Operation Gyroscope

The rebuilding process of Germany post–World War II was extreme, and much reconstruction support was needed. Because of this, the need to ship soldiers and supplies from the United States into occupied Germany was great. Troops were trained in bases in many states, even in states as far as California. After being trained, the troops were flown or sent on trains to New York. Before Gyroscope, most, if not all, troops left on ships for Germany from New York. Operation Gyroscope proved worthy as an option for shipping troops out of California and involved steering the ships out and around North America, through the Panama Canal, and then across the Atlantic Ocean. Planners of the operation envisioned improving three areas with their program. The new system was expected to raise the morale of troops and their families, increase the combat effectiveness of the army, and lower the cost of maintaining the military establishment.[1]