The Two-Ocean Navy Act, also known as the Vinson-Walsh Act, was a United States law enacted on July 19, 1940, and named for Carl Vinson and David I. Walsh, who chaired the Naval Affairs Committee in the House and Senate respectively. In what was then the largest naval procurement bill to date in U.S. history, it increased the size of the United States Navy by 70%.[1]
Two-Ocean Navy Act
Other short titles
Vinson-Walsh Act
Long title
An Act to establish the composition of the United States Navy, to authorize the construction of certain naval vessels, and for other purposes.
Modest naval expansion programs had been implemented by the Vinson-Trammell Act of 1934 and the Naval Act of 1938.[2][3] In early June 1940, the U.S. Congress passed legislation that provided an 11% increase in naval tonnage as well as an expansion of naval air capacity.[4] On June 17, a few days after German troops conquered France, Chief of Naval OperationsHarold Stark requested four billion dollars from Congress to increase the size of the American combat fleet by 70%, adding 257 ships amounting to 1,325,000 tons.[5] On June 18, after less than an hour of debate, the House of Representatives by a 316–0 vote authorized $8.55 billion (equivalent to $146 billion today) for a naval expansion program, that put emphasis on aircraft. Rep. Vinson, who headed the House Naval Affairs Committee, said its emphasis on carriers did not represent any less commitment to battleships, but "The modern development of aircraft has demonstrated conclusively that the backbone of the Navy today is the aircraft carrier. The carrier, with destroyers, cruisers and submarines grouped around it[,] is the spearhead of all modern naval task forces."[6] The Two-Ocean Navy Act was enacted on July 19, 1940.
$150 million for essential equipment and facilities
$65 million for the manufacture of ordnance material or munitions
$35 million for the expansion of facilities
The expansion program was scheduled to take five to six years, but a New York Times study of shipbuilding capabilities called it, "problematical" unless proposed "radical changes in design" were dropped.[8]
^ abHutcheson, John A. Jr. Encyclopedia of World War II: A Political, Social, and Military History. p. 1541.
^Allan R. Millett, "Assault from the sea: The development of amphibious warfare between the wars—the American, British, and Japanese experiences," in Williamson R. Murray, Allan R. Millett, eds., Military Innovation in the Interwar Period (Cambridge University Press, 1996), 83
^(PDF). 48 Stat. 503 ~ House Bill 6604. Legis★Works. March 27, 1934. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 3, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
^David C. Evans and Mark R. Peattie, Kaigun: Strategy, Tactics, and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy, 1887-1941 (Naval Institute Press, 1997), 356
^Trussell, C.P. (19 June 1940). "8 1/2 Billion is Voted for 1,500 Warships" (PDF). New York Times. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
^"The US Navy". uboat.net. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
^"New Navy Building Proceeds Swiftly" (PDF). The New York Times. 21 July 1940. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
January 01, 1970
ocean, navy, also, known, vinson, walsh, united, states, enacted, july, 1940, named, carl, vinson, david, walsh, chaired, naval, affairs, committee, house, senate, respectively, what, then, largest, naval, procurement, bill, date, history, increased, size, uni. The Two Ocean Navy Act also known as the Vinson Walsh Act was a United States law enacted on July 19 1940 and named for Carl Vinson and David I Walsh who chaired the Naval Affairs Committee in the House and Senate respectively In what was then the largest naval procurement bill to date in U S history it increased the size of the United States Navy by 70 1 Two Ocean Navy ActOther short titlesVinson Walsh ActLong titleAn Act to establish the composition of the United States Navy to authorize the construction of certain naval vessels and for other purposes NicknamesNavy Construction Act of 1940Enacted bythe 76th United States CongressEffectiveJuly 19 1940CitationsPublic lawPub L Tooltip Public Law United States 76 757Statutes at Large54 Stat 779 Chap 644CodificationTitles amended34 U S C NavyU S C sections amended34 U S C 494 497 498 498kLegislative historyIntroduced in the House as H R 10100 by Carl Vinson D GA on June 19 1940Committee consideration by House Naval Affairs Senate Naval AffairsPassed the House on June 22 1940 Passed Passed the Senate on July 10 1940 Passed with amendmentHouse agreed to Senate amendment on July 11 1940 Agreed Signed into law by President Franklin D Roosevelt on July 19 1940History editModest naval expansion programs had been implemented by the Vinson Trammell Act of 1934 and the Naval Act of 1938 2 3 In early June 1940 the U S Congress passed legislation that provided an 11 increase in naval tonnage as well as an expansion of naval air capacity 4 On June 17 a few days after German troops conquered France Chief of Naval Operations Harold Stark requested four billion dollars from Congress to increase the size of the American combat fleet by 70 adding 257 ships amounting to 1 325 000 tons 5 On June 18 after less than an hour of debate the House of Representatives by a 316 0 vote authorized 8 55 billion equivalent to 146 billion today for a naval expansion program that put emphasis on aircraft Rep Vinson who headed the House Naval Affairs Committee said its emphasis on carriers did not represent any less commitment to battleships but The modern development of aircraft has demonstrated conclusively that the backbone of the Navy today is the aircraft carrier The carrier with destroyers cruisers and submarines grouped around it is the spearhead of all modern naval task forces 6 The Two Ocean Navy Act was enacted on July 19 1940 The Act authorized the procurement of 1 5 7 8 Essex class aircraft carriers 2 Iowa class battleships 5 Montana class battleships 6 Alaska class large cruisers 4 Baltimore class heavy cruisers 13 Cleveland class light cruisers 4 Atlanta class anti aircraft cruisers 115 destroyers including 100 Fletcher class 13 Gleaves class and 2 Benson class destroyers 43 Gato class submarines 15 000 aircraft The conversion of 100 000 tons of auxiliary ships 50 million for patrol escort and other vessels 150 million for essential equipment and facilities 65 million for the manufacture of ordnance material or munitions 35 million for the expansion of facilities The expansion program was scheduled to take five to six years but a New York Times study of shipbuilding capabilities called it problematical unless proposed radical changes in design were dropped 8 See also editWashington Naval Conference Washington Naval TreatyReferences edit a b Hutcheson John A Jr Encyclopedia of World War II A Political Social and Military History p 1541 Allan R Millett Assault from the sea The development of amphibious warfare between the wars the American British and Japanese experiences in Williamson R Murray Allan R Millett eds Military Innovation in the Interwar Period Cambridge University Press 1996 83 Vinson Trammell Act of 1934 P L 73 135 PDF 48 Stat 503 House Bill 6604 Legis Works March 27 1934 Archived from the original PDF on November 3 2015 Retrieved December 30 2017 David C Evans and Mark R Peattie Kaigun Strategy Tactics and Technology in the Imperial Japanese Navy 1887 1941 Naval Institute Press 1997 356 a b The Decline and Renaissance of the Navy 1922 1944 Senator David I Walsh 78th Congress Session 2 Document No 2 http www ibiblio org pha USN 77 2s202 html Trussell C P 19 June 1940 8 1 2 Billion is Voted for 1 500 Warships PDF New York Times Retrieved 9 August 2012 The US Navy uboat net Retrieved 11 March 2023 New Navy Building Proceeds Swiftly PDF The New York Times 21 July 1940 Retrieved 9 August 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Two Ocean Navy Act amp oldid 1217595902, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
