Since the day the ship made possible the transportation of merchandise by sea the great nations of the world have been found among those having extensive coast lines. History proves that world power is measured by sea power and that national prosperity can continue only so long as a nation is willing to maintain its sea power commensurate with its prosperity.
What are the fundamental factors of sea power?
They are:
1. Naval strength sufficient to insure free movement of national sea-borne trade.
2. A merchant marine of sufficient size and suitable characteristics to carry the nation’s products to the markets of the world, to bring from such markets the products required for national prosperity, and, in time of war, to carry on essential war time trade and to furnish auxiliaries and transportation for naval and army forces.
3 A sufficient number of well located and suitably equipped and defended bases throughout the world, to afford support and protection to commerce, and operating bases for the fleet.
In recent years the people of the United States have come to realize the necessity for an American merchant marine, and the government, by its support of the Shipping Board and Emergency Fleet Corporation, has shown its appreciation of the value of the merchant marine as a fundamental factor of sea power.
The value of a merchant marine increases with each restriction in naval armaments. If war ships were abolished, the merchant marines of the nations would have the potential power of navies. It is, therefore, essential that the people of this nation realize that restriction in naval armament imposes the necessity for a stronger merchant marine.
In respect to well located and suitably equipped and defended bases, the United States is badly handicapped by the fact that most of the best bases of the world were in the hands of comparatively strong nations when the United States was founded. For many years our traditional policy of isolation prevented attempts to obtain suitable bases.
As a result of the war with Spain, the United States came into possession of the Philippines and Porto Rico and, through the aroused nationalism resulting from that war, entered into an era of industrial and commercial activity which placed it in the forefront of world powers.
Thirty years ago we had no possessions outside of the continental United States except Alaska. Since that time we have acquired the Philippines, Samoa, Guam, Hawaiian Islands, Porto Rico, Panama Canal Zone, Guantanamo, and the Virgin Islands. While it cannot be said that many of these were obtained with a view to their use as bases, the change in policy which permitted their acquisition was the result of a tardy recognition of the value of bases as a factor of sea power.
The third fundamental factor of sea power is naval strength.
What is naval strength?
In the days when the word “navy” became of general use weapons and ships were primitive. Control of sea communications could be exercised only by the surface ships. As a result of this condition the word navy was applied to forces composed of ships alone, and even in the present day, has, to most people, this restricted meaning. As a result of this restricted interpretation, the reason for a navy has, to some extent, been lost sight of, and we now find a tendency, as indicated by the air service advocates, to confine the equipment of the Navy to ships and that which can be operated from ships.
Efficiency in these modern days is measured by two factors: first, tools or equipment suitable to the performance of the task; second, skill in use of such tools or equipment. But, before tools can be selected or skill acquired there must be a definite assignment of a task. The task assigned to the Navy in war is the control of vital lines of sea communication. The tools required are surface ships, submarines, and aircraft. The necessary skill can be acquired only by using these tools in cooperation.
If the Navy is to perform its task effectively there must be an acceptance of a broad definition of the word navy. The people and the government must recognize that the Navy is that branch of the national defense which is charged with the control of vital lines of sea communications. This is a distinct branch of national defense and, whereas, in the past surface ships have been the chief tools, it should be recognized that with changes in the methods of conducting war the tools may change. The Navy must comprise such types of vessels and equipment as are best fitted to accomplish its task. Any weapons or equipment, or any types of forces which can be used effectively in the accomplishment of its task, legitimately belong to the Navy.
This principle has been recognized in the past by the organization of the Marine Corps to assist the Navy in defending or seizing temporary bases for fleet operations and in the provision of shore establishments for the construction of ships, guns, torpedoes, and so forth; the manufacture of experimental aircraft, the preparation of charts and books (such as the Nautical Almanac) used in navigation of ships and by aircraft engaged in oversea flights.
It is equally applicable to the use by the Navy of aircraft based on shore. Whether or not such aircraft should be operated by the Navy depends entirely on the function they are to perform. Aircraft operating with a view to the control of sea communications must be coordinated in their operations with vessels engaged in similar duties, and with the control and routing of shipping which is a naval function.
The Naval Forces
The naval forces of the nation are divided into three major subdivisions, the fleet, the naval transportation service, and local defense forces.
The Fleet.—Capital ship strength is limited by treaty and no further capital ship construction can be undertaken before 1931.
The tonnage of aircraft carriers of more than 10,000 tons displacement is also limited, but the United States, even when the Saratoga and Lexington are completed, will not be up to allowed strength. The construction of additional aircraft carrier tonnage must be undertaken if the Navy is to maintain the proper air strength of the fleet.
In modern cruisers the United States Navy is far below its proper strength. This type is limited in size and armament by the treaty, but there is no restriction as to numbers. To attain a cruiser ratio with Great Britain and Japan, the same as that accepted for capital ships, we need twenty additional cruisers of 10,000 tons displacement.
In submarines the United States is superior in vessels of the coastal type, but is much inferior in vessels capable of operating with the fleet. The need for large submarines is urgent.
The operation of destroyers simulating war conditions continues to emphasize the need for destroyer leaders. Although we possess a superiority in destroyers, many of these vessels are old and none has been authorized since 1917. Japan is building destroyers superior to our destroyers in size, speed, and armament. Newspaper reports indicate that Great Britain will adopt a plan for constructing nine destroyers yearly. The superiority we now possess will rapidly diminish with time, and with the new construction of destroyers by Great Britain and Japan.
In naval aviation the developments during the past year have been greater than ever before. The increase in the number of planes capable of operations with the fleet has permitted the further development of standard practice instructions for aircraft operations, and tactical exercises have furnished opportunities for the operation of aircraft in the simulation of war.
Preparations are being made to place the Lexington and Saratoga in commission with full aviation completements during 1926.
Three navy planes are preparing for a flight from the west coast to Hawaii. This is the longest non-stop flight ever attempted over the sea. The planes to be employed are of two designs developed by the Navy for scouting purposes.
The Secretary of the Navy has directed that a course in aviation shall constitute part of the Naval Academy curriculum. In the case of the class of 1926 a portion of this class will take the course after graduation but before assignment to duty, while one third of the class has completed the ground school course this summer. This course should provide officers with a knowledge of aviation and it is hoped that it will increase interest and requests for further training in aviation.
During the past year the high standard of efficiency in gunnery and engineering performances has been maintained. Tactical, strategical, and joint army and navy exercises have been conducted. The joint army and navy exercises conducted in the Hawaiian Islands during April, 1925, was the most extensive exercise of this nature ever conducted by United States forces and afforded excellent training for large units of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps.
The Naval Transportation Service.—It is impracticable to maintain in the Navy in time of peace the great number of auxiliaries, storeships, tankers, colliers, and so forth required during war for the supply and transportation of army and navy forces. The merchant marine constitutes the source from which the government may obtain such vessels. The vessels so obtained during war are assigned to the fleet or to the naval transportation service.
Because of the menace of the submarine during the World War, the Navy took over and manned the greater portion of all United States vessels engaged in transportation of troops and stores for our forces abroad. At one period during the World War the number of ships operated by the naval transportation service reached the enormous total of 558.
It will be seen from the above that the merchant marine is a most important factor in sea power. Without adequate supply our fleet is limited to its radius of action from some well stocked naval base. With an adequate supply of fuel, food, and other necessities the fleet can operate anywhere in the world, so long as the lines of communication can be controlled.
The Local Defense Forces comprise the vessels and aircraft operating under the commandants of naval districts for the protection of coastal sea areas. This includes a service of information to determine the presence of enemy forces, and combat forces to destroy any enemy forces located.
The local defense forces are concerned only with the defense against secondary operation. Against primary or major operations the fleet would be used.
There has been an attempt to remove from naval jurisdiction all aircraft based on shore. Such policy is based upon a consideration of the type of weapons to be employed and not on the result to be accomplished, and is unsound.
The Navy requires aircraft for use from shore bases as a part of the naval local defense forces and may further require them in support of the fleet against a superior fleet. Such air forces are a legitimate part of the naval force and the Navy would be reduced in efficiency for the performance of its task if these were removed from navy jurisdiction.
Unity of command over all forces employed in a given operation or for the accomplishment of a definite task was one of the great lessons of the World War which should not be forgotten.
The Future of the United States Navy.—If the people of the United States forget the value of sea power as they did after the Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War, the future of the Navy is not bright; but if the value of sea power is recognized as it was after the war with Spain, and the nation enters into a period of prosperity such as followed that war, the Navy should have a brilliant future. Then the Navy will be recognized as a branch of the government charged with a particular task.
The future of the Navy may be said to rest upon the indoctrination of the people of the nation with three fundamental truths:
First: National strength and prosperity depend upon the maintenance of adequate sea power.
Second: Sea power comprises the Navy, the merchant marine, and suitable bases.
Third: The Navy is that branch of the national defense charged with the control of communications by sea irrespective of whether such control is exercised by surface ships, submarines, or aircraft.