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Abstract

This dissertation re-evaluates the circumstances that delayed the completion of the planned naval base at Rosyth in the Firth of Forth until 1916. This had been conceived as the new strategic centre in the eventuality of war with Germany, but in 1914 the Grand Fleet was instead based in Scapa Flow until it was decided in 1916 to revert to the Forth scheme. This study establishes the reason the docks were delayed due to geotechnical issues, rather than the more often quoted influence of Admiral Fisher. However, the incomplete state of defences of the Forth anchorage can be traced directly to Churchill, with input from Fisher, because of his preference for the Cromarty Firth instead. Despite protestations to the contrary, the lack of defended bases in 1914 was not due to monetary restrictions but poor decision making and the unnecessary spreading of resources. The choice of Scapa Flow, never planned to be a main base and consequently undefended, is shown by this research to be due to the caution of Admiral Jellicoe. Despite the subsequent impact on the war at sea, specifically several missed opportunities to engage the German Fleet, this dissertation posits that it was only Jellicoe’s mistrust of Beatty, exacerbated by the battlecruiser action at Jutland, that finally led him to overcome this caution and agree that the Forth was a better strategic location. This dissertation has employed a qualitative analysis of personal and official primary source material in order present original narratives that question the established historiography. This has generally been limited to considering this topic only as a periphery to other subjects. This is because the question of Rosyth has been underappreciated as a stand-alone topic, and this study demonstrates that it does in fact have meaningful contributions to the study of British naval policy in this period.

Course: Naval History - MA - C2457P

Date Deposited: 2024-10-23

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis14475.html