A navy is a state's main instrument of maritime force. What it should do, what doctrine it holds, what ships it deploys, and how it fights are determined by practical political and military choices in relation to national needs. Choices are made according to the state's goals, perceived threat, maritime opportunity, technological capabilities, practical experience, and, not the least, the way the sea service defines itself and its way of war. This book is a history of the modern U.S. Navy. It explains how the Navy, in the century after 1890, was formed and reformed in the interaction of purpose, experience, and doctrine.
Introduction Part I. On the Sea: 1. Sea power and the fleet Navy, 1890-1910 2. The new Navy, 1898-1913 3. Neutrality or readiness? 1913-1917 4. War without Mahan, 1917-1918 5. Parity and proportion, 1919-1922 6. Treaty Navy, 1922-1930 7. Adapt and innovate, 1931-1938 8. Are we ready? 1938-1940 9. Sea control, 1941-1942 10. Strategic offensives, 1943-1944 11. Victory drives, 1944-1945 Part II. From the Sea: 12. Why do we need a navy? 1945-1949 13. Naval strategy, 1950-1954 14. Containment and the Navy, 1952-1960 15. The McNamara years, 1961-1970 16. Disarray, 1970-1980 17. High tide, 1980-1990 Conclusion.
