divisions were to exchange places every three years. In addition, the divisions in the United States were to conduct basic and advanced individual training, cutting the training base and providing each soldier with a home throughout most of his career. It also theoretically made it possible to replace an entire division if it were destroyed in a nuclear attack.[1]
Beginning in 1955 fourteen divisions participated in the Gyroscope program (Table 23). To meet the changing needs of the Army, however, some deviation occurred during the duration of the program. For example, the 11th Airborne Division from Fort Campbell replaced the 5th Infantry Division in Germany in 1956, but the 5th's new station was Fort Ord, a former training center. Several benefits resulted: the European command received an airborne division, a unit it had wanted for some time; the U.S. Continental Army Command (CONARC), successor to the Army Field Forces, gained a post, Fort Campbell, and equipment to test a new divisional structure for the airborne division; and the number of divisions remained unchanged.[2]
As the divisions rotated, the U.S. Army, Europe, and Seventh Army closely monitored their activities and readiness to determine the effect of the moves on the units. They found that divisional combat efficiency declined for a number of weeks before and after rotation, and Lt. Gen. Bruce C. Clarke, Seventh Army commander, recommended limiting Gyroscope to units smaller than divisions. In 1958 the last divisional exchange took place when the 3d Infantry Division from Fort Benning replaced the 10th Infantry Division. Thereafter the program involved only smaller-size units. On 1 September 1959 the Army terminated Gyroscope, following the recommendations of General Clyde D. Eddleman, Commander, U.S. Army, Europe, who believed that other replacement systems worked better with less disruption. Gyroscope helped to sustain morale, but the scheme did not save money or improve combat readiness.[3]
TABLE 23
Operation Gyroscope
| CONUS | OCONUS | |||
| Year | Division | Station | Division | Station |
| 1955 | 10th Infantry | Fort Riley, Kans. | 1st Infantry | Germany |
| 1956 | 11th Airborne | Fort Campbell, Ky. | 5th Infantry1 | Germany |
| 1956 | 3d Armored | Fort Knox, Ky. | 4th Infantry2 | Germany |
| 1956 | 2d Infantry | Fort Lewis, Wash. | 71st Infantry3 | Alaska |
| 1956 | 8th Infantry | Fort Carson, Colo. | 9th Infantry | Germany |
| 1958 | 4th Armored | Fort Hood, Tex. | 2d Armored | Germany |
| 1958 | 3d Infantry | Fort Benning, Ga. | 10th Infantry | Germany |
1 The 5th Infantry Division's new station was Fort Ord, California.
2 The 4th Infantry Division was reduced to zero strength.
3 The 71st Infantry Division was inactivated, and the 4th Infantry Division replaced it.
- ↑ Memo for Record, sub; Unit Rotation Plan, 23 Feb 54, and Ltr, John E. Dahlquist to Matthew B. Ridgway, 7 Apr 54, Records of the Army Staff, G–1, 210.21 Feb–Mar 54, RG 319, NARA; "World-wide Unit Rotation," Army Combat Forces Journal 5 (Nov 1954): 37; Robert N. Young, "Operation Gyroscope, Rotation Plus Stability," Army Information Digest 10 (Mar 1955): 2–6; Historical Division, U.S, Army Europe (USAREUR), Operation Gyroscope in the US Army Europe, 1957, pp. 1–2 (Secret, material used unclassified), DAMH-HSR.
- ↑ Historical Section, USAREUR, Operation Gyroscope in the US Army Europe, pp. 26–40; SS, G–1 for CofS, sub: Training Center Designations, Tab A, 15 Dee 55, G–1 S 323.3, Division General file, DAMH-HSO.
- ↑ Historical Section, USAREUR, "The Replacement and Augmentation System in Europe (1945–1963)," pp. 47–48, Ms, DAMH-HSR.
