In 1922 the Navy reorganized by moving most ships to the Pacific in response to which threat?

• A. The increasing threat of German submarines
• B. The rise of Japanese surface fleets
• C. The threat of Spanish colonial navies
• D. The expansion of American coastal defense

Answer: (A)

Strategic distribution of naval forces based on regional threats. After World War I, naval planners emphasized a two-ocean navy, ensuring strong presence in the Pacific where Japan’s growing naval power presented the most plausible challenge. Moving most ships westward allowed the United States to deter and respond to a potential Pacific confrontation, protect sea lanes to Asia, and support allies closer to where tensions were rising. By contrast, the German submarine threat had been the dominant concern in the Atlantic during WWI, and its impact had diminished by 1922, making Japan the more pressing strategic focus in the Pacific. The other choices don’t fit the historical emphasis on countering Japanese expansion and securing Pacific operations.