PART 8

The New Navy

1954-1959

I n spite of the truce in Korea, peace in the world re-

mained on unsteady footing. Within months, the wors-

ening situation in the Far East, a series of crises in the

Middle East, and a general deterioration in interna-

tional relations gave new importance to the traditional

practice of deploying naval forces to trouble spots of

the world. As tension grew, hostility became open;

and as international maneuverings led to incidents and

demands which threatened world peace, naval forces

were called upon to represent the nation in critical

areas. On different occasions these forces evacuated

refugees, patrolled troubled waters, provided support

to menaced nations, and presented a physical symbol

of freedom as a bulwark between the aggressor and

the oppressed.

The period was also marked by technological and

scientific advances of such magnitude that the Navy

and Naval Aviation passed through a change greater

than any in their previous history. The effective ex-

ploitation of these advances enhanced the speed, fire-

power, versatility, and mobility of naval, sea and air

forces. Guns were being replaced by guided missiles,

capability to deliver nuclear weapons was increased,

aircraft speeds jumped from sub- to supersonic, the

adaptation of nuclear power to aircraft was under in-

vestigation, and an increased knowledge of space gave

evidence of its future effect on surface operations.

Guided missiles of several types were perfected and

placed into operation. Air-to-air missiles became stan-

dard equipment on interceptors; a ground-support

type was deployed by fleet squadrons. Air defense

missiles were on board operating ships. Air-to-surface

missiles were assigned to the Naval Air Reserve, and

an interceptor missile was introduced into flight train-

ing. The fleet ballistic missile, Polaris, was deployed

on nuclear- powered submarines.

A new class of carriers was built and the basic car-

rier modernization program was completed. Carrier

forces, strengthened by these additions and improve-

ments, operated a whole new family of aircraft with

high performance capabilities. The successful applica-

tion of nuclear power to ships of several types

reached a new height by the construction of a new

carrier utilizing the advantages of this newfound

source of power.

Accompanying the intensive application of techno-

logical advances were extensive reorganizations within

the Navy Department by which greater emphasis was

placed on research. New provisions were made for

utilizing developments in space, and closely related

activities in technical fields were brought together by

the merger of two bureaus. Similar adjustments in the

fleet provided a more uniform organization for carrier

aviation, set up special task groups for the progressive

improvement of antisubmarine tactics, provided com-

pletely equipped mobile amphibious squadrons ready

to operate in the new tactics of vertical assault, and re-

vised the Reserve program to provide units trained

and equipped to perform specific tasks immediately

upon mobilization.

All these advances in technology and all the im-

provements in weapons and equipment created a new

Navy which paradoxically continued to play its tradi-

tional role in controlling the sea. Defense of the nation

and of its commerce, deterrence of aggression, and

readiness in time of war to destroy any active enemy

power remained the Navy's basic tasks.

Events of the latter part of the 1950s were largely

dominated by the space program. As a new age

loomed upon the horizon, questions were raised and

investigations made regarding the state of the nation's

scientific attainment, the quality of its educational pro-

gram, and the relative position of its progress in mis-

silery. Successful orbits by Explorer 1 and Vanguard

provided the first of a number of convincing answers.

Within months, the orbit of man-made satellites be-

came almost commonplace and the fantasy of man in

space began to take on realistic form as tests demon-

strated the feasibility of retrieving objects from orbit

and an astronaut training program was launched.

1954

1 January The Naval Air Weapons Systems School

was established at Jacksonville, Fla., to train cadres in

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