The Last Century of Sea Power, Volume 1
From Port Arthur to Chanak, 1894–1922

H. P. Willmott (Author)

9780253352149

Hardback, published 9 June 2009

568 pages, 17 b&w photos, 18 maps
23.5 x 15.6 x 3.7 cm, 1.057 kg

"In this first of three volumes on sea power, the author reviews the story of political, economic, and military oceanic control from the 1890s through WW I. Willmott employs a complex explanatory narrative analysis as he steams through a background that focuses on imperialism, national strategic aims, and international power politics over about 40 years. . . . Recommended."—Choice
"Overall the volume is a veritable mine of information and worth its relatively modest price for this alone. vol. 17, no. 4"—War in History
"The author, dean of naval historians, provides a sweeping look at, and analysis of, the transformation of naval power . . . [His] dry wit and sense of irony add spice to the impressive array of facts and analysis of the greatest period of naval warfare. Wilmott is fearless in his judgments.December 2010"—Seapower
"H.P. Willmott is the finest naval historian and among the finest historians of any discipline writing today. His latest work further strengthens that richly deserved accolade. This book, first of a series, contains a wealth of facts and opinions, the latter provided with Willmott's unerring analytical eye and mordant wit. Willmott states that his purpose as a historian is not just to describe events, but to explain them. This he does superbly."—Bernard D. Cole, National War College

The transition to modern war at sea began during the period of the Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895) and the Spanish-American War (1898) and was propelled forward rapidly by the advent of the dreadnought and the nearly continuous state of war that culminated in World War I. By 1922, most of the elements that would define sea power in the 20th century were in place. Written by one of our foremost military historians, this volume acknowledges the complex nature of this transformation, focusing on imperialism, the growth of fleets, changes in shipbuilding and armament technology, and doctrines about the deployment and use of force at sea, among other factors. There is careful attention to the many battles fought at sea during this period and their impact on the future of sea power. The narrative is supplemented by a wide range of reference materials, including a detailed census of capital ships built during this period and a remarkable chronology of actions at sea during World War I.

Preface and Acknowledgments
List of Maps
List of Appendices
Part I. Introduction. Definitions and Terms of Reference
Chapter 1The Sino-Japanese War, 1894-1895
Chapter 2The Greco-Turkish war of 1897
Chapter 3The Spanish-American War of 1898
Chapter 4The Shifting Balance of Power
Part I Appendices
Part I Notes
Part II. Introduction: From Port Arthur to Bucharest, 1898 to 1913
Chapter 5The Russo-Japanese War: The First Phases
Chapter 6The Russo-Japanese War: The Battle of Tsushima and its Aftermath
Chapter 7The Dreadnought Naval Race
Chapter 8Prelude to the First World War
Part II Appendices
Part II Notes
Part III. Introduction: From Sarajevo to Constantinople, 1914 to 1922
Chronology of the First World War at Sea
Chapter 9The First World War: The War in Northern Waters
Chapter 10The First World War: Tsingtao and the Dardanelles
Chapter 11The First World War: Naval Support of Operations in Africa
Chapter 12The First World War: Action in the Baltic
Chapter 13The First World War: The Black Sea, Otranto Strait, and Other Matters
Chapter 14The Legacy of the First World War
Part III Appendices
Part III Notes
Part IV. Conclusion: Not so much Finis as . . .
Part IV Appendix
Part IV Notes
Index