Postwar Naval Force Reductions 1945-1950: Impact on the Next War

Abstract

The force structure of the U.S. Navy was reduced dramatically during the five years following the conclusion of the Second World War. Planning efforts were complicated by the lack of a clear threat, inter-service rivalries and uncertainty in the national military strategy Support for naval forces dwindled steadily until the Navy was unable to respond effectively to the crisis presented by the Korean War in 1950. The reactivation of ships and personnel for that conflict was beset with problems. Lessons applicable to any postwar period of reduction may be drawn from this experience. Keywords: United States; Navy; History; U.S. military policy; US Navy force planning; Mobilization; Korean war.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1990
Accession Number
ADA227251

Entities

People

  • George T. Hodermarsky

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Aircraft Carriers
  • Boats
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Geography
  • Marine Transportation
  • Military Budgets
  • Military Training
  • National Security
  • Naval Aviation
  • Naval Operations
  • Naval Personnel
  • Naval Vessels (Combatant)
  • Naval Warfare
  • Navy
  • Second World War
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
  • Strategic Security Studies