Fast tanks and heavy bombers : innovation in the U.S. Army, 1917-1945 / David E. Johnson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Johnson, David E. (David Eugene), 1950-

Series:

Cornell Studies in Security Affairs

Cornell studies in security affairs

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Army--Weapons systems--History--20th century.

United States.

United States. Army--Operational readiness.

Weapons systems--United States.

Weapons systems.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (304 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Ithaca : Cornell University Press, 1998.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

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: one 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. Fast Tanks and Heavy Bombers makes a major contribution to a new understanding of both the creation of the modern U.S. Army and the Army's performance in World War II. The book also provides important insights for future military innovation.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Tables

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part 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 War

Part 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 Department

Part 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 Department

Part IV. Dying for Change: 1942-1945

13. The Arsenal of Attrition

14. Armored Bludgeon

15. Air Force Triumphant

16. Coequal Land Power and Air Power

Conclusion

Notes

Primary Sources

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 277-283) and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher.

ISBN:

9780801467103

0801467101

9781322504209

1322504202

9780801467110

080146711X

OCLC:

987933458