The Royal Navy and Sea Power in British Strategy, 1945-55

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Royal Navy and Sea Power in British Strategy, 1945-55

AU - Benbow, Tim

PY - 2018/5

Y1 - 2018/5

N2 - During the ten years following the end of the Second World War, the role of the Royal Navy and even the significance of sea power for Britain came under sustained challenge. A group of sceptics including cabinet ministers (not least the prime minister), as well as senior civil servants and Royal Air Force officers argued that the only conceivable war would see the use of nuclear weapons, leaving little need for the Navy, and any roles at sea that were still required could be taken over by land-based aircraft. This article explores these arguments and the response of the Admiralty, as it fought and eventually defeated what amounted to the bitterest peacetime challenge to the role of naval power in British strategy.

AB - During the ten years following the end of the Second World War, the role of the Royal Navy and even the significance of sea power for Britain came under sustained challenge. A group of sceptics including cabinet ministers (not least the prime minister), as well as senior civil servants and Royal Air Force officers argued that the only conceivable war would see the use of nuclear weapons, leaving little need for the Navy, and any roles at sea that were still required could be taken over by land-based aircraft. This article explores these arguments and the response of the Admiralty, as it fought and eventually defeated what amounted to the bitterest peacetime challenge to the role of naval power in British strategy.

U2 - 10.1111/1468-2281.12216

DO - 10.1111/1468-2281.12216

M3 - Article

SN - 0950-3471

VL - 91

SP - 375

EP - 398

JO - HISTORICAL RESEARCH

JF - HISTORICAL RESEARCH

IS - 252

ER -