Lessons of Naval Warfare

Even more sure than was Britain’s victory in the Falklands is the appearance of self-proclaimed defense “experts” who will direct our attention to the “lessons learned” from the war, and how our defense policies should be adjusted to accommodate themselves to these newly discovered facts. These armchair admirals will receive plenty of publicity, thanks to the major media. They will not be named here. They will be recognized by their attitude toward the shipbuilding program of the U.S. Navy, and particularly by their attitude toward large, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

Already we are seeing the opening salvos of the attack. The points being made are these: Surface ships of all kinds are too vulnerable to submarines and missiles to risk sending them where those weapons are likely to be employed; we should therefore build many more submarines and missiles, and fewer large aircraft carriers. Smaller aircraft carriers in larger numbers make more sense; the loss of one is not a multi-billion-dollar disaster. Recommissioning battleships such as the USS New Jersey will only provide an enemy with a large and expensive target.

DH

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Damian Housman

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Even more sure than was Britain’s victory in the Falklands is the appearance of self-proclaimed defense “experts” who will direct our attention to the “lessons learned” from the war, and how our defense policies should be adjusted to accommodate themselves to these newly discovered facts. These armchair admirals will receive plenty of publicity, thanks to the major media. They will not be named here. They will be recognized by their attitude toward the shipbuilding program of the U.S. Navy, and particularly by their attitude toward large, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

Already we are seeing the opening salvos of the attack. The points being made are these: Surface ships of all kinds are too vulnerable to submarines and missiles to risk sending them where those weapons are likely to be employed; we should therefore build many more submarines and missiles, and fewer large aircraft carriers. Smaller aircraft carriers in larger numbers make more sense; the loss of one is not a multi-billion-dollar disaster. Recommissioning battleships such as the USS New Jersey will only provide an enemy with a large and expensive target.