Sea Power and MaritimeSea Power and Maritime Affairs Affairs

Lesson 5.5-5.6: Developments of Naval Lesson 5.5-5.6: Developments of Naval Technology and Strategy, 1865-1890Technology and Strategy, 1865-1890

Enabling ObjectivesEnabling Objectives• DESCRIBEDESCRIBE principal milestones in the evolution of principal milestones in the evolution of

warship armament, hull design, and propulsion during warship armament, hull design, and propulsion during the period 1865-1890.the period 1865-1890.

• DESCRIBEDESCRIBE technological responses of the major naval technological responses of the major naval powers to counter the threats of low cost weapons.powers to counter the threats of low cost weapons.

• DISTINGUISH DISTINGUISH Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan's viewpoint Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan's viewpoint of sea power as a geopolitical and naval concept to of sea power as a geopolitical and naval concept to British naval theorist Sir Julian Corbett.British naval theorist Sir Julian Corbett.

• EXPLAIN EXPLAIN Alfred Thayer Mahan's influence on European Alfred Thayer Mahan's influence on European and American naval history between 1890 and 1898.and American naval history between 1890 and 1898.

• Immediately after Civil War the US was a leader Immediately after Civil War the US was a leader in evolutionary development of naval ships.in evolutionary development of naval ships.– 700 Ships mounting 5,000 guns, 6K officers and 51K 700 Ships mounting 5,000 guns, 6K officers and 51K

enlisted.enlisted.• Outdated concepts and beliefs in tradition and Outdated concepts and beliefs in tradition and

desire to avoid competition lead to decline.desire to avoid competition lead to decline.– By 1870, US Naval power had declined due to By 1870, US Naval power had declined due to

Congressional budget cuts.Congressional budget cuts.– Large reductions in naval appropriations: 52 ships Large reductions in naval appropriations: 52 ships

mounting 500 guns.mounting 500 guns.• Isolationism: Isolationism:

• Reconstruction of the nation in SouthReconstruction of the nation in South• Settlement of the WestSettlement of the West• Industrialization of the Northeast.Industrialization of the Northeast.

Post-Civil War U.S. NavyPost-Civil War U.S. Navy

Evolution of the WarshipEvolution of the Warship

• Construction materialsConstruction materials– Steel hulls replace iron hulls.Steel hulls replace iron hulls.

• CompartmentalizationCompartmentalization• Protective decks.Protective decks.• Vulnerable areas get more armor.Vulnerable areas get more armor.• Muzzle loaders to breech loaders.Muzzle loaders to breech loaders.• Rifled guns.Rifled guns.

Ship Propulsion InnovationsShip Propulsion Innovations

• More efficient steam engines developed.More efficient steam engines developed.– Increases in speed.Increases in speed.– Longer ranges.Longer ranges.– Coaling stations required at regular intervals while Coaling stations required at regular intervals while

transiting overseas.transiting overseas.• Further incentive to acquire overseas Further incentive to acquire overseas

colonies.colonies.• Many ships still use sail as alternate means of Many ships still use sail as alternate means of

propulsion.propulsion.– Hybrids with stacks and sails.Hybrids with stacks and sails.– 1868-1883 Congress barely appropriated enough to 1868-1883 Congress barely appropriated enough to

keep existing ships afloat.keep existing ships afloat.

Evolution of ArmamentsEvolution of Armaments

• Muzzle loaders to breech loaders.Muzzle loaders to breech loaders.• Rifled guns.Rifled guns.• Cartridge shells.Cartridge shells.

– Round and charge are combined.Round and charge are combined.– Rate of fire increases.Rate of fire increases.– Greater penetrating power and range.Greater penetrating power and range.

• Mounting of guns.Mounting of guns.– Hydraulic recoil mechanisms.Hydraulic recoil mechanisms.

• Self-propelled torpedo:Self-propelled torpedo:– Invented by Englishman Robert Whitehead in 1866.Invented by Englishman Robert Whitehead in 1866.

Low Cost Weapons Low Cost Weapons • Weapons cost were cheap in comparison to Weapons cost were cheap in comparison to

cost to repair ships.cost to repair ships.– Rams – Affixed to ships intended to breach another Rams – Affixed to ships intended to breach another

ships hull.ships hull.– Mines - Stationary torpedoes to protect coastlines Mines - Stationary torpedoes to protect coastlines

and ports.and ports.– Self - propelled torpedoes launched from “torpedo Self - propelled torpedoes launched from “torpedo

boats”. boats”. • First one 1866 by Robert WhiteheadFirst one 1866 by Robert Whitehead

Countermeasures to low cost Countermeasures to low cost weaponsweapons

• 1898 New ship types:1898 New ship types:– Bainbridge ClassBainbridge Class– 420 ton coal burners420 ton coal burners– ““Torpedo boat Torpedo boat

destroyer” shortened destroyer” shortened to just “destroyer”to just “destroyer”

– All served in WWIAll served in WWI

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CruisersCruisers

• New classes anti-New classes anti-destroyer cruisers.destroyer cruisers.– Swift and lightly Swift and lightly

armoredarmored• 4.7 – 6 inch guns4.7 – 6 inch guns

– Protect capital ships Protect capital ships from destroyers.from destroyers.• Slower armored Slower armored • 4.7 – 6 inch as well as 4.7 – 6 inch as well as

larger gunslarger guns

SubmarinesSubmarines• Used to launch torpedoUsed to launch torpedo

• First Practical submarine by France 1864First Practical submarine by France 1864

• Modern submarines overcome problemsModern submarines overcome problems– 1880s: Electric engines powered by batteries.1880s: Electric engines powered by batteries.– 1890s: Gyroscopes1890s: Gyroscopes

• U.S.S. Holland (SS1) October 12th, 1900.U.S.S. Holland (SS1) October 12th, 1900.

Rebirth of the U.S. NavyRebirth of the U.S. Navy• Naval Institute established by naval officers - 1873.Naval Institute established by naval officers - 1873.

– ProceedingsProceedings - professional journal for naval personnel. - professional journal for naval personnel.

• Naval funding begins to increase in 1880.Naval funding begins to increase in 1880.• ABCD cruisers - construction begins in 1883.ABCD cruisers - construction begins in 1883.

– Steam (Sail used as secondary means of propulsion).Steam (Sail used as secondary means of propulsion).– Steel hulls and heavy armor.Steel hulls and heavy armor.– Rifled breech-loading guns.Rifled breech-loading guns.

• Battleships - construction begins in 1889.Battleships - construction begins in 1889.• Office of Naval Intelligence established - 1882.Office of Naval Intelligence established - 1882.• Engineering Duty Officers enter the Line -- 1899.Engineering Duty Officers enter the Line -- 1899.

– Increased importance of technical knowledge is apparent.Increased importance of technical knowledge is apparent.

Naval War CollegeNaval War College

• Established in1885 in Newport, RI.Established in1885 in Newport, RI.• Commodore Stephen B. Luce:Commodore Stephen B. Luce:

– ““Apply modern scientific Apply modern scientific methods to the study and raise methods to the study and raise naval warfare from the empirical naval warfare from the empirical stage to the dignity of a science.”stage to the dignity of a science.”

• Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan is Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan is one of the first instructors to one of the first instructors to serve under Luce.serve under Luce.

The Influence of Sea Power Upon The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783History, 1660-1783

• Published in 1890 Published in 1890 • Geopolitical principles Geopolitical principles

underlying national (and underlying national (and maritime) greatness:maritime) greatness:– Geographic PositionGeographic Position– Physical ConformationPhysical Conformation– Extent of TerritoryExtent of Territory– Size of PopulationSize of Population– Character of the PeopleCharacter of the People– Character of the GovernmentCharacter of the Government

Mahan’s PrinciplesMahan’s Principles

• A strong Navy is a mark of and prerequisite A strong Navy is a mark of and prerequisite for national greatness.for national greatness.

• U.S. needs to build a battleship navy capable U.S. needs to build a battleship navy capable of defeating enemy fleets. of defeating enemy fleets.

• Maintain naval strength during peacetime.Maintain naval strength during peacetime.• Acquire Colonies for coaling stations.Acquire Colonies for coaling stations.

– Vital to a steam-driven battleship navy.Vital to a steam-driven battleship navy.

• Ideas strongly appeals to:Ideas strongly appeals to:– - Industrialists- Industrialists - Merchants- Merchants– - Nationalists- Nationalists - Imperialists- Imperialists

Mahan’s Strategic QuestionsMahan’s Strategic Questions• What is a navy’s function? What is a navy’s function?

– Answer: Command of the seas.Answer: Command of the seas.

• How should a navy be deployed?How should a navy be deployed?– Answer: Capital ships concentrated in Battle fleets.Answer: Capital ships concentrated in Battle fleets.

• Where should the coaling stations needed to support them Where should the coaling stations needed to support them be established?be established?– Answer: Near geographic "choke-points”.Answer: Near geographic "choke-points”.

• What is the value of commerce destruction, and should this What is the value of commerce destruction, and should this be a primary or secondary goal of naval action?be a primary or secondary goal of naval action?– Answer: It Answer: It cannotcannot win wars (CSS win wars (CSS AlabamaAlabama)) -- -- secondary mission.secondary mission.

Some Principles of Maritime Some Principles of Maritime Strategy, 1911Strategy, 1911

– Interdependence of all Interdependence of all elements of national elements of national power.power.

– Control of the seas Control of the seas important but not enough important but not enough to win wars.to win wars.

– On land, not the sea is On land, not the sea is where man kinds destiny where man kinds destiny is decidedis decided

Sir Julian CorbettSir Julian Corbett

Mahan vs. CorbettMahan vs. CorbettSeapower/Maritime StrategySeapower/Maritime Strategy

• Alfred Thayer MahanAlfred Thayer Mahan– The Influence of Sea Power The Influence of Sea Power

on History (1890)on History (1890)– Control of the seas through Control of the seas through

naval supremacy and naval supremacy and maritime commercemaritime commerce

– A nations power is in its A nations power is in its navies and their ability to navies and their ability to project that power on othersproject that power on others

– Navies win wars.Navies win wars.

• Sir Julian CorbettSir Julian Corbett– Some Principles of Maritime Some Principles of Maritime

Strategy (1911)Strategy (1911)– Interdependence of all elements Interdependence of all elements

of national power- Control of the of national power- Control of the seas important but not enough.seas important but not enough.

– Sea Control ultimately Sea Control ultimately influences what happens on influences what happens on land.land.

– On land, not the sea is where On land, not the sea is where man kinds destiny is decidedman kinds destiny is decided

Impact of MahanImpact of Mahan• Validates naval and colonial policies of European Validates naval and colonial policies of European

powers, Russian Empire, and Japan.powers, Russian Empire, and Japan.– Increasing naval arms race in Europe until World War I, Increasing naval arms race in Europe until World War I,

especially between Germany and Great Britain.especially between Germany and Great Britain.

• Building large fleets of capital ships in late 1800’s.Building large fleets of capital ships in late 1800’s.

• Writings become required reading of naval officers.Writings become required reading of naval officers.

• United StatesUnited States– Not as quick to accept Mahan’s teachings as other Not as quick to accept Mahan’s teachings as other

countries.countries.

– President Theodore Roosevelt will use them as the President Theodore Roosevelt will use them as the foundation of his naval policy in the early 1900’s.foundation of his naval policy in the early 1900’s.

Battle History VideoBattle History Video

• "Born Into War", "Born Into War", Time 21:50 - 25:40Time 21:50 - 25:40

• 4 minutes4 minutes

Enabling ObjectivesEnabling Objectives• DESCRIBEDESCRIBE principal milestones in the evolution of principal milestones in the evolution of

warship armament, hull design, and propulsion during warship armament, hull design, and propulsion during the period 1865-1890.the period 1865-1890.

• DESCRIBEDESCRIBE technological responses of the major naval technological responses of the major naval powers to counter the threats of low cost weapons.powers to counter the threats of low cost weapons.

• DISTINGUISH DISTINGUISH Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan's viewpoint Captain Alfred Thayer Mahan's viewpoint of sea power as a geopolitical and naval concept to of sea power as a geopolitical and naval concept to British naval theorist Sir Julian Corbett.British naval theorist Sir Julian Corbett.

• EXPLAIN EXPLAIN Alfred Thayer Mahan's influence on European Alfred Thayer Mahan's influence on European and American naval history between 1890 and 1898.and American naval history between 1890 and 1898.

DiscussionDiscussion

Questions?Questions?

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