The American Naval Heritage

U.S. naval history should not be studied merely as a record of battles lost and won but as a part of a nation’s exercise of power. In this work, major events are fleshed out with relevant material from such areas as military power, economic warfare, diplomacy, and propaganda. The reader can thus gain an appreciation of the influence of sea power as one of the agencies that nations use in conducting their international relations. The book offers examples of how naval officers gained control of the seas as armaments evolved. The influence of sea power upon history is stressed along with emphasis on strategic decision-making, the characteristics of successful leadership, and the evolution of naval weapons, tactics, amphibious doctrine, and administration.