ABSTRACT
This chapter considers sea power to be that collection of military and other means that help define political, military, and economic relations among nations at sea. The sea provided mankind with an abundant source of natural resources—especially food. The Spartan victory over Athens in the Peloponnesian War owed in part to Sparta, a traditional land power, seizing supremacy of the sea from Athens. The exercise of sea power offers great utility in times of peace and war. During periods of conflict, sea power has provided its wielder with unparalleled strategic leverage. Sea power is a broad component of national power. Conceptually, sea power is often ambiguous; in this regard it is not unlike other components of national power that are so often described without precision. The arm of the military force structure that stands the best chance to survive a nuclear strike, naval forces played a significant role in the war plans created by strategists during the Cold War era.
