Naval warfare

Abstract

Conventionally naval warfare has been treated as a distinct subject, set apart by specialist knowledge and essentially concerned with fighting between navies. This reflects the origins of academic naval history in the naval educational needs of an age of profound technological transformation without conflict (1865–95), rather than its connection with the newly professional discipline of history.1 The influence of navies on their history has favoured the production of highly detailed narratives which rarely extend their scope beyond the maritime dimension. This history of naval warfare is filled with inconclusive engagements between fleets of essentially identical configuration, technological advantage being perhaps the most transitory of all advantages, rarely lasting long enough to decide a war, even if the initial impact was significant. The famous Monitor-Virginia action of 1862 is typical. While most accounts focus on the fighting the real impact was the effect this drawn action had on Union General George McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign. This example suggests the important questions for naval history address the balance between land and sea power, and the ability of navies to influence the result of conflicts.KeywordsBallistic MissileMerchant ShippingCruise MissileNaval ForceBritish StrategyThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.