American Tech in 1936

[Agiknight]

Even if they dont' start with any produced or in production, I really don't see a good argument for USA not having the tech at all. Britain starts with trucks but can't deploy any until they take the "Motorized Army" focus. Could do something similar for US maybe.

 

[Nelfe]

I have never understood why Marines I is not researched in 1936. At this time the Marines Corps existed, undergo several two Fleet Landing Exercises, and was submitted to a great reform to transform this unit into amphibious one.

 

[aono]

I have never understood why Marines I is not researched in 1936. At this time the Marines Corps existed, undergo several two Fleet Landing Exercises, and was submitted to a great reform to transform this unit into amphibious one.

FLEX 1 - 1935.
FLEX 2 - 1936.
1st Marines was reactivated at 1 February 1941 only.
I actually believe (I'd need to look for it though if you disagree) that first real improvements in USMC state as real amphibious one should be dated by 1941, after FLEX-6.

 

[matthewyoung123]

Just curious, when did the USA field motorized units?

That might be a reason why the developers did not award the USA with motorized technology at the start of the game.

What would some other reasons be for not having America start the 1936 scenario with motorized technology already researched?

The US was using trucks in the First World War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffery_Quad was one of the models used. You also have the extensive use of "Liberty Trucks".

That being said, most front line units were not Motorized in the US until after the completion of the Louisiana Maneuvers in 1940. However, trucks WERE being used by the US Army from WW1 on so the tech, in my opinion, should be available to the US in 1936. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Maneuvers

PS- I am the former Director of Education for the National Infantry Museum @ Ft. Benning, GA

 

[Joseph Balin]

Agree

 

[Nelfe]

FLEX 1 - 1935.
FLEX 2 - 1936.
1st Marines was reactivated at 1 February 1941 only.
I actually believe (I'd need to look for it though if you disagree) that first real improvements in USMC state as real amphibious one should be dated by 1941, after FLEX-6.

There was one amphibious USMC unit, although under command of the US Navy, the "Fleet Marine Force", established in 1933 (General Order No. 241).

 

[Meglok]

IIRC there was pretty stiff resistance inside US Army, mainly Cavalry Branch of it. It was even mentioned pretty recently on the forums.

This is why the US doesn't start with Motorized. Motorized is not trucks, it is a doctrine. And in 1936 the US Army was under-funded, under-equipped, and still mired in WW1 doctrine. The Cavalry arm fought a rear guard action up into 1941 to keep their horses.

And while trucks were essential for support companies, the Army didn't have the funds for them in 1936 to fill out all their ToE. Congress had cut military spending to the bone during the Depression. But they did have horses. So I can see where PDS decided no trucks at start for the US.

As far as the Marines, they really didn't begin serious research into modern beach assault doctrine until post 1936. The Marines existed in 1936, but were dispersed into penny packet deployments around the world, stuck guarding embassies and legations, or serving on board ships. The last time they deployed in division formation was 1918 until WW2.