1st Edition

Early Naval Air Power British and German Approaches

By Dennis Haslop Copyright 2018
    238 Pages 13 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    This book examines the British and German approach to naval air power, describing the creation and development of the two naval air service organizations and doctrine.

    This work provides new insights as to how two naval air services were influenced by internal and political interventions, and how each was integrated into the organizational structures of the Royal Navy and the Kaiserlichemarine (KM). Both the Admiralty and the KM made substantial alterations to their organizations and doctrine in the process. Principal air doctrines employed are examined chronologically and the application of operational doctrine is described. While they adopted similar air doctrines, there were differences in operational doctrine, which they addressed according to their different requirements. This book is a comparative study about the development of organization and air power doctrine in the RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service) and the IGNAS (Imperial German Naval Air Service). It investigates public and political interventions and early concepts of air power, placing into context the factors which contributed to how naval theorists came to think about the best means of controlling its working medium, air space. Ultimately, it examines the similarities, and differences, between the RNAS and IGNAS understanding of naval air power, within the broader strategic and theoretical framework of their parent organizations.

    This book will be of great interest to students of air power, naval power, military history, strategic studies and IR in general.

    Introduction

    Chapter 1: The dawn of the era of flight and the formation of the RFC/RNAS, from its inception until the end of 1915.

    Chapter 2: The dawn of the era of flight and the formation of the imperial German Naval Air Service, from its inception until the end of 1915.

    Chapter 3: RNAS development and the challenges from within and without, leading to the formation of the RAF, 1916-1918.

    Chapter 4: IGNAS development and the challenges from within, 1916-1918.

    Chapter 5: Conclusion.

    Biography

    Dennis Haslop holds a PhD in Defence Studies from King's College, London and a PhD in Maritime History from the University of Exeter. He is also the author of Britain, Germany and the Battle of the Atlantic (2013).

    'This is a unique and well-researched book for understanding the development of early naval aviation and the emerging role of naval air power as seen through the creation and evolution of the organization and doctrine of the Royal Navy Air Service (RNAS) and the Imperial German Naval Air Service (IGNAS).'--Keith Bird, Global Martitime History

    'Early Naval Air Power provides a detailed, in-depth analysis of the development of the British and German naval air arms, especially with regard to the intra and inter-service and political debates in both countries concerning the optimum approach to naval aviation...In all, Early Naval Air Power is a valuable book and provides an in-depth and worthwhile study of an important subject.' -- James Bosbotinis, The Naval Review

    This is a unique approach to First World War naval aviation historiography, and it proves a very effective way of illuminating striking similarities in the experiences of the two enemy forces. -- Ashleigh Brown, UNSW Canberra