Title: After Jutland: The Naval War in Northern European Waters June 1916 – November 1918
Author: James Goldrick
ISBN: 978-1-5267-4298-8
Publisher: Pen and Sword Publishing
Year: 2018
Hardcover
Pages: 332
Photos/Maps: 32/13
The prevalent assumption amongst a significant portion of casual World War 1 enthusiasts is that, following the inconclusive Battle of Jutland, the German High Seas Fleet maintained a very limited presence on the high seas for the duration of the war, the Royal Navy continued, for the most part unchallenged, preserving the stranglehold on Germany and that the Baltic saw little if any activity whatsoever. Of course, this is far from the truth and Adm (ret'd) Goldrick’s work goes a long way in dismissing those misconceptions. His narrative iterates the experiences of the major Northern Theatre Battle Fleets (RN, German and Russian), as they undertake operations from the Gulf of Finland to the edge of the North Sea. While it is true that a second major fleet action along the lines of Jutland did not materialize, Goldrick makes it very clear that significant actions were very much the norm right up until the end of the war.
The author is a professional Navy man, and that expertise comes through in his analysis and discussion of the engagements and operational challenges/successes of the different navies. Additionally, and just as significantly, he expands the scope of his narrative to include detailed reviews on the technological developments of the adversaries as the war progressed. These include but are not limited to mine warfare, naval air capabilities, gunnery, and submarine development. His observations and explanations on the impact of these areas on offensive and defensive operations are succinct and insightful.
Navies operate in an international environment, free from the restraints of trench warfare etc. As such, they cannot help but interact with assets of non-combatant nations and these interactions can have far reaching effects well beyond their immediate boundaries. Goldrick incorporates his thoughts on the impact of these international engagements on the course of the war itself. The declaration of unrestricted submarine warfare by the Germans in 1917, for example, was directly responsible for facilitating the entrance of the United States into the war.
A particular strength of this book is the section that the author refers to as the ‘Reflections’. In this area, he finalizes the work with a series of conclusions on the overall conduct of the naval war by each of the main protagonists. His observations are telling and prescient. He is critical of the method by which the German Navy was utilized, suggesting that its strengths were not fully recognized specifically in the areas of surface raiders, submarine warfare (not unrestricted however), and operational doctrine in the use of mixed-use flotilla’s and scouting groups. Nevertheless, the author also recognizes the limitations imposed on the fleet by external factors such as the expanse of the submarine service on personnel and the deterioration of the ships themselves as the war progressed due to (presumably) the impact of the blockade on engineering supplies. The British, for their part, missed significant opportunities regarding mine warfare and the advent of naval aviation. Additionally, its failure to pursue more aggressively a coordinated effort with the Russians that may well have squeezed the German ability to respond on two naval fronts concurrently. The author also makes note of the Russian reluctance to engage in the Western regions of the Baltic Sea. Surely here was a missed opportunity to interdict the flow of resources, particularly iron ore, from Sweden to Germany.
This was a very
enjoyable book to read; educational, relevant, and featuring a good balance of technical
insight as well as flowing narrative. It is strongly recommended for the
casual historian as well as the dedicated researcher. The publisher has
produced a very high quality book to go with the excellent read.
No comments:
Post a Comment