ABSTRACT
Attacks on the enemy's and defense of one's own maritime trade, generically called 'trade warfare', are an integral part of the navy's mission to exercise and contest control of the sea. They are conducted by both stronger and weaker fleets throughout the entire conflict. The difference is that focus of an inferior fleet in contesting control will be on attacking the enemy's maritime trade, while the stronger navy will protect the country's and friendly maritime trade. These tasks are an integral part of a much broader task of weakening the enemy's or protecting one's own military-economic potential. Protection or attack on maritime trade cannot be accomplished quickly or cheaply. The greatest care should be taken, however, not to give too much emphasis to these tasks to the detriment of any other.
