The U.S. Army GHQ maneuvers of 1941

237 Pages·1991·23.191 MB·English

by  Christopher R Gabel, Center of Military History

THE U.S. ARMY GHQ
MANEUVERS OF 1941
THE U.S. ARMY
GHQMANEUVERS
OF 1941
by
Christopher R. Gabel
CENTER OF MILITARY HISTORY
UNITED STATES ARMY
WASHINGTON, D.G., 1992
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Gabel, Christopher R. (Christopher Richard), 1954-
The U.S. Mmy GHQ maneuvers or 1941 / by Christopher R. Gabel.
p. cm. - (CMH pub; 70-41)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
I. United States. Mmy-Maneuvers. I. Title. II. Series.
U253.G33 1991
355.5'2'0973-dc20 91-17502
CIP
First Printed 1991-CMH Pub 70-41-1
For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Governmem Printing Office
\Nashingloll, D.C. 20402
Foreword
The 1941 maneuvers, the largest ever conducted by the U.S.
Army, exercised an incalculable influence on the development of
the American force structure in World War II. They served to test
emerging assumptions about doctrine, organization, and equip
ment. Equally important, they allowed the service's leaders to take
the measure of the rising crop of field grade officers who would
soon direct the fortunes of the largest military force the nation
ever raised. The training tests in Louisiana and North Carolina
also helped develop the combined-arms doctrine, with infantry-ar
tillery teams supported by independent tank battalions as its cen
terpiece, that prevailed during the war. The reactions of Army
Ground Forces headquarters to the maneuvers and Lt. Gen. Lesley
J.
McNair's consequent decisions about training cast important
light on the process by which the Army created its doctrine for bat
tle before and during World War II.
u.s.
The Army GHQ Maneuvers oj 1941 forms part of the Center
of Military History's ongoing effort to commemorate the fiftietll
anniversary of World War II. It also provides an important and use
ful addition to the emerging body of historical literature on mili
tary training. The evolution of training in the U.S. Army, particu
larly the linkage between maneuvers and changes in doctrine and
organization, is an extremely worthy field for study by military stu
dents. I especially urge our young officers and noncommissioned
officers to read and reflect on this impOrl.:'1lll milestone in ollr
Army's victory in World War II.
Washington, D.C. HAROLD W. NELSON
25 February 1991 Brigadier General, USA
Chief of Military History
III
The Author
Christopher R. Gabel received the Ph.D. degree in history
from Ohio State University in ]981. Since 1983 he has served on
the faculty of the Combat Studies Institute, the military history de
partment of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College,
where he specializes in the U.S. Army of the interwar and World
War II periods. His publications include Seek, Strike, and Destmy:
U.s. Army Tank Destroyer Doctrine in World War II.
IV
Preface
I first discovered the 1941 maneuvers while researching the
Army's al1liLank doctrine of World War II. According to a number
of prominem soldiers and authors, the great prewar maneuvers
played an important role in shaping the wartime Army. Surpris
ingly, I could find no secondary account that analyzed these ma
neuvers in detail or subsLantiated claims of their efficacy in prepar
ing the military for war. I attempted to fill this void with a doctoral
disserLation which, in revised form, has become this book. In the
process of preparing this study I came to appreciate that the ma
neuvers themselves were but the final act of an even more inLrigu
ing drama-the prewar mobilization of 1939-41. I hope further to
explore this broader subject in research and wriling.
Foremost among the many individuals who helped make tJ,is
book possible is Harry L. Coles, my doctoral adviser and mentor.
During the research phase Gibson B. Smith of the National
Archives, John Jacob of tJle George C. Marshall Research Library,
RichardJ. Sommers andJohnJ. Slonaker of the U.S. Army MiliLary
History Instilllte, and James C. Dorsey of the U.S. Army Command
and General Staff College Research Library guided me to the es
sential primary documents. Martin B1umenson kindly answered
my queries, giving freely of his own enormous expertise.
The U.S. Army Center of Military History intervened decisively
on two separate occasions. In 1980 Brig. Gen. James L. Collins, Jr.,
Maurice MatJoff, and the staff of the Cel1ler provided a generous fel
lowship and made available the resources of their organization. In
1989 John Greenwood urged me to revise the original disserLation
and offer it for publication. My tJ,anks to all those who made tJ,is
manuscript presentable, especially Jeffrey Clarke. Theodore Wilson,
John B. Wilson, Joyce Hardyman, Sherry Dowdy. Diane Sedore
Arms, Joycelyn Canery, and Cathecine Heerin. Thanks also to Lu
Welch, my typist in Leavenworth.
v
Moral support came from Lou Gabel, who lOld me his war slO
ries on summer nights in Pennsylvania; from Charlie O'Connell
during the years at Ohio State; and especially from Ann, who will
never forget the day we went looking for Good Hope Church. To
Matthew and Elic I offer the good hope that this nation has seen
its last world war.
25 February 1991 CHRISTOPHER R. GABEL
VI
Contents
Owl}/rr Page
Introduction. 3
1. Protective Mobilization . 8
2. Preparing for Mechanized War. 22
3. The Air-Ground Dilemma . . . 36
4. Planning the GHQ Maneuvers. 44
5. Louisiana Phase I: The Battle of the Red River 64
6. Louisiana Phase 2: The Ballle for Shreveport 96
7. October Interlude 115
8. Carolinas Phase 1: The Batlle of the Pee Dee River 133
9. Carolinas Phase 2: The Batlle for Camden . . 155
10. After the Maneuvers: Defects and Remedies . 170
Conclusion: The GHQ Maneuvers and the World
War II Army .................... . 185
Appendixes
A. Order of BailIe, GHQ Maneuvers ... 197
B. Principal Officers in the GHQ Maneuvers and Their
Wartime Careers. 203
Bibliography . 211
Glossary . . . 219
Military Map Symbols. 221
Index. . . . . . . . . . 223
VII
r
I
Charts
No. Pagt'
I. Square Infantry Division, 1941 . . 10
2. Triangular Inrantry Division, 1941 11
3. 1940 Armored Division . . . . . . 25
4. Cavalry Division (Horse), 1941 . . 30
5. GHQAntitank Group, 1941 Maneuvers. 55
6. Tank Attacker Detachment I, Carolinas Maneuvers, 1941 . 126
Maps
I. Louisiana Phase I: Operations, 15-16 September 1941 . 66
2. Louisiana Phase I: Operations, 18 September 1941 . 78
3. Louisiana Phase 2: Operations, 24 September 1941 . 98
4. Louisiana Phase 2: I Armored Corps' Envelopmcnt,
27Septcmber1941 . . .... . . . . . .. ... 104
5. Carolinas Phase 1: Operations, 16 Novcmber 1941 135
6. Carolinas Phase 1: Operations, 18 November 1941 142
7. Carolinas Phase 2: Operations, 25 November 1941 157
8. Carolinas Phase 2: Operations, 27 November 1941 163
Illustrations
M3 Light Tank. . . . . 26
37-mm. Antitank Gun. 31
A-24 Attack Aircraft. . 40
Clark, Malony, Eisenhower, Lear, Krueger, and McNair. 68
107th Cavalry Regiment (Horse-Mechanized) 69
Light Tanks Cross the Red River . . . . . . . . . 72
Simulated Antitank Gun . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Blue Inrantryman Approaches Mired Red Tank. 81
Armored and Cavalry Units. . . . . . . . . . 85
Blue Machine Gun Section. . . . . . . . . . 101
78th Field Artillery Battalion on Maneuvers. 106
Ditched HaIr-Track . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Antiaircraft Sound-Detection and Searchlight Equipment 145
1s t Division Motor Convoy 165
Marston Mat. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
VIII
THE U.S. ARMY
GHQ MANEUVERS OF 1941