US Naval Policy and Strategy in the Early 20th Century

Focus on defense of the United States and its possessions, including Guam, Hawaii, and the Philippines.
Enforcement of the Monroe Doctrine and Open Door Policy.
- Monroe Doctrine: Asserts that the Western Hemisphere is under the US's sphere of influence and closed to further European colonization.
- Open Door Policy: Advocates for equal trading rights in China for all nations, preventing monopolization of trade.

The Navy serves as a bargaining chip for diplomacy, indicating the power and readiness of the US military to enforce foreign policy.
Unique adaptability of the Navy to technological advances and political changes.
The importance of naval power in diplomatic negotiations with foreign nations.

Established treaties limiting naval armaments; key agreements included:
- Treaty ratios set at 5:5:3 for capital ships among the US, Britain, and Japan.
- Four Powers Treaty: Restrictions on fortifications in Pacific territories, aiming for disarmament and controlling arms.
Congressional and presidential focus was more on maintaining parity with Britain rather than the Navy's specific operations.

Shift towards prioritizing carrier-based aviation and the development of naval aviation capabilities.
- Definition of capital ships: Warships (excluding carriers) with a displacement of over 10,000 tons and guns exceeding eight inches.
Development of flying boats, early naval aircraft testing, and advancements in celestial navigation and radio communication.
Transition to the USS Langley, the first US aircraft carrier, which influenced naval aviation safety practices and operations.
Limitations observed: USS Langley could only operate at 15 knots and carry 14 aircraft.

Congressional debates on aviation emphasized maintaining separate aviation branches within the Navy and Army.
CNO Memo (1926): Established a civilian leadership for naval aviation and mandated a significant increase in aircraft by 1931, aiming for 1,000 naval aircraft.

War Plans Orange and Black: Focused on addressing Japan as the primary threat, rather than post-World War I powers like Germany or Britain.
- Emphasized rapid deployment of forces to the Philippines to secure American interests.
- Debates on whether to adopt aggressive (thruster) or cautious (cautionary) strategies in responding to Japanese aggression.

Fleet Problem Nine: Aimed to test carrier operations, featuring the USS Saratoga (black) versus USS Lexington (blue).
- Tactical situation where Saratoga aimed to assault a strategic location (Panama Canal), while Lexington defended against this.
- Detailing the strategic decision to detach forces for specific missions, questioning the capital ship status of carriers during this experimental phase.

Transition toward a more modernized Marine Corps aligning with amphibious warfare strategies post-World War I.
Innovations by Major Pete Ellis including advanced recon and landing operations for Marine Corps doctrines.
Development of the Tentative Manual for Landing Operations, which integrated naval gunfire, air support, and logistical considerations.

Naval Strategies: Growing nationalism and militarism in Japan leading to increased tensions and the desire for control in the Pacific.
- Japan's dissatisfaction with the Open Door Policy and initiatives to expand its influence, culminating in the Manchurian incident.
The United States initially maintained neutrality but began supporting allies through the Lend-Lease program, prioritizing defeating Germany before turning attention towards Japan.
Evolution of operational plans for Pacific Theater engagements, including the strategic shift towards reliance on British and allied support.