The Arsenal of Democracy - A USA AAR

[Myrmidon]

The years of 1936 through 1941 were hard times for the United States, in the late thirities comming out of the Great Depression and then to watch the whole world collectively loose it's mind. Many Americans paid little attention to the events in Europe, Germany in particular... after all it was thousands of miles away, and they had there own problems at home, like unemployment and food lines that resembled the ones in the Soviet Union at the time.

War was the last thing on the minds of many... that would change soon though thanks to these two men

Two men who need no introduction, on a tour through the German capital in 1938

All throughout the thirities Hitler had made sweeping, serious and drastic reforms in Germany, first of witch was a Major rearmament program. How the western Allies could not see this for what it was is amazing. Here was one of the most warlike nations in Europe, just barely defeated by the combined efforts of Great Britian, France, Russia and the USA. Now it was on a course of rebuilding it's army and to a lesser extent it's navy, and on top of this adding an Air Force of some mesure and ability. Prehaps the Great War was still fresh in the minds of millions in the old world, places like Somme and Verdun, along with the huge graveyards they produced... well, who could really blame them for not wanteing another war.

Hitler knew this... and capitalized on it for his first moves before the invasion of Poland. He knew the Allies, with there own dissent at home, would not dare take action against him, for none wanted another war like the last one. He had told his General staff that conflict with the Allies could be expected to come in 1944, and by that time Germany and the Reich would be more than ready to meet them in the Land, Air and Sea.

Some of his bolder moves leading up to war in September 1939

The annexation of Austria, witch was unchallanged by the Allies. Mind you it was also unchallanged by the Austrians themselves.

Retakeing of Sudetenland and Bohemia in Czechoslovakia... this deserves speical consideration due to several facts about the situation. One, this was a fully Democratic nation, the Allies selling it out pretty much to placate Hitler. Chamberlian even going so far to say there was " Peace with honor ". Shortly after the Germans took the rest of Czechoslovakia, installing Triso in Slovakia... peace with honor indeed many though.

These two events here had given Hitler the perception that the Allies were weak, and unwilling to come to war with Germany and the Reich, whatever the cost would be... he turned his attentions to Danzig and Poland next. It was here the Allies drew there line, and made of public declaration of Polands independance, going so far as to state they would back such up with military action if needed.

The stage was set for another conflict in Europe, and it came on September 1st 1939.

German formations advance into Poland, beginning one of the most epic struggles in mankinds history. about 1.5 Million men, along with hundreds of tanks and warplanes moved with lightning speed and percision, showing the world what Blitzkerig was all about.

While the Poles put up a valant fight, there resistance was all for naught. By November the Germans had control of most of the country, and to the shock of the world the Soviets had advanced into eastern Poland... for a moment it looked at they would take the fight to the Reich and save Poland. Then again Stalin was not known for his kindness, and it was announced that an " agreement " between the Reich and Soviets had been put into place regarding Poland.

German 37mm AT gun on the outskirts of Warsaw

German warplanes produced resaults like these in the Polish capital of Warsaw

On November 18th 1939 Poland, for yet another time in it's history, was completely wiped off the face of the man... there was now a large section of eastern Germany, and a shared boreder with the Soviet Union.

Germany and the Reich now found itself in a somewhat dicy situation, at war yet again with France and The UK, along with the Dominions. The German General Staff had there hands full, as it stood the French army was about 50% larger than the forces of the Reich. A little comparison of the facts on the German side reveals the fallowing.

In 1939 the German Army had 98 divisions available for the invasion of Poland. Although some were ill-equipped veteran reservists, the still had 1.5 million well-trained men available for action. It also had 9 panzer divisions. Each one had 328 tanks, 8 support battalions and 6 artillery batteries.

When the German Army mounted its Western Offensive in 1940, it had 2.5 million men and 2,500 tanks. Whereas the French Army had the ability to mobilize 5 million men, the army supported by motorized infantry units and aircraft easily secured victory.

In two months of fighting the French were completely broken, the germans reviveing there plan of 1914... so far as to go through some of the very same Belgin towns they had before! Instead of horse drawn equipment this time they had tanks, and even in the winter months made haste. Paris fell on 12 Feb 40, and while we could show you pictures of the battle, I feel this one sums it up best

A French citizen apon seeing the Germans marching in Paris.

Within two months the Vichy peace proposal was accecpted, and France was for the most part a defeated nation. This left the UK and her Dominions alone against the Nazi juggernaught, yet the Brits had a secret weapon, one that would prove more valuble than the Spitfire or Cromwell tank... they had this man now in charge.

Winston Churchill, need I say more?

Americans watched in shock and horror at these events unfolding... yet they still did not want to get involved. In a poll taken y the New York Times it found 68% of Americans were in favor of staying out of the European war... yet it also found that 64% of Americans felt that there should be intervention in China, wich had been going on since 1937 and was far, far more brutal in scope.

In response the US Goverment started the lend-lease program for the UK, 7 Billion dollars worth of various military goods and supplies, more than three times the 1936 defense budget. FDR wanted to do more yet it was all he could manage with current public support, a staunch anti nazi, his speaches of Ther Arsenal of Democracy and The Four Freedoms slowly began turning public opinion towards him and the view that something must be done in europe.

As for Japan and the far east, there were several embargos brought against Japan, some of them rather heavy handed, and also something not so public. In 1939 the US had broken the Japenese Diplomatic Code, and were almost ready in late 1941 to break the Naval Operational Code as well. Had Japan known this, there next actions may have been somewhat diffrent.

On 4 Jan 42, with the American economy now in full recovery and with the largest military buildup in it's history, Japan had decided to go to war with not only the US, but The Allies as well. The first attack on Americans came at the US embassy in Beijing, the 60 US Marines guarding the 200 or so diplomatic staff putting up ferice resistance for several hours while cables were sent to Washington explaining the situation. When there ammunition ran out they were forced to surrender... they were, along with the entire embassy staff, killed in cold blood. Also many American missionary churches were bombed and strafed by Jap warplanes the same day... it was a planned offensive.

On 5 Jan 42, the American public demanded action, pictures of the slaughter at the embassy on the front page of every major newspaper in the US. Congress gave the President full support for war against Japan, and at 5 PM that very day US Marines entered the Embassy of the Empire of Japan, arresting all 32 of there Diplomats and placeing them in isolated coustody... for there own protection.

At the same time Winston Churchill got the phone call he was praying for from FDR, the US were now offically apart of the Allies, America had joined the war.

NEXT - The state of the US military, and what changes took place between 1936-1942

 

[Mettermrck]

A good start. I always enjoy a nice US AAR.

 

[Mr.G 24]

looking foward to the next update. Lets see if atleast someone with a US aar uses the full power of the america IC and military potential.

j/k mett

 

[Mettermrck]

looking foward to the next update. Lets see if atleast someone with a US aar uses the full power of the america IC and military potential.

j/k mett

Hah! I look forward to that too actually.

 

[Myrmidon]

I plan on trying to do what the US did irl, D-Day and Sipan at the same time, two invasions, thousands and thousnads of miles apart, at the same time!

 

[Myrmidon]

The State of the US Armed Forces in Jan 1942

In the years of 1936 - 1942 there had been a slow but steady buildup in the us military, mostly of it's navy and airforce, yet prehaps the most dramatic change was in the army and the creation of the new Department of the Air Force.In 1936 it had been decided by FDR and several military advisiors that large and sweeping changes needed to be made in regards to American doctrine, force organisation and in general the way the military had been until this point handled. These changes would take several years in put into full effect, but there impact would be felt imeadetly.

The United States Navy had been the nations largest military brance since the end of the Civil war, several American Presidents and administrations having seen it and it's ability to project military power across the oceans as invaluble. In 1936 there were two schools of though regarding the Navy, in one camp were the battleship proponients, who felt that obviously, batleships were the center of the fleet and should remain such. Then you had the Carrier proponents, who felt the the ability of naval aviation was the next big thing.

It all came down to a demonstration in Panama in 36 were a wing of planes from the CAG of the USS Saratoga were able to bypass a large screening force of Battleships and Cruisers, and reach there objective without fireing a shot. They managed to " Destroy " the locks on the Panama Canal, and in FDR's mind that and solved the arguement for the Battleships VS Carriers debait.

At the moment war broke out in Jan 42 the US had Seven Carriers in her fleet, five of them based on the west coast, with Ranger on the east coast. The USS Essex, the First of her class, was still conducting trials and shakedown before being approved for active and what was now, wartime service.

Yorktown

Wasp

Saratoga

Ranger

Hornet

Enterprise

The Essex, a ship of innovation.

Soon they would be joined by more of the Essex class of Carriers, the goal was to have by 1944 at least ten Carriers operating in the Pacific. The Carruers were to form the core of the American battlegroups, with Battleships and Cruisers acting as protection and the big guns for close engagements with the enemy.

Along with these Carriers the Navy had completed construction on 38 other warships, rangeing from Destroyers to Battleships, all of them of new classes of ships that were far more powerful and capibile that there predesseors of just ten years before. Here is a look at the comparison with other nations.

The man given responsability for the Pacific was Chester Nimitz, a seasoned and veteran Sailor.

With it's building of forces, solid leadership and mission statement of keeping the waters safe for american efforts, the USN stood ready.

Assisting the Navy in this matter ( or some would say the Navy assisting them depending on your outlook ) was the United States Marine Corps. At six divisions strong, with about 220,000 total personal, it was responsible for land warfare in the pacific. The Marines were noted for there doggedness, Espirit de Corps and unique role in American conflict up until world war two. They were, as some said, Americas dirty little army, for Americas dirty little wars in places like Latin America. This gave the Marines something the army completely lacked, one combat seasoned Officers and NCO's, granted few of them but all of them just about still serveing in infantry units and passing on there skills to the newer ranks.

The buildup of the late 30's saw the Marines increase in manpower, filling out six full divisions. Also were the amphibious tanks known as LVT's, allowing further power projection apon hitting a beach. Along with these and there supurb ground fighting skills, the Marines saw several diffrent types of Doctrine changes as well. There Invasion Organisation called for a larger role of supply and logistical assistance from the Navy in what was seen ( correctly ) as there role in taking islands and costal areas from the enemy.

The US Army was prehaps changed the most with the refitting of the American military system. George Marshall had given birth to the idea sumed up as " Send bullets and bombs, not men " witch stated that America could not afford the millions of casualties taken by the other great powers in the first world war. That instead American forces should use the full wieght of there industrial might against a few. This ment more artillery, close air support from highly advanced bombers and fighters, naval gunfire from the worlds most powerful navy, and more automatic weapons dispensed to the troops, things like machineguns and mortors in abundance. These weapons, he stated, would destroy the enemy, rather than suicidal and often wasteful offensives like seen in the first world war.

Also... why were the Soldiers walking? what in gods name was the point of this? is America not the home of Ford and GM? All infantry Divisions in 1938 were disbanded for six months and given trucks, tanks, motorcycles and all sorts of veichles. This idea was given even more creedance after the Blitz was seen in effect in Poland and France. What the Nazi's had managed to do with there Armored forces, along with the few Motorized Divisions they had was astounding. While this was going on the Armys General Staff was given a model of what would be the workhorse american tank for the war, the M4 Sherman.

Production was ordered into effect in december of 1941, to replace the out of date and under powered M3 Lee. Also, US Army officers and scientists in goverments service were studying new methods of land warfare, from infantry and armor to close air support from the newly created air force... this was how the ground war would be won when the time came... sending bullets and bombs, and having a small, yet professional and highly skilled army to back them up.

The Air Force was the newest department, and such apon it's founding in late 1936 had many, many problems to work out. First it found that almost all of it's planes were flat out useless. This was handled rather quickly... they all were scraped. With this done all former army air crews were ordered to retraining, the aim of the new air force was to produce top notch and first class pilots and air crews, they would need them before they would need planes.
Secondly came the " turf wars " of the late 30's, the Navy and Air Force butting heads over just who and what each was responsible for. In the end it was decided that the USN/USMC would retain there own avation assets, for use on Carriers and land bases as needed for naval operations. The USAF would handle all air operations in support of the USArmy, as well as bombing of all sorts outside of naval operations. This ment that the USAF had control of all Stratigic and Tactical bombing forces in the US arsenal, as well as all fighter aircraft.
Another mission of the USAF would be the handleing of all meteorological studies from air stations from Alaska down to the Carribean islands and in the Pacific. In this regard they would work hand in hand with the USN. In this regard the USAF became one of the more " scientific " of service branches, leaving the Army to do what it needed to do best, fight the ground war, not the one in the air.

Now with the services given comprehensive mission statements, think tanks across the goverment began there work from 1936 to put the United States in the lead as far as all aspects of technology were concerned, and by 1942 it was showing.

 

[Mettermrck]

Nicely done, good use of pictures, detailed description.

 

[Myrmidon]

Thanks

I need to work on the length and detail of my writing definately, and with the Japs kindly dropping about ohhhhh... :: does the math ::

235,000 troops onto the philippines for one of there opening moves of the war I think I can come up with something... go figure, they only put 15,000 into British Malaysia, and all they are doing is sitting on the beach. The ones they drop on me... they are advanceing on Manila, yay

Yes, Wainright is commanding the PI Division... looks like he has a long walk in his future, talk about historical!

Now if the japs will just go into NG and the other Islands.

 

[Myrmidon]

First moves in the Pacific

The situation in the PI became extremely tense, the first reports saying five divisions of Jap troops landing in diffrent parts of the island chain. This would of been manageable with local assets... but then, another full army corps was landed... things got hairy after that to say the least.

The US was in no position to respond just yet, having set up there forces at wake and midway as shown here.

As the news came in a plan was being discussed in the joint chiefs of staff. With the control of the seas around the island firmly in Jap hands, it looked as if the PI would fall, and fall fast. This left american planners with little in the way of options till Nimitz and MacAruthor, two unlikely allies considering there personality clashes, came up with a rather intresting plan. One task force under Nimitz would move towards the Marshall Islands, hoping to take some of the heat off the PI and buy them some time, also taking the Japs central Pacific stronghold. Meanwhile Benson and MacAruthor would move towards Guam in late 42, engageing the now hopefully weakend IJN and if all went well, mounting a counter attack on the PI in early 43.

Yet in the middle of all this bad news there were some things to be excited about... they came out of the USN and USAF R+D departments concerning aircraft studies and design.

The Navy may have just found the long range fighter they were looking for in the Corsair, something that could take on the Zero and win hands down. It was light, armed to the teeth and fast... perfect for Carrier operations.

The USAF prototype of the B-24 was looking good, some more work needed into the engines before production could begin of course was needed... yet this aircraft had outclassed the B-17 in most respects. Gunnery, Bomb Payload, Range, Altitude and Speed were all greatly increased.

 

[elbasto]

hey, nice start.

looking foward to it.

 

[Myrmidon]

April - June 1942

Three months of good news and bad news so far for the US, the situation in the PI got progressively worse as the japs attacked Manila on April 1st with a force of 195,000 men against 90,000 Filipino and 15,000 american defenders. The battle raged for ten days but the outcome was pretty much decided, all the defenders coud do was make the japs pay dearly for the ground they were taking.

After ten days of some heavy fighting, Manila, the pearl of the orient, was a shattered wreck, it's defenders falling back. The japs took close to 60% casualties, many of them if not outright killed dying due to lack of medical supplies. The defenders suffering close to 80% in there desperate bid to hold onto the city. Most of the fighting was savage, up close and increaseingly personal as it progressed. Many civilians found themselves cought in the crossfire, as shells and bullets flew back and forth between the forces.

While this news was rather grim, there were some positive things happening in favor of the US, in the Marshall Islands and sorounding waters, also back Stateside. The training and outfitting of new divisions was going smoothly for the most part, with the US army now having a total of 13 Divisions, all of them motorized. Also two new kinds of Divisions were raised, Airborne also known as paratroopers. They were inserted into battle by dropping them from airplanes, right atop of the enemy. the 82nd all american and 101st screaming eagles were ready, with two more Airborne divisions comming online later that year. Sadly there were some major setbacks with the M4 Sherman program, a few enginners pointing out the gasoline engines may not be a great idea on a peice of equipment that was expected to have tank shells fired at it.

In April the Marshalls were taken in a swift and decisive move by the USMC and USN, under the command of the MacAruthor and Nimitz team.

In this action it was 16th Squadron that drew frist blood against the Japs. at first sinking 19 transport convoys in the Pacific Rim, then engageing a minor jap fleet consisting of the Oyodo ( A tone class CA ) several SS attack class transportss, all sunk in several hours with miminal losses. It would be several days later that the first major naval engagement would happen with Bensons scouting group and a force commanded by Admiral Toyoda. The Carriers Akagi and Soryu along with the Crusiers Kako, Kuma and Kitakami were engaged in the Kwajalein sea. Air elements from the Pacific fleet and the Pacific fleet Carrier group engaged the CAG's from Akagi and Soryu before the surface ships made contact, and annilated them to a man with six to one odds along with better aircraft, tactics and pilots. When the surface fleets engaged the battle was quick and decisive, the American ships sinking the three crusiers and damageing the planeless Carriers. It was at 1PM on April 8th while they were escapeing that the Carrier Soryu was brought down due to an onslaught from american CAG planes.

So far Americans 1, Japs 0 in the naval was in the Pacific.

 

[unmerged(28944)]

Nice, very nice!