Depending upon how you calculate it (you can actually start the dates in August), this was the start date for the massive Louisiana Maneuvers, a giant war game fought out by the U.S. Army in Louisiana.
Today in World War II History—September 14, 1941
Earlier events in the maneuvers might be regarded as staging. On this day, Phase I of the maneuvers began, with the Red Army under Gen. Lear crossing the Red River near Shreveport and the Blue Army under Gen. Kreuger advancing to meet and repel it.
The massive maneuvers remain a subject of legend and show up in any history of the U.S. Army in World War Two. Their scale was unprecedented for something occurring within the United States, ranging over a large portion of western Louisiana and crossing into Eastern Texas, something rarely noted when they're mentioned.
The maneuvers were designed to test new concepts regarding large formation mobility, with the Army looking a way to fight in a highly mobile war with large formations. The lessons learned caused the formation of 16 armored divisions in World War Two, the concept of large scale mobile warfare having been deemed sound. It also put the spotlight on various officers, some to their advantage and some not. George S. Patton emerged from the maneuvers very much in the limelight. 31, however, of the 42 divisional commanders who participated int he maneuvers would be pushed aside shortly by George S. Marshall to make way for younger officers.
The maneuvers not only tested concepts, but equipment, some faring well and others not. Artillery officers tested the concept of tank destroyers with the result that they seemed to have been proven, even though later war experiences would show the concept lacking. Cavalry fared surprisingly well in the maneuvers, contrary to some expectation. C-Rations were issued to troops in scale for the first time.
