What was the Two-Ocean Navy Act and when did it become law?
The Two-Ocean Navy Act became law on the 19th of July 1940. This legislation authorized a massive expansion of the American combat fleet to include 257 ships.
Questions about Two-Ocean Navy Act
Short answers, pulled from the story.
How much money did Congress allocate for the Two-Ocean Navy Act in 1940?
Congress voted 316 to 0 to authorize $8.55 billion for naval expansion on the 18th of June 1940. The House Naval Affairs Committee under Rep. Carl Vinson approved this funding which included fifty million dollars for patrol vessels and one hundred fifty million dollars for equipment.
Which specific types of warships were authorized by the Two-Ocean Navy Act?
The act mandated eight battleships, five additional battleships, six large cruisers, four aircraft carriers, and 150 destroyers including escort types. It also required forty-three submarines and fifteen thousand aircraft for the new force.
Why did the United States shift focus from battleships to aircraft carriers during the Two-Ocean Navy Act?
Modern warfare developments dictated that aircraft carriers replaced traditional battleships as the primary weapon. Rep. Carl Vinson declared that the carrier was now the backbone of the Navy while destroyers, cruisers, and submarines formed the spearhead of all task forces.
Who led the congressional committees responsible for passing the Two-Ocean Navy Act?
Rep. Carl Vinson chaired the House Naval Affairs Committee while Sen. David I. Walsh led the Senate Naval Affairs Committee. These leaders oversaw a legislative process that moved faster than any previous naval procurement bill in U.S. history.