Customer Reviews

Some Principles of Maritime Strategy (Classics of Sea Power Series)

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This book is Naval Classic and a counterpoint to Alfred Thayer Mahan's "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History". Where Mahan was "big navy" and big sea battle proponent and stated that control of the seas was essential for national success and survival, Corbet's view was that you did not need to control all the seas, you only needed local superiorty in the areas that were vital to you. You just needed to control sea lanes of communication. Thus, you could succeed with a smaller navy, if used wisely. A second point of Corbets that was ignored by Mahan is the utility of naval forces in the support of land operations and the advantages of having an amphibious (ship to shore) capability. That's why this book is required reading at Marine Corps schools. It's kind of a dry read and although very pertinent in the 20th century, it seems less so now with fewer and fewer nations investing in large, expensive navies. This book, originally published in 1911, has influnced several generations of naval officers and thinkers.

A classic of Naval Science and required reading at the USMC Command and Staff College for all students.