War Plan Red

War Plan Red, also known as the Atlantic Strategic War Plan, was one of the color-coded war plans created by the United States Department of War during the interwar period of 1918–1939, covering scenarios related to a hypothetical war with the British Empire (the "Red" forces, likely in reference to the Red Ensign and red coat). Red is the colour traditionally used to denote British territory on most world maps. Many different war plans were prepared by mid-level officers primarily as training exercises in how to calculate the logistical and manpower requirements of fighting a war, and War Plan Red outlined those steps necessary to defend against any attempted invasion of the United States by British forces. It further discussed fighting a two-front war with both Japan and Great Britain simultaneously (as envisioned in War Plan Red-Orange).

War Plan Red was developed by the War Department after the 1927 Geneva Naval Conference, and approved in May 1930 by Secretary of War Patrick J. Hurley and Secretary of the Navy Charles Francis Adams III and updated in 1934–35. It was a routine hypothetical exercise that neither required nor received presidential or congressional approval.

With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, it was decided that no further preparations would be made but the plans were to be retained. War Plan Red was not declassified until 1974.

The war plan outlined actions that would be necessary if, for any reason, the US and UK went to war with each other. The plan assumed that the British would initially have the upper hand by virtue of the strength of the Royal Navy. The plan further assumed that Britain would probably use its base in Canada as a springboard from which to initiate an invasion of the United States. The assumption was taken that at first, the US would fight a defensive battle against invading British forces, but the US would eventually defeat the British by blockading Canada's ports and cutting off its food supplies. It is debated whether this would have been successful, however, and if the plan would have ultimately resulted in a stalemate.

Outline

thumb|The [[Maritimes, in eastern Canada, were the primary areas of strategic importance for the plan.]]

War Plan Red first set out a description of Canada's geography, military resources, and transportation and went on to evaluate a series of possible pre-emptive American campaigns to invade Canada in several areas and occupy key ports and railways before British troops could provide reinforcement to the Canadians—the assumption being that Britain would use Canada as a staging point. The idea was that US attacks on Canada would prevent Britain from using Canadian resources, ports, or airbases.

In 1935, War Plan Red was updated and specified which roads to use in the invasion. "The best practicable route to Vancouver is via Route 99."

British strategy for war against the United States

The British military never prepared a formal plan for war with the United States during the first half of the 20th century. For instance, the government of David Lloyd George in 1919 restricted the Royal Navy from building more ships to compete with American naval growth and thereby preventing the plan's development. Like their US counterparts, most British military officers viewed cooperation with the United States as the best way to maintain world peace due to the shared culture, language, and goals, although they feared that attempts to regulate trade during a war with another nation might force a war with the US.

The British military generally believed that if war did occur, they could transport troops to Canada if asked, but nonetheless saw it as impossible to defend Canada against the much larger United States, so did not plan to render aid, as Canada's loss would not be fatal to Britain. An October 1919 memo by the British Admiralty stated if they did send British troops to Canada,

<blockquote>...the Empire would be committed to an unlimited land war against the U.S.A., with all advantages of time, distance and supply on the side of the U.S.A.</blockquote>

A full invasion of the United States was unrealistic and a naval blockade would be too slow. The Royal Navy could not use a defensive strategy of waiting for the American fleet to cross the Atlantic because Imperial trade would be left too vulnerable. Royal Navy officers believed that Britain was vulnerable to a supply blockade and that if a larger American fleet appeared near the British Isles, the Isles might quickly surrender. The officers planned to, instead, attack the American fleet from a Western Hemisphere base, likely Bermuda, while other ships based in Canada and the West Indies would attack American shipping and protect Imperial trade. The British would also bombard coastal bases and make small amphibious assaults. Colonial forces from India and Australia would help capture Manila to prevent American attacks on British trade in the Far East and perhaps a conquest of Hong Kong. The officers hoped that such acts would result in a stalemate making continued war unpopular in the United States, followed by a negotiated peace.

Canadian military officer Lieutenant Colonel James "Buster" Sutherland Brown developed an earlier counterpart to War Plan Red, Defence Scheme No. 1, on April 12, 1921. Maintaining that the best defense was a good offense, Brown planned for rapid deployment of flying columns to occupy Seattle, Great Falls, Minneapolis, and Albany. With little hope of holding the objectives, the actual idea was to divert American troops to the flanks and away from Canada, hopefully long enough for British and Commonwealth allies to arrive with reinforcements. Defence Scheme No. 1 was terminated by Chief of the General Staff Andrew McNaughton in 1928, two years before the approval of War Plan Red.

Comparison of military and naval forces

Figures according to Joint Board 325 - Serial 435, as of November 11, 1929.

British Empire Military Forces

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Britain

! Formation !! At Home !! Colonies !! Total

| Regular Army|| 110,148 || 24,648 || 134,796

| Colonial and Native Ind. Cps. || 0 || 2,137 || 2,137

| Territorial Army || 138,011 || 0 || 138,011

| Militia || 0 || 2,140 || 2,140

| Regular Army Reserve || 90,906 || 0 || 90,906

| Supplementary Reserve || 14,061 || 0 || 14,061

| Regular Army Reserve of Officers || 13,983 || 0 || 13,983

| Totals || 367,109 || 28,925 || 396,034

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Australia

! Formation !! Total

| Permanent Force || 1,811

| Citizen Force || 46,184

| Total || 47,995

{| class="wikitable"

|+ New Zealand

! Formation !! Total

| Permanent Force || 514

| Territorial Force || 20,375

| Total || 20,889

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Union of South Africa

! Formation !! Total

| Permanent Force || 1,072

| Non-Permanent Force|| 8,381

| Total || 9,453

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Irish Free State

! Formation !! Total

| Regular Army || 6,976

| Reserve || 10,000

| Total || 16,976

{| class="wikitable"

|+ India

! Formation !! Total

| British Army || 59,859

| Aden and elsewhere || 1,728

| Indian Army || 166,495

| Auxiliary Force || 33,181

| Territorial Force || 20,000

| Indian State Forces|| 36,056

| Reservists || 29,924

| Total || 347,243

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Canada

! Formation !! Total

| Permanent Force || 3,533

| Non-Permanent Force || 52,105

| Reserve of Officers || 12,213

| Reserves (estimated)|| 30,000

| Total || 97,851

British Empire Naval Forces

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Ships

! Vessel type !! Atlantic Fleet !! Mediterranean Fleet !! China Station !! America and West Indies !! East Indies !! African Station !! New Zealand !! Australia !! Canada !! Home Waters and Reserve !! Total

| Battleships || 4 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 16

| Battle Cruisers || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4

| Cruisers || 5 || 10 || 6 || 5 || 3 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 0 || 14 || 52

| Destroyer Leaders || 2 || 5 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 7 || 16

| Destroyers || 19 || 36 || 8 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 11 || 2 || 64 || 140

| Minelayers || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1

| Minesweepers || 0 || 9 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 18|| 33

| Submarines || 0 || 7 || 6 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 35 || 50

| Aircraft Carriers || 2 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 6

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Personnel

! Branch !! Officers !! Enlisted !! Totals

| Royal Navy || 7,535 || 81,029 || 88,564

| Royal Marines || 430 || 9,319 || 10,429

| Royal Canadian Navy || 76 || 450 || 526

| Royal Australian Navy || 497 || 4,764 || 5,261

| New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy || 66 || 905 || 971

| South African Naval Service || 15 || 121 || 136

| Royal Air Force assigned to Royal Navy || 300 || 2,800 || 3,100

| Civilian Crews of Naval Auxiliaries || 255 || 3,900 || 4,155

| Special Reserve of Engineer Officers || 124 || 0 || 124

| Emergency Officers || 225 || 0 || 225

| Royal Fleet Reserve || 0 || 21,914 || 21,914

| Royal Naval Reserve || 1,679 || 7,855 || 9,534

| Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve || 420 || 3,616 || 4,036

| Royal Navy Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve || 0 || 1,275 || 1,275

| Australian Naval Reserve || 815 || 8,425 || 9,267

| Canadian Naval Reserve || 102 || 931 || 1,033

| New Zealand Naval Reserve || 43 || 488 || 531

| South African Naval Reserve || 50 || 653 || 703

| Totals || 12,632 || 152,240 || 161,594

References

External links

Rudmin, F. A 1935 US Plan for Invasion of Canada February 1995
A Western Front Films Production in association with Brightside Films for Channel 5 America's Planned War On Britain: Revealed
The Straight Dope Did the U.S. plan an invasion of Canada in the 1920s? February 2003
War Plan Red: The Secret American Plan to Invade Canada

Outline

British strategy for war against the United States

Comparison of military and naval forces

British Empire Military Forces

British Empire Naval Forces

See also

References

Further reading

External links