Cye Fischer ,AKA James1976, sent an e-mail to Mark recently askign some questions. After a discussion between Mark, myself, Cye and Shane I've been asked to post some of the questions here and our replies for more comments.
Vinson-Walsh Act (Two Ocean Navy Act)
Cye Asked:
I. Vinson-Walsh Act (Two Ocean Navy Act)
In OTL this was passed in July 1940 in the aftermath to the Fall of France.
At that time the United States feared that the Marine Nationale could fall
into German hands intact and that Britain might fall as well with the Royal
Navy passing into German hands as well. So the USN was looking at the albeit
slim chance of having to face down the combined strength of the
Kriegsmarine, Regina Marina, Imperial Japanese Navy, Marine Nationale, &
Royal Navy. Now with 20/20 hindsight we know how unlikely that was in OTL,
but that was part of the thinking at the time.
In FFO the Marine Nationale never left the fight and I seriously doubt there
was ever any real thought given to it or the RN falling under German
control. So to my mind its an open question just what the FFO version of
the Vinson-Walsh Act would look like. My gut tells me that it would have
looked a good bit different from OTL, though I couldnt say exactly how.
Mark's Reply :
COMMENT: <Erm guys? This is another area I know very little about.>
This is a ripper of a point and not one we have addressed (one of the severe disadvantages of not having had a US team for so long). This is a critical core policy of USN development and must be addressed if we are to get a reasonable outcome in 1944-45.
Russ's Reply :
Comment: I mentioned this to Jacques a while ago but got no answer. Both Naval expansion Bills were being developed before the POD. The First one Naval Expansion Act in June 1940 was to increase the Navy by 11%. I do not see this Changing. The Second act, The Two-Ocean Navy Act of July 1940 will, imho, take a whole lot of lobbying to get passed but it will in either July or August 1940. Why? Because I think FDR can have it spun in many ways other than just the Historical worry. Remember any delay on this Bill though will have implications of when the CV's or CVL's entering the USN will begin to arrive in 1943. Also whether it is scaled back from 70% growth to something less may also have to be considered. My Gut feel is that it could be scaled back to 50% or 60% to sell it easier to Congress but FDR will go for the whole thing and get it. The Collapse of Continental France will help even if their fleet is still intact.
Cye's reply :
I. Vinson-Walsh Act
I don't think there is any doubt that there will still be a Vinson-Walsh Act sometime between July and September 1940. The Fall of France is still going to be a major shock and the US will be forced to deal with it. I'm just wondering what the composition of the Act will be and what will come out of it.
Russ's reply :
I. I think that the act will trigger a freeze and that the two follow on designs for the Iowa's will be ordered. That wont change, whether its in July or August will. In fact as far as the make-up of most of the ships in the act, I do not see much of a change at all. The only one that will be an issue is the Alaska's which I do not see getting by the board in 1941 as designed, the 12x8" maybe.
Other Comments, Suggestions?
Russ / Roller007
Vinson-Walsh Act (Two Ocean Navy Act)
Cye Asked:
I. Vinson-Walsh Act (Two Ocean Navy Act)
In OTL this was passed in July 1940 in the aftermath to the Fall of France.
At that time the United States feared that the Marine Nationale could fall
into German hands intact and that Britain might fall as well with the Royal
Navy passing into German hands as well. So the USN was looking at the albeit
slim chance of having to face down the combined strength of the
Kriegsmarine, Regina Marina, Imperial Japanese Navy, Marine Nationale, &
Royal Navy. Now with 20/20 hindsight we know how unlikely that was in OTL,
but that was part of the thinking at the time.
In FFO the Marine Nationale never left the fight and I seriously doubt there
was ever any real thought given to it or the RN falling under German
control. So to my mind its an open question just what the FFO version of
the Vinson-Walsh Act would look like. My gut tells me that it would have
looked a good bit different from OTL, though I couldnt say exactly how.
Mark's Reply :
COMMENT: <Erm guys? This is another area I know very little about.>
This is a ripper of a point and not one we have addressed (one of the severe disadvantages of not having had a US team for so long). This is a critical core policy of USN development and must be addressed if we are to get a reasonable outcome in 1944-45.
Russ's Reply :
Comment: I mentioned this to Jacques a while ago but got no answer. Both Naval expansion Bills were being developed before the POD. The First one Naval Expansion Act in June 1940 was to increase the Navy by 11%. I do not see this Changing. The Second act, The Two-Ocean Navy Act of July 1940 will, imho, take a whole lot of lobbying to get passed but it will in either July or August 1940. Why? Because I think FDR can have it spun in many ways other than just the Historical worry. Remember any delay on this Bill though will have implications of when the CV's or CVL's entering the USN will begin to arrive in 1943. Also whether it is scaled back from 70% growth to something less may also have to be considered. My Gut feel is that it could be scaled back to 50% or 60% to sell it easier to Congress but FDR will go for the whole thing and get it. The Collapse of Continental France will help even if their fleet is still intact.
Cye's reply :
I. Vinson-Walsh Act
I don't think there is any doubt that there will still be a Vinson-Walsh Act sometime between July and September 1940. The Fall of France is still going to be a major shock and the US will be forced to deal with it. I'm just wondering what the composition of the Act will be and what will come out of it.
Russ's reply :
I. I think that the act will trigger a freeze and that the two follow on designs for the Iowa's will be ordered. That wont change, whether its in July or August will. In fact as far as the make-up of most of the ships in the act, I do not see much of a change at all. The only one that will be an issue is the Alaska's which I do not see getting by the board in 1941 as designed, the 12x8" maybe.
Other Comments, Suggestions?
Russ / Roller007
