb monopoly…• Communist control of Eastern Europe.Communist control of Eastern Europe.

– ““Puppet” states dominated by the Soviet Union including Puppet” states dominated by the Soviet Union including Albania, Bulgaria, E. Germany, Hungary, Poland, & Albania, Bulgaria, E. Germany, Hungary, Poland, & Romania.Romania.

National Security Act of 1947National Security Act of 1947• Created DOD as cabinet-level Created DOD as cabinet-level

agencyagency– SECDEF with SECNAV underneathSECDEF with SECNAV underneath

• Added Air Force to Armed Added Air Force to Armed ForcesForces

• Created Joint-Chiefs-of-StaffCreated Joint-Chiefs-of-Staff

• Created Unified Geographic Created Unified Geographic CommandsCommands

• Created CIACreated CIA

End of World War IIEnd of World War II

End of World War IIEnd of World War II

U.S. Naval Forces After WW IIU.S. Naval Forces After WW II

• Rapid demobilization begins - Navy threatenedRapid demobilization begins - Navy threatened

• Must make do with still-new World War II Must make do with still-new World War II equipment.equipment.

• Drastic reduction in size of force (1945 to 1950):Drastic reduction in size of force (1945 to 1950):

• Personnel: NavyPersonnel: Navy

• Personnel: MarinesPersonnel: Marines

• Major CombatantsMajor Combatants

• AircraftAircraft

19451945 19501950

3,400,0003,400,000 5,0005,000

475,000475,000 75,00075,000

1,2001,200 237237

40,00040,000 4,3004,300

Revolt of the Admirals (1949)Revolt of the Admirals (1949)• SECDEF Louis JohnsonSECDEF Louis Johnson

– Immediately cancels construction of Immediately cancels construction of USS USS UnitedUnited StatesStates

• SECNAV John Sullivan resigns in SECNAV John Sullivan resigns in protest.protest.

• B-36 Bomber Congressional B-36 Bomber Congressional hearingshearings– Carl Vinson- Chairman of House Carl Vinson- Chairman of House

Armed Services CommitteeArmed Services Committee– ADM Radford calls B-36 “a billion ADM Radford calls B-36 “a billion

dollar blunder”dollar blunder”

• CNO Admiral Louis Denfeld CNO Admiral Louis Denfeld relieved of duties by Trumanrelieved of duties by Truman Carl VinsonCarl Vinson

Revolt of the Admirals (1949)Revolt of the Admirals (1949)

““Admiral, the Navy is on Admiral, the Navy is on its way out. There’s no its way out. There’s no reason for having a Navy reason for having a Navy and Marine Corps…We’ll and Marine Corps…We’ll never have any more never have any more amphibious operations. amphibious operations. That does away with the That does away with the Marine Corps. And the Marine Corps. And the Air Force can do anything Air Force can do anything the Navy can do the Navy can do nowadays, so that does nowadays, so that does away with the Navy.”away with the Navy.”

SECDEF Louis JohnsonSECDEF Louis Johnson

Communism SpreadsCommunism Spreads

Truman Doctrine (March 1947)Truman Doctrine (March 1947)

““I believe that it must be the I believe that it must be the policy of the United States to policy of the United States to support free peoples who are support free peoples who are resisting attempted resisting attempted subjugation by armed subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressure.”minorities or outside pressure.”

• GreeceGreece• TurkeyTurkey• Chinese Civil WarChinese Civil War

• Mao Zedong / Chiang Kai-shekMao Zedong / Chiang Kai-shek

The Strategy of ContainmentThe Strategy of Containment

• Containment of CommunismContainment of Communism– Official U.S. policy by 1950Official U.S. policy by 1950– 1949: NATO established.1949: NATO established.

• PacificPacific– Japanese ConstitutionJapanese Constitution– U.S. occupationU.S. occupation

““A long-term, patient but firm and vigilant A long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies.”containment of Russian expansive tendencies.”- George Keenan , 1946 “The Sources of Soviet - George Keenan , 1946 “The Sources of Soviet Conduct”Conduct”

The Korean War, 1950-1953The Korean War, 1950-1953

Operation Chromite, Sep1950Operation Chromite, Sep1950

The “Frozen” Chosin ReservoirThe “Frozen” Chosin Reservoir

““We have the Chinese right where we We have the Chinese right where we want them. They’re all around us. want them. They’re all around us. Makes it easier for us to get them and Makes it easier for us to get them and kill them.” - Chesty Pullerkill them.” - Chesty Puller

““Gentlemen, we are not retreating. Gentlemen, we are not retreating. We are merely advancing in another We are merely advancing in another direction.” - General O.P. Smithdirection.” - General O.P. Smith

Peace?Peace?• Peace talks begin at PanmunjomPeace talks begin at Panmunjom

• 1953 Armistice yields permanent 1953 Armistice yields permanent division of Koreadivision of Korea– Death of StalinDeath of Stalin

– Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) established near 38th parallelestablished near 38th parallel

• Marines - 4,267 dead and Marines - 4,267 dead and 23,744 wounded. 42 receive 23,744 wounded. 42 receive Medal of Honor.Medal of Honor.

Battle History VideoBattle History Video

1945-19531945-1953- Chapter 3 “Steel Chapter 3 “Steel

Walls of Freedom”Walls of Freedom”- Time 21:08- 36:54 Time 21:08- 36:54

Enabling ObjectivesEnabling Objectives• Know the reasons for the post WWII decline Know the reasons for the post WWII decline

of the U.S. Navy.of the U.S. Navy.• Comprehend the impact of the defense Comprehend the impact of the defense

reorganizations in 1947 and 1949 on the role reorganizations in 1947 and 1949 on the role of the U.S. naval service.of the U.S. naval service.

• Know the impact of the balanced force Know the impact of the balanced force strategy on the role of the U.S. naval service.strategy on the role of the U.S. naval service.

• Know the major contributions of the U.S. Know the major contributions of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps during the Navy and U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War.Korean War.

Questions?Questions?

Next time: The U.S. Navy in the Strategy of Next time: The U.S. Navy in the Strategy of Containment, 1953-1963Containment, 1953-1963