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Abstract

The intention of this work is to reconsider the pervasive image of declining British sea power in the interwar period. This image of decline, caused by naval disarmament, funding reductions and industrial stagnation, lead to ‘deficiencies’ and a problematic rearmament. This weakness, it is believed, led inexorably to appeasement, war time difficulties, and eventual post war malaise.
This work will seek to understand where this narrative originated and how it has come to dominate interpretations of interwar British sea power ever since. This view has prevailed, despite Britain possessing the largest naval and merchant fleets in the world and supported by the world’s leading maritime and armament industries. Through a re-examination of the base assumptions and evidence, utilising strands of existing revision with a new analysis of data and primary sources, this work will reinterpret British sea power in a way that is not currently represented in the existing literature.

Course: Naval History - MA - C2457P

Date Deposited: 2021-08-19

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13709.html