Great reading!
"...Our small Army is dispersed and beginning to try to fight a six-continent war; our one-ocean Navy is trying to fight a seven-ocean war; our factories are trying to supply a world.
We are spread thin everywhere and are strong nowhere."If it were not that our forces overseas are obviously small and represent only a small fraction of the strength of the nation, our dispersion of effort might be termed highly dangerous; indeed it might lead to defeat in detail.
Even so, it is dangerous enough."General Marshall's visit to London rather clearly indicates that our main objectives have not been determined, that our strategic course for 1942 -- the year of decision -- has not been fully set, the strength of America, which means the decisive strength, has not been mustered or moved to the decisive theatre of action..."
Baldwin's phrase "year of decision" aside from being accurate, also refers to this book, which won the Pulitzer Prise in 1942.
At this point in 1942, the United States had 7 fleet carriers, 17 battleships, 37 cruisers, 171 destroyers, 112 submarines and no frigates or amphibious ships, together with other ships totaling 790 active.
Today the US has 11 carriers, 22 cruisers, 59 destroyers, 29 frigates, 53 submarines, 31 amphibious and together with other ships totaling 285 active, the lowest number since 1916.
The next carrier, USS Essex (CV-9) will be commissioned in December 1942:
Essex under kamikazi attack, November 25, 1944: