If Mahan Ran the Great Pacific War: An Analysis of World War II Naval Strategy

by John A. Adams

Overview

Alfred Thayer Mahan's The Influence of Sea Power upon History (1660–1783) was one of the most influential books on military strategy in the first half of the 20th century. A core text in the naval war colleges of the United States, Britain, and Japan, Mahan's book shaped doctrine for the conduct of war at sea. Adams uses Mahan's ideas to discuss the great Pacific sea battles of World War II and to consider how well they withstood the test of actual combat. Reexamining the conduct of war in the Pacific from a single analytic viewpoint leads to some surprising conclusions about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Doolittle Raid, the Battle of the Coral Sea, the recapture of the Philippines, and the submarine war. Naval historians and armchair strategists alike will find much food for thought in these engrossing pages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780253000293
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Publication date:	07/15/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	472
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

John A. Adams is a retired airline executive and longtime business strategist with an interest in the use of economic principles to analyze history. Trained as a historian, he has extensively researched military strategy and tactics. He lives in Conifers, Colorado.

Table of Contents

List of Maps     vii
Acknowledgments     ix
Sink Ten Ships and We Win the War!     1
Initial Japanese Strategic Choices     35
Pearl Harbor     61
Yamamoto Defies Mahan     99
Guadalcanal     125
Central versus South Pacific     169
Two Prongs Divide the Fleet     219
Decisive Combat in the Marianas     257
From Honolulu's Conference Table to Leyte's Mud     299
The Naval Campaign for the Philippines     331
Mahan and the Submariners     363
Dulling the Mighty Blade     379
B-San     399
Notes     417
Bibliography     441
Index     447

What People are Saying About This

Malcolm Muir

John Adams is one of the most remarkable individuals I have met in the course of my long academic career. His knowledge of recent military doctrine, strategy, and operations, logistics, and tactics is as deep as any of my academic colleagues.

Malcolm Muir]]>

John Adams is one of the most remarkable individuals I have met in the course of my long academic career. His knowledge of recent military doctrine, strategy, and operations, logistics, and tactics is as deep as any of my academic colleagues.

Eric Osborne

A very interesting, well—researched, well—written work with fine and fresh analysis of the Pacific War.

Eric Osborne]]>

A very interesting, well—researched, well—written work with fine and fresh analysis of the Pacific War.

Editorial Reviews

"If Mahan Ran the Great Pacific War provides one of the best analyses of World War II I have read. Clear and incisive, it presents the reader with both the factual material and a solid discussion of how and why the decisions of the commanders resulted in a strategic or just a tactical success or failure. March 29, 2009"—Daily News, Bowling Green, KY

"This is truly an outstanding book. Although Adams indicates it is an analysis of naval strategy of World War II in the Pacific, the lessons he presents apply to more than purely naval warfare.Spring 2010"—Air Power History

"[A] must read for students of World War II in the Pacific and all those interested in naval and military strategy. March-April 2010"—Military Review

"This book will be enjoyed by anyone who is interested in World War II history. Vol. 55, No. 2, Summer 2010"—Nautical Research Journal

"There is no doubt that Mahan and his writings had an enormous effect on the US Navy's admirals during the Pacific War. This fine book shows very clearly how. December 2010"—Work Boat World

"Students of naval history will find much to agree with in this volume, and a good deal about which to disagree, but either way they will find it worth reading. Fall 2011"—NYMAS Review

"A very interesting, well—researched, well—written work with fine and fresh analysis of the Pacific War."—Eric Osborne, author of The Battle of Heligoland Bight

"John Adams is one of the most remarkable individuals I have met in the course of my long academic career. His knowledge of recent military doctrine, strategy, and operations, logistics, and tactics is as deep as any of my academic colleagues."—Malcolm Muir, author of Black Shoes and Blue Water: Surface Warfare in the United States Navy, 1945–1975

From the Publisher

There is no doubt that Mahan and his writings had an enormous effect on the US Navy's admirals during the Pacific War. This fine book shows very clearly how. December 2010

Work Boat World

This book will be enjoyed by anyone who is interested in World War II history. Vol. 55, No. 2, Summer 2010

Nautical Research Journal

Students of naval history will find much to agree with in this volume, and a good deal about which to disagree, but either way they will find it worth reading. Fall 2011

NYMAS Review

[A] must read for students of World War II in the Pacific and all those interested in naval and military strategy. March-April 2010

Military Review

This is truly an outstanding book. Although Adams indicates it is an analysis of naval strategy of World War II in the Pacific, the lessons he presents apply to more than purely naval warfare.Spring 2010

Air Power History

If Mahan Ran the Great Pacific War provides one of the best analyses of World War II I have read. Clear and incisive, it presents the reader with both the factual material and a solid discussion of how and why the decisions of the commanders resulted in a strategic or just a tactical success or failure. March 29, 2009

Daily News

"A very interesting, well—researched, well—written work with fine and fresh analysis of the Pacific War." —Eric Osborne, author of The Battle of Heligoland Bight

Eric Osborne

"John Adams is one of the most remarkable individuals I have met in the course of my long academic career. His knowledge of recent military doctrine, strategy, and operations, logistics, and tactics is as deep as any of my academic colleagues." —Malcolm Muir, author of Black Shoes and Blue Water: Surface Warfare in the United States Navy, 1945–1975

Malcolm Muir