The Development of British Naval Thinking: Essays in Memory of Bryan Ranft (Cass Series: Naval Policy and History)

This new book brings together Britain’s leading naval historians and analysts to present a comprehensive investigation of British naval thinking and what has made it so distinctive over the last three centuries, from the sailing ship era to the current day. This new volume describes in depth the beginnings of formalized thought about the conduct of naval operations in the 18th Century, its transformation through the impact of industrialization in the 19th Century and its application in the two World Wars of the twentieth. This book concludes with a review of modern British naval thinking and the appearance of naval doctrine against the uncertainties of the loss of empire, the Cold War, nuclear weapons and the huge changes facing us as we move in to the new millennium. How perceptive and distinctive was British naval thinking? Where did British ideas come from? Did they determine or merely follow British experience? Do they explain British naval success ? The contributors to this volume tackle these key questions in a book that will be of considerable interest to the maritime community around the English-speaking world. This book will be of great interest to all students and professionals with an interest in the history of the Royal Navy, contemporary British maritime operations and strategic studies. This is a commemorative volume of the life and work of the distinguished Professor Bryan Ranft.

This new book brings together Britain’s leading naval historians and analysts to present a comprehensive investigation of British naval thinking and what has made it so distinctive over the last three centuries, from the sailing ship era to the current day.

This new volume describes in depth the beginnings of formalized thought about the conduct of naval operations in the 18th Century, its transformation through the impact of industrialization in the 19th Century and its application in the two World Wars of the twentieth. This book concludes with a review of modern British naval thinking and the appearance of naval doctrine against the uncertainties of the loss of empire, the Cold War, nuclear weapons and the huge changes facing us as we move in to the new millennium. How perceptive and distinctive was British naval thinking? Where did British ideas come from? Did they determine or merely follow British experience? Do they explain British naval success ? The contributors to this volume tackle these key questions in a book that will be of considerable interest to the maritime community around the English-speaking world.

This book will be of great interest to all students and professionals with an interest in the history of the Royal Navy, contemporary British maritime operations and strategic studies.

This is a commemorative volume of the life and work of the distinguished Professor Bryan Ranft.

Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Series-Title......Page 3 Title......Page 6 Copyright......Page 7 Dedication......Page 8 Contents......Page 10 Contributors......Page 12 Foreword......Page 14 Acknowledgements......Page 17 1 Introduction: British naval thinking: a contradiction in terms......Page 18 2 The idea of naval strategy in Britian in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries......Page 36 3 The development of education in the Royal Navy: 1854–1914......Page 51 4 Corbett and the emergence of a British school......Page 77 5 1914–18: the proof of the pudding......Page 106 6 Richmond and the faith reaffirmed: British naval thinking between the wars......Page 120 7 All sorts of wars: British naval thinking and technology in the Second world war......Page 151 8 British naval thinking in the nuclear age......Page 177 9 The discovery of doctrine: British naval thinking at the close of the twentieth century......Page 199 Epilogue: Professor Bryan McLaren Ranft......Page 209 Biblography......Page 212 Index......Page 225 Introduction : British Naval Thinking : A Contradiction In Terms? -- The Idea Of Naval Strategy In Britain In The Eighteenth And Nineteenth Centuries -- The Development Of Education In The Royal Navy : 1854-1914 -- Corbett And The Emergence Of A British School? -- 1914-1918 : The Proof Of The Pudding -- Richmond And The Faith Reaffirmed : British Naval Thinking Between The Wars -- All Sorts Of Wars : British Naval Thinking And Technology In The Second World War -- British Naval Thinking In The Nuclear Age -- The Discovery Of Doctrine : British Naval Thinking At The Close Of The Twentieth Century. Edited By Geoffrey Till. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [195]-207) And Index. British naval thinking : a contradiction in terms? The idea of naval strategy in Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries The development of education in the Royal Navy, 1854-1914 Corbett and the emergence of a British school? 1914-1918 : the proof of the pudding Richmond and the faith reaffirmed All sorts of wars : British naval thinking and technology in World War II British naval thinking in the Nuclear Age The discovery of doctrine : British naval thinking at the close of the 20th century. In this book, Britain's leading naval historians and analysts have come together to produce an investigation of the development of British naval thinking over the past three centuries, from the sailing ship era to the present day.