Activation of new aaa units - Air Defense Artillery

1948 THE NATIONAL GUARD-OUR MODERN l\lINUTEMEN 29
Island, and Vermont. l\loreover, there is every reason to
expect that a total of 15 Infantry Divisions, 15 B.egimental
Combat Teams, and one Armored Division will have all
component units Fede~ally recognized by the middle of
this year.
Even more gratifying has been the growth of the Air National
Guard. Hfty-five fighter squadrons have been put into
operation Hying P-51 Mustangs and p-.t7 Thunderbolts.
1hree squadrons are scheduled to begin receiving jetpropelled
P-80 Shooting Stars this year. Nine Light Bombardment
Groups Hying A-26 Invader type of planes have
also been put into operation and it is expected that every
air tactical unit will have gained Federal recognition by the
time this article is published.
This remarkably s\yifth growth in strength and number
of units is only one indication that the new National Guard
really means business. Since reorganization began the National
Guard Bureau has ordered distribution to the States
of approximately half a billion dollars worth of clothing and
individual and organizational equipment for Armv units.
Another quarter of a billion dollars in equipment has been
issued to Air units of the Guard. Guard Technical Services
have an estimated half-billion additional dollars of
equipment on hand and it is expected that another billion
dollars \vill be required to fully equip Army units of the
Guard at their full, authorized strength of 623,000 men in
5,857 units.
Practically the entire small-arms requirement for full
troop basis, 880,000, are on hand. Of 7,521 artillery pieces
required'for full troop basis, 2,339 units are in condition
for issue. Forty-eight 120mm antiaircraft guns are in repair
shops and are scheduled to be ready by the end of the
calendar year.
The National Guard has adopted the "new look" in Coast
Artillery. The units which formerly \vere charged -'l.yiththe
defense of the nation's coastal areas now have been expanded
into a vast neuyork covering 27 States, Puerto Rico
and the District of Columbia to give the greatest protection
from enemy aerial attack where it is most needed-at industrial
centers, at military installations and in areas of
heavy population concentr~tion.
During the emergency prior to the last war, the National
Guard furnished 38 reg~ments and 9 separate battalions of
Coast Artillerv to the Armv of the United States. Of the
regiments, 23 'were of the a'ntiaircraft type, II were Harbor
Defense, and 4 \"ere equipped ,'\:ith 155mm guns.
In the new National Guard, the Harbor Defense units
CDnsistof 9 group headquarters, 25 battalion headquarters
and 69 firing batteries, with an authorized strength of 9,646
men allotted to the several States. Of these, 25 units \\ith
a strength of approximately 1,000 men have been FederaHy
recognized. They include I group headquarters, 6 battalion
headquarters, 12-90mm batteries, 5-6-inch batteries and I
mine battery.
The grea'tly expanded National Guard Antiaircraft Artillery
will have 809 separate units with 77,822 men deployed
throughout the 27 States, Puerto Rico and the District of
Columbia, \yhen fully organized. \Vith the other arms of
the National Guard, the Antiaircraft Artillerv will be an
integral part of the nation's M-Day Force-th~ first line of
defense in the event of an enemy attack.
There will be 14 brigade headquarters, 14 operations
detachments, 43 group headquarters and 123 battalions,
when organization of the National Guard AAA is complete.
The 123 Battalions, all of which are completely mobile, or
self-propelled, are divided as follows: 32 mobile automatic
weapons battalions, 27 self-propelled battalions and 64
mobile gun battalions. At the same time that all semimobile
gun and automatic weapons battalions were eliminated
from the National Guard troop basis last November;
AAA Searchlight Battalions were eliminated and the firing
power of the National Guard antiaircraft artillery increased
by converting them to firing batteries.
In the reorganization of the new National Guard, which
began 30 June 1946 with the Federal ~gnition of a
fighter squadron in Denver, Colorado, the third priority
was given to antiaircraft artillery and signal aircraft \yarning
units. First priority was given to divisions and tactical Air
units and second priority to infantry regimental combat
teams.
Today 4 States: Alabama, Maine, Rhode Island and
T exas, ~nd the District of Columbia, have organized all of
the antiaircraft units allotted to them. Throughout the
country, a total of 53..J.units have been Federally recognized,
or 66% of the 809 units in the entire troop basis.
They have an aggregate strength of more than 21,000 men,
or 27% of their ultimate projected strength.
Eleven brigade headquarters, 8 operations detachments
and.35 group headquarters have been Federally recognized
and already are working in close liaison with the Air ::"\ational
Guard, whose long-range radar would supply the
early warning of approaching enemy planes.
Considering the type of aggression we can expect in the
future, the United States is indeed fortunate that succeeding
generations have foHowed the traditional concept of national
defense. The nel.\' National Guard, comprised as it
is of local units, raised and housed by the State, armed arid
supported by the Federal government, is admirably adapted
to counter enemy action without fatal delav.
Add to the abOl.'c-volunteer spirit, loca(leadership, and
the Guardsman's sure knowledge that he fights for his own
home and family-and it is obvious that America has the
essentials of an indomitable defense.
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