The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783

by Alfred Mahan

Overview

Noted nineteenth-century U.S. naval officer and historian Alfred Thayer Mahan argues that, despite great changes and scientific advances in naval weaponry, certain principles of naval strategy remain constant.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781589801554
Publisher:	Arcadia Publishing SC
Publication date:	08/31/2003
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	640
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Alfred Thayer Mahan (1840-1914) served in the Civil War and twice served as the president of the United States Naval War College, beginning shortly after the college was founded. Mahan became known as one of the leading spokesmen for the age of American imperialism. In addition to his books on the history of naval warfare, he wrote biographies of David Farragut and Horatio Nelson.

Read an Excerpt

IN TR ODUC TOR Y. f line, his wary opponent, De Guichen, changed his tactics. In the first of their three actions the Frenchman took the lee- gage; but after recognizing Rodney's purpose he manccuvrcd for the advantage of the wind, not to attack, but to refuse action except on his own terms. The power to assume the offensive, or to refuse battle, rests no longer with the wind, but with the party which has the greater speed; which in a fleet will depend not only upon the speed of the individual ships, but also upon their tactical uniformity of action. Henceforth the ships which have the greatest speed will have the weather-gage. It is not therefore a vain expectation, as many think, to look for useful lessons in the history of sailing-ships as well as in that of galleys. Both have their points of resemblance to the modern ship ; both have also points of essential difference, which make it impossible to cite their experiences or modes of action as tactical precedents to be followed. But a precedent is different from and less valuable than a principle. The former may be originally faulty, or may cease to apply through change of circumstances; the latter has its root in the essential nature of things, and, however various its application as conditions change, remains a standard to which action must conform to attain success. War has such principles ; their existence is detected by the study of the past, which reveals them in successes and in failures, the same from age to age. Conditions and weapons change; but to cope with the one or successfully wield the others, respect must be had to these constant teachings of history in the tactics of the battlefield, or in those wider operationsof war which are comprised under the name of strategy. It is however in these wider operati...