Naval tactics Archives - Theodore Roosevelt Center

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Truman Handy Newberry

President Roosevelt directs Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry to return the memorandum to the General Board of the Navy, saying he approves all of it except for the point about dividing the fleet. Naval history and the recent Russo-Japanese War illustrate the dangers of splitting forces to protect multiple strategic points. Roosevelt wants the Atlantic Fleet to remain a singular unit.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-08-06

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from William Snowden Sims to Theodore Roosevelt

William Sowden Sims wrote a paper about future naval tactics for an entire fleet of ships and shares his conclusions with Theodore Roosevelt, as well as enclosing the paper. Sims believes many modifications will be needed for future naval actions, listing them for Roosevelt, whom he thinks they will interest.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-05

Creator(s)

Sims, William Sowden, 1858-1936

Letter from Hermann Speck von Sternburg to Theodore Roosevelt

Hermann Speck von Sternburg sends President Roosevelt a memorandum on Viscount Edward Grey of Fallodon about navies and part of an article written by Andrew Carnegie regarding the growth of Royal Navy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-02-14

Creator(s)

Sternburg, Hermann Speck von, Freiherr, 1852-1908

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Sowden Sims

Theodore Roosevelt finds the paper sent to him by William Sowden Sims, captain in the U.S. Navy, to be interesting. Roosevelt feels it is obvious that handling the massive technology and mechanisms and modern fleets means necessary tactical changes, and he hopes experts will begin to develop these ideas.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-10-09

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Arthur Hamilton Lee

Theodore Roosevelt does not understand Leopold James Maxse of the National Review who is being “severe” towards the United States and the role Jews play in British society. Maxse supported William H. Taft and is supporting President Wilson even though they do not want the United States to do its duty towards Great Britain. American public opinion is shifting towards Britain and the allies. Wilson is pursuing a policy that will appease the pacifists and not antagonize the allies. Roosevelt hopes Britain will not provoke the United States and other neutrals by violating the rules laid out in the Hague Conventions. He is anxious over German submarines disrupting commerce and chagrined at the German victory in East Prussia. However, Roosevelt believes that Germany will be defeated if the allies remain united.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1915-02-26

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

President Roosevelt warns President-Elect Taft under no circumstances to divide the battleship fleet between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans prior to the completion of the Panama Canal. Roosevelt lambasts “enemies of the navy,” “timid fools,” and “conscienceless scoundrels” in Congress who are trying to sway public opinion towards dividing the fleet. Roosevelt believes that a large reason for Russia’s defeat in the Russo-Japanese War was because it divided its navy between the Baltic and Pacific while the entire Japanese fleet was also deployed together.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1909-03-03

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Wirt Kimball

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt appreciates William Wirt Kimball’s letter. He is pleased that Kimball has been able to test the “search curve business” and understands that it will take time to get “‘into your tactics.'” Roosevelt wants to visit Kimball in Savannah, Georgia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1897-10-25

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from William Sowden Sims to Theodore Roosevelt

Lieutenant-Commander Sims writes to Theodore Roosevelt about how effective the U. S. S. Charleston was at its firing practice. This is a modern ship that is able to aim its guns and hit more targets than ships before it.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-23

Creator(s)

Sims, William Sowden, 1858-1936

Letter from William Sowden Sims to Theodore Roosevelt

Lieutenant Commander Sims responds to Captain Mahan’s paper from the United States Naval Institute. He generally agrees with Mahan except on the argument of speed, and can modify his own paper to be conclusive.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-29

Creator(s)

Sims, William Sowden, 1858-1936

Results of Gun and Torpedo Fire

A description of various battles fought during the Russo-Japanese War between February 8, 1904, and October 1, 1904, including the tactics used and results of the battles. The report focuses on Russian ships, as information on the injuries sustained by Japanese ships is not available.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-10-15

Creator(s)

United States. Office of Naval Intelligence.

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to John Davis Long

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt advises Secretary Long that monitor ships ought to be put into commission to maintain parity with the Spanish Navy. Recent events, including the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana, Cuba, have highlighted the need for a strong naval force. While Congress may balk at increasing the size of the Navy, Roosevelt cautions that “it may be held against us for all time to come, not merely by the men of today, but by those who read the history in the future” if the Department does not recommend it.

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1898-02-16

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William S. Cowles

Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt has been directed to use the USS Dolphin during maneuvers instead of Captain Cowles’s ship, the USS Fern. He will make sure to visit the Fern so they can have a “real talk.” Roosevelt agrees with Cowles regarding the “flower show business.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1897-08-27

Creator(s)

Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919

Torpedo flotilla organization

W. W. Kimball reviews the history and theory behind torpedo-boats. He compares past and present scenarios using statistics and a review of fleet freeing methods of organization. Kimball concludes by submitting his own memorandum on torpedo-boat organization and service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-14

Creator(s)

Kimball, W. W. (William Wirt), 1848-1930

Torpedo boat organization and service: Atlantic coast of the United States

W. W. Kimball reviews his theories on the organization, training, and outfitting of torpedo-boats.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-10-14

Creator(s)

Kimball, W. W. (William Wirt), 1848-1930