Fast Tanks and Heavy Bombers

The U.S. Army entered World War II unprepared. In addition, lacking Germany's blitzkrieg approach of coordinated armor and air power, the army was organized to fight two wars: on the ground and one in the air. Previous commentators have blamed Congressional funding and public apathy for the army's unprepared state. David E. Johnson believes instead that the principal causes were internal: army culture and bureaucracy, and their combined impact on the development of weapons and doctrine.Johnson examines the U.S. Army's innovations for both armor and aviation between the world wars, arguing that the tank became a captive of the conservative infantry and cavalry branches, while the airplane's development was channeled by air power insurgents bent on creating an independent air force. He maintains that as a consequence, the tank's potential was hindered by the traditional arms, while air power advocates focused mainly on proving the decisiveness of strategic bombing, neglecting the mission of tactical support for ground troops. Minimal interaction between ground and air officers resulted in insufficient cooperation between armored forces and air forces.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

IntroductionPart I. Soldiers and Machines: 1917-1920

1. America, the Army, and the Great War

2. The Tank Corps

3. The Air Service

4. The Army in the Aftermath of the Great WarPart II. Inertia and Insurgency: 1921-1930

5. Peace and Quiet

6. Infantry Tanks

7¿ The Failed Revolution and the Evolution of Air Force

8. The War DepartmentPart III. Alternatives And Autonomy: 1931-1942

9. From Domestic Depression to International Crusade

10. Alternatives for Armor

11. Autonomous Air Power

12. A Crisis in the War DepartmentPart IV: Dying for Change: 1942-1945

13. The Arsenal of Attrition

14. Armored Bludgeon

15. Air Force Triumphant

16. Coequal Land Power and Air PowerConclusionNotes

Primary Sources

Index

Über den Autor / die Autorin

David E. Johnson

Zusammenfassung

Johnson examines the U.S. Army's innovations for both armor and aviation between the world wars, offering valuable insights for future military innovation.

Produktdetails

• Autoren: David E Johnson, David E. Johnson
• Verlag: Cornell University Press
• Sprache: Englisch
• Produktform: Fester Einband
• Erschienen: 15.12.1998
• EAN: 9780801434587
• ISBN: 978-0-8014-3458-7
• Seiten: 304
• Abmessung: 160 mm x 242 mm x 25 mm
• Gewicht: 630 g
• Serien: Cornell Studies in Security Affairs; Cornell Studies in Security Af; Cornell Studies in Security Affairs; Cornell Studies in Security Af
• Themen: Sachbuch > Geschichte > Sonstiges; Sozialwissenschaften, Recht,Wirtschaft > Politikwissenschaft > Staatslehre und politische Verwaltung