Red Star Over The Pacific 2nd Edition: China's Rise and the Challenge to U.S. Maritime Strategy - Toshi Yoshihara and James R Holmes

This review has been submitted to Proceedings for consideration. 

Title: Red Star Over The Pacific 2nd Edition: China's Rise and the Challenge to US Maritime Strategy
Author: Toshi Yoshihara and James R Holmes
ISBN: 978-1-682-47218-7
Publisher: Naval Institute Press
Year: 2018
Hardcover
Pages: 366
Photos/Maps: 0/5

The world has watched as, over the last 25 years, China’s naval strength and vision has grown from a coastal to a blue water perspective. Slowly, inexorably, China has undertaken a series of concurrent activities that has seen the extension of the PLAN’s technological capability (via international purchase and domestic development), marked improvement in personnel training and professionalism and an expansion of doctrine in keeping with this broadening of proficiency. Yoshihara and Holmes have expertly summarized these developments in this work. 

The authors have divided the book into a series of defined chapters that serve to shed light on particular aspects of the Chinese historical, doctrinal and operational approach to maritime strategy. Presented in a lucid and accessible manner, each expands upon the knowledge presented in the former to build a comprehensive and well-rounded picture of not only the tangible changes occurring in the region but the psychological and historical underpinnings of these efforts. 

Undertaking an extensive review of Chinese activities and looking in parallel at another nation state that made a concerted effort to challenge the naval status quo (pre-WW1 Germany), the authors have made a very convincing argument that China is following the tenants of Mahan’s “production, distribution and consumption” philosophy as the foundation of their strategic, operational and tactical thinking (a ‘sea denial’ approach). Additionally, and uniquely, they are also incorporating not only Corbett (another renowned Western naval thinker) but also the uniquely Eastern writings of Mao (and his ‘active defence’ approach) and Sun Tzu into their doctrinal development. As presented in the narrative, this provides them with a very broad spectrum of options when looking to expand their influence towards a blue water capability; all the while recognizing what their limitations are and endeavouring to use them in support of their strengths. 

Incorporated into the writers analysis, are primary source material from key military and political figures within the Chinese media, military and leadership. Using this basis, they outline the flexible and developing nature of naval doctrine and capability, national expectations and the vision the Chinese hold vis-à-vis their place within the international community. This analysis is presented opposite a similar look at US national and naval policy for the region; the dichotomy between them is sobering.

Rounding off the narrative, the authors present the readers with a series of options and recommendations regarding the influences that drive the way forward for the Chinese. These suggestions present cogent, balanced and insightful options and opportunities that, given their past actions, may very well foretell the limitations and parameters within which the Chinese may be forced to operate. They also paint a nuanced view of the Chinese strategic and operational options; dispelling some of the Western prejudiced notions surrounding the inevitability of Chinese regional hegemony.

Opposite this, the authors also do the same for the US and her regional Allies in developing strategies to counter the very real threat of China’s Mahanian based expansionist efforts. The writers contend that central to this is a requirement to realign preconceived assumptions underlying the capacity of China to maintain its developmental trajectory and its willingness to forward its regional and international agenda in the face of balanced, determined resistance Additionally, to proactively entertain non-traditional responses to China’s ‘grey-zone’ offensive and to look toward a more ‘holistic’ approach to the use of naval, coast guard and civilian merchant shipping in containing Chinese efforts.

This is an excellent book that truly draws together the myriad of influences: historical, cultural and political, that underpin the Chinese efforts to resume its pre-eminent position on the world stage. The alternatives that they present for the US and other regional players are thoughtful and attainable. Well written, coherent and engaging, this is definitely a book to read for China watchers and policy developers alike.

Knights of the Battle of Britain: Luftwaffe Aircrew Who Were Awarded the Knight’s Cross In 1940 - Chris Goss

This review has been submitted to Soldier

Magazine.

Title: Knights of the Battle of Britain: Luftwaffe Aircrew Who Were Awarded the Knight’s Cross In 1940
Author: Chris Goss
ISBN: 978-1-526-72651-3
Publisher: Frontline Books
Year: 2018
Hardcover
Pages: 212
Photos/Maps: 211/0

The author has put together a compendium of short synopsis of the operational careers of those German aircrew who were awarded the Knight’s Cross (Ritterkreuz) during the first full year of the war. Each recipient has been researched in detail and, in a majority of cases, numerous photos have been provided related to their careers. The book is presented in chronological order by month with a series of useful appendices outlining recipients by role. A quick read, with a high quality publication value from the publisher; the author has undertaken a prodigious amount of research in putting this work together. An interesting read.

Destination Dunkirk: The Story of Gort’s Army - Gregory Blaxland

This review has been submitted to Reveille Magazine.

Title: Destination Dunkirk: The Story of Gort’s Army

Author: Gregory Blaxland

ISBN: 978-1-52673-523-2

Publisher: Pen and Sword Books

Year: 2018

Hardcover

Pages: 436

Photos/Maps: 53/24

The Battle of France and the Low Countries commenced 10 May, 1940, and was an unmitigated success for the German military. In six weeks they had accomplished what their forefathers could not in four years of fighting, the collapse and occupation of France. Much has been written about this campaign with ad-nauseam analysis of what the Germans did right and the Allies (especially the French) did wrong. What has received relatively little in the way of attention was the role played by the British Expedition Force (BEF) who fought alongside the French in country well known to many of the World War 1 veterans now returning as senior Officers and NCO’s. While the British contribution to this campaign (in terms of land forces) was relatively small compared to the French and German armies, they nevertheless occupied key territory linking the French and Belgian armies along the River Dyle in Eastern Belgium. Their war was a short but sharp one; first contact on May 12, leading to evacuation from Dunkirk end May, and the last troops departing on June 17 from Nantes and St Nazarine.

The author was a member of the BEF and was evacuated on May 31^st from Dunkirk. His narrative is based therefore, not only on the official war diaries of the French, British and German units involved but also upon his and his peers’ personal records and recollections. His unique experience, having actually lived what he was writing about, has enabled him to pass on to the reader a perspective replete with anecdotal and documented information couched with a historian’s eye.

This version is a reprint of the original from 1973. The quality of the writing is excellent, conveying a real sense of the shock as the German juggernaut crashed into the unblooded British; driving them irrevocably back. It is noteworthy that the British forces did not collapse as did many of the Belgian and French, but were able to maintain cohesion and discipline as they retreated along roads choked with refugees and allies. Blaxland’s writing further underscores the absolute confusion amongst the Allied Headquarters as they struggled to deal with crisis followed by crisis. This work represents an excellent study in crisis planning and initiative amongst the British leadership while highlighting the utter failures of nerve and coordination amongst the Allies.

Included in the work are many maps outlining the unfolding struggle; while helpful, they are of average quality and would have benefitted from a rework. The author has also included a series of appendices that lay out in detail the formations included in the BEF, an outline of the main weapons systems and their capabilities in a comparison of German, French and British forces and finally a detailed rendition of source material broken out by chapter. Thoughtful, balanced and deeply informative, this is truly a worthwhile rendition of the BEF experience in France and a noble testament to its officers and soldiers.

Great Powers, Grand Strategies: The New Game in the South China Sea - edited by Anders Corr

This review has been submitted to the Australian Naval Review 

Title: Great Powers, Grand Strategies: The New Game in the South China Sea

Author: edited by Anders Corr

ISBN: 978-1-68247-235-4

Publisher: Naval Institute Press

Year: 2018

Hardcover

Pages: 327

Photos/Maps: 0/1

Very few arenas of the globe have the potential for overlapping geopolitical interests as does the South China Sea. Replete in resources, focus for international trade routes, experiencing growing populations and border to numerous island and mainland states; it is a region in dispute. Central to this concentration of competing interests sits China who, for the last twenty years, has been increasingly assertive in its dealings with not only neighbouring claimants within the region but also other Great Powers. Presented in a series of individual essays edited by Corr, Great Powers, Grand Strategies provides a timely and insightful analysis of the many facets of this new region of Great Power politics.

Three of the chapters focus exclusively on the Chinese perspective, two from the US perspective and one for each of the remaining powers: Japan, India and Russia. Notably, the book also addresses the perspective of regional ASEAN and EU concerns. The analysis is robust and the data presented in a comprehensive and informative manner. The information provided by each of the authors provides the reader with concrete examples to explain the actions and concerns of the nation states involved.

Interestingly, while the information provided is extremely insightful and useful in and of itself, the narrative, overall, does leave the reader with a sense of there being a lack of an overarching framework within which the contributor’s chapters would be able to be contextually better understood. Great Powers will generally act according to certain broad characteristics that would be better understood if explained at the outset of the work. These characteristics manifest themselves within different international relations theories. Thus if one had been presented with a synopsis of the Realist or Constructivism schools and their sub-components and were then able to view the actions of the Great Powers through these lenses, it would have gone a long way towards providing the reader with improved context to help explain the ‘why’ behind a Great Powers actions while using the data as tangible examples.  Constructivism postulates that a nation will draw upon its belief systems (identified within historical, cultural or social contexts) rather than material gain, as the foundation of its actions. Realism, on the other hand, suggests that the goal of any nation is the accumulation of power in an effort to eclipse or offset the power of its rivals (perceived or otherwise).  

This observation, notwithstanding, Great Powers, Grand Strategies remains an excellent synopsis of the confluence of international interests and challenges within the South China Sea. The work is timely given the ongoing stresses manifesting themselves as China expands its military and economic influence in the region. I recommend this work to those seeking to understand the potential impacts of the Great Power’s actions, the reasoning behind them and the methodologies that support them.

The Naval War in the Baltic 1939-1945 - Poul Grooss

This review has been submitted to the Canadian Naval Review.

Title: The Naval War in the Baltic 1939-1945

Author: Poul Grooss

ISBN: 978-1-5267-0000-1

Publisher: Seaforth Publishing

Year: 2017

Hardcover

Pages: 400

Photos/Maps: 136/17

When one thinks of the naval elements of World War Two, the two regions that come immediately to mind are the Atlantic and Pacific theatres; and for good reason as they were the scenes of titanic clashes never before experienced in the annals of naval history. However, for the Eastern and Northern Fronts, it was the Baltic that held the attention of the Scandinavian, Soviet and German combatants. It was here that the lifeblood of German iron ore, nickel and other key resources flowed from neutral Sweden, where the Germans trained their u-boat crews, safe from Allied bombers and surface combatants, undertook weapons trials from Peenemunde and where they were able to support and influence allies such as the Baltic States and Finland in their war efforts. For the Soviets, it was the environment to counter German efforts and spread their influence free from the direct influence of the West, the struggle for Leningrad and a theatre that represented an ongoing threat to their northern flank.

Relatively speaking, little is known/remembered in the West about the struggle that unfolded in the expanse of the Baltic; however, Grooss has encapsulated the regional war in a way that clarifies and condenses the conflict into a manageable and easily comprehensible format. This work is the result of a many decades long research project formalized into book form. Originally printed in his native Dutch, the translation into English comes across, at times, as a little wooden. This does not take away however, from the superb level of research and detail that is imparted. Replete with hundreds of rare photographs spread throughout the book and superb regional maps, the work is a pleasure to read.

What is fascinating about the region was the close proximity (relatively speaking) of countries with very different political interests. Grooss does an excellent job of relating the high wire diplomatic acts carried out by Sweden, Finland and Denmark as the war progressed towards its final curtain. The role of Sweden during the war is of particular interest as it acted very much (from a political perspective) as a northern Switzerland; a base for diplomacy and espionage.

An added bonus to his work are the ‘explanatory text-boxes’ that he adds throughout the book to provide greater understanding for a particular subject (such as mines and how they work, or torpedoes and torpedo firing methodologies as examples). Without breaking up the narrative, he is able to explain some of these complex systems, thereby adding depth and breadth to the discussion.

Seafold has produced a book of very high quality; certainly worthy of the comprehensive and detailed account of one of World War Two’s lesser known but significant theatres of the war. Dedicated historians and casual dabblers alike will find elements of this book to their taste. Grooss may add his name to a growing list of regional authors who have done justice to the memory of those who came before.