Rail Transport and the Winning of Wars

By James A Van Fleet

James Alward Van Fleet (March 19, 1892 – September 23, 1992) was a U.S. Army officer during World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Van Fleet was a native of New Jersey, who was raised in Florida and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy. He served as a regimental, divisional and corps commander during World War II and as the commanding General of U.S. Army and other United Nations forces during the Korean War.

“This survey reviews the role of railroads in national security. It is based upon both personal observation and recorded experience of the effect of rail transport, or the lack thereof, on the outcome of campaigns and the winning of wars.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barakaldo Books
• Release date: May 19, 2020
• ISBN: 9781839745089

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RAIL TRANSPORT AND THE WINNING OF WARS

BY

GENERAL JAMES A. VAN FLEET, U.S. ARMY (RETIRED)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

Introduction 5

Illustrations 7

LESSONS FROM EXPERIENCE 9

Enemy Logistics in Korea 9

My Concern With Transport 10

Why Railroads are Primary and Basic 11

Failure to Interdict Red Supply Lines 12

Results of Operation Strangle 14

Results of Operation Saturate 15

Choice of Targets 15

Failure to Interdict Railroads 16

Rail Transport Is Least Profitable Target 17

Doctrine of the Transportation Corps, U.S. Army 18

Illustrations From History 18

Railroads in Our War of 1861-1865 19

The Great Lesson of How to Use Cars 22

Misuse of Cars in World War I 23

Contrast In World War II 23

Lapses Show Lessons Never Fully Learned 24

CAPACITY 26

Rail Line Immediately Creates Large Capacity 26

U.S. Supply By Rail in Korea 26

Fast Build-up of Rail Capacity 28

High Tonnages Moved Soon After D-Day 28

Rail Deliveries Rise to 23,000 Tons Daily 29

Support for Invasion of Southern France 29

Experience With Red Ball Express 30

Large Tonnages Moved in India 31

Rails Move Great Bulk of Freight in Iran 33

Fast Handling of Big Troop Movements 33

Battlefield Deliveries by Rail 33

DURABILITY AND RECUPERATION 35

We Never Stopped the North Korean Railroads 35

The Battle of Carlson’s Canyon 37

Other Battles With The Same Result 39

Involves Major Call on Attack Resources 40

War Damage Presents No New Rail Problems 44

Natural Catastrophes Outdo Enemy Damage 44

How Railroads Localize Effects of Damage 46

FLEXIBILITY 47

Many Types of Cars Available 47

Locational Flexibility 49

Standardization of Facilities and Training 51

Railroads Organized on a National Basis 52

Rail Movements Made Under Discipline and Control 53

Railroads Maintain Their Own Communications 53

Flexible Handling of Emergency Movements 54

Handling of Port Traffic 55

Flexibility on the Home Front 57

Rails Handled Great Bulk of Wartime Traffic 59

ECONOMY 60

Efficient Use of Manpower and Materials 60

Why Railroads Save Men and Fuel 61

VERSATILITY 63

Railroads Go Anywhere Anytime 63

Nothing Now in Sight to Replace Railroads 64

CONCLUSIONS 66

Potential Wartime Use of American Railroads 66

Why Railroads Are Indispensable 66

Railroads as a Source of Reserve Strength 67

Our Railroads Are A Great Military Asset 68

We Must See That Our Railroads Are Kept Strong 69

REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER 71

Introduction

Rail Transport and The Winning of Wars

by

General James A. Van Fleet, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Commanding General, Eighth Army, Korea

14 April 1951—11 February 1953

This survey reviews the role of railroads in national security. It is based upon both personal observation and recorded experience of the effect of rail transport, or the lack thereof, on the outcome of campaigns and the winning of wars.

I hope the facts presented and the conclusions drawn may be helpful in current military thought and a contribution to the national defense.

19 March 1956

Washington, D.C.

Illustrations

Power for the Big Push: American locomotives stored in Wales for use after D-Day in moving supplies forward to our armies advancing on the continent

A Reconstructed Railway Bridge: American officers ride the locomotive of the first train to cross the Han River, near Seoul, on a bridge rebuilt by American engineer troops

The Railway Bridge Complex at Chongju: Despite the results of the attack upon Communist rail lines shown here, supply lines were quickly restored to service

Wreckage of Communist Supply Trains: Cars, locomotives, track and roadbed all were heavily damaged by bombing but rail supply lines soon recovered from even such damage as this

Passing the Ammunition—by Rail: Narrow-gauge train moving southward from Lingayen carrying ammunition to support the drive for capture of Manila

A Rail Crossing Replaced: 90-foot high earth fill with which American construction troops replaced a damaged 10-arch bridge across the Savone River in Italy

Hauling Supplies by Rail to Russia: Railroad cars loaded with transport and military supplies in the Teheran Yard, in July 1944

Camouflaged Bridge in North Korea: Railroad bridge disguised to appear to have been put out of commission by American bombers. Actually the bridge was sound and usable

The Bridge at Carlson’s Canyon: Photograph made one week after bombing attack shows cribbing replacing two damaged spans. The bridge was finally replaced by a bypass around the head of the canyon

Quick Change of Engines: An example of the benefits of standardization of equipment and procedure in the quick replacement of an engine in a diesel locomotive and its prompt return to service

A Critical Logistic Link: The Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, Germany, capture of which touched off the encircling movement which resulted in capture of the Ruhr district by American troops

Saving Lives: A hospital unit car of the Medical Department, United States Army, used for transportation of wounded and sick soldiers

Bypass or Alternate Lines: Illustration of the use of bypass lines by the Korean Reds

From Rail to Ship: A small bit of one of the facilities for handling tonnage between vessels and cars

Oil by the Trainload: To avert a threatened oil shortage in the East, railroads were called upon to handle as much as 1,000,000 barrels a day during World War II

At Work to Restore Service: Italian military railway forces helping to clean up destruction and restore railway facilities near Rome

Tanks by the Trainload: Whether it be piggyback for a truck trailer, or for a tank, rail transport is basic in the supply lines of the armed forces

LESSONS FROM EXPERIENCE

"How could the Chinese Communist Armies in Korea supply themselves in hostile territory 200 miles from their