ABSTRACT

This new volume provides a comprehensive analysis of both the theory and practice of operational warfare at sea.

The book is unique in using diverse sources and examples to present a comprehensive topical description and analysis of the key components of operational warfare at sea today. It opens with a survey of the emergence of operational warfare at sea since the end of the Napoleonic Wars, going on describe and analyze the objectives of naval warfare at the operational level and methods of employment of naval forces for accomplishing these objectives. The book explains the specifics of operational functions in a maritime theatre, discusses the personality traits and professional education required for successful naval operational commanders, and explores naval operational command and control in both peacetime and war, closing with predictions for the future of operational warfare at sea. 

This book serves as a primer of how to plan, prepare and execute major naval operations and campaigns for naval commanders and their staffs, but will also be of interest to advanced students of naval history, strategic studies and military history in general.

chapter 1|20 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|28 pages

The objectives

chapter 3|20 pages

Methods

chapter 4|30 pages

Maritime operational functions

chapter 5|20 pages

Naval operational planning

chapter 6|18 pages

Operational design

chapter 7|35 pages

The operational idea

chapter 8|12 pages

Preparations and execution

chapter 9|18 pages

Operational leadership

chapter 10|18 pages

Operational thinking