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14 - The Royal Navy, 1900–1945

Learning from Disappointment

from Part III - Maritime Forces

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2019

By
Corbin Williamson
Edited by
Peter R. Mansoor  and
Williamson Murray
Peter R. Mansoor
Affiliation:
Ohio State University
Williamson Murray
Affiliation:
Ohio State University
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Summary

Dissatisfaction with the Royal Navy’s World War I performance led a generation of officers to analyze the fleet’s wartime record. This analysis revealed three problems: over-centralization of authority, a reluctance to fight night actions, and an overly defensive use of destroyers. In an effort to correct these issues, the Royal Navy made changes to its doctrine, training, and professional military education that improved the Navy’s World War II performance, especially in surface warfare. Reforms flowed from a variety of sources, including First Sea Lord Adm. David Beatty, contributors to the Naval Review, and Mediterranean Fleet exercise. The interwar reforms reflected an organizational culture that pursued improvement and learning in response to the perception that in World War I, the Navy failed to live up to historical standards of success.

Keywords

Royal Navyorganizational cultureWorld War IWorld War IIprofessional military educationtrainingexercisesdoctrinesurface warfare
Type
Chapter
Information
The Culture of Military Organizations , pp. 321 - 350
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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