Overview
The Crisis of the Naval War is Admiral John Jellicoe’s account of the strategic problems facing Britain’s navy during the First World War. Jellicoe, who served as First Sea Lord, writes from direct experience of a conflict in which naval power was essential not only for battles but for keeping…
This title is catalogued in Military & War. Its reading profile is Medium and Moderate, with themes including history, darkness, adventure, politics.
One-Page Summary
The Crisis of the Naval War is Admiral John Jellicoe’s account of the strategic problems facing Britain’s navy during the First World War. Jellicoe, who served as First Sea Lord, writes from direct experience of a conflict in which naval power was essential not only for battles but for keeping Britain supplied and its global communications open. The central crisis was the German submarine campaign. A fleet could win major surface engagements and still fail strategically if merchant ships were being sunk faster than they could be replaced. Jellicoe therefore examines shipping losses, convoy policy, submarine warfare, naval organization, intelligence, shipbuilding, and the difficult decisions surrounding the protection of trade.
The book is valuable partly because it shows how warfare at sea is a logistical problem. A navy cannot operate effectively if food, fuel, raw materials, and reinforcements cannot reach the country. It also reveals the uncertainty behind major decisions. Commanders rarely know exactly what an enemy is doing, and delays in communication can turn a reasonable plan into a dangerous one. Jellicoe’s account is necessarily self-justifying in places, but that perspective is precisely what makes it an important primary source.
Key Themes
History: This title is tagged with history as one of its main themes.
Darkness: This title is tagged with darkness as one of its main themes.
Adventure: This title is tagged with adventure as one of its main themes.
Politics: This title is tagged with politics as one of its main themes.