If Mahan Ran the Great Pacific War: An Analysis of World War II Naval Strategy [Hardcover]

John A. Adams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2008

Alfred Thayer Mahan's The Influence of Sea Power upon History (1660–1783) was one of the most influential books on military strategy in the first half of the 20th century. A core text in the naval war colleges of the United States, Britain, and Japan, Mahan's book shaped doctrine for the conduct of war at sea. Adams uses Mahan's ideas to discuss the great Pacific sea battles of World War II and to consider how well they withstood the test of actual combat. Reexamining the conduct of war in the Pacific from a single analytic viewpoint leads to some surprising conclusions about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Doolittle Raid, the Battle of the Coral Sea, the recapture of the Philippines, and the submarine war. Naval historians and armchair strategists alike will find much food for thought in these engrossing pages.

(2010)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"John Adams is one of the most remarkable individuals I have met in the course of my long academic career. His knowledge of recent military doctrine, strategy, and operations, logistics, and tactics is as deep as any of my academic colleagues." —Malcolm Muir, author of Black Shoes and Blue Water: Surface Warfare in the United States Navy, 1945–1975

(Malcolm Muir, author of Black Shoes and Blue Water: Surface Warfare in the United States Navy, 1945–1975 2009)

"A very interesting, well—researched, well—written work with fine and fresh analysis of the Pacific War." —Eric Osborne, author of The Battle of Heligoland Bight

(Eric Osborne, author of The Battle of Heligoland Bight 2010)

"If Mahan Ran the Great Pacific War provides one of the best analyses of World War II I have read. Clear and incisive, it presents the reader with both the factual material and a solid discussion of how and why the decisions of the commanders resulted in a strategic or just a tactical success or failure." —Daily News, Bowling Green, KY, March 29, 2009

(Daily News, Bowling Green, KY 2011)

"This is truly an outstanding book. Although Adams indicates it is an analysis of naval strategy of World War II in the Pacific, the lessons he presents apply to more than purely naval warfare." —Air Power History, Spring 2010

(Air Power History )

"[A] must read for students of World War II in the Pacific and all those interested in naval and military strategy." —Military Review, March-April 2010

(Military Review )

"This book will be enjoyed by anyone who is interested in World War II history." —Nautical Research Journal, Vol. 55, No. 2, Summer 2010

(Nautical Research Journal )

"There is no doubt that Mahan and his writings had an enormous effect on the US Navy's admirals during the Pacific War. This fine book shows very clearly how." —Work Boat World, December 2010

(Work Boat World )

"Students of naval history will find much to agree with in this volume, and a good deal about which to disagree, but either way they will find it worth reading." —NYMAS Review, Fall 2011

(NYMAS Review )

From the Publisher

"John Adams is one of the most remarkable individuals I have met in the course of my long academic career. His knowledge of recent military doctrine, strategy, and operations, logistics, and tactics is as deep as any of my academic colleagues." --Malcolm Muir, author of Black Shoes and Blue Water: Surface Warfare in the United States Navy, 1945-1975

"A very interesting, well-researched, well-written work with fine and fresh analysis of the Pacific War." --Eric Osborne, author of The Battle of Heligoland Bight

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 472 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (July 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253351057
• ISBN-13: 978-0253351050
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #398,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good analysis, slightly flawed by overuse of hindsight, July 23, 2008

By 

Tony Zbaraschuk "Tony Zbaraschuk" (Riverside, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: If Mahan Ran the Great Pacific War: An Analysis of World War II Naval Strategy (Hardcover)

There are many books telling what happened in individual battles or to particular ships. This book tries to grade the thinking of those who determined where forces went into battle and why.

Mostly it succeeds at describing the strategic goals and thinking (or lack thereof!) of the admirals in charge of the Pacific War on both sides. Yamamoto gets failing grades for not ensuring that his brilliant and risky gambles were sufficiently followed through; King gets consistently fairly high grades; a number of characters on both sides are criticized for various flaws.

One flaw in this book is the over-use of hindsight; the author judges various strategic ideas as if everyone should have understood at the time things that did not become clear until much later; for instance, the total dominance of the aircraft carrier over the battleship, or the inability of high-altitude bombers to hit anything in motion. He several times criticizes admirals for not understanding that their cherished goal should only have been the means to an end (e.g., Ugaki's desire to take Guadalcanal) but does not realize that his somewhat repetitive chanting of "Never divide the fleet" or "Sink the carriers" are both ends toward maintaining control of the sea. (He probably should at least have looked at some of Sir Julian Corbett's criticisms of Mahan's work.)

That said, there are many excellent gems of observation, and quite a lot of good analysis, in the book. To experienced naval strategists, they will come as no surprise; to the vast majority of the human race and Pacific War buffs who are not, this will be a very useful learning course. Readers will probably want some previous acquaintance with the history of World War II in the Pacific, but given such acquaintance this is a challenging and rewarding analysis.

Highly recommended.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A surprisingly great read..., May 2, 2009

By 

Mark Herman "Wargame Designer" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: If Mahan Ran the Great Pacific War: An Analysis of World War II Naval Strategy (Hardcover)

Having read extensively on this topic for research on two Pacific wargames I was very impressed with this book. Mr. Adams clearly understands how to analyze and discuss strategy in a way that many books attempt, but few achieve. The author has done an excellent job of presenting the strategic debate that both sides engaged in during the war. As a wargame designer I am always trying to challenge the players with historically valid choices to consider. What I especially liked was the way this book described the"paths not taken", which is usually missed or left out of most accounts. Using Mahan's principles as a basis for comparing historical choices gives the reader a clear point of strategic comparison.

My only small reservation about the book is the author's view on the relative values of carrier based air power versus land based air power. I heartily endorse his view that the US for organizational vice strategic reasons unnecessarily invaded too many Japanese positions. Having said this, I believe that Mr. Adams undervalues the ability of land based air to sustain operations over long periods of time. The author's point that the US high command did not fully exploit the potential for carriers to move deep into the Japanese defense perimeter is well made, but he underestimates the carrier wings limitation for sustained high tempo operations without rest and refit, a limitation I might add that still exists. Based on this point, some island invasions were necessary if only to allow land based air to stage to certain locations.

These points aside, I strongly recommend this book for anyone who wants a fresh and well documented discussion of Pacific War strategy.

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An interesting approach, July 26, 2008

By 

L. Veid "Chronic Reader" (Beckley, WV USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: If Mahan Ran the Great Pacific War: An Analysis of World War II Naval Strategy (Hardcover)

I've read many books on the WWII Pacific Theater, but I'd never before come across a book that takes this particular approach. The author judges the various commanders at all levels from national leaders down to operational/tactical commanders by the standards of Mahan. Since Mahan was the be-all, end-all naval theorist as of WWII, the naval commanders on both sides had studied his writings in great depth. This would lead the reader to think that each commander faithfully applied Mahan's teachings. Not so. Many factors impinged on commanders execution of doctine, everything from political pressure to personal fatigue. When you add in Army commanders few of whom had studied Mahan, the situation got really confusing. In the author's view, Admirals King and Nimitz come out best and General MacArthur looks like an ego-driven stumblebum.

I found the book to be an easy read and fast paced while still thought provoking. The author made his points clearly, albeit with too many repetitions of fictional comments from Mahan. There were enough typos in the book to create a bit of confusion and irritation. The maps were well done and properly located - not always true of naval histories. Overall, this is an excellent introduction to how war doctrines are created and carried out.