Pacific war: decisive battle doctrines
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2018 2:51 pm
Plan Orange:
The Color Plans were broad strategic plans developed by the US Military during the early 20th Century in case of war with various possible opponents. Plan Red was in case of war with Great Britain. Plan Black was in case of war with Germany. Plan Green was in case of war with Mexico and so forth. Plan Orange was in case of war with Japan.
Plan Orange always centered around the Philippines. It was accepted that in any war with Japan, that the Japanese would occupy the Philippines as one of their first moves. The US would then need to send a fleet to the Western Pacific to relieve or retake the Philippines.
This circumstance suited the USN, because they were imbued with the strategic doctrines of Admiral Mahan. Mahan preached that international power was established by completely defeating any opponent’s naval forces in decisive battle and establishing sea superiority throughout the strategic theater. A battle fleet sent to the Western Pacific would be challenged by the Japanese Navy for control of the sea there, setting the stage for decisive battle. It was expected that the decisive battle would be fought in the Philippine Sea between the Mariana Islands and the Philippines proper.
The First World War and its aftermath brought the need to amend Plan Orange with a revised plan accepted in 1924. This would actually be the first of more than 100 revisions during the next 12 years. From the navy’s point of view, the recent Battle of Jutland served as the basic model of the decisive battle they expected to transpire. However, technological developments such as the warplane and naval aviation, as well improvements in fire control, meant the Jutland type battle could be fought at longer ranges than the actual Battle of Jutland, using aircraft to scout and to observe and correct the fall of shot. Thus, the USN planned the design of its battle fleet to primarily fight a long-range gunnery engagement in relatively fair weather, and during day light, using aircraft spotting. This remained the primary prospectus of USN planners right through the 1930s.
In addition, the Japanese were mandated possession of many of the previously German held Pacific islands, as result of the Versailles Treaty. These islands became collectively known as the Mandates. These now Japanese held islands were in the way of USN advance across the Pacific and could be used as bases for land-based air forces. Provision for dealing with this situation would need to be provided.
Other developments also affected Plan Orange. One of the lesser known aspects of the Washington Treaty was that it prohibited the USN from developing advanced fleet bases in the Western Pacific. This meant bases in the Philippines and Guam could only be essentially refueling stops and not places to base a large battle fleet on a permanent basis. This meant that USN warship design would need to place an emphasis on long cruising range and/or reduced fuel consumption.
The Color Plans were broad strategic plans developed by the US Military during the early 20th Century in case of war with various possible opponents. Plan Red was in case of war with Great Britain. Plan Black was in case of war with Germany. Plan Green was in case of war with Mexico and so forth. Plan Orange was in case of war with Japan.
Plan Orange always centered around the Philippines. It was accepted that in any war with Japan, that the Japanese would occupy the Philippines as one of their first moves. The US would then need to send a fleet to the Western Pacific to relieve or retake the Philippines.
This circumstance suited the USN, because they were imbued with the strategic doctrines of Admiral Mahan. Mahan preached that international power was established by completely defeating any opponent’s naval forces in decisive battle and establishing sea superiority throughout the strategic theater. A battle fleet sent to the Western Pacific would be challenged by the Japanese Navy for control of the sea there, setting the stage for decisive battle. It was expected that the decisive battle would be fought in the Philippine Sea between the Mariana Islands and the Philippines proper.
The First World War and its aftermath brought the need to amend Plan Orange with a revised plan accepted in 1924. This would actually be the first of more than 100 revisions during the next 12 years. From the navy’s point of view, the recent Battle of Jutland served as the basic model of the decisive battle they expected to transpire. However, technological developments such as the warplane and naval aviation, as well improvements in fire control, meant the Jutland type battle could be fought at longer ranges than the actual Battle of Jutland, using aircraft to scout and to observe and correct the fall of shot. Thus, the USN planned the design of its battle fleet to primarily fight a long-range gunnery engagement in relatively fair weather, and during day light, using aircraft spotting. This remained the primary prospectus of USN planners right through the 1930s.
In addition, the Japanese were mandated possession of many of the previously German held Pacific islands, as result of the Versailles Treaty. These islands became collectively known as the Mandates. These now Japanese held islands were in the way of USN advance across the Pacific and could be used as bases for land-based air forces. Provision for dealing with this situation would need to be provided.
Other developments also affected Plan Orange. One of the lesser known aspects of the Washington Treaty was that it prohibited the USN from developing advanced fleet bases in the Western Pacific. This meant bases in the Philippines and Guam could only be essentially refueling stops and not places to base a large battle fleet on a permanent basis. This meant that USN warship design would need to place an emphasis on long cruising range and/or reduced fuel consumption.