This thesis explores the connection between seapower, maritime strategy and national policy, and assesses the utility of a potential Maritime Strategy for Britain. Underpinning the analysis, and providing the skein of connecting thought throughout the thesis, is the question: what is the strategic utility of maritime forces? Specifically, the thesis first examines the development of maritime theory and its translation into practice within the context of contemporary British maritime thinking and doctrine. In order to do this, the thesis examines the development of the British maritime school of thought, focusing on its leading figures and core tenets and the extent to which such thinking is reflected in contemporary doctrine. The thesis proceeds to examine, as a case study, the debate on the rationale for, and design, development and procurement of, Britain’s future aircraft carrier capability in order to shed light on British thinking on the role and utility of maritime strategy. The analysis especially considers the debate on the configuration of aircraft carrier to be developed and the commensurate variant of aircraft to be acquired (that is, principally short take-off and vertical landing or catapult-assisted take-off but arrested recovery). This debate extends beyond a consideration of naval factors and considers wider military and national policy (notably military-industrial) factors. Proceeding from this, the thesis examines potential alternatives to a traditionally conceived aircraft carrier, including missile-armed surface and sub-surface naval forces and land-based aviation. The purpose of this is to shed further light on the utility of aircraft carriers relative to other options and assess their value to British maritime strategy and national policy. The thesis concludes with an assessment of the implications of the aircraft carrier debate for British defence and national policy and examines the rationale for, and implications of a Maritime Strategy for Britain.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:676960 |
| Date | January 2014 |
| Creators | Bosbotinis, James |
| Contributors | Lambert, Andrew David ; Benbow, Timothy John |
| Publisher | King's College London (University of London) |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/assessing-the-british-carrier-debate-and-the-role-of-maritime-strategy(ccca0534-08bf-41b2-aadf-2a4c1113172a).html |
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