The Great War at Sea 1914-1918 PDF
Preview The Great War at Sea 1914-1918
Richard Hough wm THE 1914 1918 n T\ AT SEA 7 THE GREAT WAR AT SEA THE GREAT WAR AT SEA RICHARD HOUGH Birlinn This edition published in 2000 by Birlinn Limited 8 Canongate Venture 5 New Street Edinburgh EH8 8BH www.birlinn.co.uk © 1983 Judy TaylorHough All rights reserved. No part ofthis publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted in any form, orby any means, electronic, mechanical orphotocopying, recording orotherwise, without the express written permission ofthe publisher. ISBN 1 84158 053 8 British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record forthis book is available from the British Library Printed and bound by Creative Print and Design, Ebbw Vale To the memory of Arthur Marder CONTENTS LIST OF PLATES XI LIST OF MAPS Xiii PREFACE XV ABBREVIATIONS X\ii AN ENORMOUS SHIP' i. i The influence ofthe German Emperor- Britain's new alliances-Admiral Fisher appointed First Sea Lord - The needfor naval reforms - The conception ofthe Dreadnought,andhercritics THE ANGLO-GERMAN BATTLESHIP RACE 2. 12 Admiral Fisher's attributes - The dreadnought race begins - Admiral Beresford's vendetta against Fisher- The German Emperor's intransigence- Thedreadnought battle-cruiser ~ The 'We want eight and we won7 wait' campaign and Winston Churchill'sopposition- ThePrimeMinister'scommitteetoenquireinto theconduct ofnavalaffairs-Fisher's resignation CHURCHILL AT THE ADMIRALTY 3. 22 Churchill becomes First Lordfollowing the Agadir Crisis - Admiral Wilson superseded- Churchill's over-extendedtravels, lack oftact, anddisagreement with the King - The ij-inchgun andQueen Elizabeth class ofsuper-dreadnought - Churchillswitches theNavy to oil-Hisenthusiasmforsubmarines andaviation - Fisher's support andguidance - Percy Scott's director and the opposition to it - Dreyer'sfire control system - The creation ofa Naval War Staff- Lower-deck reform THE ACCELERATION TOWARDS WAR 4. 37 Relativedreadnoughtconstructionfigures,andtheworseningrelationswith Germany - The Hankey mission and Churchill's proposed 'naval holiday' - Austrian and Italian dreadnought construction and the Mediterranean scene - Opposition to the withdrawal ofBritish strengthfrom the Mediterranean - Ever-increasing naval expenditure- ThequalitiesofBritishandGermandreadnoughtscompared-Inferior British mines and torpedoes - British and German personnel, their training and contrasting characters - The shortage of exceptional talent among British and Germanadmirals WAR AND EARLY MIXED FORTUNES 5. 53 TheJuly1914 TestMobilization-Battenberg'jorderto 'standtheFleetfast'- The close blockade ofGermany, and its consequences - The lack ofea^t-coast bases: a weakness revealed-Jellicoeas C.-in-C.- Thesubmarineandminepenis- Theloss ofthreearmouredcruisersandthesuper-dreadnoughtAudacious Frustrationand pessimism among Grand Fleet commanders - The Battle ofHeligoland Bight a tonic, butStaffweaknessesexposed r viii Contents MEDITERRANEAN MISFORTUNES 6. 69 AdmiralMilne's responsibilities- TheGoeben threat-Sheshowsacleanpairof heels - Unclear Admiralty instructions - Admiral Souchon's shadower- Admiral Troubridge's opportunity andfailure to exploit it- Afalse reportfrom London - Milne'jdilemma- TheGoebensuccessfullyfindsherwayto Constantinople-Dire consequencesfortheAllies 7. TRAGEDY IN THE PACIFIC 87 The searchfor Admiral Spee - His interference with Pacific commerce and troop movements-Admiral Cradock takesup thehuntin theAtlantic, and, later, offthe Chilean coast - His inadequateforce - Spee at Easter Island, Cradock at the Falkland Islands - The clash offCoronel anddefeat ofCradock- Escape ofthe Glasgow- ThemysteryoftheCanopus TROUBLE IN THE ADMIRALTY, TRIUMPH IN 8. THE SOUTH ATLANTIC 99 ThepersecutionandresignationofPrinceLouisofBattenberg- Thereinstatementof Fisheras First Sea Lordagainst the King'sjudgement- Countermeasures against Admiral von Spee - Admiral Sturdee sails with his battle-cruiser squadron - Captair,Lucejoinshim-SpeedoublestheHorn- TheCanopusbecomesafortress -SturdeearrivesattheFalklandIslands-Speedecidestoattackandfacesasurprise British squadron- Thepursuit anddefeatofSpee- Theaftermath ofmixedspite andadulation FIRST CLASH OF THE DREADNOUGHTS 9. 121 The paramountcy of the battle-cruiser - Defensive German strategy - British intelligencesuperiority andthecreation ofRoom 40, whichpredictsa battle-cruiser raid-PoorsignallingandsuddenpoorvisibilityprecludeaninterceptionbyAdmiral Beatty - Fisher calls the operation la hash' - The Dogger Bank pursuit and engagementofAdmiralHipper- ThebattleaconditionalBritishvictory-Beatty's angerandfrustration- Thecontroversialaftermath 10. THE DARDANELLES FIASCO AND ITS CONSEQUENCES 144 The need to assist Russia and the searchfora diversion - The Balticproject and associated island-seizing enterprises - The Fisher-Hankey amphibious Gallipoli plan- ChurchillembracestheNavy-onlysolution- Therecordunfavourabletonaval attacks onforts - Early Gallipoli bombardments confirm thehistorical view-Air supportshunnedbygunneryofficers- Theminemenaceandheavybattleshiplosses- The War Council authorizes landings - Fisher's growing disenchantment and resentment- Thefinalrift, Fisher's resignationandthefallofChurchill THE UNDERSEA WAR 11. 169 The opening of U-boat warfare - Strong internal division in Germany on the breakingofinternationallawandthepursuitofunrestrictedU-boatwarfareagainst merchantmen - The 'hawks' prevail - The Lusitania torpedoing and hostile American reaction- Early German U-boatlosses-Fisherandthefoundingofthe British submarineforce- Hazardousandproductiveoperations intheBaltic- The DardanellescampaignandtheequaldaringandskillofBritishsubmarinecrewsin the Straits and Sea of Marmora - The development of the RNAS and early operationsat Gallipoli
The list of books you might like
