Admin Test notes:Test notes: –Cite –Ship Names should be in italics USS Wapsipinicon –Proper noun capitalization Marine Navy South North Civil War

Review Technological advancesTechnological advances –Hull –Propulsion –Ordinance –Debate on whether to remain technology current –“low cost weapons” and the response Congressional and Public attitudesCongressional and Public attitudes USN rebirthUSN rebirth –Construction programs –USNI –Naval War College Event in the rest of the worldEvent in the rest of the world

Remember our Themes! The Navy as an Instrument of Foreign PolicyThe Navy as an Instrument of Foreign Policy Interaction between Congress and the NavyInteraction between Congress and the Navy Interservice RelationsInterservice Relations TechnologyTechnology LeadershipLeadership Strategy and TacticsStrategy and Tactics Evolution of Naval DoctrineEvolution of Naval Doctrine

Lesson 11: The Dawning of the Age of Mahan

Learning Objectives Comprehend the historical background to the popularization of the doctrine of sea power in the late 19th century.Comprehend the historical background to the popularization of the doctrine of sea power in the late 19th century. Comprehend Mahan's viewpoint of sea power as a geopolitical and naval concept.Comprehend Mahan's viewpoint of sea power as a geopolitical and naval concept.

Learning Objectives Comprehend the distinctive British interpretation of sea power as expounded by Sir Julian Corbett.Comprehend the distinctive British interpretation of sea power as expounded by Sir Julian Corbett. Comprehend Mahan's influence on European and American naval history between 1890 and 1898.Comprehend Mahan's influence on European and American naval history between 1890 and 1898.

Remember our Themes! The Navy as an Instrument of Foreign PolicyThe Navy as an Instrument of Foreign Policy Interaction between Congress and the NavyInteraction between Congress and the Navy Interservice RelationsInterservice Relations TechnologyTechnology LeadershipLeadership Strategy and TacticsStrategy and Tactics Evolution of Naval DoctrineEvolution of Naval Doctrine

Background Commerce RaidingCommerce Raiding Naval War College - Mahan was assigned there.Naval War College - Mahan was assigned there. The Influence of Sea Power upon History, The Influence of Sea Power upon History,

Sea Power SeaSea – Common over which men can pass in all directions – Great medium of communication established by nature – Important to the extent that men use it Sea Power Sea Power –Possession of a powerful navy –Colonies –Increasing Wealth –Increase in Strength and Capacity “Command of the Sea”“Command of the Sea”

Elements of “Sea Power” Geographic PositionGeographic Position Physical ConformationPhysical Conformation Extent of TerritoryExtent of Territory Number of PopulationNumber of Population National CharacterNational Character Character of the GovernmentCharacter of the Government Strategic principles "remain as though laid on a rock.”Strategic principles "remain as though laid on a rock.”

Tactics versus Strategy TacticsTactics – Aspects of operations occurring after the beginning of combat. – Dynamic due to changes in technology of armaments and propulsion. StrategyStrategy – Should remain constant through periods of technological change.

Mahan’s Strategic Questions What is a navy’s function?What is a navy’s function? – Answer: Command of the seas. How should a navy be deployed?How should a navy be deployed? – Answer: Battle fleets.

Mahan’s Strategic Questions Where should the coaling stations needed to support them be established?Where should the coaling stations needed to support them be established? – Answer: Near geographic "choke-points”. What is the value of commerce destruction, and should this be a primary or secondary goal of naval action?What is the value of commerce destruction, and should this be a primary or secondary goal of naval action? – Answer: It cannot win wars (CSS Alabama) -- secondary mission.

Mahan’s Views U.S. needs to build a battleship navy capable of defeating enemy fleets.U.S. needs to build a battleship navy capable of defeating enemy fleets. ColoniesColonies –Valuable locations for coaling stations. – Vital to a steam-driven battleship navy. Panama Isthmus passage necessary for U.S. naval power.Panama Isthmus passage necessary for U.S. naval power. – Will become a critical maritime "choke-point”. – U.S. Navy must be a ”Two-Ocean" Navy - Atlantic and Pacific.

Mahan’s Views Need to enlarge the merchant marine.Need to enlarge the merchant marine. Essence of Mahan: U.S. needs a “Great Navy”.Essence of Mahan: U.S. needs a “Great Navy”. –Mark of and prerequisite for national greatness. –Designed to fight an enemy in fleet engagements. In order to win command of the sea. Not designed for commerce raiding (guerre de course) or protection.

Sir Julian Corbett Some Principles of Maritime Strategy (1911) Points of agreement with Mahan:Points of agreement with Mahan: – Command of the sea is of prime importance. – Commerce raiding is the strategy of the weaker power. Development of naval strategy related to Clausewitz:Development of naval strategy related to Clausewitz: – Relationship of naval strategy to government policy. – Interdependence of all elements of national power.

Differences from Mahan: Interdependence of land and sea forces is crucial to the success of a national military effort.Interdependence of land and sea forces is crucial to the success of a national military effort. Strategic thinking itself may have to be changed.Strategic thinking itself may have to be changed. A Navy's main purpose may be sea control, combined operations, or commerce war.A Navy's main purpose may be sea control, combined operations, or commerce war.

Impact of Mahan Validates naval and colonial policies of European powers, Russian Empire, and Japan.Validates naval and colonial policies of European powers, Russian Empire, and Japan. –Increasing naval arms race in Europe until WWI, especially between Germany and Great Britain. Building large fleets of capital ships in late 1800’s. Writings become required reading of naval officers. –Further colonization of Africa and Asia.

Mahan in the US Not as quick to accept Mahan’s teachings as other countries.Not as quick to accept Mahan’s teachings as other countries. President Theodore Roosevelt will use them as the foundation of his naval policy in the early 1900’s.President Theodore Roosevelt will use them as the foundation of his naval policy in the early 1900’s. His book did not cause change in American Naval Policy, but instead provided the intellectual foundation for it.His book did not cause change in American Naval Policy, but instead provided the intellectual foundation for it.

Mahan’s Decade Concept of Sea PowerConcept of Sea Power –Strategic conclusion –Operational conclusion Impact NationsImpact Nations –Britain, Germany, Japan, US Naval Developments (Review from Lesson 8)Naval Developments (Review from Lesson 8) Foreign Policy DevelopmentsForeign Policy Developments Samoa (1889), Hawaii ( ), Venezuelan crisis ( ), Cuban Revolution ( )Samoa (1889), Hawaii ( ), Venezuelan crisis ( ), Cuban Revolution ( ) Spanish-American War (1898)Spanish-American War (1898)

For Future Thought Situation of Great BritainSituation of Great Britain Look at how commerce (and commerce raiding play out in the next 50 years)Look at how commerce (and commerce raiding play out in the next 50 years) Are battle fleets worth their cost?Are battle fleets worth their cost?