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The Interwar Years: Developing a Doctrine

The Interwar Years: Developing a Doctrine. General Significance. Emergence of a well-defined mission for the Marine Corps Development of amphibious warfare doctrine NO USMC today, had this not occurred. Post World War I. Isolationism/pacifism causes significant military and naval neglect

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The Interwar Years: Developing a Doctrine

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  1. The Interwar Years: Developing a Doctrine

  2. General Significance • Emergence of a well-defined mission for the Marine Corps • Development of amphibious warfare doctrine • NO USMC today, had this not occurred

  3. Post World War I • Isolationism/pacifism causes significant military and naval neglect • The Washington Conference 1921 • Non-fortification clause • Pacific Possessions redistributed • Capital ship tonnage limits • USMC at crossroads

  4. Bonin Islands Formosa Marianas Wake Island Philippines Guam Carolines Borneo Gilbert Islands Solomon Islands Japan United States United Kingdom

  5. Major General John A. Lejeune • 13th MajGen Commandant • June 1920 • He holds the billet for 9 years • Post-war challenges • Manning Levels • Recruiting • Defining the Marine Corps Role and Organization • Professional Military Education • Public/Congressional Relations

  6. Major General John LeJeune • Feb 1922: CMC memo to the General Board ties personnel strength of the Marine Corps to peacetime duties and wartime missions • This memo addressed not only strength levels, but the REASON for the Marine Corps’ existence • Conceptualized USMC as a mobile force in readiness, capable of offensive operations • Develop doctrine to flesh out concepts • All Commandants re fight this battle • 1927- USMC becomes amphibious operations “proponent”

  7. Amphibious Exercises • 1922 - 1925 • Culebra • Hawaii • Panama • Began a slow evolution of offensive tactics and doctrine • Development of suitable landing craft

  8. LtCol Pete Ellis & Op Plan 712 • A 30,000 word document outlining a probable war with Japan: • Anticipated the problems of a future war with Japan • Recommended the seizure of a number of fleet bases which would require assault across well-defended beaches during daylight. • Predicted with astonishing accuracy the manpower, training, and equipment required to carry out these operations • First presented in 1919

  9. Transformation in the 1930s • Marine Corps schools continued the development of Amphibious Doctrine • Gallipoli (and other operations) studied in detail while advance base exercises were conducted • Field Grade Officers evaluated and resolved requirements for seizing and defending advance bases in different areas • This highlighted the importance of organized fleet landing units • Government Order No. 241 of 7 December 1933 • “… a force of Marines will be maintained by the MGen Commandant of the Marine Corps in a state of readiness for operations with the Fleet.”

  10. Transformation in the 1930s • Marine Corps equipment board focuses on amphibious landing craft and specialized landing equipment • Marine Expeditionary Brigades • 1 per coast • Combined Arms units • The Tentative Manual for Landing Operations - 1934 • Marine Corps Schools closed IOT write • Foundation of new USMC role

  11. Tentative Maual for LF Ops • Bet USMC independence on need for this type of op • Navy had little interest in amphibious capabilities. • Established doctrine for • C2 • NGFS • CAS • Communications • Logistics • Roles and missions for Navy Army and USMC

  12. Tentative Maual for LF Ops • Amphibious operation conducted by a naval force • Commanded by a naval officer • CATF/CLF • Landing force - FMF • The naval support force • Fire support • Air support • Transport • Screening groups • Beach party: • commanded by a naval officer -- the beachmaster • controlled both the unloading of supplies and boat movement • Shore party: • Commanded by a Marine Corps officer • saw to the movement of supplies and equipment to the front line

  13. Tracked Amphibious Vehicles (LVTs) developed and tested by the USMC Higgins Boat Ancestor Adaptations to standard Navy Small Craft

  14. My Take • USMC in constant transition • Justify existence • Post WWII • Cold War/Atomic Age • GWOT • Post GWOT • Role of Officers • First to Fight – Krulak the Elder

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