Naval Innovation: From Coal to Oil

Abstract

Technology is often cited as a key aspect of the revolution in military affairs and a decisive factor in military operations today. A study of the transition by the Royal Navy from coal to oil, stimulated by First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill and Admiral Sir John (Jacky) Fisher, reveals a more complex story. Although technological change was a great success--every navy soon switched to oil--it did not constitute a strategic advance for Britain. It was an achievement that represented a grave risk to a nation which possessed large coal reserves but no oil. This example suggests how technological innovations alone do not spark a revolution in military affairs.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA524799

Entities

People

  • Erik J. Dahl

Organizations

  • National Defense University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Battleships
  • Boats
  • Combustion
  • Engines
  • Fuel Oils
  • Fuel Systems
  • Fuels
  • Information Operations
  • Internal Combustion Engines
  • Military Operations
  • Naval Vessels
  • Navy
  • New York
  • Remotely Piloted Vehicles
  • Ships
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Engineering.
  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.