A Break in the Clouds: Learning Lessons From the Sea

Learning lessons from past and current wars is a complicated endeavor, given observers’ personal and institutional preferences and other challenges. Nonetheless, Frank Hoffman and George P. Garrett argue that carefully drawn lessons based on access to more information and objective and rigorous analysis are critical in determining the course and speed of the defense establishment’s journey into the future. The authors consider how British and American observers drew lessons from the 1905 Battle of Tsushima between the Russian and Japanese navies and how naval analysts applied them to their own ideas of future naval warfare. They then look to the naval aspect of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war and suggest that maritime forces should assess Ukraine's valiant efforts in the Black Sea, and carefully draw out key insights for future challenges. Read Full Article »