Lesson 5.13: The U.S. Navy in the Strategy of Containment, 1953-1963 Sea Power and Maritime Affairs Lesson 5.13: The U.S. Navy in the Strategy of Containment, 1953-1963

Enabling Objectives Comprehend the development of new strategies and weapons systems, in terms of competition for resources within the DoD and within the U.S. Navy, during the Cold War. Comprehend how the threat of limited naval presence was used to influence international affairs during the 1950s. Know the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 on U.S. naval policy and national policy.

The U.S. Navy in the Strategy of Containment, 1953-1963 Elected 1952-1960 Administration increases military funding after the Korean War.

The U.S. Navy in the Strategy of Containment, 1953-1963 Worldwide U.S. interests. Strategy of containment must be backed by threat of force. Naval deployments - worldwide. Influence international affairs. Threat of either limited or unlimited naval force. Numbered fleets deployed in different regions. Second Fleet Atlantic Third Fleet Eastern Pacific Sixth Fleet Mediterranean Seventh Fleet Western Pacific and Indian Ocean Fifth Fleet Arabian Gulf (1995)

Admiral Arleigh Burke Chief of Naval Operations 1955-1961

Admiral Hyman G. Rickover Father of the Nuclear Navy and Naval Reactors 6

USS Nautilus (SSN 571) Commissioned September 1954. First nuclear-powered submarine. First submarine to cruise under the North Pole.

USS Seawolf Launched in 1955. Second nuclear-powered submarine. The Seawolf, launched 1955, was the Navy's 2nd nuclear-powered submarine 8 8

Polaris Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs) Strategic Deterrence Nuclear Triad With strategic bombers and ICBMs. Eventually replaced by Poseidon and Trident missiles on newer submarines.

USS George Washington (SSBN-598) The George Washington, launched June 9, 1959, was the Navy's 1st submarine in Nov. 1960 to deploy the solid-fuel Polaris missile with one-megaton warhead June 9, 1959 – Navy’s 1st Ballistic Missile Sub 10

[photo from 1959 ad by Westinghouse that built the ship reactor] USS Long Beach The cruiser USS Long Beach, launched July 14, 1959, was the Navy's 1st nuclear-powered surface ship and carried 8 Polaris missiles [photo from 1959 ad by Westinghouse that built the ship reactor] 14 July 1959 Navy’s 1st nuclear-powered surface ship Carried 8 Polaris missiles. 11

First Nuclear powered carrier commissioned (CVAN 65) Enterprise - 25 November, 1961

Nikita Khrushchev Succeeded Stalin as Soviet premier after his death in 1953. Proposed “peaceful competition” between the superpowers. Challenged U.S. to meet Communist challenges in third world countries. 13

John Fitzgerald Kennedy Elected President over Eisenhower’s Vice President Richard Nixon in 1960. Navy PT boat commander in WW II as a Lieutenant.

The Cold War Heats Up The “Space Race” Sputnik: First man-made satellite:1957 Yuri Gagarin Kennedy :U.S. will land a man on the moon “ before the decade is out.” Naval aviators chosen among first astronauts. “We will bury you!” speech at the United Nations – 1960 Berlin Wall erected in 1961. Kennedy: “Ich bin ein Berliner.”-1963 Succeeded Stalin as Soviet premier after his death in 1953. Proposed “peaceful competition” between the superpowers. Challenged U.S. to meet Communist challenges in third world countries.

Meanwhile…. Fidel Castro in Cuba Leader of Cuban Revolution against U.S.-supported President Batista in 1959. Establishes Communist government aligned with the Soviet Union. Eisenhower uses CIA to train 1,400 Cuban exiles in Guatemala

Cuban Missile Crisis 1961 - “Bay of Pigs” Invasion: CIA-trained Cuban rebels landed by U.S. Navy. Defeated by Castro’s communists. 1962: Soviet nuclear missiles move to Cuba. Located by Air Force U-2 reconnaissance plane. Options for President Kennedy: Air strikes or invasion too risky - may start nuclear war. Blockade or “Quarantine” of missiles established by Navy. 22 Oct 62- fleet directed to block military shipments from Cuba. 25 Oct 62- Soviet Ships reverse course Khrushchev agrees to remove missiles.

Cuban Missile Crisis

Cuban Missile Crisis Kennedy’s naval ‘Quarantine’ is a conventional engagement—involving small ships No fleet action; no hostilities Khrushchev agrees to remove missiles in Cuba Soviet naval policy reviewed. Need a more balanced Navy of surface, subsurface, and air forces to challenge U.S. for command of the seas. 1. Impact of overwhelming naval force, even when facing challenge from another superpower’s navy (USSR) 2. Great effectiveness of the aircraft carrier in showing the flag and threatening force in order to help resolve international disturbances without escalation to war, especially when backed by Marine Corps amphibious force 3. Ineffectiveness of submarine in projecting power during “peacetime,” despite its great utility as deterrent to nuclear or major conventional war (SSBNs) and for intelligence-gathering (SSNs) 4. Soviet naval policy: Need to change to a more balanced Navy of surface, subsurface, and airborne forces

Cuban Missile Crisis Soviet had no symmetrical, opposing forces Soviet naval policy reviewed. Need a more balanced Navy of surface, subsurface, and air forces to challenge U.S. for command of the seas. 1. Impact of overwhelming naval force, even when facing challenge from another superpower’s navy (USSR) 2. Great effectiveness of the aircraft carrier in showing the flag and threatening force in order to help resolve international disturbances without escalation to war, especially when backed by Marine Corps amphibious force 3. Ineffectiveness of submarine in projecting power during “peacetime,” despite its great utility as deterrent to nuclear or major conventional war (SSBNs) and for intelligence-gathering (SSNs) 4. Soviet naval policy: Need to change to a more balanced Navy of surface, subsurface, and airborne forces 20

Battle History Video Chapter 3 "Steel Walls of Freedom" Time 36:54 - 39:24.

Enabling Objectives Comprehend the development of new strategies and weapons systems, in terms of competition for resources within the DoD and within the U.S. Navy, during the Cold War. Comprehend how the threat of limited naval presence was used to influence international affairs during the 1950s. Know the impact of the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 on U.S. naval policy and national policy.

Next time: The U.S. Navy, Vietnam and Limited War, 1964-1975 Questions? Next time: The U.S. Navy, Vietnam and Limited War, 1964-1975 23