Customer Reviews

Fleet Tactics and Coastal Combat

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Covering the Age of Sail, WW1, WW2 and the Missile Age, Fleet Tactics and Coastal Combat examines the trends and constants of warfare in a comprehensive and concise book. Examining the need to mass fire power and the benefit of the first effective strike, this book provides a sound base for tactical though. Updated from Fleet Tactics, Fleet Tactics and Coastal Combat includes relevant information to the new arena that the navy will be finding its self in - littoral combat. Many examples and equations are given in this book to illustrate the points Captain Hughes makes. A must read for anyone who is interested in the evolution of naval combat.

Hughes brings the reader through successive eras of Naval Strategy, threading common themes about what has changed and what has remained constant, and how (and why) tactics on the water differ from those on land. His updated edition demonstrates the likely impact of advances in technology and shifting political realities on naval power, with implication on tactics, training, and equipment. The work is refreshing not only because contemporary works on naval strategy are relatively uncommon, but also because he lays out in easy to follow fashion the challenges that our navies will face. This is particularily important in an era of shrinking overseas land presence, as the Navy will be called upon to project power more frequently. His stark description of 'exchange ratios' and their implications serve an important reminder to the West of the perils of the fight. The book will comfortably take its spot on your bookshelf beside the numerous general, land, and air strategy books available. I only wish there was more written on this topic.

The dismanteling of the Soviet Union brought about a fundamental shift in how we analyze the role of a modern nuclear navy. Large fleet to fleet battles between technologically sophisticated opponents is still a remote possibility, however, surface group actions of the future will certainly resemble smaller more tactical battles as well. The idea of skirmishes and close-quarters combat between vessles must be understood. So to the more immense multi-unit combat possibilities.
This is the spectrum "Fleet Tactics" seeks to analyze. It does this remarkabley well. It also explores more intangible factors. Moral and leadership are terms often used but rarely integrated into a coherant strategy towards victory. It seems taken for granted, but the author shows how we must take nothing for granted when restructuring our tactical phillospohy. Re-examining age old ideas and historic battles is only one side of the coin. Here, we have a book that does this but holds up such notions for the purpose of building better tactical thinking.
I have read both the original edition and this newe, updated one... the changes are clear. We have a book that picks up where naval theory as of 1990 left off. While still managing to represent its original content with value towards the tactician in naval warfare.
Read this book is you are interested in more than just bland analyses of age old battles. Read it if you want to develope a strong understanding of how naval conflicts of almost every kind should be fought. Read it if you want to develope a sound understanding of the timeless tactical cornerstones in naval strategy.

An interesting read, if you're looking for a review of the Battle of the Nile or equations for salvo power. Not much on actual brown-water combat tactics, though. Any suggestions?

As a Navy officier of brown waters, I was expecting to find more about the coastal combat. Diesel submarines and mines are the real threat instead of harpoon.
"To know tactics one must know tecnology" That is true but also one must know the brown waters itself.
Since there is no delimination in the Aegean Sea, There must not be dash lines on the maps.