The Last Century of Sea Power

by Willmott, H. P.

• ISBN13: 9780253352149
• ISBN10: 0253352142
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-05-19
• Publisher: Indiana Univ Pr

Summary

The transition to modern war at sea began during the period of the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) and the Spanish-American War (1898) and was propelled forward rapidly by the advent of the dreadnought and the nearly continuous state of war that culminated in World War I. By 1922, most of the elements that would define sea power in the 20th century were in place. Written by one of our foremost military historians, this volume acknowledges the complex nature of this transformation, focusing on imperialism, the growth of fleets, changes in shipbuilding and armament technology, and doctrines about the deployment and use of force at sea, among other factors. There is careful attention to the many battles fought at sea during this period and their impact on the future of sea power. The narrative is supplemented by a wide range of reference materials, including a detailed census of capital ships built during this period and a remarkable chronology of actions at sea during World War I.

Author Biography

H. P. Willmott has written extensively on warfare in general and on World War II in particular. Among his books is The Battle of Leyte Gulf: The Last Fleet Action, a Society of Military History prize winner (IUP, 2005). He lives in Englefield Green, Egham, England.

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgments

List of Maps

List of Appendices

Introduction. Definitions and Terms of Reference

The Sino-Japanese War, 1894-1895

The Greco-Turkish war of 1897

The Spanish-American War of 1898

The Shifting Balance of Power

Appendices

Notes

Introduction: From Port Arthur to Bucharest, 1898 to 1913

The Russo-Japanese War: The First Phases

The Russo-Japanese War: The Battle of Tsushima and its Aftermath

The Dreadnought Naval Race

Prelude to the First World War

Appendices

Notes

Introduction: From Sarajevo to Constantinople, 1914 to 1922Chronology of the First World War at Sea

The First World War: The War in Northern Waters

The First World War: Tsingtao and the Dardanelles

The First World War: Naval Support of Operations in Africa

The First World War: Action in the Baltic

The First World War: The Black Sea, Otranto Strait, and Other Matters

The Legacy of the First World War

Appendices

Notes

Conclusion: Not so much Finis as . . .

Appendix

Notes

Index

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